Is it OK to drink tap water in Italy?


Is it OK to drink tap water in Italy? The short answer is yes. Drinking water from the tap in Italy is considered safe. Tap water in the major cities and towns around Italy is safe for consumption, and there are thousands of old-style water fountains dotted around cities, like Rome, where you can fill up water bottles.


Do Italian restaurants serve tap water?

In Italy, don't shock your waiter by asking for tap water As Fodors explains, usually, you'll be offered a bottle of still (naturaleor liscia) or sparkling (frizzante or gassata). You might occasionally be offered filtered — but you'll still be expected to pay for it.


Why is it rude to ask for tap water in Italy?

Although tap water in Italy is considered safe to drink, restaurants will usually serve bottled water. Asking for tap water in Italy, whether you are in a bar or at a restaurant, is not something that the locals will normally do. Instead, most food establishments in Italy will serve bottled water by default.


Where in Europe can you not drink tap water?

Where is it safe to drink tap water? We looked at the top 20 countries most visited by UK residents. It's safe to drink the tap water in most of the European countries on the list, but there are a few you need to look out for. Tap water should be avoided in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Lithuania, Romania, and Turkey.


Can you drink tap water in Paris?

Yes, tap water in Paris is perfectly safe to drink and is readily available wherever you go, even at public water fountains. As long as taps aren't labeled eau non potable—meaning “not for drinking” in French—everything else is potable. In fact, drinking water from the fountains of Paris has been encouraged.


Should I bring a water bottle to Italy?

Some guides advise bringing one with you from home. But plastic water bottles work just as well, and they're sold in every cafe in Italy. Buy one when you're here and just keep refilling it at the fountains you'll see everywhere.


Do you tip in Italy?

If you ask locals “Do you tip in Italy?”, they'll explain that while they sometimes leave a small tip, it's generally not necessary. In Italy, gratuity (or una mancia, pronounced oo-nah MAN-chah) is considered a bonus for exceptional service. And it's not often that you'll find a tip jar at a register.