Can you drink the tap water?

Yes: tap water in Mallorca is safe and regularly tested, but in many areas (especially Palma and the coast) it's very hard and tastes salty or chalky, which almost nobody likes. That's why most locals drink bottled or filtered water and use tap water for cooking, coffee or washing fruit. In the mountain villages it usually tastes better.

Tip: buy 5 or 8 litre bottles at the supermarket, they're much cheaper than small bottles, and bring a reusable bottle for day trips.

What surprises most visitors is how much the water changes from place to place. In Palma it is supplied by EMAYA, which tests it continuously and publishes chlorine and mineral levels for every address on its website, so if you are staying in the city you can check your own street. The taste comes mainly from those two values, not from the water being less safe. Coastal towns and some rural areas have saltier water, and in the mountains it is usually softer.

To avoid carrying bottles around, Palma has public filtered-water fountains in many neighbourhoods, designed for refilling. And since 2022 Spanish law has required bars and restaurants to offer free non-bottled water to anyone who asks: just say «una jarra de agua del grifo, por favor». In summer, always take more water on walks than you think you will need.

Frequently asked questions

Do restaurants in Mallorca have to give you free tap water?

Yes. Spain's 2022 waste law (Ley 7/2022) requires bars and restaurants to offer non-bottled water free of charge to customers who ask for it. Bottled water is still charged if you order it.

Can you brush your teeth with tap water in Mallorca?

Yes. Mains water in Mallorca is safe and regularly tested, so it is fine for brushing your teeth, cooking and making coffee. If you dislike the taste for drinking, that is down to limescale and chlorine, not a health risk.

Where can I refill a water bottle in Palma?

EMAYA, Palma's water company, has installed public filtered-water fountains in many neighbourhoods for refilling reusable bottles. Outside the city, ask for tap water in bars and cafés, which must give it to you free, or buy large bottles at the supermarket.

Updated in October 2026