Can You Drink Tap Water in Eritrea?

Tap water in Eritrea is not safe to drink for visitors. One of the world's most closed and isolated countries, Eritrea has severely limited water infrastructure throughout the country. Even in Asmara, the capital and most developed city, tap water is not reliably treated to a safe standard for visitors. The country's water resources are extremely limited — Eritrea is one of the most water-stressed nations in Africa.

Asmara, the capital in the highland plateau, is one of Africa's most architecturally distinctive cities — its Italian colonial-era Art Deco and Modernist buildings earned UNESCO World Heritage Status in 2017. The city has a partial water treatment system but supply is intermittent and quality unreliable. Hotels in Asmara provide bottled or filtered water for guests. Bottled water is available in the capital.

Massawa on the Red Sea coast, an ancient port city with Ottoman and Italian colonial architecture, is increasingly visited for its historic interest. The coast is extremely hot and water infrastructure in Massawa is less reliable than in the highland capital. Carry adequate bottled water supplies before visiting the coast.

The Danakil Depression in the south — one of the world's most extreme landscapes, with active volcanoes, salt flats, and temperatures regularly exceeding 50°C — attracts a small number of extreme adventure visitors. This environment has essentially no water infrastructure. Any visit to the Danakil requires comprehensive water planning and supply from Asmara or other highland centres.

Eritrea is one of the world's most restricted tourism destinations, requiring government-issued travel permits and a government-assigned guide for most travel outside Asmara. Use bottled water throughout the country and carry a quality filter for any travel outside the capital, particularly to coastal and desert destinations.