Where in Italy can you drink tap water?

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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In Italy, don't shock your waiter by asking for tap water Not so, as you should never ask for free tap water in restaurants. As Fodors explains, usually, you'll be offered a bottle of still (naturaleor liscia) or sparkling (frizzante or gassata).

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Generally, tap water in Italy is drinkable and safe, especially in major tourist places. What is this? In fact, cities like Rome have thousands of old-style drinking fountains where you can fill your water and consume fresh water.

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As far as drinks go, connoisseurs will enjoy delicious spring water flowing from village fountains during walks unless labelled 'non potabile' (tap water is always safe to drink).

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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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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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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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There are also sustainable options when you are in public. Many communes have water refill points which have been used by locals for years! Tuscan towns will typically have a central drinking fountain, usually near the main piazza. These should have a sign with 'potabile' translating to 'drinkable'.

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You can drink the water in Venice and save yourself the expense and waste of bottled water. Venice's tap water is pumped in from the Italian mainland so you don't have to worry about anything questionable in the water that is floating under the city. That lagoon water is not coming out of the tap.

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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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