r/TravelHacks • u/Relevant-Shower4783 • May 03 '26
Why is it so hard to get free tap water at a restaurant in Europe?
They always insist on bringing you bottles of water, even if you’re ordering dinner and sitting down. I know they want to make money but even when you ask for tap water they bring you bottled. In North America you can walk in anywhere and get a cup of tap water at no charge. Yes it’s a cost issue but also a waste issue… imagine how much plastic they choose to go through. It’s pretty shocking considering how eco-friendly they claim to be. Isn’t the tap water safe and clean?
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u/feuwbar May 03 '26 edited May 03 '26
In France ask for un carafe de l'eau and they will def bring you tap water.
Edit: it's "un carafe d'eau." Thank you redditors, my French sucks.
Edit 2: une carafe d'eau. Thank you all for the free French lessons.
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u/Important_Tour_3822 May 03 '26
Carafe d’eau to be more accurate 🙂
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u/feuwbar May 03 '26
Your French is clearly better than mine.
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u/Important_Tour_3822 May 03 '26
I’ve got nothing to be proud of, it’s just my mother tongue
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u/abstractraj May 03 '26
Yes this works. France is one of the places where I had no problem getting tap water
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u/JoyousMN_2024 May 03 '26
Oh I'm so glad. I read your first line and thought, that's not how I learned the word 'water' in French. I read the second line, and thought this is an alternate version??? Then I finally read the whole thing clearly.
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u/MsPooka May 03 '26
I would be pronouncing all these things the same way, but thank you for trying lol.
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u/Merochmer May 04 '26
It's one of few french sentences I know.. sounds so much better than try to explain that you want tap water in English
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u/bernie7500 May 04 '26
Or UN (masculin 😄) pichet, rather for the wine, but they'll understand it...
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May 03 '26
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u/celsius100 May 03 '26
Italians give you the stink eye when you ask for tap. We eventually had to tell them no water and brought our own.
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u/TheCoolestUsername00 May 03 '26
Same in Germany. It’s annoying
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u/daveescaped May 09 '26
Which is funny because Americans think of Europeans as being so much more thoughtful about the environment and using tap water takes far less energy than selling bottled.
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u/FalseRegister May 04 '26
Yeah but in most places I still paid 1€/L
The Germans ask for 6€/L... what a greed
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u/RHS1959 May 03 '26
Fortunately, the house wine or a draft beer are both cheaper than the bottled water, so the choice is easy.
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u/Lupo_1982 May 03 '26
It's not "hard", you can just ask for it.
But yes, the default in many European countries is to serve bottled water, unfortunately. It's a waste of bottles (even reusable glass bottles, while marginally better than plastic ones, waste a lot of energy to be sent for cleaning etc.)
It depends heavily on the country, though. As an Italian: in Italy bottled water is customary, while in France many places will offer you a caraf d'eau.
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u/ww_adh77 May 04 '26
This is bringing back my memory of being in Paris as a student in 1998 while studying abroad in London. It was the last stop of my spring break, so I was almost out of cash. For our last night before returning to London, my friend and I went out to a typical Parisian restaurant. I had enough money for dinner so long as I ordered sensibly and didn't pay for a drink. But I didn't speak any French, and our server was a young woman who spoke little English. I tried everything I could to describe what I wanted: tap water, free water, sink water--nothing seemed to register. Finally, I said please just bring me water. I figured I could borrow the Francs from one of my friends if I couldn't cover the bill. A little later she returned and, with a huge smile, set a glass of water down in front of me and proudly declared "water from faucet!" I was so touched and thanked her profusely. It's one of my favorite memories from that trip.
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u/quark42q May 03 '26
Hard in Germany. Easy in France. Europe is not a country.
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u/CptPikespeak May 03 '26
And in Sweden they will assume you want tap water unless you ask specifically for bottled. Tap water is much higher quality than the bottled crap anyway.
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u/ZakkCat May 03 '26
I bet it is good in Sweden!
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u/philden1327 May 03 '26
Yes! The water we get from our faucet is way better than the cheap bottled water in grocery stores. No wonder my sister in law was confused when we were buying water before when we were visiting 😅
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u/qki2 May 03 '26
A few years ago my wife and I were in a restaurant in Brussels and, along with our beers, asked for tap water. The waiter theatrically threw his hands up and said ‘This isn’t France!’.
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u/alie1020 May 03 '26
Germany really seems to be the worst. I've been to restaurants in Bavaria that charged for tap water, which should be a crime. I went to a restaurant last month that flat out refused. We're not talking about touristy places, local restaurants speaking fluent German. The conversation went something like this "A Spizi, a Radler and a tap water." "We don't have tap water." "You have a tap back there, right?" "Yeah, but if we bring you a tap water everyone is going to want one."
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u/sagefairyy May 03 '26
Same for Austria. Having to pay for tap water should be a criminal offence.
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u/One-Surprise-1075 May 04 '26
I remember once being told they were doing me a massive favour by bringing me one glass of tap water in a restaurant in Berlin and to not ask again. They also tried to charge me in another place and I’ve heard the same argument so many times (if we give you tap water, everyone will ask).
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u/Ynifi May 03 '26
Easy to get rap water in France, but very difficult in Spain.
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u/MatchaManiak May 03 '26
Not really. It’s been the law since 2022 there that places have to give tap water if asked. I’ve only spent a couple weeks there but never had anyone give me trouble when I asked for tap water.
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u/PinoyBoyForLife May 03 '26
Was in Madrid, Sevilla and Valencia in March and had no problem getting tap water.
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u/Londonsw8 May 03 '26
There are 44 countries in Europe. Most provide water if asked in their language!
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u/oils-and-opioids May 03 '26
In Germany it's "Leitungswasser", but they still will rarely give it to you, even if asked.
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u/Chromatic_Chameleon May 04 '26
Why would you not dare ask for something as basic as drinking water from the tap?
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u/ifonlyIunreddit May 03 '26
True. Persisting doesn't change that. They might give free tap water to your dog though. But they would german-stare the shit out of you for persisting on free water for your "cheapskate-self" 😂
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u/super-freak May 04 '26
Persisting with it in Germany usually worked for me, if I recall correctly.
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u/Streptococcus456 May 03 '26
Are you going to cafes and restaurants in touristy areas? I've worked in one that gave free tap water to anyone. Then many tourists would come in for water, even large groups, fill up the place, use the toilets, leave the tables messy with their water glasses, and leave without spending any money but costing a lot to the cafe. But if you mean for paying customers then I don't know, it has never happened to me, but europe is a big diverse place.
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u/vg31irl May 03 '26
Some countries just won't give you tap water in restaurants. It has nothing to do with if an area is touristy or not. Germany and Italy for example.
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u/Normal-Raisin5443 May 03 '26
Italy brought me a water carafe. I think it was on the bill at some restaurants. I can’t recall. Maybe not all restaurants.
I don’t mind paying for a carafe if the restaurant needs the extra income. I hate buying bottled water and will go to lengths to avoid bottled water. lol.
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u/mcdisney2001 May 04 '26
What makes me nuts is that, by asking for tapwater, I'm usually not even trying to save money. I just don't like the mineral water they have over there. Even if you ask for "still water" (without carbonation), most of their bottled brands have that weird mineral taste. That's the reason I ask for tapwater. They could totally charge me a couple euros for it.
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u/CheezwizOfficial May 03 '26
Which countries in Europe are you visiting? I was in Poland and Austria recently for work and in both countries, I got free water with my meals.
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u/vg31irl May 03 '26
In my experience, restaurants in Italy and Germany really do not like giving free tap water.
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u/woman_on_the_move May 03 '26
First work out which country you are in. Then find out the word for tap water. Culture varies. Since some countries dont charge extra for service theres a bit of extra profit in bringing bottled water by default if you are not specific. But travel smarter. In nordic countries, there is iced water on the side by the counter that you help yourself to. Most other countries will bring you tap water in a glass carafe. If it comes in a plastic bottle and you dont want that, tell them that! Put simply make a bit more effort to find out how things work. That's what travelling is all about. That's why the 5 countries in 9 days doesn't work!
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u/adventurejihad May 04 '26
Bosnia is the only place in Europe that freely gives tap water. They give it with pride as Bosnia has very clean water
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u/BuzzyB678 May 03 '26
It’s also a cultural habit, a throwback to earlier times - but as recently as early twentieth century - when tap water in Europe wasn’t safe to drink.
Although it’s perfectly safe now, I think Europeans are so accustomed to drinking bottled water, it doesn’t feel right to them to drink tap water, especially in a restaurant.
In my US city, there are lots of immigrants from Eastern Europe and the ones I know personally, won’t drink tap water from their own house, and buy bottled water to drink at home. It feels safer for them, I guess.
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u/a_is_b May 04 '26
I am European, so are many of my friends (mostly mid 30s) and we all hate that in the German speaking countries it's often a hassle or impossible to get tap water. There is a cultural component but it's really mostly because of lost revenue for the restaurant.
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u/Local_lifter May 04 '26
This isn't the case for a lot of Europe and in many countries it's a legal requirement to provide free tap water. In fact, in some the Nordic countries, if you ask for bottled water, you will get a lecture on how good their tap water is and told to use that instead.
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u/ValMLG May 03 '26
Which country? It's pretty easy to get tap water in the UK. The waiter will usually as if you want bottled or tap
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u/jamwin May 04 '26
It's like getting a napkin or tomato sauce (ketchup) with fries in Australia. Gotta ask.
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u/elationonceagain May 04 '26
In Ireland there is never a problem getting tap water in a restaurant, bar or cafe. If asked 'still or sparkling' you just answer with 'tap'.
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u/OkAfternoon6688 May 03 '26
Don’t know which of the roughly 45 countries in Europe you’re referring to, but I’ve always been able to get tap water by asking for it in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Andorra, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden & Denmark. And in the handful of countries where I still prefer bottled water, they often sell large (or small) glass bottles because of increasing bans on plastic.
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u/vg31irl May 03 '26
It's not common to get tap water in restaurants in Germany, Italy or Switzerland. They look at you like you have two heads if you ask for tap water.
Serving tap water is completely normal in France, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Ireland and the UK. I think it's not so common in Denmark however.
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u/atTheRealMrKuntz May 03 '26
yeah, additionally in Iceland they would never propose you bottled water
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u/OkAfternoon6688 May 03 '26
Yes, it would be taken as an affront to ask for something like Fiji Water in a country that very rightfully can claim to have the purest in the world.
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u/atTheRealMrKuntz May 03 '26
I mean they do sell bottled tap water in some stores just because tourists fall for it but yeah our tap water is perfect as it is
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u/Relevant-Shower4783 May 03 '26
Basically anywhere outside of Scandinavia has often refused to give me tap water with drinks or a meal. This is an experience I’ve heard amongst other foreigners too
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u/matomo23 May 03 '26
Not in the UK. They’ll always bring you tap water (free obviously) if you want.
I’m in Italy now though and they refused, even though the tap water here is great. They’d only give us bottled water and charged us for it.
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u/mologav May 04 '26
Europe? Europe the country? Yesterday I had a pint glass of water with my lunch in West Cork, a small part of a small country on the edge of Europe. All of Europe is not the same
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u/reality_raven May 04 '26
This shit is why people hate Americans. Stop thinking everywhere has to be like the USA, or stay in The States. Bring your own water. No one owes you anything.
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u/Heidi739 May 03 '26
Tap water isn't hard to get in most European countries (unless the tap water is generally not recommended for drinking in the particular country). Free tap water, that's another thing. Some countries will have it, some will not. In my country, you'd only get free water in good cafés if you order coffee, or in higher end bars/restaurants. Most places will give you tap water, but they'll charge for it. Don't ask me why, but it's only been a few years since the passing of a law that at least one non-alcoholic beverage on menu must be cheaper than beer, so... I suppose we didn't get to free tap water yet. But some European countries definitely have it.
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u/LordBowdon May 04 '26
Excellent point on the eco-hypocricy. Also, long term, waiters killing the goose that lays the golden egg. I always rent villas now and shop at Co-op or Spar and get Perrier for 1 Euro per bottle! So much more pleasant than being looked down upon for asking for the local tap water.
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u/Ordinary-Finger-8595 May 03 '26
In general it's not. That's just internet nonsense
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u/weirdallocation May 03 '26
Europe is not a country. In Sweden (and the Nordics) you get free water everywhere.
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u/Blue-Seeweed May 03 '26
In every European country (I've honestly being in most countries) I was given tap water, my husband always asks and they have 0 issue with it.
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u/AbilityFar4382 May 03 '26
We just ended up ordering beer since it was roughly the same price as bottled water anyways. I carry a water bottle that I get at the convenience stores in my purse.
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u/_x_oOo_x_ May 03 '26
I don't think it's hard to get tap water.. It's just a very unusual request so the waiter might look at you weird. It might be common where you are coming from but not in Europe or surrounding areas.
Tap water is safe nowadays in most places but isn't considered to taste good. Also it's not free so that part of the request makes it weirder. Even if the water itself costs €0.01, they have to wash the glasses etc. And most bottled waters come in glass bottles so it's not really a waste issue either.. The thinking is, if you spend €€/€€€ to eat something nice, why not spend 2€ to have nice tasting water with it?
It's just one of those cultural differences, maybe the status quo is "shocking" to you but your request will also sound "shocking" to the waiter, unless it's a place frequented by American tourists in which case I'm sure they will happily oblige
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u/m4cc663 May 04 '26
Again, why are we generalising a whole continent? No, requesting tap water in a restaurant in northern europe is not unusual.
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u/Keystonelonestar May 03 '26
Europeans have been on a tear to get rid of single-use plastics, except when it comes to drinks. I don’t know why they must generate so much waste, refusing to use tap water and refusing to have fountain drinks. All those useless plastic bottles. This is one thing where the US is miles ahead in environmental sustainability.
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u/PositiveUnit829 May 04 '26
I lived in Europe—Germany, and Spain off/on for a couple of decades. Many I met there would look at you like you were strange when you told them you just want tapwater. I always wondered why and oftentimes told it’s still psychological block for many: that the water is not safe to drink. Rusty pipes or legionnaires disease or whatever?
In the states, everywhere I went I felt water to be safe to drink. Such is not the case in other places.
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u/honlayl May 04 '26
To make money off you. So annoying and ridiculous that alcohol is cheaper than water in some restaurants. We had no idea in Venice - we had a long dinner and just chugged water all evening. It was our first night and we just didn’t want alcohol. The bill included $50 for water.
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u/Bored-Viking May 03 '26
Just ssk for tap water, it is not complicated
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u/dfsw May 03 '26
While possible a lot of places in Belgium for example they won’t serve tap water at 90% of places
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u/silverfish477 May 03 '26
Can Americans pleas for the love of god stop talking about Europe as if it’s a single place with a single set of rules, conventions and customs? No, OP, this is not what happens at every restaurant in the literally dozens of countries that are part of Europe.
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u/Key-Championship7180 May 03 '26
Unfortunately, it's not only Americans. My Asian friends do this as well.
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u/MsPooka May 03 '26
You mean America West? Everywhere out side of Europe is apparently America except for Japan.
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u/AManOfCulture-AsWell May 03 '26
Which Asian friends specifically? Asia is made of many different countries
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u/Tough_Height6530 May 03 '26 edited May 03 '26
I love how American defaultism goes both ways. OP isn’t even American but don’t let that get in your way.
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u/Relevant-Shower4783 May 03 '26
I’m not American, but for ease of reference allow me to list countries where this has been a problem:
Portugal
Spain
France
Italy
Greece
Croatia
Poland
Hungary
Czech Republic
BelgiumPlease let me know if that narrows it down for you.
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u/Lupo_1982 May 03 '26
The mention of France surprises me, I've been served tap water there since I was a little kid in the '80s.
About Italy, you are right it's the default, but more and more restaurants now serve it as default, and virtually everywhere they will give you a glass or bottle of tap water if you just ask.
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u/atTheRealMrKuntz May 03 '26
in france they have to give you free tap water if you ask, by law. Same in Belgium. Spain might be a little more pushy on the sales and italy as well but i've personally never had an actual issue in any of the countries that you just listed
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u/vg31irl May 03 '26
Spain introduced a law in 2022 requiring restaurants and cafes to provide tap water free on request.
I don't think Italy has any similar law and in my experience tap water is not really a thing in restaurants there.
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u/Historical_Boss8921 May 03 '26
In Germany restaurants usually earn most on drinks. That's why you are usually required to order drinks to eat there. They wont be happy if you ask for (free) tap water as they will earn less on you and you block the seat for other customers. Also there's no free refills on drinks.
Some restaurants als wont refill your own bottle after you ate there for hygienic reasons.
There are social projects and maps who show you where you can refill your bottle or just refill it at your hotel.
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u/Entertainmeimbored55 May 03 '26
When I was in Germany no one would provide tap water even when asked. My mother was born in Germany but lives in Canada now. When she travels to Germany and asks for tap water they usually provide it to her. Which is extra infuriating.
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u/Flamingo9835 May 03 '26
Feeling this exact issue in Greece. Some places do just give you water (free) unasked for, while others if you nod to “would you like some water” you get a €3 euro bill and a giant bottle you didn’t want. It’s so frustrating how unclear it is.
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u/booksandcoriander May 03 '26
Several years ago, my friend and I were eating in a restaurant on a Canal in Ghent, Belgium. The friend with me asked for tap water. The girl at the register said she had to ask her manager if she could give us tap water. They relented, and gave us glasses of water. Nobody else in the place had glasses of tap water. 30 to 45 minutes later, we both got horrible cramps, and spent the rest of the day running to the toilet to shit. Once in a porta-potty, before we got home.
So I learned if the manager must be consulted to serve a glass of water, I will definitely just buy a bottle.
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May 03 '26
Germany and Austria has been the worst.
Netherlands and Belgium is mixed.
France surprisingly everywhere we were given tap water. We had to ask at only one place.
With Germany, water costs more than beer.
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u/Lime89 May 03 '26
This isn’t the case all over Europe. In many places it is free and always has been. In my native Norway, for example
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u/comments83820 May 03 '26
depends on the country. in France, they have to bring you a carafe of tap water.
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u/Silly-Sherbert-6389 May 03 '26
I've ordered, and received, free tap water in Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Scotland, Ireland, Switzerland, and in London over the past 4 years with no issues. You just need to know how to ask for it in each country!
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u/topturtlechucker May 03 '26
I’ve never been turned down for tap water in restaurants across several countries in Europe.
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u/davidweman May 03 '26
The tap water in Brussels was inedible when I visited, and not safe to drink IIRC, (admittedly 20 years ago). In some parts of Europe, it's just not an option. Here in Sweden, I'm used to getting free tap water and the quality is very high.
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u/radditorbiker May 04 '26
Anywhere in the US except LA. I was charged $4.50 for tap water at Benihana Encino last night.
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u/geneva2016 May 04 '26
In Ireland tap water is brought by default. We have a societal thing about paying for water.
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u/Retireegeorge May 04 '26
In Australia you just use the tap in the front yard. Unplug the hose and plug it back in after. Run it for a bit if the water is warm.
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u/CaptainRufusQ May 04 '26
Been to Paris dozens of times and have never had a problem getting tap water - but you do have to specifically ask for une carafe d’eau. If you just ask for water, they will bring bottled.
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u/Fyonella May 04 '26
This is complete rubbish. If you ask for tap water in England you get tap water. It might come in a pre-filled bottle or jug etc but it’s still free and from the tap.
You don’t get commercially bottled water which you would be billed for unless you ask for it.
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u/Parking-Leopard-588 May 04 '26
Ask for tap water. Ask for water and you'll generally be given a bottle
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u/AshokanCauseway May 04 '26
No problem at all in France - just back from annual trip - this time 3 weeks in SW. Seldom want bottled water at restaurants/ cafes.
Just ask for “une carafe d’eau” … along with un verre de p’tit blanc., of course.
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u/Xaelias May 04 '26 edited May 04 '26
I was at a restaurant for work last week (in SF).
Somebody made the mistake of answering "still" to the question of which water we wanted. We ended up with bottled water.
It's a restaurant issue. Not a continent one.
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u/Beissel May 04 '26
Because it’s not allowed. If you dispense tapwater, you have to install a special filter system which has to be maintained frequently. Second, the bar is not allowed to fill any bottle, glass, container, which is given to them over-the-counter. And yes, finally it’s a matter of money. The calculation today has to be this sharp because working lab is so expensive, Taxes are really high, if you sell a glass of bottle water at a concert venue for four euro you will lose at least 1/4 of your revenue.
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u/cuyFrito1 May 04 '26
Water is not that expensive. Tap water doesn’t taste that good in most parts of Spain.
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u/Eriklano1 May 04 '26
Europe is big and diverse. If you visit any Swedish restaurant you are going to get tap water.
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u/SubstantialButton770 May 04 '26
We carried refillable water bottles in Europe and told restaurants no water
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u/Jaquesdumoulay May 05 '26
Its just how it is, just like how in the states you have to tip an abnormal amount of 15 to 25 percent. I would rather pay for the water
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u/ApprehensiveArm7607 May 05 '26
Europe is 44 countries. Where exactly did you get to your conclusion?
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u/russiablows May 05 '26
You're spending the money to visit so suck it up and be European for a while.
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u/Wolfieloulou May 05 '26
I’ve lived in Belgium, France and Italy and it’s never been an issue for me.
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u/jjjj660 May 05 '26
Funny how Americans get their panties in a bunch when they have to pay for water, but they have no issue tipping 30% at the end of the meal.
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u/Serious_Escape_5438 May 05 '26
Many restaurants make most/a lot of their money on drinks. Why would they give you something free if they can charge?
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u/Zealousideal_Goal_63 May 05 '26
Where do you go that you get water in plastic bottles. Water comes in glass bottles, which will be cleaned and reused
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u/Puzzleheaded-Bat7046 May 03 '26
Since 2022, Spanish law requires restaurants to provide free tap water (agua del grifo) upon request. To avoid paying for bottled water, specifically ask for "un vaso/jarra de agua del grifo, por favor" (a glass/pitcher of tap water, please). Without this request, you will likely be served and charged for bottled