drinking water in venice

Venice receives over 20 million visitors annually and there’s no sign of stopping.

The unparalleled beauty of the Venetian lagoon views, centuries old bridges, the maze of canals and calli, and attractions such as St. Mark’s Square and Doge’s Palace are on the bucket list of tourists from all over the planet.

Mass tourism comes to this city with its perks but also its downsides. Plastic pollution is one of them. On a daily basis, thousands of plastic bottles fill up the bins, get thrown in the canals or the calli, and the city becomes more unpleasant.

There is some good news though! There are at least 60 operating water fountains in Venice and yes this water is 100% safe to drink, it’s fresh and very good too!

Basically, you can just go to the fountain with your reusable bottle and get fresh water anytime you want at zero cost! It seem too good to be true, right?

Keep reading this post to find out more about the quality of the drinking water in Venice, how safe it is and where you can find the water fountains around the city.

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Drinking water in Venice

We all drink water, and for many travellers a common concern while visiting a new city in a new country or even continent, is the safety of the local tap water.

In Venice, this question often arises: is it safe to drink the water straight from the tap?

With this practical guide I’ll explain if it’s safe to drink tap water in Venice, where tap water comes from and tips to access fresh tap water while in Venice at zero cost.

Is it safe to drink water in Venice?

Quick Answer: Yes, it’s completely safe to drink water in Venice. To have it, always fresh, simply turn on a tap and fill up your glass. Whether it’s from the tap of your hotel’s bathroom, at the restaurant or bar, you can safely drink Venice’s tap water.

bottle water in venice

After travelling back and forth to Venice over the years it’s safe to say that I have had my fair share of water. Who, I am? See my about page to learn more about my story.

Where does the drinking water in Venice come from?

The drinking water supplied by the multiutility group Veritas is mostly groundwater and gets drawn from wells up to a depth of 300 metres.

It’s one the best in Italy for its quality and characteristics, affordable, carefully controlled and absolutely safe. To note also the sustainability side of it, as it doesn’t cross Italy in lorries or need bottles and packaging to be transported.

Long story short, it doesn’t produce waste. This is something that I love about Venice. You can read more about quality and yearly analysis from the Veritas website.

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Sustainable ways to drink water in Venice

Now that you know that drinking water in Venice from the tap is safe, you might be interested in knowing where to find it while you’re out and about exploring Venice.

venice water fountain

Below I’ll go into further detail and explain where you can find tap water fountains and my tips for drinking water in different places in Venice.

Drinking water from water fountains in Venice

Drinking water from the public fountains in Venice is a sustainable practice and everybody can and should do that. It helps mitigate the negative effects of over tourism and the devastating impact of single use plastic waste.

As I mentioned earlier, there are millions of tourists visiting Venice every year, and the city struggles with plastic litter and environmental degradation.

By carrying a reusable water bottle and utilising the water fountains located all around Venice, everybody can contribute in significantly reducing plastic consumption.

drinking water fountain venice

Just take a moment to imagine the sheer impact that this simple eco-practice can have on the city and how it can contribute in preserving Venice’s beauty.

Venice Tap Water is a non-profit organisation that promotes the use of tap water in Venice by educating people on the quality of the water and how we can all have an impact during our visit to the city.

To put it simply, they invite people to avoid buying plastic water bottles and get fresh water from the numerous water fountains.

To learn more, check their website to get access to water analysis, read the story of Venice fountains and see the most up to date fountain map (linked below).

Venice drinking water fountains map

Venice Tap Water created a very handy map that you can access anytime, anywhere with the most updated information of the drinking fountains of Venice.

When you open up the map you will see that there’s a legend that shows the operating fountains in blue, the closed ones in red, the yellow ones currently undergoing maintenance and then the pink ones that are only suitable for pets.

Drinking water from the tap in Venice

Drinking tap water in Venice is safe, a practice locals have relied on for years without issues. While taste is subjective and some might not prefer it, the water’s safety is unquestioned, with many residents and visitors finding it quite pleasant.

The city’s water undergoes constant analysis to ensure it meets high-quality standards, making it some of the best in Italy.

What I normally do is to refill my water bottle whenever passing a water fountain and have it at my accommodation instead of buying a water bottle made from plastic.

I also prefer to do this, instead of drinking it from the bathroom tap. If you decide to do that anyway, you can be reassured that the water is also completely fine.

Drinking water at restaurants in Venice

In Venice and even the rest of Italy, when you go to a restaurant for a meal it’s customary to drink bottled water rather than asking for tap water.

drinking water restaurant in venice

You can order a bottle of natural mineral water or sparkling water and choose between the 0,5 or 0,75 or litre bottle that will be added to your bill.

The price of bottle of water at the restaurant starts at 1,50 (affordable eateries) to 4,50 euros (fine dining). Most restaurants have water in glass bottles, and Venice has an efficient glass recycling system that minimises environmental impact.

As a reminder, don’t expect free tap water, instead order a bottle with your other drinks and food. See this post on the cost of things in Venice if you’re on a budget.

Drinking water in Venice

All in all, drinking water in Venice is perfectly safe, both locals and regular travellers enjoy drinking it and they’ve been doing so for many many years.

You can also top up your glass or eco water bottle and be reassured that quality checks are constantly ran to ensure the water remains some of the best.

Drinking tap water helps reduce plastic waste so you can support Venice’s environmental efforts to keep the city clean and enjoyable for everyone.

For more information on safety in Venice and how you can avoid unlikely situations, read my guide is Venice safe that has my best tips for staying safe during your trip.

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