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. It's sandwiched between Taba in Egypt and Aqaba in Jordan, and often used as an access route to those cities because of its large modern Ramon airport.

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. The military importance of Israel's access to the Red Sea was valued so highly that Nasser's blockade of said access in 1967 was deemed a casus belli.

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.

Due to the somewhat remote location of Eilat, the Israeli government has tried to encourage business and tourism by cutting taxes on many things and even giving subsidies for airlines serving the area, which can give travelers surprisingly good deals at times.

Climate
Some from the hustle and bustle 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
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 Shabbat, the 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 on 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





 * Ovda Airport and Eilat City Airport are closed to commercial flights. Ovda will probably remain in use as a military airfield. Beware of out-of-date maps and road signs that direct you to the demolition site at Eilat airport.


 * 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 serves only a few weekly or every-two-weeks international flights from Bratislava and Warsaw.

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 has been discussed for years, but officially "put on hold" indefinitely in 2019. You can take the train as far south as Beersheba or Dimona and then a bus from there.

All inter-city buses to and from Eilat arrive and leave from the on HaTemarim Boulevard. There is some talk of relocating all or most of the functions of the Eilat Central Bus Station to the extended grounds of Ramon Airport, but when the airport opened, no bus station capable of handling the load of traffic was in place.

You should reserve your ticket for your bus to Eilat a few days in advance at least as they all have assigned seating and may sell out.

From Tel Aviv
From Tel Aviv there are five bus lines to Eilat. The lines operate on a regular schedule. The trip takes around 5-5½ hr and costs ₪70. It's advisable to buy tickets in advance as seating is assigned.
 * Line 390: An express bus from Tel Aviv to Eilat. The southern portion the line also does local service between towns on highway 90.
 * Line 393: A bus line from Tel Aviv to Eilat. This bus also picks up at Rishon LeZion, Rehovot, Gedera, Kiryat Malakhi and Dimona. The southern portion the line also does local service between towns on highway 90.
 * Line 790: A direct bus from Tel Aviv to Eilat without intermediate stops.
 * Line 794: Identical to line 394 except the line departs from Tel Aviv Center Railway Station instead of the Central Bus Station.

From Jerusalem
From Jerusalem there are two bus lines to Eilat. The lines operate on a regular schedule. The trip takes around 5-5½ hr and costs ₪70. It's advisable to buy tickets in advance as seating is assigned.
 * Line 444: An express bus to from Jerusalem to Eilat via Dead Sea and Highway 90. The line also does local service between towns on highway 90 in the section of the line between Arava Junction to Eilot Kibbutz.
 * Line 445: A direct bus from Jerusalem to Eilat without intermediate stops.

From Be'er Sheva
From Be'er Sheva there are 3 bus lines. The trip takes 3-3½ hr and costs ₪51.5, with a bus at least every hour.
 * Line 392: This is a local bus from Be'er Sheva to Eilat via Mitzpe Ramon and Highway 12. A full ride from Be'er Sheva to Eilat on this line is not so recommended as the bus makes multiple intermediate stops. This bus is crowded on different hours of the day.
 * Line 397: This is an express bus from Be'er Sheva via Dimona and Highway 90. The line also does local service between towns on highway 90 in the section of the line between Arava Junction to Eilot Kibbutz.

It's advisable to buy tickets in advance as seating is assigned.

From Taba Border Crossing
From the Taba (Egypt) border crossing, local buses 16 and 30 go to the Central Bus Station, costing ₪4.20.

From Ramon Airport
From Ramon Airport there are four bus routes which only 2 of them are frequent and relevant to tourists.
 * Line 30: From the airport via the Central Bus Station (no hotels section) to the southern beach and Taba Border Crossing.
 * Line 50: From the airport via the hotels section to the Central Bus Station. Line 50א does line 50 in reverse.
 * Lines 31 and 32 serve the residential neighborhoods of Eilat.

From other destinations around Israel
Egged: Metropoline:
 * From Mitzpe Ramon: Line 392.
 * From Ashdod and Ashkelon: 383 (seasonal line), 391.
 * From Ra'anana: Line 399.
 * From Hadera and Netanya: Lines 399, 991.
 * From Northern Israel:
 * Haifa: 893 (seasonal line), 991, 993.
 * Afula: 992 (seasonal line).
 * Karmiel: 994 (seasonal line).
 * From Mitzpe Ramon: Line 340.

Check with the Ministry of Transport for additional routes, rates and updated schedules, or call *8787 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 hr 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 min and costs around LE110 (Dec 2011).

Border crossings
There is no fee to enter Israel.



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. They then stamp 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 should not be delayed for more than 5 min 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 (Lines 16 and 30, ₪4.20), but the last leaves Su-Th 20:45, F 18:15, and Sa 21:45. Taxis will be waiting, charging about ₪40 to go to town.

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 07:00-08:00 and end 20:00-21:00. Ask the driver for exact times. All routes cost ₪4.20 one ride without transfers. You may also load a day pass for Eilat area for ₪6.70, a six days pass for ₪33.50 or a month/30-day pass for ₪116 (Rav-Kav required), which is a better option if you need transfers. You can get an anonymous Rav-Kav from the driver, or on Central Bus Station or Ramon Airport (where you may as well be issued a personal one, with photo. A personal card is required for the month/30-day pass).

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 min from Tarshish St. near the Dan Panorama and Ceaser Premier hotels at the North Beach area.
 * Bus Number 1 leaves every 20 min 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 the city center.
 * Bus Number 2 leaves every 20 min at 10 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 the city center.
 * Bus Number 5 from Shachamon to the new industrial area leaves every 30 min on the hour. The bus passes through some of the city's neighborhoods, city center, North Beach hotel area, and terminates at the new industrial area near the Big Eilat Shopping Center.
 * Bus Number 6 runs the Number 5 route in reverse, leaving the new industrial area every 30 min on the hour.
 * Bus Number 15 to Coral Beach, terminating at the Taba Border Crossing, leaves every half hour from Platform 7 at the Central Bus Station. It passes through the city center and does a circuit of the North Beach hotel area 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 Border Crossing between 30 and 40 min after the hour.
 * Bus Number 30 from Ramon Airport via Central Bus Station to Coral Beach, terminating at Taba Border Crossing, passes at Platform 7 at the Central Bus Station.
 * Bus Number 50 from Ramon Airport to Central Bus Station. It passes through the city center and does a circuit of North Beach hotels as far as Kings City before turning west towards the Central Bus station.
 * Bus Number 50א runs the Number 50 in reverse.

Night Buses Numbers 10 and 11  do a complete circuit of the city. Both buses leave every 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 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 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 21:00 and 06:00, 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
The  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.





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.

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).

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.



Buy
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.

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.).

Mid-range

 * 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. (updated May 2022)
 * 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. (updated May 2022)
 * 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. (updated May 2022)
 * 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. (updated May 2022)
 * 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. (updated May 2022)
 * 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. (updated May 2022)
 * 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. (updated May 2022)

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.


 * 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.
 * 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




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



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 infiltration, Israel has built a steel barrier backed by cameras, radar and motion detectors on the Israel-Egypt border.

The sun can be very intense all day. Plan transportation and wear plenty of sunscreen including in the water.

The 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. The border can take between 20 min to 2 hr. You will need to pay an exit fee when leaving Israel of ₪103 (Feb 2012) and if traveling 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 (e.g. Cairo) then you need to apply for a visa in the . The consulate is open Su-Th 09:30-14:00. It takes approx. 20 min for European and American tourists, costs depend on nationality, they lie around ₪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.