A few years ago, in the heat in the center of Bratislava, there were two options: buy bottled water for one and a half to two euros or wait until you got home. Now, everything is different – the city is growing with a network of drinking fountains. There are already more than 34, and the water there is free, flowing straight from the public water supply.
The fountain season lasts from April to September, so now, in the middle of July heat, they are working at full capacity. Walking around the city, going to work, or taking children to the park – you don't need to carry a full bottle from home. It's enough to have an empty one and refill it on the way.
## Where to Find the Fountains
The fountains are located in the busiest places – in parks, squares, and near sports facilities:
* **Sad Janka Kráľa** – three fountains right away, the highest concentration in the city;
* **Medická záhrada** – convenient if you are with children at the playground;
* **Hviezdoslavovo námestie** and **Hlavné námestie** – in the very tourist center;
* near **Vodárenské múzeum** – symbolic, next to the water museum.
A full interactive map with all the locations is available on the website of the water supply company and on an independent map of Bratislava's drinking fountains. The network operator is Bratislavská vodárenská spoločnosť (BVS), the city water supply company.
There are two types of fountains: classic ones, where you drink by bending down, and contactless ones – these are convenient for filling your own bottle. This is part of the city's environmental program: less single-use plastic, more tap water.
## Is It Safe to Drink This Water?
The short answer is yes. The water in the fountains is the same as the water from the tap in your Bratislava apartment. It comes mainly from underground sources in the Danube region and, thanks to natural filtration through the soil, requires almost no chemical treatment. The quality is regularly checked by an accredited BVS laboratory.
So, paying for a bottle of water in Bratislava in the summer is more of a habit than a necessity.
## If the Heat Becomes Extreme
On days of tropical heat, the city goes further: BVS, together with the mayor's office, sets up a mobile 1000-liter drinking water tank on Hlavné námestie – this is enough for about 5000 people. The tank has a tap at the back, the water is free, and it usually stays until the evening. The city announces such actions separately when the temperature exceeds 30 degrees Celsius, as reported by local media.
By the way, besides BVS drinking fountains, Bratislava has over 140 decorative and drinking fountains in total from various owners, including the municipal organization MARIANUM. Of course, you can only drink from those marked as "pitná voda" (drinking water).
The main rule for hot days is simpler than any map: don't wait until you get thirsty. See a fountain – take a sip and refill your bottle.
## Where to Find the Fountains
The fountains are located in the busiest places – in parks, squares, and near sports facilities:
* **Sad Janka Kráľa** – three fountains right away, the highest concentration in the city;
* **Medická záhrada** – convenient if you are with children at the playground;
* **Hviezdoslavovo námestie** and **Hlavné námestie** – in the very tourist center;
* near **Vodárenské múzeum** – symbolic, next to the water museum.
A full interactive map with all the locations is available on the website of the water supply company and on an independent map of Bratislava's drinking fountains. The network operator is Bratislavská vodárenská spoločnosť (BVS), the city water supply company.
There are two types of fountains: classic ones, where you drink by bending down, and contactless ones – these are convenient for filling your own bottle. This is part of the city's environmental program: less single-use plastic, more tap water.
## Is It Safe to Drink This Water?
The short answer is yes. The water in the fountains is the same as the water from the tap in your Bratislava apartment. It comes mainly from underground sources in the Danube region and, thanks to natural filtration through the soil, requires almost no chemical treatment. The quality is regularly checked by an accredited BVS laboratory.
So, paying for a bottle of water in Bratislava in the summer is more of a habit than a necessity.
## If the Heat Becomes Extreme
On days of tropical heat, the city goes further: BVS, together with the mayor's office, sets up a mobile 1000-liter drinking water tank on Hlavné námestie – this is enough for about 5000 people. The tank has a tap at the back, the water is free, and it usually stays until the evening. The city announces such actions separately when the temperature exceeds 30 degrees Celsius, as reported by local media.
By the way, besides BVS drinking fountains, Bratislava has over 140 decorative and drinking fountains in total from various owners, including the municipal organization MARIANUM. Of course, you can only drink from those marked as "pitná voda" (drinking water).
The main rule for hot days is simpler than any map: don't wait until you get thirsty. See a fountain – take a sip and refill your bottle.
