Africa

Can you drink tap water in Egypt?

Capital: CairoArabic, English, FrenchUpdated October 2026

NoNo, drink bottled

Can you drink the tap water in Egypt?

Don't drink the tap water. Tap water is chlorinated and many locals drink it, but visitors should use bottled or filtered water; avoid ice at street stalls.

Key facts

Safely managed drinking water: 79% of people (2024, WHO/UNICEF JMP).

Tap water by place in Egypt

Place	Verdict	Notes
Cairo	No, drink bottled	Tap water is chlorinated but visitors should drink bottled or filtered water; avoid ice at street stalls.
Luxor	No, drink bottled	Drink bottled water; ice in tourist restaurants is usually from filtered water but avoid it at street stalls.
Hurghada	No, drink bottled	Drink bottled or filtered water; resort water is desalinated and tastes salty. Avoid ice in street cafés.
Sharm El Sheikh	No, drink bottled	Tap water is desalinated and tastes salty; drink bottled or filtered water. Hotels provide bottled water.
Aswan	No, drink bottled	Drink bottled water; avoid ice at street stalls.
Dahab	No, drink bottled	Tap water is desalinated and tastes salty; drink bottled or filtered water. Many cafés offer refill stations.
Alexandria	No, drink bottled	Tap water is chlorinated but visitors should drink bottled or filtered water; avoid ice at street stalls.
Giza	No, drink bottled	Use bottled or filtered water. Avoid ice at street stalls; most hotels give filtered water.
Marsa Alam	No, drink bottled	Tap water is desalinated and salty; drink bottled or filtered water. Resorts provide filtered water.
El Gouna	No, drink bottled	Tap water is treated but salty; drink bottled or filtered water. Hotels provide bottled water.
Siwa Oasis	No, drink bottled	Drink bottled water; local spring water is not treated for visitors.

Tap water by place

Sources

Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.