Can you drink the tap water?
Tap water in Egypt: bottled only
Don't drink the tap water, and use bottled water to brush your teeth. Stomach upsets are the most common reason British tourists see a doctor in Egypt.
- Tap water safe
- Safe in cities
- Drink bottled
All-inclusive buffets are where many people come unstuck, with food left out in the heat. Choose freshly cooked dishes, peel your own fruit, and keep hand sanitiser on the table.
Where it differs
- Red Sea resortsDrink bottled
Bottled water in rooms. Be wary of salads and lukewarm buffets.
- Nile cruisesDrink bottled
Bottled water provided. Don't swim in the Nile, due to bilharzia.
How to avoid a stomach bug in Egypt
- Choose freshly cooked food at buffets, not dishes that have been sitting out.
- Peel fruit yourself, and skip salads washed in tap water.
- Use bottled water to brush your teeth, and keep your mouth closed in the shower.
- Wash or sanitise your hands before every meal. Many bugs come from hands, not water.
- Be wary of ice outside big hotels and established restaurants.
If you do get ill
Most stomach upsets clear up in two or three days. Rest, sip oral rehydration solution and eat plain food when you can. See a doctor if you have a high fever, blood in your stools, or symptoms lasting more than three days. Ask the price first if a hotel doctor is called, and contact your insurer before agreeing to a hospital stay.
Before you go
- Buy water from shops outside the hotel, it's much cheaper.
- Pack loperamide and rehydration salts.
Official advice: FCDO health advice for Egypt
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