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Voykit pocket guide · Israel
Eilat
אילת
Go for 3 nights if you dive or want winter sun; skip if you came for Israel's history — Eilat is beaches, reef and desert, 5 h by bus from Tel Aviv.
Eilat is Israel's only Red Sea city, a resort strip on 7 km of coast between Egypt and Jordan. It is 320 km from Tel Aviv and has no rail link, so you commit to a 5-hour bus or a flight. In exchange you get a coral reef, warm winter water and a duty-free-style tax break on hotels and shops.
- Country
- Israel
- Local name
- אילת
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (40°C highs), major Jewish holidaysJul–Aug (104°F highs), major Jewish holidays
- Stay
- 3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- ILS
- Money
- Cards work nearly everywhere; see Insurance & payments above for the insurance point that matters more.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₪250–400 excl. bed · Mid ₪400–700 excl. bed · High ₪700+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Ambulance (MDA) 101 · Fire 102 · Home Front Command 104
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | ₪10–18 |
| Hummus or falafel plate | ₪35–60 |
| Beer: draught in a bar / can at a shop | ₪25–40 / ₪8–14 |
| Local bus ride | ₪4.20 |
| Taxi across town | ₪40–60 |
| Coral Beach Nature Reserve entry | check |
| Two-tank guided dive | ₪250–400 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ₪40–80 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ETM · Ramon International Airport (Ilan and Assaf Ramon)
- 20 km north of the city; shuttle bus to downtown about ₪4.20, taxi about ₪100. Ovda and the old city airport are closed to commercial flights.12 mi north of the city; shuttle bus to downtown about ₪4.20, taxi about ₪100. Ovda and the old city airport are closed to commercial flights.
Typical fares
- Ramon Airport → downtown, shuttle bus
- about ₪4.20, 06:00–20:00 every 30 min except Shabbatabout ₪4.20, 6:00 AM–8:00 PM every 30 min except Shabbat
- Ramon Airport → downtown, taxi
- about ₪100
- Bus Tel Aviv → Eilat
- about ₪70, 5–5.5 h, reserve ahead
- Local bus ride
- ₪4.20; day pass ₪6.70 with Rav-Kav
Get around
Central Eilat is walkable, but Coral Beach is 7 km south and dive sites need a bus or car. Local buses cost ₪4.20 a ride; a day pass is ₪6.70 and needs a Rav-Kav card. Bus 15 runs to Coral Beach and the Taba crossing, bus 30 links the airport, bus station and Coral Beach. Taxis are unmetered in practice — agree the fare first.Central Eilat is walkable, but Coral Beach is 4.3 mi south and dive sites need a bus or car. Local buses cost ₪4.20 a ride; a day pass is ₪6.70 and needs a Rav-Kav card. Bus 15 runs to Coral Beach and the Taba crossing, bus 30 links the airport, bus station and Coral Beach. Taxis are unmetered in practice — agree the fare first.
See and do
Known for
- Coral Beach Nature Reserve
- Underwater Observatory
- Red Sea diving and snorkelling
- Winter sun and desert day trips
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mitzpe Ramon and the Ramon Crater | Bus 392 or 340 from the Central Bus Station, or drive Highway 40 | 2.5–3 h each way |
| Sde Boker | Drive or bus north on Highway 40 | 2–2.5 h each way |
| Taba, Egypt | Bus 15/16 to the Menachem Begin–Taba crossing, 9 km southBus 15/16 to the Menachem Begin–Taba crossing, 5.6 mi south | About 30 min |
| Aqaba, Jordan | Taxi or bus to the Rabin (Arava) crossing, 5 km north, then a taxiTaxi or bus to the Rabin (Arava) crossing, 3.1 mi north, then a taxi | About 1 h |
Sleep
- North Beach and the Tayelet promenade
- Hotel strip, 2 km of beach, walkable to the centre; best for a short trip without a car.Hotel strip, 1.2 mi of beach, walkable to the centre; best for a short trip without a car.
- City centre (around the Central Bus Station)
- Banks, post office, buses and cheaper rooms; 10–15 min walk to North Beach.
- Coral Beach (south)
- 7 km south, next to the reef and dive clubs; you need bus 15/16 or a car for everything else.4.3 mi south, next to the reef and dive clubs; you need bus 15/16 or a car for everything else.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Peace | שלוםshalom |
| Thank you | תודהtoda |
| How much is it? | כמה זה עולה?kama ze ole? |
| Can I pay by card? | אפשר לשלם בכרטיס?efshar leshalem be-kartis? |
| Where is the beach? | איפה החוף?eifo ha-chof? |
| Please use the meter | בבקשה תפעיל מונהbevakasha taf'il mone |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- Shabbat: from Friday afternoon to Saturday night many shops, buses and restaurants stop; plan arrivals and departures around it.
- Summer heat: July and August highs near 40°C; do reef and desert activities before 10:00 or after 16:00.
- Taxis: insist on the meter or fix the price before you get in; rates rise at night, on Saturdays and for luggage.
- Border crossings to Egypt and Jordan are close but rules, fees and stamps change often — check before you go.
- Book intercity buses days ahead: seats are assigned and services sell out.
Eilat is a resort town and generally calm, but read your own government's travel advice for Israel before booking — this desk does not plan around it. Day-to-day risks are heat, sunburn, reef cuts and unmetered taxis.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Eilat yet. Suggested stay: 3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Coral Beach Nature Reserve
- Underwater Observatory
- Red Sea diving and snorkelling
- Winter sun and desert day trips
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Eilat Coral Beach Nature Reserve (Israel Nature and Parks Authority): www.parks.org.il/en/reserve-park/eilat-coral-beach-nature-reserve-2/
- Underwater Observatory Marine Park: coralworld.co.il/en/
- Wikivoyage: Eilat, revision 5340172 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5340172
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Eilatאילת
לכתובת הזאת, בבקשה
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies in Eilat; most are in Tel Aviv, some consulates in Jerusalem. Check your own government's list.
Shabbat runs Friday afternoon to Saturday night: buses thin out and many restaurants close.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/eilat). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.