Can I Drink Tap Water in Krakow?
Safe
Quick Answer
Krakow tap water is generally safe to drink in normal conditions. The main practical caveat for travelers is usually older building plumbing, taste differences, or temporary local advisories rather than citywide treatment failure.
Krakow tap water is generally safe for travelers, with local utility monitoring and national oversight supporting routine tap use. In most hotels and restaurants, tap water is suitable for drinking, brushing teeth, and ice. Visitors mainly choose bottled water for taste, comfort, or convenience rather than a broad safety problem.
Water Quality Details
Wodociagi Miasta Krakowa provides water service information for Krakow, and the city is not generally treated as a high-risk tap-water destination in standard travel guidance. Krakow is generally treated as a low-risk tap-water city for visitors, and the municipal water utility publishes service information (though some pages may block automated access). This supports a safe rating for most travelers in normal conditions, including routine use of tap water for drinking, brushing teeth, and ice in reputable hotels and restaurants.
The main traveler caveat is local rather than citywide: older building plumbing, local taste preferences, or temporary work on the water network can affect confidence in a specific property. A brief cold-water flush in older buildings and checking utility notices during rare incidents is a sensible precaution. Travelers who are sensitive to taste can use a simple carbon filter, but bottled water is usually optional.
Water sourceSurface water
TreatmentFlocculation, Filtration, Chlorination
HardnessModerate
TDS220 ppm
Taste rating4/5
Taste notesgenerally acceptable municipal taste · chlorine may be noticeable in some areas · older buildings may alter taste
Contaminant Data
Practical Tips
🧊 Ice is safe
🪧 Brushing teeth safe
🍽 Restaurant water safe
🔥 Boiling effective
💧 No filter needed
- Krakow tap water is generally safe to drink in normal conditions
- If staying in an older building, flush cold water briefly before drinking
- Check local utility notices if there is major maintenance or a temporary water advisory
- Use a carbon filter only if taste or older plumbing makes you uncomfortable
- Bottled water is usually optional and often a taste or convenience choice
Bottled water~$0.8 USD (Everywhere)
Traveler Advice
Risk level: Low
Diarrhea risk: Low
Krakow is generally a low-risk tap-water city for travelers. Most visitors can use tap water for drinking, ice, and brushing teeth in normal conditions. If you are staying in an older property or dislike the taste, a simple filter or bottled water can improve comfort, but complete avoidance of tap water is usually unnecessary.
Krakow tap water is generally low risk for travelers; taste and building plumbing are more common concerns than systemwide safety.
- Krakow tap water is generally safe in normal conditions
- If staying in an older property, flush cold water briefly before drinking
- Check local utility notices during rare maintenance events
Sources & References
Government
Official Report
Travel Advisory
Data confidence: Medium
Last updated: 2026-02-23
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