Can you drink tap water in Norway?
Water quality, Oslo and Tromsø, bottled water and private wells.
Short answer
Tap water is safe to drink across Norway, including in Oslo and Tromsø, unless the local municipality has issued a boil-water notice. Visit Norway says there is no need to buy bottled water. Most people in Norway get their water from municipal waterworks that draw on rivers and lakes.
Why
- The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) states that water quality in Norway is good and that 89 percent of the population gets drinking water from municipal waterworks.
- The City of Oslo says its drinking water is of high quality and safe to drink unless the city announces otherwise, and the Oset plant supplies 90 percent of consumption.
- A CEPT information note for a meeting in Tromsø describes the tap water there as high quality and safe to drink.
Details
In Oslo the water can change colour, smell or taste for a while, but the city says it is still safe unless a warning is issued. Oslo's water is soft, about 2.5 °dH. Visit Norway adds that most running water in the mountains and forests is clean enough to drink, but you should avoid water that runs through pastures or comes from glaciers.
Tip
Bring a refillable bottle and fill it from the tap. If a municipality issues a boil-water notice (kokevarsel), follow its advice and boil the water before you drink it.
What may differ
About 10 percent of the population has its own private water supply, such as a well. At a cabin or farm with its own water, ask the owner whether the water is safe to drink.
People also ask
- Is tap water in Norway safe to drink?
- Is tap water in Oslo safe to drink?
- Can you drink tap water in Tromsø?
- Should I buy bottled water in Norway?
Sources
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health: Drinking waterChecked at:
- City of Oslo: Drinking water qualityChecked at:
- Visit Norway: Travel tips from A to ZChecked at:
- CEPT: Practical information about TromsøChecked at:
Information checked on 15 October 2026.
Practical Norway: plugs, tap water and moreRelated questions
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Where can I find a public toilet in Trondheim?
Trondheim kommune marks all its public toilets in parks, green areas and public spaces on an online toilet map, which also shows fees and accessibility.
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Where can I return a whole bag of bottles at once in Norway?
You can empty a whole bag at once into multi-feed reverse vending machines such as the TOMRA R1, which some larger supermarkets have, among them Obs Lillestrøm.
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Where can I find Asian and Indian grocery stores in Oslo?
Oslo's Asian and Indian grocery shops are easiest to find in Grønland, east of Oslo Central Station, where the city says import food shops are concentrated.
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Where can I buy distilled water in Norway?
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