Everyone knows they shouldn’t drink the water in Mexico, but what about Poland? Or Greece? Or Russia? It is easy to make the assumption that, since European countries are technologically, socially, and economically on par with the USA, their water is safe for travelers to drink. This is not the case in roughly half of the countries in Europe, though, and you’ll definitely save yourself time and trouble by learning where you need bottled water before your trip.

Key Takeaways:

• Most people associate sickness from tap water with travel to third world countries, but there are actually some European countries where the water also is not safe.
• The water is safe in most of Northern (Scandinavia), Western, and Southern Europe, but is unsafe mainly in the former Eastern Bloc/Soviet Republics.
• In countries where the water is not safe, it is best to use bottled water both for drinking and for personal hygiene, since even a little contaminated water in the mouth can lead to sickness.

“Water is probably something most people don’t consider when they’re travelling abroad – until that is, when they get thirsty.”

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3683193/From-Spain-France-Russia-Croatia-Countries-Europe-drink-tap-water-places-really-shouldn-t.html