Drinking tap water in Europe? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

runner_7andrew · 01-31-2006, 08:31 PM

I have heard that in europe people don't drink tap water much and their are very few public drinking fountains. Is tap water dangerous? Is there any way to get safe and free drinking water in Europe? Specifically in France, Germany and Denmark.

Thanks,

Andrew

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**agriadam** · 01-31-2006, 08:33 PM

Water is fine to drink for the most part in all of those countries... the only place i had problems with the water was budapest

**omisan** · 01-31-2006, 10:20 PM

I hear the water is to be avoided in some parts of Spain and Italy, as well, but as I always say, take in lots of yogurt with live cultures (or l. acidophilus capsules) and you can drink the water anywhere - even Mexico. Ok, maybe not straight out of the Ganges or anything...

**MeTurk** · 02-01-2006, 03:26 AM

Europe has strict laws on water, it's safe but tastes like muck. There are many chemicals in the water and Ireland has a hardwater problem.

Nobody here drinks tapwater, every shop you go into sells natural spring water my countrys poluted* with springs. Bottled water is the way to go it's just a taste issue. Most areas should have their own local brand which will be cheeper than the well known brands.

*When I say poluted that's just an Irish way of saying there's loads of them.

**bassgirl79** · 02-01-2006, 07:55 AM

i drank water from fountains when i was travelling and had no probs. this was in italty germany switzerland hungary and denmark

**urOZm8** · 02-02-2006, 05:54 AM

I think everyone needs to drink the water in different places to become immune to it! Nah, I didn't have any problems with those countries you mentioned. The only places I had problems were Brussels (it tasted as bad as it looked!) and in country Norway, where it came out of the tap the same colour as chocolate...mmmm.

ev

**tumblezweedz** · 02-06-2006, 02:31 AM

We've never had troubles from drinking tap water/brushing teeth, etc, even in eastern Europe, but you usually can't order tap water in a restaurant (don't expect to get a free glass when you sit down!) Bottled water is widely available, I'd take a bottle every morning, and fill it up with tap water at the museum or whatever when you run out. There aren't a lot of drinking fountains around, and I wouldn't drink out of the decorative fountains. We'd just buy a bottle at the start of our day, and replenish as necessary. Bottled water at restaurants is usually more expensive than beer, and sometimes even soft drinks. Also, if you don't like sparkling water, learn the local phrase for "still", "natural" or "without gas" - here in Germany many restaurants don't even have uncarbonated water - what they call still or natural is just less bubbly.

**tumblezweedz** · 02-06-2006, 02:33 AM

Ditto the yogurt advice, too - that stuff is a life saver. If you can only find natural (unflavoured), add a bit of honey or brown sugar and it's quite delicious.

**Tadpole** · 02-06-2006, 09:06 AM

In Italy they have fountains that constantly pour out water all over the city. You just go and fill up your bottle. Its clean and everyone uses it. We didnt trust them at first. But once we saw tour gides taking there groups there and getting water then we fill up our bottles 7-8 times a day while walking around in that hot hot weather.