Practical tips
Drinking Water and Staying Hydrated in Morocco
Water is the question every Morocco visitor asks, and the answer is simpler than the anxiety around it. Tap water is chlorinated and used by locals, but it can unsettle stomachs unused to it, so most travellers stick to bottled or filtered water — especially early on. Just as important is staying properly hydrated in a hot, dry climate where it is easy to fall behind.
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- Practical tips
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- 19 July 2026
At a glance
- Most travellers drink bottled or filtered water, especially in the first days.
- Hot, dry conditions mean you need more water than you think — drink steadily.
- A refillable filter bottle cuts plastic waste and keeps you topped up.
Tap, bottled, ice and brushing teeth
City tap water is chlorinated and considered safe by local standards, but visitors' stomachs often react to unfamiliar water, so bottled or filtered is the cautious default. Many travellers also use bottled water for brushing teeth in the first days, then relax once they have adjusted. Bottled water is cheap and sold everywhere; check the seal is intact.
Ice is generally fine in established cafés, restaurants and hotels that use purified water, and more of a question at informal street stalls early in your trip. Mint tea and coffee are made with boiled water and safe everywhere.
- Drinking: bottled or filtered water, sealed and cheap, is the norm.
- Ice: fine in established venues; cautious at informal stalls at first.
- Teeth: many use bottled water early on, then adjust.
- Hot drinks: tea and coffee are boiled, so safe anywhere.
Staying properly hydrated in the heat
Morocco's dry heat, especially inland and in summer, dehydrates you faster than you notice, and mild dehydration saps energy and appetite. Drink steadily through the day rather than gulping when thirsty, and increase your intake on market days, hikes and desert trips. Carry water with you, as you will not always pass a shop when you need one.
Rehydration salts are worth packing — they help in the heat and after any stomach upset. Watch children and older travellers especially, and treat shade, rest and fluids as part of the daily plan rather than an afterthought.
Cutting plastic without cutting corners
Bottled water is safe but generates a lot of plastic, and the volumes add up fast across a trip. A refillable bottle with a built-in filter or purifier lets you use tap water safely while slashing waste, which many travellers prefer both practically and environmentally.
Whichever route you choose, the goal is the same: never let yourself get behind on fluids. Pair this with our food safety guide and, if a stomach upset does strike, our traveller's stomach guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can you drink tap water in Morocco?
City tap water is chlorinated and used by locals, but it commonly unsettles visitors' stomachs, so most travellers drink bottled or filtered water, particularly in the first days. Bottled water is cheap and everywhere; a filter bottle is a good alternative that also cuts plastic waste.
Is ice safe in Morocco?
In established cafés, restaurants and hotels that use purified water, ice is generally fine. Be more cautious with ice from informal street stalls, especially in your first days before your stomach adjusts. Mint tea and coffee, made with boiled water, are safe everywhere.
How do I stay hydrated in Morocco's heat?
Drink steadily through the day rather than waiting until you are thirsty, carry water with you, and increase intake on market days, hikes and desert trips. Pack rehydration salts for the heat and after any upset, and watch children and older travellers, who dehydrate faster.
Should I use a filter bottle in Morocco?
It is a good option. A refillable bottle with a built-in filter or purifier lets you safely use tap water while dramatically reducing single-use plastic. Many travellers prefer it to buying bottled water constantly, both for convenience and to cut the considerable waste a trip generates.