Can You Drink the Tap Water in Istanbul?

The Short Answer: No

While the tap water (Musluk Suyu) in Istanbul is heavily chlorinated and goes through massive modern filtration plants, it is highly recommended that tourists do not drink it.

Why is it Unsafe?

The issue is not the city's water treatment facilities; the issue is the ancient plumbing. Istanbul is an incredibly old city, and the pipes running into individual buildings (especially in historical areas like Sultanahmet and Beyoğlu) are often old, rusty, and can introduce bacteria that your stomach is not accustomed to.

What About Ice and Brushing Teeth?

• Ice: Ice in reputable restaurants and bars is perfectly safe. It is commercially produced using filtered water.
• Brushing Teeth: Brushing your teeth with tap water is generally fine and safe. The risk comes from consuming large quantities of water.
• Showering: Completely safe.

Bottled Water Culture

Because nobody drinks the tap water, bottled water is incredibly cheap and ubiquitous in Turkey. A small bottle of water costs pennies at any local kiosk (Bakkal).

VIP Hydration

When you land at Istanbul Airport after a 12-hour flight, the last thing you want to do is hunt for an ATM to buy a bottle of water. When you book our VIP Airport Transfer, complimentary, ice-cold bottled water is always waiting for you inside the vehicle.