🚰 Essentials
Can you drink the tap water?
In Athens and most mainland towns, generally yes. On the dry Cyclades, where water is desalinated, most people drink bottled — ask where you are staying.
Athens and the mainland
Tap water in Athens is generally considered safe to drink, and the same goes for most mainland cities. Taste varies with the source.
The islands
Many islands — Santorini and Mykonos above all — have little fresh water and rely on desalination and, in places, water brought in by tanker. The water is treated, but it often tastes flat or salty and pipes in older buildings are a question mark, so most visitors and many locals drink bottled water there. On greener islands with springs, such as Corfu or parts of Crete, practice varies village by village.
The honest rule: ask your host. They will tell you whether they drink it.
Plastic
A large bottle from a supermarket costs far less per litre than a small one from a kiosk. Carry a refillable bottle and fill it from the big one.
In restaurants
Tavernas usually bring a jug of tap water or a sealed bottle to the table; the bottle is charged, and cheaply.
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