A method for producing drinking water from seawater includes purifying seawater of impurities, separating the flow of water by evaporation into a condensate and brine, compressing the vapour, and carrying out crystallization, with the crystals being separated off by filtration. Evaporation is carried out until the concentration of sodium chloride reaches supersaturation and the sodium chloride crystallizes. The concentrate is then mixed with the condensate. A device for producing drinking water from seawater comprises a unit for filtering solid impurities (1), a pump (2), an evaporator (3), a condenser (5) having a condensate pipe (4), a vapour compressor (7) connected to the evaporator by an inlet (14), a crystallizer (8), and a source of vapour (11). The evaporator (3) and the condenser (5) have a common heat exchange surface (12) which is provided with a distributing device (13). The vapour compressor (7) is provided with a jet (15) for feeding water into the vapour. Disposed at an outlet (16) is a heat exchanger (17). The condensate pipe (4) is provided with a mixer (19) which is connected to an outlet (20). The invention makes it possible to provide for the thorough treatment of seawater to produce potable water.