Eilat Beach
Sendelbach CC BY-SA 3.0
North Beach, Eilat
The Eilat Beach Experience
The name “Eilat” brings to mind images of the Red Sea, the beautiful tropical Eilat beach, and palm trees. There are nearly 9 miles (14 km) of coast and beaches spanning from Eilat’s border with Jordan in the north to Eilat’s border with Egypt in the south. The Princess Beach is the last southern beach in Eilat before Sinai and is almost on the Taba border. Eilat has over 30 public and private beaches, including a separate beach for men and women.
Dolphin Reef Eilat
The North Shore beaches are where most of the main hotels are located; these are generally the better beaches for swimming and water sports. The North Shore Promenade bordering the Eilat beach is full of snack bars, restaurants, coffee shops and all kinds of stores. In fact, Eilat’s Ocean Mall (or Canion HaYam), the largest shopping mall in Eilat, is built right on the North Beach. On the other hand, Eilat’s southern beaches, with their abundance of coral, are perfect for scuba diving and snorkeling. The southern beaches are also home to major Eilat attractions such as the Underwater Observatory, Dolphin Reef Eilat, and the Coral Reef Nature Reserve.
Eilat beaches are public and admission is free except for the Dolphin Beach and Meridian Beach. Most of the beaches are managed by a hotel or restaurant, but you do not have to be a guest in the hotel to use the beach. Sun shades, beach chairs and lounges can be rented at most of the beaches, as well diving and snorkeling equipment in the southern coastal area. Not all Eilat beaches are open at night, so check ahead of time to see if lifeguards are available.
IsraelTourism CC BY 2.0
Beach Chairs and the Sea
Separate Eilat Beach
One of the northernmost Eilat beaches, not far from the Jordanian border, is a separate beach known as Hof Hanifrad. Unlike separate beaches in other parts of Israel, where there are different days for men and women to swim, Eilat’s separate beach boasts a 9.8-foot (3-meter) high separation wall (mechitza) between the men’s and women’s sections, extending even into the sea. This setup works well for families on vacation who can attend the beach at the same time. The separate beach is closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays.
Eilat Beach Conditions
Even though several of Eilat’s beaches have nice, soft sand (i.e. Tarshish Beach, Neptune Beach, Neviot Beach, Moriah Beach, Red Rock Beach, Dan Beach, Royal Beach, and Pearl Beach), the land under the water tends to be rocky and hard. It is strongly advised to wear special beach shoes which will also protect your feet from sharp spikes, sea urchin venom, and sharp coral. It goes without saying that sunscreen is a necessity on any Eilat beach. All Eilat beaches are accessible to people with disabilities.
Eilat Beach Trivia: Did You Know?
Did you know that the Red Sea is not red at all? Its name derives from the reflection in the water of the red mountains surrounding the sea. The actual color of the sea is an enchanting blue.
