Can You Drink Tap Water In Iceland? (2025)
Wondering whether or not you can drink tap water in Iceland?
You’ve come to the right blog as I’ve written a complete guide to drinking tap water in Iceland.
Whether you want to save money on buying water or save the planet by using reusable water bottles, many people wonder whether or not you can drink the water in Iceland.
After visiting Iceland myself, doing some research and drinking tap water there, I feel confident enough to provide an answer to the question of “Can you drink tap water in Iceland?“
So let’s jump right into it.
Can You Drink Tap Water In Iceland?
In a one-word answer, yes. You can absolutely drink tap water in Iceland!
It’s actually encouraged to drink tap water. One of the guides on one of the tours I took said that there’s no point buying bottled water in Iceland because it’s the exact same as what comes out of the tap.
After spending 5 days in Iceland and drinking the tap water, I agree with him! Tap water in Iceland actually tastes very nice, and most people agree as Iceland’s tap water ranks as the best-tasting tap water in the world.
It’s also the only country in the world where 100% of the tap water across the country can be drunk.
Being nicknamed the Land of Fire and Ice, it makes sense that Iceland’s tap water is good. I’ve never been to a country with such incredible natural wonders.
All of the tap water in Iceland comes naturally from Iceland’s geological phenomena. The guide I was talking about earlier, he said that the water takes approximately 100 years for it to filter through glaciers, lava fields, etc., before reaching our taps.
So that means in 2023, we are drinking the water from 1923!
One thing that’s worth noting though is that you should only drink cold tap water in Iceland. The warm tap water isn’t just cold water heated up, the water is geothermal, so it will taste disgusting. Not bad for you, just bad-tasting.
But that’s why you get hot water instantly in Iceland- because it doesn’t have to be heated up, it’s already warm.
To summarise, the answer to “Can you drink tap water in Iceland?” is yes, you can drink tap water in Iceland. It’s completely safe to do so, and it’s very refreshing and tastes nice.
How Clean Is The Water In Iceland?
The water in Iceland is incredibly clean.
It’s ranked as some of the cleanest tap water in the world. Makes sense why it tastes so pure!
In fact, the water is so pure across Iceland that you can even drink from streams with no problems. Just make sure to check upstream a bit to make sure there aren’t any dead sheep!
All of Iceland’s water is naturally filtered, making it safe to drink- water out in the open, and tap water too.
And the water in Iceland is actually better for you too. It has a pH of 8.4, which means it is alkaline rather than neutral, like most other countries’ water. Being alkaline means it helps to neutralise the acid in your stomach, which is good for your health particularly if you are prone to acid reflux or heartburn.
So yes, tap water in Iceland is very clean and completely safe to drink.
Can You Drink Bathroom Tap Water In Iceland?
Yes, you can drink water from a bathroom tap in Iceland.
Any water in Iceland, no matter what tap it comes from, is drinkable.
During my trip, I filled my bottle up using bathroom taps on multiple occasions and the water tasted the exact same as from any tap- refreshing.
It’s perfectly safe to drink bathroom tap water in Iceland.
Do You Have To Pay For Water In Iceland Restaurants?
No, you don’t have to pay for water in restaurants in Iceland.
You do have to pay for bottled water and sparkling water, but if you ask for just water, or tap water, you do not have to pay.
It’s good to find something for free in a country that’s so expensive!
All tap water in Iceland is free to drink, including in restaurants. Some smaller restaurants and cafes we ate in even had jugs of water sitting out with glasses so you could help yourself to some water.
In some countries in Europe, when you ask for water, they will bring fancy bottled water and charge you for it. But I didn’t find this to be the case in Iceland- when we asked for water, we were brought a jug.
Usually, they will bring a jug of water with glasses, like they did in the Hard Rock Cafe in Reykjavik shown in the picture below.
How Much Is Bottled Water In Iceland?
Bottled water in Iceland is very expensive. On my first day in Iceland, I paid the equivalent of $3.50 USD for one bottle of water.
Granted, it was the fanciest-looking bottle of water I’ve ever bought, and the water tasted delicious, but it was a rip-off.
There’s no need to buy bottled water in Iceland because the water is the exact same as what you get from taps in Iceland.
Bringing a reusable water bottle to Iceland is not only good for the environment, but it’s also a great way to save money if you’re visiting Iceland on a budget.
That being said, I did later find this exact bottle of water for around $1 in some budget stores like Krónan, but it’s still not worth buying as you may as well drink tap water and save yourself spending money for no reason.
Unless you want the bottle as a souvenir, which to be fair, it’s very cool. No pun intended!
Can You Drink The Water From The Blue Lagoon?
No, you cannot drink the water from the Blue Lagoon.
The Blue Lagoon, although geothermally heated, is not naturally occurring, and is the result of a geothermal powerplant.
There are lots of minerals in the water which would be bad for you if you drank it, not to mention, it would taste disgusting.
But don’t worry, because it’s important to stay hydrated in the Blue Lagoon, a free drink is included in all Blue Lagoon tickets.
This includes water if you would like, but there are also alcoholic beverages included too. Personally, I opted for a slush and it was really refreshing in the warm water.
Can You Drink Tap Water In Iceland: FAQ
Below are some questions related to drinking tap water in Iceland along with my answers to each question.
Yes, Brits can drink tap water in Iceland. Anyone of any nationality visiting Iceland can drink tap water, as it’s completely safe to drink. It’s cleaner and tastes better than tap water in the UK too.
Yes, you should bring a reusable water bottle to Iceland, as the tap water is completely safe to drink. There’s no need to buy bottled water, as the water from taps is the exact same water as what’s in the bottled
Yes, you don’t have to pay for water in restaurants in Iceland because it’s just tap water, which is safe to drink but tastes amazing.
You can refill your water bottle in Iceland from anywhere. Any tap is safe to drink from, and you can even safely drink water from streams as it is all naturally filtered.
Final Thoughts: Can You Drink Tap Water In Iceland?
And there you have it, a complete guide to tap water in Iceland.
Remember, the answer to “Can you drink tap water in Iceland?” is yes, you can.
Tap water is completely safe to drink and it’s super tasty and refreshing.
There’s no need to buy bottled water during your trip! It’s a great way to save money in a country that’s so expensive.
Enjoy your visit to Iceland, it’s an amazing place.
