🇮🇹 City — Italy

Can I Drink Tap Water in Florence?

Safe
4.3/5
Quick Answer
Florence tap water is generally safe to drink and local utility Publiacqua publishes quality information. Travelers mainly choose bottled water for taste or convenience, not because the city supply is broadly unsafe.
Florence tap water is generally safe for drinking, brushing teeth, and ice in normal conditions, and Publiacqua publishes water quality information for the area. The main caveat for visitors is building plumbing in older properties, which can affect taste and confidence. In most hotels and restaurants, tap water is generally a low-risk option.
Water Quality Details
Florence is served by Publiacqua, which publishes public information on local water quality, including area-specific pages and broader water quality resources. This supports a generally safe rating for travelers, especially in standard accommodations and restaurants. Italy has established drinking water regulation, and Florence is not typically considered a high-risk city for tap water. Practical differences for travelers are usually about taste and building conditions. Historic buildings can have older internal plumbing that affects flavor or trust even when the utility supply is compliant. A carbon filter can improve taste if desired, but bottled water is usually optional rather than necessary from a health perspective.
Water sourceSurface water
TreatmentFiltration, Chlorination
HardnessModerate
TDS220 ppm
Taste rating4/5
Taste notesgenerally good municipal taste · light chlorine possible · older buildings can affect taste
Contaminant Data
Contaminant Measured Limit Status
Lead (old building plumbing, localized) — — OK
Residual chlorine — — OK
Turbidity (localized incidents) — — OK
Mineral hardness — — OK
Practical Tips
🧊 Ice is safe 🪧 Brushing teeth safe 🍽 Restaurant water safe 🔥 Boiling effective 💧 Filter recommended
  1. Florence tap water is generally safe in normal conditions
  2. In historic or older buildings, flush cold water briefly before drinking
  3. Use a carbon filter if you prefer a different taste profile
  4. Ice and restaurant water are generally safe in reputable places
  5. Bottled water is common but often a preference choice
Bottled water~$1 USD (Everywhere)
Traveler Advice
Risk level: Low Diarrhea risk: Low
Florence is generally a low-risk city for tap water, and most travelers can drink tap water safely in hotels and restaurants. If you are staying in a very old property or dislike the taste, a simple filter or bottled water may be more comfortable, but broad avoidance of tap water is usually unnecessary.
Most concerns in Florence relate to taste or historic-building plumbing, not citywide tap-water safety.
  • Florence tap water is generally safe to drink in normal conditions
  • In older accommodations, flush cold water briefly before drinking
  • Use a simple carbon filter if taste or chlorine is a concern
  • Ice and restaurant water are generally safe in reputable venues
Sources & References
Data confidence: Medium Last updated: 2026-02-23
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