Eilat

Eilat (אילת, aka Elat) is the only Israeli city on the Red Sea. Eilat (pop 85,000) is the southernmost town in Israel, isolated from the rest of the country by the Negev desert.

Understand

Eilat is at the southernmost tip of the country, with its "window on the Red Sea". It is first and foremost a resort town devoted to sun, fun, diving, partying and desert-based activities. Sprawled along 7 km of Red Sea coastline, between the borders of Egypt and Jordan, it offers spectacular views of the Gulf of Eilat (Aqaba).

It began as a strategic military outpost, and a port town used to export potash and copper and import goods from Asia and Africa, such as oil and vehicles.

In the 1970s charter flights increased the flow of foreign tourists to Eilat. They were attracted by the coral reefs, breathtaking location, and the dry and sunny desert climate.

Climate

Eilat
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       0     21 10       0     22 11       0     26 14       0     31 18       0     35 22       0     39 24       0     41 26       0     41 26       0     37 25       0     33 21       0     27 16       0     22 11 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm Source: Israel Meteorological Service
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       0     69 49       0     72 51       0     78 56       0     88 64       0     96 71       0     102 76       0     106 79       0     105 79       0     99 76       0     91 70       0     81 60       0     72 52 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Some 320 km from the tensions of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Eilat's climate-induced relaxed atmosphere has always provided a convenient year-round escape for Israelis, and during the mild winter months also attracts thousands of European sun-seekers. Red Sea water temperatures range only between 20 °C in the winter to 26.2 °C in the summer, providing warmth in the winter, and much appreciated chilliness in the summer's heat.

Orientation

A beach in Eilat

Eilat's "Tayelet" (promenade)

Today, the 2-km (1.2-mi) North Beach area is full of hotels with opulent names like Herod's Palace and Queen of Sheba. The Tayelet promenade extends the length of the beach front and hosts numerous stalls, street artists, restaurants, and fashionable shops. The promenade has great views of the bay, and each evening is full of strolling tourists.

The southern or Coral Beach, which has coral reefs, is protected by the Israel Nature Reserve Authority. It has many public beaches and excellent scuba diving centers as well as several hotels and hostels.

Whereas the North Beach is within easy walking distance of the city center, Coral Beach is some 7 km south of it, beyond comfortable walking distance. The Navy and commercial ports lie between the two main beach areas.

Shabbat and Kashrut

As in most of Israel, many businesses and transport companies do not operate on the Shabbat (Sabbath) which begins Friday afternoon and ends Saturday night; many places do not reopen/renew service until Sunday morning. The same holds true for major Jewish or national holidays, so plan your itinerary accordingly. [See Israel, Holidays for more information.]

Kashrut is the body of Jewish dietary laws which many Israelis and tourists observe, and which many restaurants and almost all hotels adhere to. Among other things Kashrut requires complete segregation of meat and dairy foods, dishes and utensils; select types of fish are kosher but most 'sea foods' are not; and all foods must be prepared under controlled and monitored conditions. Kosher restaurants and hotels display a valid, dated certificate issued by local rabbinical authorities. Kosher restaurants close for the Shabbat.

Get in

While Eilat is - for a country as small as Israel at least - far away from the rest of the country, the government is subsidizing international flights and the border crossings to/from Jordan and Egypt are a lot less hassle than one might expect, making Eilat surprisingly easy to reach - if not necessarily from the rest of Israel.

By plane

Rabin (Arava) border crossing, with Jordan

Taba border crossing, with Egypt

• 🌍 Ramon International Airport Eilat (ETM  ^IATA Ilan and Assaf Ramon Airport), Hwy 90, Be'er Ora (20 km north of city). This airport opened in Jan 2019 and now handles all flights into Eilat that formerly used Ovda and the city airport. There are flights hourly from Tel Aviv Sde Dov and a few from Ben Gurion. A shuttle bus runs 06:00-20:00 every 30 min (not Sabbath) between airport and downtown Eilat (₪4); a taxi costs ₪100. There's a security screen to enter the check-in area. Currency exchange kiosks and ATMs are in Arrivals and Departures. Airside is a shopping area, your goods are handed to you at the gate. The Lounge is by gate 1, with a prayer area. Wifi is free throughout the airport. There's a TIC in Arrivals by Gates 33 / 34. (updated Apr 2019)

• Ovda Airport closed to commercial flights on 2 April 2019 and all its flights transferred to Ramon. It will probably remain in use as a military airfield.

• Eilat city airport closed in March 2019 and all its flights transferred to Ramon. Beware of out-of-date maps and road signs that direct you to what is now a demolition site.

• Aqaba airport in Jordan is close by and has domestic flights from Amman and a few international flights e.g. Turkish Airlines from Istanbul. So you could easily take a taxi to the Israeli border at Arava then another taxi to Eilat; or Aqaba/Jordan might be your primary destination. This route puts Jordanian entry/exit stamps into your passport, so even if Israel doesn't stamp, border officials of nations hostile to Israel will know where you've been.

• Taba airport in Egypt is closed, as it no longer receives domestic Egyptian or international flights.

By bus

Eilat has no rail service so the bus is your only public transport option for the time being. A rail link to other parts of Israel is being discussed, but no construction has started as of 2019.

All inter-city buses to and from Eilat arrive and leave from the 🌍 Central Bus Station on HaTemarim Boulevard.

Egged buses from Tel Aviv (390/394) and Jerusalem (444) to Eilat operate on a regular schedule, with express buses added during peak periods. The trip takes around 5-5½ hours and costs ₪70. It's advisable to buy tickets in advance as seating is assigned.

Beer Sheva is 3-3½ hours and costs ₪51.5, with a bus at least every hour.

From the Taba (Egypt) border crossing, local bus 16 goes to the Central Bus Station, costing ₪4.2.

Check with the Egged Bus Company for additional routes, rates and updated schedules, or call *2800 from any phone in Israel.

By car or taxi

There are a couple of ways to drive from Tel Aviv to Eilat. One is via Mitzpe Ramon. Another nice alternative is from Tel Aviv to the Dead Sea via Arad, stay a couple of days there or just make a short stop and then continue to Eilat. It takes 5-5½ hours from Tel Aviv, and a similar duration from Jerusalem.

Taxi from the Aqaba, Jordan border crossing is around ₪35 (Feb 2014). A taxi from Aqaba to the Crossing is around 5 JD (Dec 2011).

A taxi from Nuweiba, Egypt to the Taba Border Crossing takes 50 minutes and costs around LE110 (Dec 2011).

Border crossings

There is no fee to enter Israel.

• 🌍 Rabin (Arava) border crossing (to Jordan) (Wadi Araba Crossing). 5 km north of the Eilat Central Bus Station. Nearest Jordanian city is Aqaba. From the border, you can walk to Eilot and take a bus from there, take a taxi, or walk all the way to Eilat (4 km, nice tourist trail following the border seen on OpenStreetMap). No exit fee is charged by Jordanians as of December 2018, but the situation is changing very often—it was 8 JD before.  
• 🌍 Taba border crossing (to Egypt). 9 km south of the Eilat Central Bus Station. Egyptian exit fee is LE2 (Jan 2019, US or EU passport).  

Entering from Taba

From the bus station, people will try to get you into a taxi to take you to the border, but don't bother unless you have great difficulty walking, as it is literally less than 500 m down the road.

At the border, you have to buy an exit stamp from the Egyptian border guards; they don't always have change if you arrive early in the day. You then walk to the next building, the air conditioned departure hall, where your bags are scanned, then there's a little food, drink and cigarette kiosk, and then the passport control desk, where you give the card with the departure stamp to the border guard. He then stamps your passport, and you are out of Egypt. If you plan to reenter Egypt at Taba later, you cannot do so unless you already have a multiple entry visa or you get a LE51.25 reentry visa (just a stamp in your passport) before you leave. Egypt does not issue visas valid for travel outside the Sinai Peninsula upon entry at Taba.

A few yards further on you get to a duty free shop, then the Israeli building, with cool water mist spray coming from the ceiling of the path shade outside. On entry, again your stuff is scanned, then you queue for immigration. Unlike arriving in Israel by air, here you shouldn't be delayed for more than five minutes of questions.

Once you leave the building you are in Israel proper. To change money, there is a bank at the Israeli departure side (where you have to pay a departure tax for leaving Israel, should you exit via this crossing). There are hourly buses to the town (Line 16, ₪4.2), but the last leaves at 6:20PM. Taxis will be waiting, charging about ₪35 to go to town.

Get around

On foot

Central Eilat, that is the Promenade Area and City Center - Central Bus Station, Main Post Office, banks, etc. - are within easy walking distance, although during summer months the scorching temperatures make walking around unpleasant. Only the closest public beaches are a sweaty stroll from the center; dive sites require transportation.

By bus

Local bus services usually begin 7-8AM and end 8-9PM. Ask the driver for exact times. All routes cost ₪4.75 and a 'transfer' costs an additional ₪1 (Dec 2012).

Bus Numbers 1 and 2 do a complete circuit of the city, both passing through the City Center before their routes diverge. Both buses leave every 20 minutes from Tarshish st. nearby Dan Panorama and Ceaser Premier hotels at the North Beach area.

Bus Number 1 leaves every 20 minutes on the hour, passing through the City Center before following a clockwise route through most of the city's neighborhoods, returning to North Beach via City Center.

Bus Number 2 leaves every 20 minutes at 10 minutes past and to the hour, passing through the City Center before following a counter-clockwise route through most of the city's neighborhoods, returning to North Beach via City Center.

Bus Number 5 from Shachamon to the new industrial area leaves every 30 minutes on the hour. The bus passing through some of the city's neighborhoods, the City Center, the North Beach hotels, and terminates at the new industrial area near Big Eilat Shopping Center.

Bus Number 6 runs the Number 5 in reverse, leaving the new industrial area every 30 minutes on the hour.

Bus Number 15 to Coral Beach leaves every hour on the hour from Platform 7 at the Central Bus Station. It passes through the City Center and does a circuit of North Beach hotels as far as Kings City before turning south towards Coral Beach and its terminus at the Taba Border Crossing (to Egypt).

Bus Number 16 runs the Number 15 in reverse, leaving Taba between 30 and 40 minutes after the hour.

Night Buses Numbers 10 and 11 do a complete circuit of the city. Both buses leave every 1 hour from the new industrial area near Big Eilat Shopping Center. These buses are only operated on weekends including friday nights.

Bus Number 10 leaves every 1 hour on the hour, The bus does a counterclockwise route through most of the city's neighborhoods, The City Center, the North Beach hotels and returning to the new industrial area.

Bus Number 11 leaves every 1 hour on the hour, The bus does a clockwise route through the North Beach hotels, the City Center, most of the city's neighborhoods and returning to the new industrial area.

Check with the Egged Bus Company for additional routes, rates and updated schedules.

By taxi

Taxis prowl the streets day and night looking for fares. Insist on the meter, or agree on the fare in advance (Eilat's taxis are famously mercenary).

The meter rate goes up between 9PM and 6AM, and on Saturdays and holidays. Also, by law taxis may charge extra if ordered by phone, for a third passenger and for each piece of baggage/luggage transported.

See

Parrotfish among coral at Coral Beach

The 🌍 Tourist Information Center ([phone]) can be found at 8 Beit HaGesher St. in the Bridge House near the pedestrian bridge from the yacht harbor.

The main swimming area is the North Beach and many major and minor hotels are situated there. The South or Coral Beach area is protected by the Israel Nature Reserve Authority, but there has been a decline in the marine life and reef quality. Since the removal of the controversial fish cages from the Gulf waters in 2008, corals have steadily recovered at all dive sites. While many divers head south to the Egyptian Sinai coast to Dahab or Sharm el-Sheikh, to experience better diving conditions, many divers still prefer Eilat, with far smaller crowds, interesting macro-life and easy, unpressured surface entries.

• 🌍 Eilat Coral Beach Nature Reserve. The best place for scuba diving and located here are some of the best dive clubs in Israel, offering technical diving courses, rebreather, nitrox, tri-mix, etc. The whole coastal area is protected by the nature reserve authority and divers are expected to follow regulations. It is also a great place for snorkeling, windsurfing and kite-surfing plus it has fantastic views of the bay.  
• 🌍 Underwater Observatory, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. One of Eilat's most popular attractions, this is a good way to view the Red Sea marine life without getting wet. Its white tower (Eilat's most famous landmark) offers great views above water and goes below the surface to view the marine life. The park's aquariums contain sharks, sting rays and turtles, plus lots of multicolored Red Sea fish, and the huge glass windows allow visitors to get a clear view the tanks' occupants. The Oceanarium simulator is also a lot of fun for kids - though it may be a little scary for the smaller ones. All in all it's a nice family morning out.  
• 🌍 Dolphin Reef, ☎ [phone]. South Beach (3 km south of town towards the Egyptian border). Entry fee: ₪42/28 adults/children. Not just a tourist trap, the staff actually work to rehabilitate dolphins for life in the open sea - from whence they came. However, in the past the release of dolphins into the bay has on occasion resulted in the consumption of many of the nearby coral reef's inhabitants, so that the dolphin release project is on hold. Various paid options are available for interacting with the dolphins, starting with snorkeling with the dolphins at ₪227. It's a very nice beach with lots of small pools and rich shrubbery. It has a fantastic spa (relaxation pools) and is well worth a visit. For those who want to get up-close to a dolphin book your swim or dive as early in the morning as you can. The dolphins get weary of visitors as the day goes on. Piers leading out onto the water allow everyone to get as near to the dolphins - as the dolphins want.  
• 🌍 Eilat Museum.  

Nearby

The Negev surrounds Eilat, with many popular sights. The closest ones are Timna Park, The Red Canyon and Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve, easily reachable from Eilat for a day trip – see there.

Do

In the city

• Every summer, the Red City music festival is held in Eilat (sponsored by 99 ESC radio station.) This beach festival is held on the beach and consists of consecutive days of all night performances (Hip-Hop, rock and especially trance).
• Red Sea Jazz Festival. Annual event takes place in the last week of August and Jazz musicians from all over the world come to Eilat, for a week of fun, sun and lots of Jazz.  
• 🌍 Ice Mall Eilat. A shopping mall with an ice skating rink. There is free skating as well as lessons. Once a day you can watch a professional ice show. 

In the Red Sea

• Kite surfing, Club Med Beach, ☎ [phone]. Eilat is one of the best locations in the world for learning how to kitesurf. The weather and sea conditions are perfect for beginners with steady northern winds and a calm sea. KiteXEilat offers various beginners classes. 
• Scuba Diving (Lucky Divers), Simtat Tsukim 5, ☎ [phone]. 3. No license and no experience necessary scuba diving. As is legal in Eilat, an experienced dive master will accompany you on what could be your first ever scuba experience. They provide a short tutorial of the basics, and worry about all the technical details leaving you able to concerning yourself solely with breathing--and of course observing the magnificent neon subaquatic landscape. ₪180. 
• Snorkeling, Along the southern beach (anywhere public). If you don't want to splurge on scuba diving you can still see a nice variety of Red Sea fish by snorkeling along the south beach. You can rent the equipment usually from a Kiosk nearby. Flippers or suitable footwear recommended as the coral is sharp. Rental of snorkel and flippers ₪25. 

In the desert

The scenic Eilat Mountains Nature Reserve has some of the most spectacular desert routes in Israel. Trails include ancient trading routes and the Great Rift Valley. Desert Hiking, 4x4 jeep tours and camel treks are major attractions in this area of the Negev desert.

• 🌍 SPNI's Eilat Hiking Division (Eilat Field School), opposite Coral Nature Reserve (Bus No. 15 from Central Bus Station/5 minutes' walk north of Underwater Observatory), ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Su-Th 8AM-3PM. The Hiking Division of the SPNI (Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel) gives information and advice on desert hiking and trails in the Eilat region. 
• Dromit Desert Tours (Judean, Central and Southern Negev deserts), ☎ [phone], [phone], fax: [phone] (for Colin), e-mail: [e-mail]. Offers half- and full-day desert tours, desert/snorkeling tours, bike and jeep tours. Operated by Colin Porter, Licensed Desert Guide and marine biologist. 
• "What's Up" The Observatory in Eilat. An interactive stargazing experience in the nighttime desert outside Eilat. Using a special camera, you can see the deep sky as well as the moon and planets on a computer screen, rather than through the eyepiece of the telescope. Watch the image build as light is collected, and hear tales about the personalities of the heavens as well as scientific explanation of what is going on up there. "What's Up" is suitable for all ages and is handicapped-accessible, although there are no toilet facilities at the site. 

Learn

• 🌍 Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Eilat Campus, HaTemarim 162. The Ginsburg-Ingerman Overseas Student Program offers short-term academic programs at the Eilat campus. Programs focus on Hebrew language, marine biology, and gastronomy. 

Buy

Eilat's Ice park mall

As an incentive for businesses and travelers to come here, there is no value-added tax in Eilat. Therefore many duty free shops line the boardwalk culminating in duty free shopping centers. Top brands can be found, and it is joked that the first thing an Israeli does before leaving Eilat is to fill up their petrol tank to the brim.

• 🌍 Mall HaYam, Palmach 1. A mall located on the promenade and beach-line, closest to the airport.  
• 🌍 Ice Mall Eilat, Kaufman Street. Ice rink and many international brands. 
• 🌍 Big Center Eilat, HaSatat 20. Eilat's outlet mall. 

Eat

The main promenade is packed with stylish tourist restaurants offering some of Israel's finest cuisine prepared by master chefs. The variety of restaurants understandably comes at a price, though not as expensive as many restaurants in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem.

As a rule prices are lower the further away from the tourist areas one goes. For those wishing to eat simply and well there are a number of options in addition to shopping the local supermarkets. There are several good restaurants on or near Eilat's main street, Shderot HaTmarim (The Dates Blvd.).

• 🌍 On the Beach Restaurant. Falafel, shawarma and pizza. Decent price. 
• 🌍 Ginger Asian Kitchen and Bar. Chinese restaurant and bar. Not nearly as expensive as it is exclusive, it's a good spot for dining if you don't mind seeing your picture in the local Eilat gossip pages. ₪30-100 per dish. 
• Bar Beach on Coral Beach overlooking the Gulf of Eilat. Built on a deck at the water's edge, have a beer, take a dip and come out for lunch; enjoy a light meal after a dive and take in the magnificent sunset.
• Barbis. American foods restaurant, a great burger place in the middle of the tourist center. Prices are cheap and the burgers are tasty and huge. 
• Eilat University Campus Cafeteria, North end of HaTmarim Blvd. Su-Th noon-2PM. Price includes choice of entree with vegetables, soup and salad bar (+ desert, if any). Food prepared by Hotel School student chefs; tasty and good quality. Takeaway. ₪43 per person (Apr. 2016). 
• HaLev Harachav on HaTmarim Blvd. is a sidewalk restaurant with indoor seating: serves falafel and shuarma (turkey meat grilled on a rotating spit basted with lamb fat) with your choice of salads and relish (Israel's fast foods to eat on the spot, sit-down or take-away) as well as an à la carte grill. (The name means "the wide (open) heart", i.e. generous.) Kosher; closed on Shabbat. New branch: opposite Mall-Hayam shopping center.
• Il Pentolino, HaTamrim Blvd., ☎ [phone]. It's an Italian-style dairy restaurant serving an assortment of pastas, bagels and salads. Open air dining and smoking areas. Kosher, closed on Shabbat. 
• Jacknis, Mor Center. Favorite eatery of Eilat's no-nonsense business community. Takeaway. 
• Pago Pago floating restaurant. An attraction in itself, it is strictly non-kosher it serves sushi, sea-food and steaks. Anchored on the waters of the Marina. A little pricey, but no more than other restaurants and you definitely get far more for your money. 
• Pedro's Restaurant for excellent steak, the hang-out of Eilat diving instructors. You'll have to get a cab because it's nowhere near the tourist haunts. Well worth the effort if you are a steak lover... or if you consider yourself an honorary local, either way, it's hard to tell what's tastier, the restaurant's meat or the punters.
• Rachel (opposite Yotam Plant Nursery). Dairy. Homemade quiches and baked goods. Breakfast served all day includes 2 eggs any style, salad, assortment of side dishes and spreads, with breads, jam and choice of hot and cold beverages. It's near the hospital. Very crowded at brunch time. Breakfast for two: ₪95. 

Drink

For a Holiday resort the expected assortment of Pubs and Bars exist on the Promenade and are also densely packed in the main square.

• Unplugged. The bar is a good option. If you're looking for a place with stuck-up people, barbie doll bartenders, or tough-looking bouncers, look somewhere else, because Unplugged is nothing like it. The drink selection is somewhat limited, but still fairly good. The music ranges from American pop to Israeli trance, and they play songs in both Hebrew and English. You have the option of either sitting at the bar, chilling on a big couch, or dancing with the friendly locals. This place is often crowded, even on a Monday night. 
• While evil isn't heard, seen, or spoken at Three Monkeys Pub live bands and an all-ages dance floor crowd is. Located towards the end of the promenade at the Isrotel "Royal Beach".
• Bears pub is central fixture in the main square. With a laidback feel and hookahs available Bears lends itself to chatting to the soundtrack of Israeli tunes.

Sleep

The hillside around the Central Bus Station contains motels and small private hostels which usually have a room designated as a dorm. You can find some real gems hidden among them but be prepared to take some time checking them out.

Homestay

If you reach Eilat having a backpack, you may be accosted by people offering their houses or parts of them for your accommodation. These are really a gamble, because you never know what to expect and people tend to exaggerate their descriptions. Usually, it would be a nice air-conditioned room with a double bed, shower, TV, sometimes Wi-Fi and some kitchen stuff. Price per day: ₪100-200 and higher, however negotiable, depending on how long you are staying and what standard you want. Start the negotiation as you see the apartment.

Outdoors

Extreme but cheap. Possible at the North Beach, next to the Jordan border, and also at the South Beach—aka Coral Beach—preferably to the south of the bar called "Migdalor". Pros: stay close to the sea for free. Cons: temperatures can get extremely hot, even at night; you have to search for water/shower/etc.

• North Beach: past the main hotels, close to Aqaba.
• South Beach: bus route 15 to Migdalor bar. Then just walk along the shore and find yourself a place to camp. The SPNI Field School also operates a Camp Ground (see below under Hosteling for contact information).

When staying outdoors, keep all your garbage with you, and there is an ₪500 fine for lighting a bonfire. Beaches are protected by the Israel Nature Authority.

Budget

Eilat Hotels and marina

• 🌍 The Shelter Hostel, e-mail: [e-mail]. Christian run, this hostel is a nice and welcoming place with peaceful staff and surrounding. Every Friday they have a community/bible session with free food afterwards. It is a great opportunity to get a free New Testament and to save some shekels. ₪40/70/150 outdoor/dorm/single. 
• 🌍 Arava (Beit HaArava), Almogim St 106, ☎ [phone]. Check-in: 24 hour, check-out: 9AM. This motel has a homey feel, there are many tables and grills outside to allow relaxation away from the crowds. Mostly the rooms are private but they do offer dormitory accommodations for a cheap price. Member of ILH. Starting at ₪70 for dormitory. 
• 🌍 SPNI's Eilat Field School (Hebrew: Beit Sefer Sadeh), Coral Beach opposite Coral Nature Reserve (Bus No. 15 from Central Bus Station/5 minutes walk north of Underwater Observatory), ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Check-in: from 3PM, check-out: 10AM weekdays; Saturday 11AM (late c/o optional). All rooms have bunk-beds, private shower/toilet, A/C, mini-fridge and electric kettle (free coffee/tea). No dorms. Outdoor barbecue, picnic tables in Camp Ground. Parking for hostel' guests. Ecologically friendly hostel has a relaxed kibbutz-style atmosphere and often hosts youth groups during the school year as well as hikers, divers and surfers all year round. Free WiFi. SPNI members/tourists/divers have a discount. 
• 🌍 Youth Hostel, Derech Ha'arava 7, ☎ [phone]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 10AM. Not at all expensive yet very clean and nice place to stay. One can book entire room or bed basis as per the need. The cafeteria serves very good breakfast as well in the morning. Dorms from ₪145. 
• 🌍 Corinne Hostel, Retamim 1, ☎ [phone]. Check-out: 10AM. Dorm ₪90, also private rooms available. 
• David's homestay, ☎ [phone]. Offers you private rooms for ₪100 per person per night, food included. David has worked as an Eilat hotel chef his whole life and serves you the most amazing food. He has two kinds of rooms: double bed room and twin bed room. He meets you on arrival and brings you to the apartment. 5-10 min from the bus station, 20 minutes from the beach and 20 minutes from the airport (walking). 

Mid-range

• 🌍 Cactus B&B, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. A colourful place to stay, eco-friendly bed and breakfast accommodation off the beaten track, very cozy. Single from ₪250/Double from ₪350. 
• 🌍 Motel Aviv, Ofarim Lane 126. Rooms include a fridge and electric kettle. 
• Holiday Inn - Express Beat Eilat, ☎ [phone]. On the city's north side (opposite the Crowne Plaza), ten minutes away from the beach and the shopping center. 
• 🌍 Club Hotel Eilat (Eilat). Eilat Club Hotel is the largest suites hotel across the Middle East and the only hotel across Israel designed and built under the inspiration of the sea. 
• 🌍 Club Inn Eilat (Above Almog beach). Eilat Club Inn Hotel is a resort in a wadi over looking a breathtaking desert view. 
• 🌍 Dan Panorama Eilat, North Beach, ☎ [phone]. Large, nicely located hotel with a good pool area. 
• 🌍 Prima Music, Almog beach., ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. The Prima Music is an exceptionally designed, concept hotel situated under picturesque desert mountains and overlooking the magnificent Red Sea at Coral Beach on the outskirts of the Eilat. 
• 🌍 Soleil Boutique Hotel, Tarshish St 12, North Shore, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Clean, well-maintained hotel with friendly staff and terrific breakfast (updated Nov 2018)

Splurge

Eilat's North Beach is positively packed with luxury hotels, but in season rates can be as high as US$200 per night.

• 🌍 Crowne Plaza Eilat, North Beach, ☎ [phone]. Family-friendly hotel on the Promenade, featuring the Freckles Club for kids. 
• 🌍 Dan Eilat Red Sea, North Beach, ☎ [phone]. Central beach front hotel with a great pool area. 
• 🌍 Herods Palace Hotel, North Beach. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. No longer run by Sheraton, Herods offers a "near Las Vegas" experience, with staff in togas wandering around a pompously decorated palace. Service isn't quite up to scratch though, although the (separately charged) Vitalis spa is excellent by any standard. Like many Las Vegas hotels, this hotel is built (or overbuilt) to resemble historic buildings, in this case domed Middle Eastern architecture. 
• 🌍 Le Meridien Eilat, ☎ [phone]. Le Meridien offers a wide range of suites featuring various luxury levels. The hotel features 245 luxurious suites designed and built to unusually high standards. 

Stay safe

Eilat is relatively close to Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, which has become a terrorist hotbed. There have also been terrorist incidents in Eilat. To prevent terrorist infiltrations, Israel has built a steel barrier backed by cameras, radar and motion detectors on the Israel-Egypt border.

The 🌍 Eilat hospital serves the southern Negev.

Go next

• A number of Kibbutzim (Heb. plural of Kibbutz) in the Arava also offer accommodations. Kibbutz Yotvata specializes in fruit cultivation and dairy farming. It supplies much of the milk and several varieties of fresh fruit and packaged goods to the Negev / Eilat region under its logo of a setting sun with two linked palm trees. They also take in traveling volunteers and have a Hebrew school for foreigners.
• Mitzpe Ramon – about 150 km north, offers great views and hikes from the edge of a giant crater.
• Israel – Jerusalem, Masada and the Dead Sea are a few hours away by bus, and can be easily visited in a day or two on organized tours.
• Jordan – A short drive away is the Eilat/Aqaba border crossing to the adjacent Jordanian town of Aqaba – find information, on how to get in, there – Jordan's largest port and tourist resort. A few dozen kilometres north of Aqaba is the impressive Wadi Rum desert, and further into the country the ancient and popular Petra.
• Egypt – South of Eilat is the border crossing to Taba (Egypt), where the Taba Hilton and nearby Taba Heights beach resorts are situated. Here begins the Egyptian Sinai peninsula where St. Catherine's Monastery and Mount Sinai are located.

To get to the Egyptian border take a taxi (₪35) from Eilat to the border, or take bus line 15 (₪6) and walk across. On the Egyptian side there is a minibus station as well as further along a full bus station. Note, the border can take between 20 min to 2 hours. You will need to pay an exit fee when leaving Israel of ₪103 (Feb 2012) and if travelling further south than Taba another fee at the checkpoint south of the border. If you plan to continue further than the Sinai, deeper into Egypt (Cairo) then you need to apply for a visa in the Egyptian consul in Eilat. The embassy is open from 9:30AM to 2PM on Sunday to Thursday. It takes approx. 20 min for European and American tourists, and costs ₪100. Remember to bring a passport photo with you to the embassy - it is required for the visa, and the embassy has no photo-taking facilities. If you don't have a passport photo handy, you can take one on the 2nd floor of the shopping mall right at the corner of the Eilat beach. If you are on an organized tour, some tour companies can arrange the visa on the day of the tour at the border.

Routes through Eilat

Egypt ← Sinai, Taba ←

S  N

→ Masada → Tiberias