Can you drink the tap water?
Tap water in Thailand: skip the tap, enjoy the ice
Bangkok's water is treated, but old pipes mean you shouldn't drink from the tap. The good news: ice in Thailand is almost always factory-made and safe, and coin-operated refill machines sell filtered water for a few baht.
- Tap water safe
- Safe in cities
- Drink bottled
Look for the tube-shaped ice with a hole in the middle. Refill machines on street corners are the cheapest way to fill a reusable bottle and cut plastic.
Where it differs
- Ice in drinksTap water safe
Factory-made tube ice is safe.
- Refill stationsSafe in cities
Cheap filtered water. Choose clean, busy machines.
- IslandsDrink bottled
Water often from wells or tankers. Bottled only.
What's safe to drink in Thailand
- Sealed bottled water from shops like 7-Eleven, cheap everywhere.
- Refill machine water from clean, busy machines.
- Tube ice with a hole in the middle, made in factories.
- Fresh coconuts, naturally sterile and sold everywhere.
- Fruit shakes in busy places, usually made with purified ice.
On the islands
Many islands rely on wells, rain or water shipped from the mainland, so tap water there can be brackish or untreated. Use bottled water for drinking and brushing your teeth, and bring a reusable bottle for refill stations where you find them.
Before you go
- 7-Eleven sells large bottles cheaply.
- Use bottled water for brushing your teeth on the islands.
Official advice: FCDO health advice for Thailand
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