"Can I drink the tap water?" is the fastest thing to get wrong in a new place — and travellers' diarrhoea can wipe out days of a trip. In some countries the tap water is perfectly safe and bottled water is wasted money and plastic; in others it can make you genuinely ill.
This guide helps you judge the risk and stay healthy without buying bottled water you don't need. Use the checker below for a specific country, and the guidance to understand the levels and the simple habits that keep you safe anywhere.
Risk levels at a glance
| Where | Tap water | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Most of Western Europe, Nth America, Australia, NZ, Japan, S. Korea | Generally safe | Drink freely; refill a bottle |
| Parts of S./E. Europe, some cities | Variable | Check locally; filter if unsure |
| Much of SE Asia, S. Asia, Africa, Latin America | Often unsafe | Bottled/filtered/boiled only |
Safety varies even within a country, and can change — always check current local advice for your specific destination.
Check your destination
Pick a country for a quick safe / caution / unsafe read and a few practical tips.
Water check → safe, caution or unsafe by country
General guidance only — confirm with current local advice on arrival.
It's not just drinking water
In places where tap water isn't safe, the risk hides in more than the glass you pour. Watch out for ice (often made from tap water), raw salads and pre-cut fruit washed in tap water, and even brushing your teeth. Many travellers get caught not by a glass of water but by an ice cube in a drink. A little awareness across all these avoids most problems.
Staying safe (without endless bottled water)
- Use a filter bottle or purifier — cheaper and far greener than buying bottled water daily, and reliable in risky areas.
- Boiling works — a rolling boil makes water safe; handy where you have a kettle.
- Sealed bottled water — check the seal is intact; refill from large bottles to cut waste.
- Skip the ice and rinsed produce in unsafe areas; stick to cooked, hot and peelable food.
- Refill freely where it's safe — in safe-water countries, bottled water is just wasted money and plastic.
Go deeper
Questions
How do I know if tap water is safe at my destination?
Use the checker above for a country-level guide, and confirm with current local advice or your accommodation. As a rule, most of Western Europe, North America, Australia, NZ, Japan and South Korea are safe, while much of South/Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America are not.
Is ice safe where tap water isn't?
Often not — ice is frequently made from tap water. In risky areas, skip ice in drinks unless you know it's made from purified water. Many travellers' stomach problems trace back to ice rather than the water itself.
Can I brush my teeth with tap water?
In safe-water countries, yes. Where the water isn't safe to drink, use bottled or purified water for brushing too, since you can swallow small amounts. It's a small habit that prevents a common cause of illness.
Are filter water bottles worth it?
For travel to risky-water regions, yes — a good filter or purifier bottle lets you safely drink from most sources, saving money on bottled water and cutting plastic waste over a long trip. Choose one rated for bacteria and protozoa (and viruses if needed).
What should I do if I get sick from water?
Stay hydrated with safe fluids and oral rehydration salts, rest, and eat plain foods. Most cases of travellers' diarrhoea pass in a few days. Seek medical help if symptoms are severe, include high fever or blood, or last more than a few days — and make sure your travel insurance covers medical care.
Should I buy bottled water everywhere to be safe?
No — in safe-water countries it's just wasted money and plastic. Refill a reusable bottle from the tap. Save bottled or filtered water for places where the tap water genuinely isn't safe.
Water safety varies by country and even by area, and conditions change. This is general guidance only, not medical advice — always check current local advice and consult a health professional for medical concerns.