Is the tap water safe to drink in Italy? Or just bottled?

Quite safe. Europe and Italy have high health standards. If you care to use the search function you'll find an extended thread on the subject conclude within the last two weeks. <BR> <BR>twenj

open the tap and drink up. water quality is excellent in italy

Not only is the tap water fine, but there are numerous outdoor fountains for drinking water from which the water just constantly flows. If the water is not for drinking, it will say so. If you carry a plastic bottle with you, you can always fill up, without tossing 2,000 - 3,000 lira every time you need a bottle of water.

I'm going to differ with the prevailing opinion. I met a friend in Rome this past May - he arrived earlier than I - and by the eveing was having a lot of intestinal distress. Luckily I had packed some immodium, gas x, etc., (better to be prepared). My friend had been drinking from the tap in his hotel room. Mind you - it could have been jet lag but I remember a similar experience in Barcelona last year, and I too had drunk from the tap. I'm guessing its the mineral content in the water. Once again - the water is safe to drink - no deadly microbes or bacteria - but be aware that your body is used to a different water. It's also recommended that upon arrival you eat some local yogurt - to help introduce the local healthy bacteria to your system which should help in reducing the chance of lower intestinal distress. I, myself, drink bottled water when I travel yet here in NYC I drink "Hudson punch" with no ill effect.

The "your body is accustomed to a different kind of water" makes no sense. If it was the case, one living on the east coast would be ill drinking water while on the west coast, or even in the next town, 20 miles away, if the geology was different. Your friend probably got ill for some reason not related to water. There are a lot of such reasons. <BR> <BR>Tap water is safe in western europe.

go ahead and enjoy the water. Just got back from our 4th trip to Italy and all 3 of us took advatage of the tap water and free flowing drinking fountains in Rome. You can ask for tap water in the restaurants as well, and save yourself a couple of $$ on your dinner bills.

The fact that you are all saying that drinking tap water is fine is actually quite allarming to an italian. In fact it is advised NOT to drink tap water and unless you live in the mountains and can be assured of nice water nobody in Italy drinks from the tap. Indeed if you go to the supermarket you will find rows upon rows of bottled water and people buying 20/30 bottles with their weekly shopping. <BR> <BR>It is not dangerous, but if you were to put filter on the drain you will find anything from stones to all kind of bits collecting in it (like I do). No italian would drink tap water, is that convincing enough?

I just returned from a 12 day Italy vacation and even though they tell you the water is safe my body did not like it. I drank the bottled mineral water which our bodies are not use too. As soon as I stopped drinking it I did not have any other problems.