Can you drink the tap water in Malta?

[jennylamb1]

Going to Malta and planning to use bottled water however we are arriving quite late and the shops will all be shut. This has provoked a debate with the OH over whether drinking the tap water is a good idea or not. What are people's experiences?

I wouldn't, it won't kill you for one night but it tastes pretty bad. We drank only bottled water last year in Malta and the Greek islands, that's what the locals recommended

I never have drunk tap water in Malta; it's unlikely to be mains water (usually stored in a bowser that's topped up every now and again). Can you buy some bottled water at the airport to tide you over until the morning?

It's safe to but nobody does 'cause it's desalinated. Even locals use bottled. You could drink it for the night (you'll manage with a glass or two if you keep well hydrated throughout your journey). Could also fill up a bottle after security at your departure airport and avoid using it on the flight.

Forgot to say, I've drank it on the odd occasion whilst there. No ill effects and the taste wasn't unbearable. Then again I am one person and am no microbiologist or immunologist.

I have no idea if I did or not. Probably had jugs of water on tables at some point and have no idea if it was tap or not. Haven't ever worried about drinking tap water anywhere in Europe. Just not a thing on my radar at all. Are you worrying about brushing your teeth with it too?

It’s Europe. The only reason not to is if it isn’t desalinised (like some of the Greek islands). In which case it won’t hurt you but you certainly won’t want to drink it.

Just buy some water at the airport.

As others have said the water is desalinated and tastes weird. I think all the hotels we stayed in had at least a couple of bottles of water in the room, the one in Valletta had one of those big 20l office type bottles with a stop tap, and we used that to fill up our own bottles. We used tap water for brushing teeth and stuff, it was fine for that. There were lots of mosquitoes in March, the kids were a bitten a lot, parents not so much.

No, it's desalinated sea water.