Can you drink water from fountains in Italy?

The water is completely potable, and to be honest, will save you a lot of money on your walking treks around the city. Say no to the street sellers peddling expensive water bottles near the sights, and fill up your own! The fountains are known as Nasoni, and you can recognize them from their downward-curving spouts.



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Contrary to how public drinking fountains are perceived in the U.S., Italian fountains contain some of the freshest water in the country. Rather than buy multiple water bottles, do as the locals do and bring your own or buy just one disposable bottle and refill it from these fountains.

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Don't drink the water. Although the water from the Trevi Fountain comes from one of Rome's most storied aqueducts, all those coins make it less than palatable.

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Even so, tap water in Milan is perfectly drinkable and safe, since it comes from real mountain springs. Nonetheless, the Italians' preference for bottled water might be due to the common misconception that their tap water isn't actually safe.

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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.

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While the tap water is perfectly safe to drink in Italy, never order it in a restaurant. You will only receive a lecture from the waiter on how the odd taste will compromise your delicious meal.

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Just know that the insistence on bottled water isn't one of Italy's famous restaurant scams targeting tourists - unless you're later overcharged for it, of course. The water is perfectly safe to drink all over Italy, and you can ask for tap water if you want.

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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.

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