Is the tap water safe?

Country by country: drink it, boil or filter it, or buy sealed bottles. Plus ice, street drinks, brushing your teeth and refilling without plastic.

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Every country

228 shown. Tap a country for ice, street-drink and teeth notes.

AfghanistanBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; sealed bottled water only.check Afghanistan guide
AlbaniaBoil or filter first
Tap water is not reliably drinkable in all towns; bottled water is cheap and standard. Albania guide
AlgeriaBottled or treated only
Drink bottled water. Algeria guide
AndorraDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe and cold; mountain streams are not treated. Andorra guide
AngolaBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; bottled water everywhere. Angola guide
Antigua and BarbudaBoil or filter first
Desalinated tap water in hotels; many drink bottled. Antigua and Barbuda guide
ArgentinaDrink from the tap
Tap water is drinkable in Buenos Aires and most cities; in the Northwest and rural areas ask or use bottled. Argentina guide
ArmeniaDrink from the tap
Tap and fountain water in Yerevan is generally drinkable (check); bottled is cheap.check Armenia guide
ArubaDrink from the tap
Tap water is desalinated seawater and safe to drink. Aruba guide
AustraliaDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe in cities and towns; in remote places use signed drinking taps. Carry plenty on any outback drive or walk. Australia guide
AustriaDrink from the tap
Tap water is excellent. Ask for 'ein Glas Leitungswasser'; coffee in a café comes with a free glass of water. Austria guide
AzerbaijanBottled or treated only
Bottled or filtered only. Azerbaijan guide
BahrainBoil or filter first
Tap water is desalinated and treated; most residents drink bottled water, which is cheap. Bahrain guide
BangladeshBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap; buy sealed bottles or use hotel filtered water. Bangladesh guide
BarbadosDrink from the tap
Tap water is from coral-limestone aquifers and generally safe to drink; many visitors still buy bottled. Barbados guide
BelarusBoil or filter first
Treated in Minsk but most people boil or filter it; bottled is cheap.check Belarus guide
BelgiumDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe, though many Belgians drink bottled; restaurants rarely serve free tap water. Belgium guide
BelizeBoil or filter first
Treated water in Belize City and San Pedro; most visitors drink bottled or filtered. Belize guide
BeninBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap. Bottled water (Possotomè is the local brand) is everywhere. Benin guide
BermudaBoil or filter first
Tap water comes from rooftop rainwater tanks or desalination; generally safe but many buy bottled — ask your hotel. Bermuda guide
BhutanBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap; hotels provide bottled or filtered water. Bhutan guide
BoliviaBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; bottled or filtered. Bolivia guide
Bosnia and HerzegovinaDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe in cities; Sarajevo's public fountains (česma) are drinkable. Ask in rural areas. Bosnia and Herzegovina guide
BotswanaBoil or filter first
Tap water is treated in towns; camps provide filtered water. Botswana guide
BrazilBottled or treated only
Do not drink tap water; filtered water is provided in most homes and hotels. Brazil guide
BruneiBoil or filter first
Treated; most people drink bottled or filtered — check.check Brunei guide
BulgariaDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe in most cities; mountain spring taps are everywhere. Bulgaria guide
Burkina FasoBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; bottled water only.check Burkina Faso guide
BurundiBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap. Burundi guide
CambodiaBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap. Bottled water everywhere; many hotels have refill stations. Cambodia guide
CameroonBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap. Bottled water (Supermont, Tangui) everywhere. Cameroon guide
CanadaDrink from the tap
Tap water is drinkable; treat water from lakes and streams (giardia). Canada guide
Cape VerdeBoil or filter first
Mostly desalinated; bottled water recommended. Cape Verde guide
Cayman IslandsDrink from the tap
Desalinated tap water on Grand Cayman is safe; cisterns on the Sister Islands. Cayman Islands guide
Central African RepublicBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; bottled water only.check Central African Republic guide
ChadBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; bottled water only.check Chad guide
ChileDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe in most cities; boil or filter in rural areas and on treks. Chile guide
ChinaBottled or treated only
Not for drinking from the tap; bottled water ¥2–5, and kettles and free bottles in hotel rooms. Restaurants serve hot water or tea. China guide
ColombiaDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe in Bogotá and Medellín; drink bottled on the coast and in rural areas. Colombia guide
ComorosBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap; bottled water. Comoros guide
Cook IslandsBoil or filter first
Rarotonga's supply is being upgraded; many hotels filter it. Drink bottled or boiled on outer islands. Cook Islands guide
Costa RicaDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe in most of the country, including San José; drink bottled on parts of the Caribbean coast and in remote areas. Costa Rica guide
Côte d'IvoireBottled or treated only
Not recommended from the tap. Bottled water everywhere. Côte d'Ivoire guide
CroatiaDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe and good everywhere, including islands (some small islands rely on piped or tanked water — ask). Croatia guide
CubaBottled or treated only
Do not drink tap water; bottled water can be scarce, so bring a filter bottle or tablets. Cuba guide
CuraçaoDrink from the tap
Tap water is desalinated and safe to drink. Curaçao guide
CyprusBoil or filter first
Tap water in towns is treated and generally safe, but much of it is desalinated and many residents drink bottled water; mountain villages vary — ask. Cyprus guide
Czech RepublicDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe everywhere. Restaurants sell bottled water by default; ask for tap water if you want it. Czech Republic guide
Democratic Republic of the CongoBottled or treated only
Drink bottled water. Democratic Republic of the Congo guide
DenmarkDrink from the tap
Tap water is excellent everywhere; restaurants serve it free or for a small charge per carafe. Denmark guide
DjiboutiBoil or filter first
Tap water is desalinated or bore water; drink bottled. Djibouti guide
DominicaBoil or filter first
Spring-fed tap water is widely drunk; boil or filter after storms. Dominica guide
Dominican RepublicBottled or treated only
Do not drink tap water; buy garrafones (big refillable jugs) or bottled. Dominican Republic guide
EcuadorBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap in most places (Quito and Cuenca's water is treated but pipes vary); drink bottled or filtered. Ecuador guide
EgyptBoil or filter first
Tap water is chlorinated in cities but most visitors drink bottled; do not drink Nile water. Egypt guide
El SalvadorBottled or treated only
Do not drink tap water; bottled and filtered water everywhere. El Salvador guide
Equatorial GuineaBottled or treated only
Drink bottled water. Equatorial Guinea guide
EritreaBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap; bottled water everywhere. Eritrea guide
EstoniaDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe everywhere; Tallinn's is hard but fine. Estonia guide
EswatiniBoil or filter first
Treated in towns; lodges supply safe water; filter elsewhere. Eswatini guide
EthiopiaBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap. Bottled water everywhere; many lodges refill bottles. Ethiopia guide
Falkland IslandsDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe in Stanley; lodges advise on their supply. Falkland Islands guide
Faroe IslandsDrink from the tap
Tap water is excellent. Faroe Islands guide
Federated States of MicronesiaBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; bottled water everywhere in towns, and many hotels have filtered water. Federated States of Micronesia guide
FijiBoil or filter first
Treated in Nadi, Lautoka and Suva but visitors mostly drink bottled or filtered; boil or filter on outer islands and in villages. Many resorts supply filtered water — bring a bottle. Fiji guide
FinlandDrink from the tap
Tap water is excellent. Finland guide
FranceDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise. Restaurants must serve a free carafe of tap water on request. France guide
French GuianaDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe in Cayenne and Kourou; bottled inland. French Guiana guide
French PolynesiaBoil or filter first
Tap water in Papeete and many Tahiti and Moorea communes is treated; on atolls it is rainwater. Ask, or drink bottled. French Polynesia guide
GabonBoil or filter first
Tap water in Libreville is treated but pipes are old; drink bottled. Gabon guide
GeorgiaBoil or filter first
Tap water is widely drunk in Tbilisi and mountain towns (check locally); bottled is cheap.check Georgia guide
GermanyDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe everywhere. Restaurants usually sell bottled water; fizzy (mit Kohlensäure) is the default, ask for 'still' or 'ohne'. Germany guide
GhanaBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap. Bottled water or sealed sachets from known brands are sold everywhere. Ghana guide
GibraltarDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe (desalinated). Gibraltar guide
GreeceDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe in Athens, Thessaloniki and most of the mainland. On many islands it is desalinated or hard: ask locally and buy bottled if unsure. Greece guide
GreenlandDrink from the tap
Tap water is clean and drinkable; in settlements, check with your host.check Greenland guide
GrenadaBoil or filter first
Tap water is treated in most areas; many visitors prefer bottled, especially on Carriacou (cistern water). Grenada guide
GuadeloupeBoil or filter first
Tap water supply is patchy, with scheduled cuts ('tours d'eau') in some communes; drink bottled. Guadeloupe guide
GuamDrink from the tap
Treated tap water is generally safe to drink; follow boil-water notices after typhoons. Many visitors prefer bottled. Guam guide
GuatemalaBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations in Antigua and lake hotels. Guatemala guide
GuineaBottled or treated only
Bottled only. Guinea guide
Guinea-BissauBottled or treated only
Bottled only. Guinea-Bissau guide
GuyanaBottled or treated only
Do not drink tap water; bottled water is sold everywhere. Guyana guide
HaitiBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; bottled or treated water only (cholera risk).check Haiti guide
HondurasBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap; bottled and refill jugs. Honduras guide
Hong KongBoil or filter first
Tap water meets WHO standards, but most locals boil or filter it; refill at water dispensers in parks, MTR stations and malls (Water Supplies Department dispensers). Hong Kong guide
HungaryDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe. Restaurants sell bottled water; ask for 'csapvíz'. Hungary guide
IcelandDrink from the tap
Cold tap water is excellent; hot tap water is geothermal and smells of sulphur — do not drink it. Iceland guide
IndiaBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.check India guide
IndonesiaBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations common in Bali. Indonesia guide
IranBoil or filter first
Treated in Tehran and big cities, but most visitors drink bottled or filtered.check Iran guide
IraqBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; bottled water only.check Iraq guide
IrelandDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe; occasional local 'boil water' notices are posted by Uisce Éireann. Ireland guide
IsraelDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe to drink in cities and towns.check Israel guide
ItalyDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe unless signed otherwise; Rome's nasoni fountains run all day. Restaurants serve bottled water (naturale or frizzante) unless you ask for tap (acqua del rubinetto). Italy guide
JamaicaBoil or filter first
Tap water is treated in cities and resorts but many visitors drink bottled; in Melissa-affected parishes, drink bottled only (2026). Jamaica guide
JapanDrink from the tap
Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains. Japan guide
JordanBoil or filter first
Treated at source but stored in rooftop tanks; drink bottled or filtered. Water is scarce — short showers help. Jordan guide
KazakhstanBoil or filter first
Treated in cities, but most people drink bottled or boiled water; bottled costs KZT 150–400. Kazakhstan guide
KenyaBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap. Lodges give filtered water; bring a refillable bottle. Kenya guide
KiribatiBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; bottled, boiled or rainwater from hotel tanks. Kiribati guide
KosovoBoil or filter first
Tap water is treated in cities, but many people drink bottled; ask at your hotel. Kosovo guide
KuwaitBoil or filter first
Tap water is desalinated and treated; almost everyone drinks bottled. After 2026 strikes on plants, supply can be interrupted — check.check Kuwait guide
KyrgyzstanBottled or treated only
Not safe untreated; bottled water everywhere, filters for trekking. Kyrgyzstan guide
LaosBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap; bottled and refill water everywhere. Laos guide
LatviaDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe. Latvia guide
LebanonBottled or treated only
Not recommended from the tap; bottled or delivered water.check Lebanon guide
LesothoBoil or filter first
Treated in Maseru; in the mountains, drink filtered or boiled water. Lesotho guide
LiberiaBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap. Bottled or sealed sachet water. Liberia guide
LibyaBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; bottled water only.check Libya guide
LiechtensteinDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe and good. Liechtenstein guide
LithuaniaDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe. Lithuania guide
LuxembourgDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe. Luxembourg guide
MacauBoil or filter first
Tap water meets standards, but old building pipes lead most locals to boil or buy water; hotels provide bottles. Macau guide
MadagascarBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles or use a filter. Madagascar guide
MalawiBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; lodges provide filtered water. Bring a filter bottle to cut plastic. Malawi guide
MalaysiaBoil or filter first
Treated in cities, but most people filter or boil; bottled water is cheap. Malaysia guide
MaldivesBoil or filter first
Tap water is desalinated; resorts provide filtered water in glass bottles. Drink bottled or filtered water on local islands. Maldives guide
MaliBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; bottled water only.check Mali guide
MaltaDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe but tastes of desalination; bottled or filtered water is normal in homes and restaurants. Malta guide
Marshall IslandsBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; rainwater tanks and bottled water; supplies are rationed in droughts. Marshall Islands guide
MartiniqueDrink from the tap
Tap water is treated and drinkable in most places; supply cuts happen during droughts — check.check Martinique guide
MauritaniaBottled or treated only
Bottled only. Mauritania guide
MauritiusBoil or filter first
Treated tap water; most visitors drink bottled or filtered. Mauritius guide
MexicoBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap; garrafón (20-litre jugs) and filtered water in hotels. Mexico guide
MoldovaBottled or treated only
Drink bottled or filtered. Moldova guide
MonacoDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe. Monaco guide
MongoliaBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap. Bottled water is everywhere in towns; in camps, boiled or filtered water — bring a filter bottle for long trips. Mongolia guide
MontenegroDrink from the tap
Tap water is generally safe; in summer some coastal towns have supply problems — ask your host. Montenegro guide
MoroccoBoil or filter first
Tap water is treated in cities but most visitors drink bottled; carry water in the south. Morocco guide
MozambiqueBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; lodges provide filtered water. Mozambique guide
MyanmarBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; bottled or purified water.check Myanmar guide
NamibiaDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe in Windhoek and main towns (Windhoek recycles water to drinking standard). Carry plenty in the car. Namibia guide
NauruBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; bottled and desalinated water. Nauru guide
NepalBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap. Use filtered refill stations (Rs 50–100 a litre) or purification tablets; buying plastic bottles on treks leaves rubbish in the mountains. Nepal guide
NetherlandsDrink from the tap
Tap water is among the best in Europe; restaurants may charge for it, so ask. Netherlands guide
New CaledoniaDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe in Nouméa and most of Grande Terre; on the islands ask, as rainwater tanks are common. New Caledonia guide
New ZealandDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe almost everywhere; follow boil-water notices in small rural schemes. Treat stream water in the backcountry. New Zealand guide
NicaraguaBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap outside some Managua hotels; buy bottled or use refill stations. Nicaragua guide
NigerBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; bottled water only.check Niger guide
NigeriaBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap. Bottled or sealed sachet water ('pure water') from known brands. Nigeria guide
NiueBoil or filter first
Most lodges use groundwater or rainwater; many drink it, but ask your host and filter if unsure. Niue guide
North Korea (DPRK)Bottled or treated only
Bottled water provided on tours.check North Korea (DPRK) guide
North MacedoniaDrink from the tap
Tap water is generally safe in towns; bottled water is cheap if you prefer it. North Macedonia guide
Northern CyprusBottled or treated only
Drink bottled water; tap water is used for washing and cooking. Northern Cyprus guide
Northern Mariana IslandsBottled or treated only
Saipan's tap water has long been brackish and not recommended for drinking in many areas; drink bottled or filtered water. Rota's spring-fed water is better. Northern Mariana Islands guide
NorwayDrink from the tap
Tap water is excellent; streams in the mountains are usually drinkable, but avoid water below farms and grazing. Norway guide
OmanBoil or filter first
Desalinated tap water is treated and generally safe in Muscat, but most residents and visitors drink bottled; large bottles cost OMR 0.2–0.5. Oman guide
PakistanBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap; bottled water everywhere. Pakistan guide
PalauBottled or treated only
Tap water is not recommended for drinking; use bottled or filtered water. Hotels often supply refills. Palau guide
Palestine (Palestinian territories)Bottled or treated only
Supply is intermittent and quality varies; drink bottled or filtered.check Palestine (Palestinian territories) guide
PanamaDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe in Panama City and most towns; drink bottled on the islands and in Bocas. Panama guide
Papua New GuineaBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap. Drink bottled, boiled or filtered water; lodges supply rainwater that should be treated. Papua New Guinea guide
ParaguayBoil or filter first
Tap water is treated in Asunción but many drink bottled; bottled outside the city. Paraguay guide
PeruBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; bottled or filtered. Peru guide
PhilippinesBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations cheap. Philippines guide
PolandDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe. Restaurants sell bottled water. Poland guide
PortugalDrink from the tap
Safe to drink from the tap everywhere; tap water in restaurants is on request. Portugal guide
Puerto RicoDrink from the tap
Tap water is treated and generally safe in San Juan; many prefer filtered or bottled, especially after storms. Puerto Rico guide
QatarBoil or filter first
Tap water is desalinated and treated to international standards; most residents still drink bottled water, which is cheap. Qatar guide
Republic of the CongoBottled or treated only
Drink bottled water. Republic of the Congo guide
RéunionDrink from the tap
Tap water is generally drinkable on the coast; after heavy rain, advisories are issued — use bottled then. Réunion guide
RomaniaDrink from the tap
Tap water in cities is treated and generally safe; many locals prefer bottled mineral water (apă plată = still, apă minerală = sparkling). Avoid untreated wells in villages. Romania guide
RussiaBoil or filter first
Treated in big cities, but old pipes mean most people boil or filter it.check Russia guide
RwandaBottled or treated only
Not recommended from the tap; bottled and filtered water everywhere. Rwanda guide
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaBoil or filter first
Tap water is treated on Saint Helena (check locally); bottled water is available.check Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha guide
Saint Kitts and NevisBoil or filter first
Treated tap water from springs; many drink it, others prefer bottled — ask. Saint Kitts and Nevis guide
Saint LuciaBoil or filter first
Treated tap water in most areas; many prefer bottled. Saint Lucia guide
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesBoil or filter first
Tap water on St Vincent is generally fine; rainwater cisterns on the Grenadines — drink bottled. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines guide
Saint-MartinBoil or filter first
Tap water is desalinated; most visitors drink bottled. Saint-Martin guide
SamoaBoil or filter first
Apia's supply is treated; drink bottled or boiled in villages. Samoa guide
San MarinoDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe. San Marino guide
São Tomé and PríncipeBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap; bottled water everywhere. São Tomé and Príncipe guide
Saudi ArabiaBoil or filter first
Tap water is desalinated and treated; most people drink bottled water, sold everywhere for SAR 1–2. Saudi Arabia guide
SenegalBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap for visitors. Bottled water (Kirène) everywhere; sachets are local practice. Senegal guide
SerbiaDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe in Belgrade and Novi Sad; some towns in Vojvodina (e.g. Zrenjanin) have had arsenic warnings — ask locally. Serbia guide
SeychellesBoil or filter first
Tap water is treated on Mahé and Praslin; many visitors drink bottled or filtered. Seychelles guide
Sierra LeoneBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap. Bottled water or sealed sachets from known brands. Sierra Leone guide
SingaporeDrink from the tap
Drinkable from the tap everywhere. Refill at water coolers in malls, parks and at Changi. Singapore guide
Sint EustatiusBoil or filter first
Rainwater and desalinated tap water; many drink bottled — ask your host. Sint Eustatius guide
SlovakiaDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe. Ask for 'voda z vodovodu'. Slovakia guide
SloveniaDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe and good; Slovenia wrote the right to drinking water into its constitution. Slovenia guide
Solomon IslandsBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap in Honiara; lodges use rainwater — treat or ask for boiled or filtered water. Solomon Islands guide
SomaliaBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; bottled water only.check Somalia guide
SomalilandBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap; bottled water everywhere. Somaliland guide
South AfricaDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe in most cities and towns; in some municipalities with failing infrastructure, ask your host. South Africa guide
South KoreaDrink from the tap
Officially safe from the tap; most people drink filtered water, and restaurants serve it free. Bottles cost ₩800–1,500 at convenience stores. South Korea guide
South SudanBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; bottled water only.check South Sudan guide
SpainDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe across the mainland; it tastes of chlorine in some coastal areas. Ask for 'agua del grifo' in restaurants — by law since 2025 they must offer it free (check local application).check Spain guide
Sri LankaBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap. Bottled water everywhere; many hotels provide filtered water. Sri Lanka guide
SudanBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; bottled water only.check Sudan guide
SurinameBoil or filter first
Paramaribo tap water is generally treated (check); drink bottled inland.check Suriname guide
SwedenDrink from the tap
Tap water is excellent; ask for 'kranvatten', often free. Sweden guide
SwitzerlandDrink from the tap
Tap and fountain water is excellent. Restaurants usually charge for bottled water; ask for 'Hahnenwasser' / 'eau du robinet'. Switzerland guide
SyriaBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; bottled water only.check Syria guide
TaiwanBoil or filter first
Treated at source, but locals boil or filter it. Filtered hot-and-cold dispensers are in stations, hotels and many public buildings; bottles cost NT$20–30. Taiwan guide
TajikistanBottled or treated only
Never drink untreated; bring a filter for the Pamir. Tajikistan guide
TanzaniaBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap; lodges provide filtered water. Tanzania guide
ThailandBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap. Street refill machines charge about ฿1 a litre; bottled water everywhere. Thailand guide
The BahamasBoil or filter first
Nassau tap water is treated but many buy bottled; on the Out Islands drink bottled or filtered. The Bahamas guide
The GambiaBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap; bottled water everywhere. The Gambia guide
Timor-LesteBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap. Timor-Leste guide
TogoBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap. Bottled water everywhere. Togo guide
TongaBoil or filter first
Tap and rainwater should be boiled or filtered; buy bottled water or refill filtered water at your guesthouse. Tonga guide
TransnistriaBottled or treated only
Bottled only. Transnistria guide
Trinidad and TobagoBoil or filter first
Tap water is treated but supply is irregular in places; most visitors drink bottled or filtered. Trinidad and Tobago guide
TunisiaBoil or filter first
Tap water is treated but tastes of chlorine; most drink bottled. Tunisia guide
Türkiye (Turkey)Boil or filter first
Tap water is treated and chlorinated but tastes of it; locals buy bottled or 19-litre dispenser water. Restaurants charge for bottled water. Türkiye (Turkey) guide
TurkmenistanBottled or treated only
Bottled only. Turkmenistan guide
Turks and CaicosBoil or filter first
Desalinated tap water in most hotels; many drink bottled — ask. Turks and Caicos guide
TuvaluBoil or filter first
Rainwater tanks and desalination; drink bottled or boiled water. Tuvalu guide
UgandaBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap; lodges provide filtered water. Uganda guide
UkraineBoil or filter first
Treated in cities, but most people boil or filter it; supply can be cut by attacks.check Ukraine guide
United Arab EmiratesDrink from the tap
Tap water is desalinated and treated to safe standards, but tastes flat; most people drink bottled or filtered water. Free water stations in some parks and malls. United Arab Emirates guide
United KingdomDrink from the tap
Tap water is safe everywhere. Free refills are common; restaurants will bring tap water if you ask. United Kingdom guide
United StatesDrink from the tap
Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks. United States guide
UruguayDrink from the tap
Tap water is drinkable throughout. Uruguay guide
US Virgin IslandsBoil or filter first
Most homes use cisterns; drink bottled or filtered. US Virgin Islands guide
UzbekistanBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; bottled water UZS 3,000–6,000 in shops. Boiled tea is always safe. Uzbekistan guide
VanuatuBoil or filter first
Port Vila's water is treated but many visitors buy bottled; on islands, drink boiled, filtered or bottled water. Vanuatu guide
Vatican CityDrink from the tap
Drinking fountains in St Peter's Square and the Museums courtyards. Vatican City guide
VenezuelaBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap and supply is irregular; bottled only.check Venezuela guide
VietnamBottled or treated only
Not drinkable from the tap. Bottled and filtered water everywhere; hotel refill stations are common. Café ice is factory-made. Vietnam guide
Wallis and FutunaBoil or filter first
Treated tap water on Wallis is generally drunk (check); bottled water in shops.check Wallis and Futuna guide
Western SaharaBottled or treated only
Drink bottled water; desalinated tap water tastes salty. Western Sahara guide
YemenBottled or treated only
Not safe from the tap; bottled water only.check Yemen guide
ZambiaBottled or treated only
Bottled or filtered water only; lodges provide it. Zambia guide
ZimbabweBoil or filter first
Treated tap water in Victoria Falls hotels; elsewhere drink bottled or filtered water. Zimbabwe guide

Refill instead of buying

Carry a refillable bottle: many hotels, hostels and cafés refill it free or for a small charge, and it cuts plastic.
Where tap water isn't safe, a filter or purifier bottle (look for virus protection, not just bacteria) or a UV pen lets you drink from any tap.
Boiling works everywhere: a rolling boil for 1 minute (3 minutes above about 2,000 m) — the kettle in your room counts.
Purification tablets (chlorine dioxide) are light backup for treks and power cuts; give them the full time on the packet.
Big 5–20 L refill jugs or street refill machines are cheaper and use less plastic than small bottles — check the seal or the machine's service date.

Pack a filter bottle or tablets with the rest of your kit: packing list.

General information, not medical advice. Verdicts read each country guide's tap-water line; a few countries without one use a curated line (checked 2026-09). Water within a country varies — old building pipes, islands, rural wells, storms and boil-water notices all change the answer, so ask your host and follow local notices. Lines marked check are uncertain.