Safe Europe · Last reviewed: August 28, 2026

Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Iceland?

Q: Why does Iceland's hot water smell like eggs?

Hot tap water in many areas is geothermally heated groundwater that naturally contains trace sulfur compounds, giving it a rotten-egg smell. It's completely safe, just distinct from cold drinking water.

Q: Is it worth buying bottled water in Iceland?

No, tap water is free, extremely pure, and often better tasting and more eco-friendly than bottled alternatives.

Q: Is Iceland's tap water the cleanest in the world?

It's consistently ranked among the cleanest, thanks to natural volcanic filtration and minimal need for chemical treatment.

Yes, Iceland has some of the purest tap water in the world. It's safe to drink everywhere, often requires no chemical treatment at all, and is generally better than bottled water.

Hardness

Very soft

Locals Drink It?

Yes

Region

Europe

Cities Covered

Water Source

Most of Iceland's water comes from natural springs filtered through volcanic rock over decades, so pure that many systems use no chlorine or chemical treatment whatsoever.

Contaminants & Concerns

None of concern. Hot tap water in some areas can smell faintly of sulfur because it's geothermally heated groundwater — this is not the same supply as cold drinking water and is completely harmless.

Regional Variations

Uniformly excellent across the entire country, from Reykjavík to the most remote fishing villages.

Water Hardness

Very soft, typically under 50 mg/L..

Soft

Moderate

Hard

Very Hard

Do Locals Drink Tap Water?

Yes, virtually all Icelanders drink tap water and consider bottled water unnecessary.

Tips for Travelers

•Skip bottled water entirely — tap water is fresher and more sustainable
•If hot tap water smells like sulfur, that's normal geothermal water, not a safety issue
•Cold tap water has no sulfur smell and is ideal for drinking