Is the water safe to drink in Spain and Portugal?

Spanish tap water is considered to be 99.5% safe to drink and complies with international water quality standards, although there may still be localized issues with the taste caused by sediments, minerals, local pipe contaminants, or the chlorine that is added to kill off any pathogens, viruses and bacteria that can ...



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Do Spanish people drink tap water? A. Although 99.5% of Spain's tap water is safe to drink, many Spaniards prefer to drink bottled water due to its taste. Madrid has some of the best-tasting tap water in the country and lower sales of bottled water as a result.

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In Athens and many other parts of Greece, the water is safe to drink. However, because of various concerns regarding supply and infrastructure, it's popular on both the islands and the mainland to buy bottled water rather than drinking straight from the tap.

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The quick answer is yes: the average traveler absolutely can drink tap water in Spain. Essentially, 99.5% of Spain's tap water is deemed safe for consumption. In fact, Spain has one of the most advanced public filtration and wastewater management systems in the world.

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While there's no obligation to tip in Portugal, it's also important to remember that when you do leave a tip, it's essential to use cash euros (the European currency), so the recipient of your tip can easily use the money without having to make a special trip to a bank (and then pay a transfer fee).

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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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Yes, it's safe. Like the rest of Europe, the water is treated. Sometimes, when you go to a new place, even within your own country, and you're not used to the local harmless bacteria, you might get a reaction.

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There is not a strong tradition of tipping in Greece, particularly among the locals, but it's become expected that tourists leave a small tip while travelling through the country. In restaurants it's common to leave a cash tip for whoever is looking after you – 10–15 per cent is standard.

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