Water has always fascinated me
The consumption of water has always been a strange, quirky passion of mine. Whenever I go away I’ll admit, I get a little excited before pouring that first cold, refreshing glass. Is this going to be the best tasting tap water I’ve ever had?
Chances are, probably not. And it’s probably something you don’t think twice about. I mean, when was the last time you really enjoyed a glass of water? Like, really enjoyed it.
I’ll wager there’s a good chance you can’t remember. It’s funny isn’t it how something so important – the stuff literally keeps us alive – can go so unnoticed. Good, clean water is an essential part of our well-being. So much so that it has become one of the key metrics for the OECD Better Life Index.
For those that travel, water is something you come to appreciate. Particularly, when visiting those far away countries in which the best tasting tap water has likely come straight from the neighbouring sewer and contains a distinct, tangy aftertaste.
I’m always searching for the best tasting water
Needless to say, I count myself lucky having grown up in the United Kingdom where we have some of the cleanest tap water in the world. But it isn’t the best tasting tap water. It’s full of chemicals. Chemicals, admittedly, that keep it clean and make us healthy. But the trade-off is treated water with a distinct taste of fluoride or chlorine similar to that of drinking diluted pool water (at least in London).
Whenever I go abroad, I’m always interested to know what the tap water is like (is that weird?). For quenching a thirst, you just can’t beat an ice cold glass of mother natures finest.
Thankfully, there are several countries that get it right. Some, you may not expect.
Denmark
First on this list is Denmark. Demark is famously known as one of the happiest countries on the planet, coming in at number three on the 2018 World Happiness Report.
I find myself wondering if it’s because there is something in the water. But, since the country has some of the purest drinking water around, there probably isn’t.
I visited Copenhagen in April 2018 and – while I freely admit this is an odd thing to enjoy – I really liked drinking the water there.
Like the majority of Nordic countries, Denmark benefits from a huge supply of fresh rainwater that just gives it that extra crisp, pure taste.
Slovenia
Slovenia has been consistently ranked as one of the greenest countries on the planet.
Indeed, its capital, the tongue-twisting Ljubliana, proudly holds the title of the European Green Capital 2016 and is one of the most sustainable cities on earth.
I visited the country in April 2018. Sophie and I stayed in a beautiful little hostel right on the shores of Lake Bled (pictured). It’s one of the most serene and naturally stunning spots I’ve had the pleasure to witness.
As you might expect, Lake Bled (and indeed the country as a whole) has some of the best tasting tap water I’ve ever encountered.
Filtering down from the mountains around Triglav National Park the water is pure and unpolluted. I remember asking for bottled water in a restaurant and the waiter literally laughed at me.
“We do not sell bottled water here,” he said. I think that about sums it up.
If the quality of the water isn’t reason enough to visit this incredible country, check out my top 10 reasons to visit Slovenia.
There are somhttps://mytravelfix.com/top-10-reasons-visit-slovenia/e amazing places to stay, but if you really want the best tasting tap water you should be in the mountains proper.
My blogging buddy Taylor has a great article about how to book mountain huts in Triglav National Park – it’s worth a read.
Canada
Canada has amazing water and plenty of it. According to Canada.ca, the country is home to over 7% of the global supply of renewable freshwater. That may not seem like much, but trust me, it is.
A vast portion of this water is held across frozen glaciers and lakes. The melt-water from these water stores is ancient and almost entirely pollution free.
In addition, the country also employs a rigorous water purification scheme split between the federal and municipal government that ensures it has some of the best tasting tap water in the world.
If you’re looking for some first-hand experience trekking over the glaciers in Iceland, look no further than Maggie’s great article on her experience hiking the 6 Plains of Glaciers.
If you’re travelling through Canada, don’t forget to check out the countries incredible wildlife. I’ve written an article about it which you can read.
Iceland
Iceland is a nation fiercely proud of its water. I’ve read that the country has an image problem when it comes to tap water and I’m not sure why.
Apparently, people seem to be worried about all the hot, molten lava and sulfur? But honestly, Icelanders take water purification extremely seriously.
The majority of Iceland’s water originates from the country’s multitude of gigantic, frozen glaciers and it’s completely safe to drink.
In fact, Iceland’s water is so clean, that you can quite happily drink directly from its many streams, rivers and lakes.
In 2016, I tested this theory by taking a big glug from the Silfra Fissure (pictured) while scuba diving in Iceland. Naturally filtered through volcanic rock for 200 years, the water here is as fresh as it comes.
Though it was a little strange drinking water when your 25m deep in the stuff.
To find out more about Iceland, Travels with Talek has a really good article that will help you make the most of your trip to Iceland.
Switzerland
Switzerland is another country that takes special care to ensure its drinking water remains as pure and unpolluted with chemicals and disinfectants as possible.
This isn’t particularly difficult when you consider the supreme mountain setting and gorgeous, rolling countryside contained within its borders.
Switzerland’s water is of higher purity even that what you can expect from bottled mineral water. In addition, it comes in at around 500 cheaper per glass on average.
Now that’s good value.
I used to ski in Davos every year with my family and nothing tasted as good as an ice cold glass of Swiss tap water when you’ve been bombing it down the slopes all morning.
Well, maybe not nothing, a hot cup of Glühwein went down just as well.
Norway
Admittedly, I narrowly missed the opportunity to visit Norway this year thanks to a severe lack of funds. But, I want to give this amazing country a particularly special mention.
First of all – just look at it!
Secondly, Norway is famous the world over for its water. It’s probably not something you’ve heard of. But if you are a little bit of a water baby like myself you may have heard how water is to Norwegians what tea is to Brits.
They take it very seriously and, aside from having some of the purest and best-tasting tap water in the entire world, they also employ an incredibly rigorous water control policy to ensure what you drink is nothing but 100% pure water.
If you’re thinking of visiting Norway, make sure to check out this great article by Mitali for a comprehensive overview of this amazing country.
Scotland
I can’t tell you how pleased I am that part of my home country has made this list. In fairness, not the part I live in. Scotland is a wet, windy, bracing country with deep, dark lochs and gentle rolling glens.
Aside from the risk of encountering the elusive Loch Ness Monster, Scotland has some of the best tasting tap water in the United Kingdom.
This is due, in part to its sprawling network of natural streams, rivers, lochs and near constant rain (I’m exaggerating, but it does rain a lot).
Visiting the highlands in the summer of 2015, among the grey stone houses of Fort William, it certainly doesn’t look like a place that would have clean water but, let me tell you, it does.
It’s a welcome refreshment to the chemical tasting liquid you get here in London. A crisp, neutral and clear taste straight from the last rain storm into your glass.