Looking for the top 10 reasons to visit Eilat Israel?
The Middle East is full of amazing developed cities that you must visit and Israeli cities are no exception. Israel’s vacation capital, Eilat, offers a wide variety of exciting vacation activities. There are tons of reasons to visit Eilat. Everyone can find something to their liking among the city’s many attractions and activities, which range from the alluring beaches to the retail malls, from the municipal cultural excursions to the magnificent desert just beyond the city limits.
Here are the top 10 reasons to visit Eilat Israel.
1- Eilat Beaches are the Best
The beaches of Eilat are one of its key draws, as they should be for a tourist town on the water. Visitors can take advantage of a 12-km stretch of immaculate beaches (the majority of which have lifeguards on duty), which also features a variety of dining options, relaxing background music, water sports, diving equipment, snorkelling, and, last but certainly not least, cozy beach amenities that let you while away the day watching the waves.
There are several recommended beaches in Eilat, each with a distinctive ambience and a different take on a well-known theme. The southern strip’s Mosh’s Beach is the most relaxed area you can imagine. The beach may be rather addicting with its extensive vegan and vegetarian food, served all day, soothing music, and views that remind one of the serene stretches of Sinai. Israel’s only coral reserve, Coral Beach, offers a stunning look at Eilat’s underwater ecosystem. The beach is a favourite of many divers and is thought to be the best snorkelling beach in Eilat. Dolphin Reef is another distinctive beach that is worth visiting. Despite the entrance price, you can spend the entire day there without getting bored. You can see dolphins in the wild and even go swimming with them at Dolphin Reef Beach.
Extreme-sports enthusiasts will love Kisuski Beach and Neviot Beach, which both offer a variety of water activities that will make your heart race: water biking, crazy sharking, parasailing, pontooning, tubing, bananas, and a whole lot more. Princess Beach, the most remote and southernmost beach in Eilat, is the place to go if you’re seeking for something more calming. Families and tourists from all over the world prefer it. Although the beach is not authorized by the government, it provides simple access to the Red Sea’s amazing underwater world. Bring your face mask and snorkel, then dive into the deep water. Another popular destination for tourists in Eilat is Mykonos Beach.
With Greek food on the menu, a setting evocative of Mykonos and the Greek islands, and upbeat bouzouki music playing on the speakers, it has a Middle Eastern feel with a Greek twist. In addition, this is where kiteboarders and windsurfers launch from, adding to the beach’s festive mood as their bright sails adorn the horizon.
There are plenty of additional magnificent beaches that are well worth visiting. The majority of Eilat’s beaches are outfitted with first-rate facilities like shade awnings, chaises, chairs, bathrooms, beach showers, and free WiFi.
2- The Mighty Red Canyon
The Red Canyon must be one of the major shocks Eilat is keeping hidden.
If you have time, you should think about visiting the spectacular Red Canyon, which is located around 30 kilometres northwest of the city.
The best way to explore a tiny gorge formed by natural forces over millions of years is on foot, so put on some appropriate hiking shoes and leave your flip-flops at home.
You won’t find many spots in the Negev Desert that will reward you for your effort like the stratified rock wall of the reddish canyon.
If you’ve visited Ein Avdat National Park, Red Canyon offers a far more unique and personal experience.
Unlike the latter, which allows you to reach out and touch its walls as you descend, the former is a stunning canyon with breathtaking vistas, a year-round stream, and grooves.
Even though the final 1.5 kilometres of the route are unpaved, it takes less than 30 minutes to reach Red Canyon from Eilat.
3- Coral World Underwater Observatory
Eliat’s Underwater Observatory Marine Park is one of Israel’s largest free aquariums and has a distinctive presentation. You might be shocked to learn that the southern city of Eilat is home to more than 800 different species of aquatic life on exhibit in enormous aquarium tanks. View the biodiversity of a coral reef from the other side of the underwater tower’s floor to ceiling plate glass windows.
The tower construction is beautiful whether viewed from land or the water. You could initially believe it to be a contemporary lighthouse. On the Gulf of Eilat, you must cross a bridge to reach there.
Rare fish and marine species that are native to the Red Sea can be found in the terrestrial aquariums. Check the schedule to learn about the particular times of the day when divers feed the animals and address the crowd using underwater microphones. Divers are able to hear inquiries and respond.
Staff members will provide information as you watch turtles, stingrays, and sharks in viewing locations and in their pool. Attend one of the observatory’s shows to see how oysters are opened to reveal pearls.
Take a trip on Coral 2000, a deep glass-bottomed boat operated by the observatory, if you wish to learn more about the coral reef. Sit and observe the aquatic environment as it passes by your window and moves beneath your feet. The 140-seat Oceanarium simulator at the observatory will astound you with a 3-D projection of being underwater with various aquatic critters.
The self-service cafeteria at the observatory is a great place to end your tour and browse the selection of specialty goods. Open every day is the Underwater Observatory Marine Park. To get to the location from Eliat, drive south for about 10 minutes. If you want to spend some time alone with the fish at this well-liked family attraction, arrive early.
Our list of the top 10 reasons to visit Eilat Israel is not over yet! Keep reading.
4- Tax-Free Shopping
A shopper’s paradise exists in Eilat. The majority of the goods offered for sale in stores located around the city are VAT-free areas, as defined by Israeli law. Therefore, visitors arriving from elsewhere in Israel will not be subject to the 17% tax, which is a great justification for a shopping extravaganza for anyone looking for clothing, accessories, electrical goods, mobile devices, and the like. Eilat has a number of sizable shopping malls with both domestic and foreign retailers.
At the entrance to the city’s renowned northern boardwalk, and across from the Red Sea shore, is where you’ll find Mul Hayam Mall. The mall, which has been open since 1997, has more than 100 stores selling a variety of items, including clothing, electronics, sports gear, shoes, specialty cuisines, and more.
The biggest shopping complex is BIG Eilat Complex, which serves as the brand’s flagship location. The complex, which is 10,000 square metres in size, comprises more than 50 stores selling apparel, home goods, electronics, cosmetics, and other items, as well as outlets for national and international brands. The complex is situated at the city’s entrance and has 900 parking places.
The Olympic ice skating rink that is situated on the air-conditioned bottom floor of the mall gave rise to the term “Ice Mall.” 150 stores, eateries, cafés, and kiddie entertainment may be found all around the main attraction. Its spectacular dome, constructed in 2012 on the edge of the lagoon, resembles a huge igloo, an uncommon sight in the middle of the desert. The complex is a popular spot for good, old-fashioned fun because it has more than two dozen attractions for people of all ages.
One of the busiest areas in Eilat is the Eilat Promenade, which has upscale stores, food trucks, and a bazaar section with 60 local market stalls where you can get inexpensive jewellery and trinkets.
5- The Magical Day Trips
Red mountains and stunning deserts surround Eilat, therefore we advise you to take advantage of them, no matter how difficult it may be to tear yourself away from the city and its energy. Numerous hiking paths leading through mountains, gorges, and dry river beds, past astounding rock formations, and onto numerous summits with stunning views of Eilat Bay can be found just a short drive away.
There are likely to be a tonne of great places to visit just outside of Eilat that you can get to by car, bike, and foot. You can choose between a variety of scheduled Jeep tours and renting your own ATV to explore the Eilat Mountains. We advise you to travel to Timna Park, which is around 25 kilometres distant, for an outdoor excursion that includes several significant archaeological and historical sites.
The Red Canyon, the Evrona Reserve, and Amram’s Pillars are further suggested walks. These locations provide a wonderful blend of unusual and colourful rock formations with breathtaking views of the Eilat and Edom Mountains. For people of all fitness levels and experience levels, there are bike and walking routes.
6- Visiting Jordan and Egypt
The only Israeli city from which it is feasible to enter Jordan and Egypt, two distinct and fascinating nations, is Eilat. One can enter Egypt and Jordan on foot from the city centre, and from there, one can continue on tours to some of the most stunning and important sites in the Middle East, including the Blue Hole (also known as the Blue Lagoon), Saint Catherine’s Monastery, the Giza pyramid complex in Cairo, the Gulf of Aqaba, Wadi Rum, and the Red Rock of Petra in Jordan. The border crossings are close to the city centre. Due to the vibrant nightlife in Eilat, many visitors decide to spend the night there before taking day trips to the nearby nations and returning in the evening.
Our list of the top 10 reasons to visit Eilat Israel is not over yet! Keep reading.
7- Eilat’s Nightlife
Accommodations in Eilat are plentiful, no matter your age, status, or finances. Many tourists come to be pampered at the deluxe hotels located on Hotel Row near the northern boardwalk, but Eilat also offers youth hostels, holiday apartments and house rentals, group vacation villages, and economy hotels that do not compromise on quality. Most hotels and guest accommodations include WiFi and breakfast and often have swimming pools. Many are located near the preferred entertainment centers the city has to offer.
Looking for more reasons to visit Eilat Israel? Keep reading.
8- Best Resorts Ever
The luxurious resort hotels in Eilat are well-known. It would be a shame not to mention these locations in our blog article even if we are budget travellers and cannot afford to visit them.
Even though we only ever dedicate one section to accommodations, we might make an exception in this case.
One feature unites the majority of the upscale hotels in Eilat. The area, which is near to the beaches of Eilat.
In addition, as its name implies, Hotels Zone was created with the express intention of spoiling thousands of guests every day with first-rate accommodations, first-rate services, and upscale dining alternatives.
By no means are we implying that a stay at one of those hotels is necessary for a satisfying trip to Eilat.
But if your travel budget allows and you like these kinds of things, then you won’t find a better place in Israel than Eilat.
So here is the list of some of the best resorts in Eilat.
Queen of Sheba Eilat | If you’re looking for a place featuring beautiful rooms with Red Sea views, its own shopping mall, top-quality facilities, or four restaurants, then Queen of Sheba Eilat ticks off all the boxes.
Dan Eilat Hotel | Free parking, swimming pool with a slide, squash courts, or outdoor hot tub, Dan Eilat Hotel is a great place to stay for everyone.
King Solomon | One of the best family-friendly hotels in Eilat, King Solomon by Isrotel Collection offers a large swimming pool, wellness center, entertainment, games, and babysitting services.
Royal Beach Hotel | With newly renovated rooms overlooking its own private beach, three outdoor pools, or fine dining restaurants, Royal Beach Hotel is an excellent value for your money.
Herods Palace Hotels and Spa Eilat | Located on Eilat’s North Beach, Herods Palace is a seafront hotel with a wellness center, Arabesque pool, spa, and clean rooms.
Our list of the top 10 reasons to visit Eilat Israel is not over yet! Keep reading.
8- Modern Israeli Culture and Art
Not many know this, but Eilat is also a developing venue for culture and the arts. In recent years, several new projects have sprung up to advance culture in the resort town. Attractions such as the Eilat City Museum chronicling the city’s growth since 1949 connect visitors to the city’s roots and add another dimension to an Eilat vacation. In addition to the museum, there is a gallery showcasing the artists of Eilat. Dozens of paintings, sculptures, and other objets d’art by local artists are available for purchase.
We recommend going to the Philip Murray House to meet Nevo Afek, the internationally renowned Eilat-based artist. The young artist, who has high-functioning autism as well as a visual impairment, is considered an artist of international calibre whose works have been shown at important exhibitions all over the world. In addition, Amir Elkayam, another internationally renowned artist who lives in Eilat and whose fascinating life is powerfully featured in his works, operates a private gallery where he hosts professional workshops. He also leads art tours throughout the city.
Theatre enthusiasts will be happy to take in shows by the Elad Theater, which uses a unique theatrical language in original pieces adapted to specific locales, so that city spaces become the stage and set and the audience an integral, living part of the show.
9- The Diving Experience
The Red Sea is host to an underwater kingdom of vibrantly-coloured, fascinating creatures, making every dip in the water a mesmerizing experience. Eilat has many excellent scuba diving and snorkelling spots along the enchanting beaches of this holiday capital. At Dolphin Reef, you can dive alongside the dolphins who live in Eilat Bay and choose to approach land thanks to the friendly relations they’ve developed with the staff who care for them. The Coral Beach Reserve features a vast coral reef with caverns and shallow bays, and much coral and aquatic life in every colour of the rainbow.
We also recommend a visit to the cave area, about 1.5 km from the border with Egypt. It’s close to the beach and suitable for beginner divers because of its shallow waters. Diving fans will be happy to visit the Sculpture Garden at the northern beach, a unique site featuring sculptures built under the water, as well as Eel Park, located at the edge of the U Coral Beach Club Hotel. Many instructors offer diving courses that are far less expensive than similar classes elsewhere in the world. The diving clubs offer a range of courses and classes for every type of diving at every level of interest and experience.
10- The World Famous Eilat Spas
Get to know the calmer side of Eilat. Vacationers in Eilat can enjoy the wide range of spa services offered in most of the hotels and at massage and other cosmetic and therapeutic centers in the heart of the tourist area. The Red Sea is an ideal place to convalesce and recuperate or just get away from it all. Along the beach there are several restful areas, the most famous of which is the Relaxation Pools at Dolphin Reef, offering three warm pools – saltwater, freshwater and seawater – surrounded by green gardens.
It’s the perfect place to recharge your batteries. And if all that the city offers is still not enough, you can, like many others, leave early in the morning for the Dead Sea and spend the day covered in Dead Sea mud, considered by many to possess healing properties. It is also the material on which many exclusive beauty treatments are based.
We hope you enjoyed this list of the top 10 reasons to visit Eilat Israel. Let us know what you think about it in the comments section.
Also, if you think there are some more reasons to visit Eilat, let us know!