Popular destinations where tap water is safe
Safe tap water is common across much of Australia, Canada, Japan and Europe. In these places, visitors can normally drink from hotel taps, use the water for brushing their teeth and accept ice in restaurants without concern. Taste may change from city to city, but a mineral or chlorine taste does not automatically mean the water is unsafe.
Local conditions still matter. Old plumbing inside a building, a temporary repair or an unusual weather event can affect one property or neighbourhood. The country and destination guides linked below explain what travellers can expect in each place.
Sydney, Melbourne and Vancouver
Sydney has safe, well-treated water supplied through a large public network. Visitors can refill bottles from hotel taps and public fountains around the city. The water is generally soft and pleasant, making bottled water unnecessary for most trips.
Melbourne also has excellent tap water, with much of its supply coming from protected forested catchments. In Canada, Vancouver receives water from protected mountain watersheds. All three cities are easy places to travel with a reusable bottle.
Tokyo, London and Paris
Tokyo has one of Asia’s most reliable public water systems. Tap water is safe across hotels, restaurants and public facilities, and travellers do not need to boil or filter it. The same advice applies throughout Japan.
London tap water is safe but notably hard, which can give it a chalky taste. Paris also has a closely monitored supply and free public drinking fountains across the city. In both places, bottled water is a preference rather than a health requirement.
Rome and Reykjavik
Rome is especially convenient for travellers because its public nasoni fountains provide free drinking water throughout the city. The spring-fed supply is safe, and carrying a reusable bottle is often easier than buying water near tourist attractions.
Reykjavik has exceptionally clean cold tap water sourced from groundwater filtered through volcanic rock. Visitors should drink from the cold tap, as the city’s hot geothermal water can smell of sulphur. The smell is normal, but the cold supply is the one intended for drinking.
What travellers should still check
Even in a safe-water destination, check for temporary notices after flooding, major storms or pipe failures. Hotel staff or the local water provider can confirm whether an advisory affects the area where you are staying.
Also consider the building itself. In an older hotel or apartment, run the cold tap briefly if water has been standing in the pipes for several hours. If the water suddenly looks, smells or tastes very different, ask before drinking it.
Common questions
Can you drink tap water in major European cities?
Yes in most major European cities, including London, Paris, Rome and Reykjavik. Follow any temporary local notice.
Is hotel tap water safe in these destinations?
Usually yes when the hotel is connected to the public supply, although old internal plumbing can occasionally affect taste or appearance.
Is ice safe in cities with safe tap water?
Generally yes. Restaurants and hotels normally make ice from the same treated public water supply.
Do you need bottled water in Sydney or Tokyo?
No. Tap water is safe in both cities, so bottled water is mainly a convenience purchase.
.svg){kind=logo}
