Icelandic tap water, can I drink it?

Yes, you can drink Kranavatn. Which is Icelandic for tap water. Want to know the best part? Kranavatn is pure spring water that is naturally filtered through lava rocks for centuries. So chances are Iceland’s water is probably cleaner than yours. Also, did we mention that Iceland’s tap water is absolutely delicious? It totally is, and you will be filling up your whole trip, for free! Because let’s face it, plastic water bottles are toxic to the environment. Instead of spending money on bottled water, you can bring your own bottle. Just make sure it is empty when going through the security of course.

How Is It Sourced?

A long time ago there was a volcanic eruption that created the Ölfus Spring. Which is deep below the earth’s surface. Then over five thousand years water began to filter very slowly through layers of lava rocks.

This created natural and pure alkaline water, which balances the minerals. There is a natural filter due to rainfall and snowmelt, which Iceland is known for. It is one of the world’s largest natural springs and a massive amount of water overflows from the spring into the ocean every day.

It is even said that you can drink from clear rivers and streams in Iceland too! We obviously would recommend tap water first, but if it comes down to it, you can drink from nature areas too.

This is because the water comes from melted glaciers. Note, this is not all rivers and streams through the country, but a lot fall into the clear and safe category.

Can I Purchase Iceland’s Water In Another Country?

Chances are that you have seen Iceland’s bottled water, Icelandic Glacial, in a store in your country. It is normally in the fancier section, next to Smart Water or other high-end bottles.

Icelandic Glacial

Icelandic Glacial creates its products entirely by geothermal and hydroelectric power. Their large facility is one of the world's greenest and cleanest. They produce up to 30,000 bottles per hour and It is fully automated and hands-free.

So how does the filling process work? The water for Icelandic Glacial travels directly from the underground spring into the bottling facility. How crazy is that! This maintains a positive air pressure to impede the outside air. If you can try Iceland’s water right away, you can definitely quench your thirst by drinking one of these bottles instead. It can also be a fun gift if you are surprising someone with a trip to Iceland. It is just a little preview of all the amazing things you will experience firsthand in Iceland!

Iceland Spring Water

There is another local brand that you can purchase in Iceland \ called Iceland Spring Water. They are committed to supplying the world with water that has one of the lowest levels of chemicals ever recorded.

Their natural source is in a naturally protected area in a nature reserve called "Heiðmörk". It is located near Reykjavik and is fenced off in a 1.5 million square meter security zone. This is also the home of Reykjavik Water Works, which has been using this area since the early twentieth century. They even became the first water utilities in the world to receive ISO 9001 food grade quality certification in 1995.

You know the water is good to go because they are constantly having tests done to check chemical, physical, microbiological, and radiological limits on finished products, both by Reykjavik Water Works and Iceland Spring.

Just like Icelandic Glacial, the spring water is produced by rain and snow that was converted into ice thousands of years ago. This is when no human pollution existed, which is another reason why Iceland produces the cleanest water.

You can even find Iceland Spring Water in various stores, such as Whole Foods, CVS, Walgreens, and more.

See It For Yourself!

Inspired By Iceland did an experiment to promote Iceland’s tap water. They sent their bartender to Keflavík International Airport to serve up Kranavatn to travelers.

They were offered different types of Kranavatn, which included Laundry Room Tap Water, Garden Tap Water, Bathroom Sink Tap Water, and Garage Sink Tap Water. The travelers trying it thought it was some exotic imported water due to its name. They were then shocked when they found it was just the everyday tap water of the country.

It was a hilarious and educational experiment. We are sure the charming bartender helped the case even more.

Forgot Your Water Bottle?

So you just found this article while googling “Can you drink Iceland’s Tap Water?”. Now that you know it’s completely safe and delectable you want to fill up for free your whole trip. So where can you get a reusable water bottle?

If you are still at the airport, I recommend getting an Iceland reusable water bottle from the gift shop. That way you can fill the bottle right at the airport's water fountain. Besides, bringing home a souvenir with Iceland's branding is always a good idea.

If you are already on the road, you can stop at one of Iceland’s well-known stores such as Krónan or Hagkaup.

Where to fill your water bottle

Now that you have your water bottle, you need to know where you can fill it up during your Iceland road trip while driving you rental car with Go Car Rental Iceland. You can pretty much find a water source at any café, gas station, restaurant, or public bathroom in Iceland.

If you are in Reykjavik, drinking fountains have been installed throughout the city to fill your water bottles. If you are spending some time camping there should be a sink or tap that allows you to load up as much as you want.

A good tip for travelers is to always adjust the tap to cold and wait a few seconds before filling. The reason is that warmer water in Iceland can give a hint of sulfur taste at times. But once it turns cold, the taste goes away and is unnoticeable. Don’t be deterred by that though! Even if you drink warm water, it is still completely safe.