City in South Sinai, Egypt
Can you drink tap water in Sharm El Sheikh?
Can you drink the tap water in Sharm El Sheikh?
Don't drink the tap water. Tap water is desalinated and tastes salty; drink bottled or filtered water. Hotels provide bottled water.
Key facts
- In Sharm El Sheikh: Tap water is desalinated and tastes salty; drink bottled or filtered water. Hotels provide bottled water.
- Across Egypt: Tap water is chlorinated and many locals drink it, but visitors should use bottled or filtered water; avoid ice at street stalls.
- Safely managed drinking water: 79% of people in Egypt (2024, WHO/UNICEF JMP).
Tap water across Egypt
| Place | Tap water |
|---|---|
| Cairo | No, drink bottled |
| Luxor | No, drink bottled |
| Hurghada | No, drink bottled |
| Sharm El Sheikh | No, drink bottled |
| Aswan | No, drink bottled |
| Dahab | No, drink bottled |
| Alexandria | No, drink bottled |
| Giza | No, drink bottled |
| Marsa Alam | No, drink bottled |
| El Gouna | No, drink bottled |
| Siwa Oasis | No, drink bottled |
Quick answers
Is tap water safe to drink in Sharm El Sheikh?
Don't drink the tap water. Tap water is desalinated and tastes salty; drink bottled or filtered water. Hotels provide bottled water.
Can you drink tap water in Egypt?
Tap water is chlorinated and many locals drink it, but visitors should use bottled or filtered water; avoid ice at street stalls.
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Sources
- World Bank: safely managed drinking water (WHO/UNICEF)
- CDC: food and water safety for travelers
- Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
- Go Bus
- UK FCDO travel advice: Egypt
Verdicts reflect official utility statements and what locals actually do. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.