I was on a train in Italy and a local told me to always ask for 'acqua del rubinetto'

I was on a regional train from Florence to Bologna last fall, and I heard a woman tell her kids to ask for tap water that way to avoid paying for bottled water in restaurants. I tried it at my next meal and saved 4 euros. Do you have any other simple local phrases that have saved you money while traveling?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_angela2mo ago

Oh that's a good tip... but heads up, in a lot of places just asking for "acqua" will get you the expensive bottled kind. I found you have to be super clear. In France, I learned to say "une carafe d'eau" for the free pitcher of tap water. Once I just said "water" and got a fancy bottle for 8 euros... it was a painful lesson. Always use the exact local phrase for the free stuff.

robin_roberts842mo ago

Yeah, that's such a real travel trap. I feel for you, @the_angela, that 8 euro bottle of water is a special kind of sting. It happened to me in Italy once before I learned the "acqua del rubinetto" trick. You're totally right that you need the exact phrase, because just the simple word for water often means the paid option. Makes you feel a bit ripped off, but it's just one of those local customs you have to learn the hard way sometimes.

gracewebb2mo ago

What's the local phrase for tap water? Robin_roberts84 is right, you need the exact words. I always ask a local for that phrase first thing.