Can You Drink Tap Water In Rome? (2025)

Wondering whether or not you can drink tap water in Rome?

Then you’ve come to the right article as I’ve written a complete guide to Rome’s tap water.

When visiting a new place, it’s important to know if you can drink tap water there. Especially in Europe where some countries you can drink it and some countries you can’t.

With Rome being such a popular tourist destination in Europe, many people have the question:

Can you drink tap water in Rome?

I asked this question before my trip to Rome. After spending some time there, I feel confident to provide an answer and a guide to the tap water in the city.

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๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น When planning a trip to Rome, I recommend using:
โœˆ๏ธ Flights: Skyscanner
๐Ÿจ Hotels: Booking.com
๐Ÿ’ต Hostels: Hostelworld
๐Ÿ—บ Tours: Walks Tours & Devour Tours
๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘ฆโ€๐Ÿ‘ฆ Activities: Viator and GetYourGuide
๐Ÿš— Car Rental: Discover Cars
๐ŸšŒ Transport: Flixbus
๐Ÿฅ Travel Insurance: Safetywing
๐Ÿ“ฑE-SIM: Airalo
๐Ÿ’ป VPN: Surfshark

Can You Drink Tap Water In Rome?

To summarise this article, yes, you can drink tap water in Rome.

This is good to know before visiting Rome for the first time, as it means you can save money on buying bottled water during your trip.

In fact, the water in Rome is extremely fresh and tastes very nice, I would recommend drinking tap water in Rome.

It’s also very easy to access water for free in Rome, as there are a number of drinking fountains in Rome, known as “nasoni”.

These are very handy and useful during a trip to Rome, as they allow you to fill up a water bottle rather than buy a new one. Again, this water is very tasty.

Since Rome is just as expensive as other European cities, drinking tap water is a great way to save money on a trip to Rome.

A picture of tap water in Rome

All water in Rome is controlled and clean. If you, for whatever reason, do not trust the tap water in your accommodation, you can check the water quality report online to find out exactly what is in the water you are drinking and whether it is safe to drink (99% of the time, it is). The ACEA controls all the water across Rome.

How Clean Is The Water In Rome?

The tap water in Rome is very clean. It’s some of the “tastiest” tap water I have had. It tastes very fresh and pure, and it’s extremely refreshing. Just what you need after spending a full day walking around Rome (walking is the best way to get around Rome).

Of course, as you are able to drink the water, you can also use it to brush your teeth. This is something that people often do not consider, when you cannot drink tap water, in countries like Thailand for example.

A drop of water landing in water

But the water in Rome is perfectly safe and clean, you will have no issues as a result of drinking tap water in Rome.

Can You Drink Bathroom Tap Water In Rome?

Yes, you can drink any tap water in Rome. Tap water throughout Italy is filtered and completely safe. During my 4 days in Rome, I filled my water bottle multiple times from my hostel bathroom. Not only is the water safe, but it’s also very fresh and tastes pure.

As said above, as you are able to drink it, you are of course, also able to brush your teeth using tap water in the bathroom in Rome.

Can You Drink From The Fountains In Rome?

You cannot drink water from the display/sculpture fountains like the Trevi Fountain or the Fountain of the Four Rivers. The water in these fountains is not safe to drink, not to mention the thousands of coins which are thrown in daily.

However, you can drink water from the drinking fountains known as a “nasone” (plural nasoni as said above) or a “fontanella”. It translates as “little fountain” and you can drink from these water fountains scattered all across Rome.

You can easily identify them by the inscribed “SPQR” on the top of them, as shown in the photo below.

A nasone in Rome, a drinking fountain, where you can drink tap water in Rome

I can appreciate that the fountain doesn’t look particularly clean, but I can assure you that the water is very clean and I would recommend drinking it! It’s so fresh.

Do You Have To Pay For Water In Rome Restaurants?

Yes, most restaurants will charge approximately โ‚ฌ2-3 for water. However, it is not just a cup of water, it is usually a large glass bottle or jug, as opposed to tap water.

I imagine you could ask for tap water and it would be cheaper (or free) but I did not mind paying for water in Rome, as tipping in Rome is not mandatory, and charges like water and bread replace the tip.

A photo of the water I got in a restaurant, in a large glass bottle.

How Much Is Bottled Water In Rome?

A bottle of water in Rome will typically cost โ‚ฌ1 from a market or shop. It’s quite cheap, to begin with, but once you have a bottle, you can refill it throughout the city using one of the many nasoni.

I bought a new bottle every morning and then filled it up multiple times throughout the remainder of the day.

Top Tip: Most shops in Rome require a minimum of โ‚ฌ5 to make a payment with a card, so make sure you have cash if you are only buying a bottle of water.

Of course, you could avoid buying bottled water altogether during a trip to Rome. If you bring a reusable water bottle, you can simply fill it every morning in your accommodation and then at the drinking fountains throughout the day.

It’s a great way to save money if you are visiting Rome on a budget. If you would have bought 5 bottles of water a day, that’s โ‚ฌ5 saved each day!

Can You Drink Tap Water In Rome: FAQ

Below are a number of related questions to “Can you drink tap water in Rome” along with my answers.

Can you drink tap water in hotels in Rome?

Yes, you can drink tap water anywhere in Rome. Tap water is controlled and filtered throughout Rome and is completely safe to drink.

Is it ok to drink tap water in Italy?

Yes, you are able to drink tap water all throughout Italy. Tap water in Italy is actually incredibly fresh and pure water, so it’s very refreshing to drink.

Can you drink tap water in Rome in 2023?

Yes, you are able to safely drink tap water in Rome in 2023. Tap water in Rome is very tasty and you can drink it in hotels, bathrooms and anywhere throughout Rome. It’s all regulated and controlled.

Can You Drink Tap Water In Rome: Conclusion

And there you have it, a complete guide to “Can you drink tap water in Rome?”

The answer is, of course, yes. The tap water in Rome is perfectly safe to drink.

In fact, I would recommend drinking it. Tap water in Rome is very pure, clean and tastes good.

Now that you’ve learnt about Rome’s tap water, next up on your Rome planning agenda is to find out how to get from Rome’s airport to the city.