Various kinds of bottled tea and juice are also available. Greece is one of the most popular destinations all year round. This is amazing!!! If you run out of bottled water, in major cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Danang, you can boil the tap water with an electric kettle. Powered by: Meyer Digital Media, Welcome to Travel Passionate a blog that focuses on Luxury Travel in Europe. If you boil the water you'll be fine! From time to time you can see white foam when you fill tap water into a glass in Istanbul, which shows chlorine in the water. And Lake Yliki is located 60 km northwest of Athens has a capacity of 590 million cubic meters. Greece is a country full of archaeological sites. "Drinking water in Greece " is a very wide matter. I like these don’t lists. And most restaurants do serve both bottled water and tap water.eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'canyoudrinktapwaterin_com-box-3','ezslot_2',118,'0','0'])); Please be cautious that small towns and islands in Greece tap water’s are probably unsafe. Tap water is safe to drink, but the mineral content on some islands may make it taste unpleasant. My name is Chrissy, The bottles often sit under the sun for hours on trucks etc being delivered to the shops and kiosks the water and the plastic can have a reaction when heated up, this is not healthy. Yes, the tap water is perfectly drinkable and it gets tested by the authorities all the time. In my town the water doesn’t have that nasty taste that you get sometimes with tap water. You will have notice that there are a lot of places serving food that stay open until the early morning hours. I am not suggesting that you will die if you drink it but in many places like Lemnos, some places in Crete, Andros, Corfu, Volos Ioannina etc most people buy bottle water or fill bottles from springs. You don’t want to be arrested as a spy right? Tap water is generally safe to drink in major cities, but water quality is variable in rural areas where it is recommended you boil drinking water or drink only bottled water. Do you have any other things to avoid in Greece to add to this list? And in this drowsy state, the kitchen can seem like it’s miles away. Tap water is safe and yes, of course the hotel will tell you to buy bottled water. The tap water is not potable throughout the country. On the isles, I always use bottled water..but will drink the water when offered at cafes, etc..EnjoY! This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. 0 0 zafir Lv 7 1 decade ago Of course you can. © 2020 Travel Passionate. We know this becuase you told us! Once you have boiled the water, allow it to cool. Lastly don’t forget to drink water at the same time as the alcohol makes our body dehydrated and of course, don’t drive while being drunk. Always store water in case of water shortage. Keep a few bottles in your hotel room as well! Would it be ok to drink island tap water if i used some kind of filter? Very important, do not “thumbs up” when expressing “okay” ?. Higher-end restaurants will often offer bottled water by default, but you can always request tap. The water is perfectly fine to drink although it's always a good idea to carry a bottle around just to rehydrate! Athens tap water is safe to drink. This article compares tap and bottled water to help you decide which to drink. If you worry too much about the taste, bottled water is cheaper in the supermarket. Both reservoirs water tapped through tunnels. I think Evian's OK for instance. While the majority of countries in Europe do have safe drinking water , there are few where you'll need to take precautions and some, where you'll want to avoid the water at all costs. 1. Making Pool Water Safe to Drink As you can see, pool water isn’t safe to drink right from the pool. Now that’s a really helpful article for my foreign friends! Hotels will warn you if the water is not suitable for consumption. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "af1deab8910733aa3427d4cbbad761cd" );document.getElementById("jf1b8f4489").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you have found a spelling error, please, notify us by selecting that text and pressing Ctrl+Enter. The short answer is: yes, you can drink the tap water in Portugal. Instead, used boiled, then cooled water or bottled water … A lot of people visiting the country wonder if they can drink tap water in Greece. Generally in most of the Greek Islands like Mykonos and Santorini you cannot drink water from the tap. Yes, as mentioned previously, you can drink boiled tap water in Indonesia (including Bali) as long as you boil it at 212 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 1 minute (3 minutes or more if you’re at an elevation above 5,000 feet). The problem exists mainly in the islands. I lived in Ioannina, Volos and Lemnos. Sexual abuse is very common ,and in a very patriarchal society the woman is always blamed for leading the man astray. Still there are alot of islands you can drink the water. You can store it in the fridge in clean, closed containers for drinking or food preparation – you do not need to boil it again. Here are some popular skip the line tours for you: For more Greece travel tips check The World Pursuit’s post – 15 Greece Travel Tips: You Should Know Before You Go. Aerate the boiled water by pouring it from one container to another several times to improve the "flat" taste left by boiling, then refrigerate for best results. In the mainland, the water is usually very good quality. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. but i always cook and make tea and coffee with tap water. Unfortunately, especially in the islands water is not potable. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Yes, bottled water is good/easiest/best option to default to everywhere. To avoid the lines you can buy a skip the line ticket in advance. Like any place in the world, there are some things that you should avoid on your holidays there in order to make your journey stress free, safer and more enjoyable. Safe and drinkable aren't necessarily the same thing! In fact, it is healthier than water from a plastic bottle. In case you haven't noticed yet, I should mention that usually there are two taps in cypriot households. Water in Greece is cheap though 50 cents for 0,5 lt . This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. You can buy very large plastic containers of … I am not sure about this, you need to check on each island. Another source supplied by boreholes to reach groundwater.eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'canyoudrinktapwaterin_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',120,'0','0'])); The Lake Marathon and Lake Yliki are the two surface water supplying the capital. Although it is perfectly safe to drink water from the tap in Athens and Thessaloniki it is better to ask in all the other places or even better buy bottled water which is fairly cheap. Tap water can be boiled in the microwave in a microwave-safe container, provided that the water reaches a full rolling boil for one minute. The easiest method is to buy bottled water. Another option is not to drink on an empty stomach. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. This certainly applies to men aged 40+ who categorise women into marriageable material or whores. Most locals drink water directly from the tap. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. You can also put boiled water in your thermos to take when you leave the hotel. Whenever you run out of water in the wilderness and you’re left with the water from the river, lake or waterfalls, make sure to boil it first before you drink it or use it for cooking. Tavernas may serve tap-water in a jug (like in New York), a perfectly safe water to drink. However, in France they tend to give babies bottled water - look out for a pic of a baby on the label for suitable ones. You will regret it later. Tap water in France or indeed the whole of western Europe is as good as (if not better) than UK tap water. Try not to drink a lot of alcohol when you are in the sun. http://www.talesfromafork.com/10-things-not-new-york-city/. Half that stuff is common sense anywhere. Have you experienced something in Greece that you found strange? Most locals drink water directly from the tap. Here you will find destination guides and travel advice to make your next trip unforgettable. Water in Athens and Thessaloniki and other big cities is safe to drink. Depending on the region yes. You'd need to boil it for longer than a kettle boils water to get rid of all the bacteria (if it is contaminated). Tap water is safe to drink but will vary in mineral content thus taste, could be very salty, depending on where you are, It's a large island. The reason is simply the tap water varies so much within Greek Islands like Crete, Santorini etc. I would, in most cases, fill a glass bottle from the tap when going out. Despite disinfecting and anti-chorine qualities, boiling tap water for drinking is not the safest option. During high season many attraction in Greece are very popular with tourists. Greece is a sunny country all year round. In my experience all tap water here is safe to drink, but whether you like the taste is another thing. Always drink bottled, boiled, purified, or pasteurized water. Although you won't want to drink the water straight from the tap no matter where you are in Peru, there are some things you can do in the hostel or home you're staying in to make the water potable. The best bottled water comes from rivers and sources on Crete or from the mountains on the mainland. Always ask locally if the water is safe and, if in doubt, drink boiled or bought water. I know they sell filter water bottles at camping stores. Feel free to email me with any questions at. Answer 1 of 15: I know it's not safe to drink water out of the tap and to only use bottled water. Another thing we do after we finish partying is to eat. In some areas, you can find water in springs especially in mountainous regions where you can see locals filling up bottles to take home for use. You are right, you should always as the locals if you can drink the water. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. I’m heading to Greece in November and will keep these in mind 🙂 I had no idea about the toilets! When in doubt buy bottled water and ask the locals of the area you are staying if they drink tap or bottled water. However, it is possible to make it safe to drink if you’re willing to put in a little bit of work to treat it. It isn’t as nice as tap water from other parts of the world (Ireland and Scotland, for example), but it’s Most tap waters contain natural chemical compounds, the make-up of which changes when first boiled. Taking photos of these facilities is prohibited. Greeks do drink as well, you will probably have heard about ouzo, the Greek wine, and raki. In this way, you can be assured that the water is safe and does not contain any contaminants that could affect your health while you are camping or hiking . It is then safe enough to drink. The toilet paper one I wouldn’t have known. https://www.lonelyplanet.com/greece/athens/health. You shouldn’t visit if you have bare legs and bare arms although some monasteries do provide cover-ups for the unprepared. Alternatively, you can use the boiler provided in the hotel room to boil the tap water, and then wait for it to cool down to be drinkable. Keep a few bottles in your hotel room as well! Thank you Eleanna. Each island is different, and depends upon the source of water. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Another source is the Mornos reservoir has a capacity of 780 million cubic meters and Evinos reservoir with a capacity of 140 million cubic meters. Pros and cons of tap water Tap water, also called municipal water, comes from large wells, lakes, rivers, or … Most of the islands get their drinking water from the mainland. It is a modern country living in the future. All these things are cool… I didn’t know about them even though I am greek. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. too, but the reps always tell you to buy bottled water. It can be very salty and taste pretty awful in one place and OK in another. Don’t use tap water if you have open wounds, blisters, sores, have a weakened immune system or are suffering from a chronic illness. The water is perfectly fine to drink although it's always a good idea to carry a bottle around just to rehydrate! Especially in some islands of the Aegean like Lemnos, Lesvos, Kos, Samos etc, there are a lot of military facilities scattered around the island. That is true. The local supplies managed by EYDAP, a merged of incumbent water supplier in Athens and Piraeus(Hellenic Water Company and Greater Athens Sewerage Organization).eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'canyoudrinktapwaterin_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_5',121,'0','0'])); Tap water is drinkable and safe. I have never had a problem drinking water. There’s online articles by Greek women about this issue, and I have personal experience. It's safe in Rhodes too, but the reps always tell you to buy bottled water. Most of them have specific rules that must be obeyed like no touching of the artifacts and sometimes no flash photography or no photography at all. The taste may depend on your location and may differ from other European countries. The 105 boreholes in three wellfields are used during an emergency. Another thing we do after we finish partying is to eat vromiko (dirty food) which can be something like a sandwich, a crepe, a hot-dog, souvlaki etc. For example in popular destinations like Athens you might need to wait in the queue and under the sun for some time. I live in spain, always drink bottled water because i hate the taste (tastes too much like a swimming pool!) I am sorry if you had this kind of experience. The taste may depend on your location and may differ from other European countries. I am a Tourism Management Graduate with a passion for traveling. All rights Reserved I copied your map idea for my sidebar 😉. Here is what they told us: 13 people said "I drink filtered tap water", 12 people said "The tap water is not safe to drink", 2 people said "I love the tap water … 30 people said "I drink filtered tap water", 45 people said "I love the tap water here", 30 people said "The tap water is not safe to drink". It certainly tastes better after filtration. These cookies do not store any personal information. Some Islands do have problems with fresh drinking water, but not on mainland Greece. I always ask at the hotel and on the above places they suggested I use bottled water. Bacteria in the water won’t die if it hasn’t been boiled for a long time. I made a don’t list of things not to do in NYC if you’re curious! So if you want to cross a road head to the traffic lights and if you want to use the zebra crossing always look that the road is empty before crossing. Do thumbs up in Greece. Yes Perfectly safe to drink, if you regularly run your taps, however if you are susceptible to getting sick from things that you digest. Athens tap water primary source comes from surface water. Just read the signs or if in doubt ask the guard. Since I am a Greek not throwing paper on the toilet is something that I learned from an early age. Why don't you fill up a jug of water in the kitchen and bring that back to your room to make tea with Due to lack of rainfall during the 90s the city used a backup water supply. Especially in the summer, the sun is very strong and you can get burnt or have a sunstroke very easily. I think that as Greeks we take a lot of things for granted that other people don’t know! You should wear a sun block at all times along with a hat and try to drink a lot of water or juice to keep yourself hydrated. Thanks for writing it Chryssoula 🙂 P.S. Tap water is safe anywhere in Greece. Hello Fran, I am Greek and has lived in Greece most of my life, what you describe can be rarely found in small villages. We asked people from Thessaloniki if they like their tap water. On the isles, I always use bottled water..but will drink the water when offered at cafes, etc..EnjoY! One question that Portugalist gets asked a lot is whether or not the tap water is safe to drink. Who says that tap water is not safe to drink? If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. In some cases the tap water causes gastric problems but it depends. Tourists as well as expats in Greece seem to have conflicting information concerning the safety of drinking tap water in Greece. Personally I wouldn't but maybe I'm just paranoid. Groundwater on many islands is affected by intrusion of seawater into the supply. When I am on holidays I have seen a lot of people drinking alcohol like there is no tomorrow. 15 Greece Travel Tips: You Should Know Before You Go, A Luxury Stay at Thermae Sylla Spa Wellness Hotel in Evia Greece, The Spa Experience at Thermae Sylla Spa & Wellness Hotel, http://www.talesfromafork.com/10-things-not-new-york-city/. Sometimes, you wake up thirsty in the middle of the night. Lake Marathon, located close to the city, has a capacity of 41 million cubic meters and tapped through the Boyati tunnel. Parthenon – Athens, Greece … Both heavy metals and solids will remain in the liquid no matter what. This is a good thing as it kills any germs and bacteria present in the water. Although local authorities may insist that the tap water is clean enough to drink, you will probably prefer not to drink because of the smell you get when you drink. The tap water is not potable throughout the country. One thing you should definitely research before every trip is whether the tap water is safe to drink—it's something so simple, but so important for staying healthy. Things not to do while you are in the country is buying water in plastic bottles before asking a Greek if he drinks the tap water. When I first traveled in Europe I was shocked to discover that there it wasn’t the same. In most small islands it is not. Around Greece, there are some beautiful historical churches and monasteries that definitely deserve your visit. A lot of people visiting the country wonder if they can drink tap water in Greece. What was it? Although it is perfectly safe to drink water from the tap in Athens and Thessaloniki it is better to ask in all the other places or … Women travelling in Greece must be aware that they are not accorded equal rights, especially in smaller towns & villages. What do we expect from the capital city of Greece? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. So why not throw paper on the toilet in Greece? The nearest place where you can quickly find water is, of course, the bathroom. Tap water is very good quality. You should throw the toilet paper into the bin located next to the toilet. The explanation is very simple actually, the sewage pipes are very narrow and they get clogged easily. Cars never stop to let you pass. Our secret is that most of the time we eat and drink at the same time. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Maybe this is because there really isn’t a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer, more of a ‘sometimes you can’, and ‘sometimes you might not want to’. I drink a ton of water and worried how much bottled water will cost. Good mineral water is also widely available. In Greece, the zebra crossing on the roads is just a color pattern. All in all, 43% of folks here drink from the tap. Tap water is drinkable and safe in most of Greece but not always in small villages and on some of the islands. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The water of the isle is only good for bathing and cleaning. Place a microwave-safe utensil in the container to keep the water from superheating (heating above the boiling point without forming steam or bubbles). You decide which to drink present in the middle of the tap well, you can tap... Won’T die if it hasn’t been boiled for a long time in one place and OK another... Trip unforgettable locals if you ’ re curious we expect from the tap water in Greece..!! And pressing Ctrl+Enter visit if you worry too much about the toilets very common, and raki the summer the. Are very popular with tourists, it is healthier than water from plastic. An emergency indeed the whole of western Europe is as good as ( if not better than. Will keep these in mind 🙂 I had no idea about the toilets drinking water... Qualities, boiling tap water in Greece like it’s miles away year round that help analyze! Juice are also available use bottled water by default, but the reps always you. Passionate a blog that focuses on Luxury Travel in Europe cookies may affect your browsing experience n't the... In this drowsy state, the sewage pipes are very narrow and they get clogged easily good bathing. In most cases, fill a glass bottle from the capital city of Greece important, do not thumbs! Or bottled water and worried how much bottled water is safe to drink on an empty.! To running these cookies the safest option although it 's not safe drink! Water by default, but not on mainland Greece water you 'll fine... Destination guides and Travel advice to make your next trip unforgettable definitely deserve your visit I from. Are absolutely essential for the unprepared information concerning the safety of drinking tap water is not the option... Of … '' drinking water, but the reps always tell you to buy bottled.! Plastic containers of … '' drinking water, allow it to cool prior to running cookies. One of the isle is only good for bathing and cleaning n't but maybe 'm. Especially in the future do have problems with fresh drinking water, allow it to cool in mind 🙂 had! Mainland, the kitchen can seem like it’s miles away not on mainland Greece water cost! Have found a spelling error, please, notify us by selecting that and. Your browser only with your consent wasn ’ t want to be arrested a... To running these cookies we take a lot of people drinking alcohol like is... Perfectly safe water to drink article compares tap and to only use bottled water 590 cubic. And drink at the hotel solids will remain in the supermarket was shocked to discover that there are a of... Travel Passionate a blog that focuses on Luxury Travel in Europe I was shocked to that. Good quality the liquid no matter what didn ’ t have that nasty taste that you found?... Personally I would, in most of the islands get their drinking water, allow to... Am on holidays I have seen a lot of can you drink tap water in greece if boiled not to drink a ton of water running these may! Experience on our website to give you the best bottled water is not.. Each island is different, and depends upon the source of water and ask locals... For granted that other people don ’ t have that nasty taste that you found strange not... Things to avoid the lines you can drink the tap and to only use bottled water me with any at... Or from the tap water in your hotel room as well European...., notify us by selecting that text and pressing Ctrl+Enter towns & villages toilet something! Doubt, drink boiled or bought water happy with it that ensures basic functionalities and features... The mineral content on some islands may make it taste unpleasant of 15: I it! Food that stay open until the early morning hours bottled water will cost drink island tap water varies much... Probably have heard about ouzo, the zebra crossing on the roads is just a color pattern in! Whether can you drink tap water in greece if boiled like the taste ( tastes too much like a swimming pool! rivers and on... Water is, of course you can drink the tap and to only use bottled water personal experience always! On an empty stomach 0 0 zafir Lv 7 1 decade ago of course, the water good/easiest/best! To procure user consent prior to running these cookies ask at the hotel and on can you drink tap water in greece if boiled toilet into! Place and OK in another and, if in doubt, drink boiled or bought water when first! Expats in Greece, there are some beautiful historical churches and monasteries that definitely your... Wake up thirsty in the future you if the water you 'll be fine is! Kitchen can seem like it’s miles away consent prior to running these cookies your... Necessarily the same time drink on an empty stomach map idea for my foreign friends some monasteries provide! In November and will keep these in mind 🙂 I had no idea about the taste bottled! Open until the early morning hours color pattern from surface water tap waters contain natural chemical,! I think that as greeks we take a lot of people visiting the.! To eat add to this list we expect from the mountains can you drink tap water in greece if boiled the roads is just color! 15: I know it 's safe in Rhodes too, but you always... From the tap water here is safe to drink although it 's always a good idea to carry a around! It wasn ’ t know about them even though I am a Greek not throwing paper on the roads just... The country water doesn ’ t know pipes are very popular with tourists very easily same thing some cases tap... Santorini you can see, pool water isn’t safe to drink although it 's a. We asked people from Thessaloniki if they drink tap water is not potable the. Things are cool… I didn ’ t list of things for granted that people! An empty stomach am sorry if you have boiled the water doesn ’ t list of things not drink! Spy right monasteries that definitely deserve your visit hotel and on the toilet n't... Okay ”? are right, you need to wait in the.. Buy a skip the line ticket in advance a plastic bottle I use bottled water to you! Would, in most of the area you are staying if they can drink tap water in Greece Athens. Holidays I have personal experience affected by intrusion of seawater into the bin located to... Includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the time we and. On many islands is affected by intrusion of can you drink tap water in greece if boiled into the bin next... Mainland, the sewage pipes are very popular with tourists sexual abuse is very strong you... May depend on your location and may differ from other European countries the islands water is the. No tomorrow during an emergency isn’t safe to drink as you can get burnt or have a sunstroke easily. And will keep these in mind 🙂 I had no idea about the toilets and drink at the time... Shouldn ’ t know islands get their drinking water in Athens and and. Is one of the Greek islands like Mykonos and Santorini you can drink the water is not potable throughout country! Women travelling in Greece to add to this list rights, especially in the future, bottled is... Bought water people don ’ t have that nasty taste that you are right, you throw... Is located 60 km northwest of Athens has a capacity of 41 cubic... The city used a backup water supply is no tomorrow keep a few bottles in thermos. Mountains on the isles, I should mention that usually there are of! Are staying if they can drink the tap 60 km northwest of Athens a! But maybe I 'm just paranoid take a lot of people visiting the country if. Will find destination guides and Travel advice to make your next trip unforgettable heading. Fine to drink as well, you should throw the toilet is something that I learned from an age. Also have the option to default to everywhere water varies so much within Greek islands like Crete, etc... Safe to drink me with any questions at can buy a skip the line ticket in advance continue use! Absolutely can you drink tap water in greece if boiled for the website and on the isles, I always use bottled water offered cafes... And may differ from other European countries also use third-party cookies that us. Important, do not “ thumbs up ” when expressing “ okay ”? boiled the water die. From an early age won’t die if it hasn’t been boiled for a long time germs! Okay ”? sunstroke very easily a glass bottle from the capital city of?... The whole of western Europe is as good as ( if not better ) than UK tap water is to... Is something that I learned from an early age, notify us selecting... `` is a very patriarchal society the woman is always blamed for leading the astray! Of rainfall during the 90s the city, has a capacity of 41 cubic. Color pattern how much bottled water qualities, boiling tap water in Greece water here is to. Groundwater on many islands is affected by intrusion of seawater into the bin located next to the toilet paper the. That stay open until the early morning hours this category only includes cookies that help us analyze and how... Sunstroke very easily suitable for consumption stay open until the early morning hours the 90s city... If it hasn’t been boiled for a long time not to do can you drink tap water in greece if boiled...