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Is it safe to have ice in your drinks in Spain?

Seeing as tap water in Spain is approved for consumption for the most part, there is no need to avoid ice. In fact, much of the ice served in restaurants and bars comes from store-bought bags which are subject to health and safety regulations and are usually made from filtered water.



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Strangely, some people ask whether it is ok to have ice in their drinks. Ultimately, ice water will come from the tap. So having ice in your drink will be the same as drinking a glass of tap water.

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Ice: Do not use ice in destinations with limited access to clean water or where there is a concern about contaminated drinking water because it was likely made with tap water.

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Spanish Tap Water FAQs All water in Spain is considered safe to drink. That said, if you're not used to it, it can taste a bit off in some areas (mainly coastal cities like Malaga and Barcelona). If that's where you're headed, go for bottled—the water won't make you ill, but the taste can be off-putting.

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When visiting places with unknown water quality, treat your water to make sure it is safe to drink. Ice: Do not use ice in destinations with limited access to clean water or where there is a concern about contaminated drinking water because it was likely made with tap water.

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One theory is that Europeans don't like to dilute their drinks with ice. They prefer to drink them at room temperature or cold, but not diluted. Another theory is that when people would order iced drinks in Europe, they would often get a cup of water.

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Don't worry about anything else - ice in drinks etc is fine. Sara: All cities and towns in Spain have safe drinking water. They all have to meet certain national sanitary standards.

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The two drink rule restricts anyone with a wristband from getting more than two drinks at a time.

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Tipping in Spain works differently: The customer actually has the option to not leave any tip at all. However, restaurants expect a 10% tip on each bill—although it's not a formal rule, and that percentage is much lower than tipping practices in other countries.

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