On our recent trip to Israel, we had blue skies and perfect weather the entire trip, which was ideal for us to hit all the beaches on the itinerary – The Mediterranean Sea in Tel Aviv, the Red Sea in Eilat, and the Dead Sea in between! Each of these beaches are so completely different from the others and provide a different vibe and opportunities so you really want to decide what is important to you before picking your next vacation spot.
The Dead Sea
Probably the most famous sea, the Dead Sea is the one you will want to spend the least amount of time in. The water is so salty that you float on the top no matter what you try to do, which is cool and part of the appeal, but that same saltiness is like pure torture if you get it in your eyes, mouth, or have any small cuts. Depending on where you enter the sea, you may be entering a really muddy spot or walking on sharp, hardened salt. The muddy areas are less attractive looking (the mud …muddies up the blue water) but you can use it all over your body and bake with it on before rinsing it off instead of having to buy the mud; the hardened salt areas are painful to walk on so you’ll want to keep some cheap flip-flops or water shoes with you (the salt will ruin any nice ones) and you will need to buy the mud if you want to wear any (you can buy a small bag for $3-5) but the water and views are stunning as these tend to be the resort areas.
If you decide to stay near the Dead Sea, make sure you pick a resort with a really nice pool because you won’t want to spend all of your time in the like for the other locations on this list. This beach is best to visit on the way to somewhere else (like Masada or Eilat) as opposed to a vacation spot itself.
The Red Sea
Eilat, the southernmost city in Israel that shares borders and the Red Sea with both Egypt and Jordan is the resort beach town of Israel. They have boardwalks with carnival rides (like the slingshot) and massive resorts all along the water. The beaches themselves, as far as beaches go, are not my favorite. They are mostly shells and rocks instead of soft, smooth sand that I am used to (& prefer) and the land portions are more narrow and cramped together. That being said, the views of the mountains from the beach are stunning and unlike most other beach areas I have been to. The water temperature is fine, especially in the hot summer heat but you’ll also be fighting with packed crowds. Since there isn’t real sand to put down a blanket, you may be forced to rent some chairs for comfort and space.
A ton of Russians go here to vacation and as far as tourists go, they were far more aggressive and intrusive than any other tourists I have encountered at other beaches – enough to bring this beach farther down on my list of places to return to. If you are looking for other activities, you can rent a boat or paddleboard and go out on the water or even go parasailing which are fun ways to fill the time. The resorts on the water are beautiful and some have amazing pools, but it just depends on if you prefer to spend your time at the beach or at the pool. If we had been in Eilat another night, I think we would have just stayed at the pool, so for us it was worth it to stay at one of the larger spots. The seafood here is also phenomenal and most of the restaurants along the beach have great menus so make sure to take advantage of that. This beach is best for those who want more of a party atmosphere with a lot of things to do.
The Mediterranean Sea
In my opinion, the best beaches along the Med in Israel are in Tel Aviv because these beaches are far more like what I expect from a beach – long, wide stretches of soft, sandy shore with lots of areas for swimming and relaxing. There are no massive carnival rides, but if you go north you will find the “Port” which has a nice boardwalk with a carousel, shops, and spots for sitting and lounging. The main beaches are in front of all of the standard hotels – Crown Plaza, Sheraton, Hilton, etc. You won’t go wrong with any of them but try and take some time to price shop before you book. Most of your time will be spent outside on the beach so you may be fine staying at a smaller hotel as long as it is within walking distance – parking at the beach is horrible so you definitely want to stay somewhere you can leave your car and walk from.
Like the Red Sea, there are boats and watersport equipment rentals available if you look for them if you aren’t a fan of spending all day laying out. The views are not as stunning as the Red Sea but it’s still worth it. In the summer these beaches fill up fast with locals and tourists so try and get there earlier to secure a prime spot. Even if you show up later though, you’ll be able to squeeze in just fine with just your blanket and beach bag. When you are ready for lunch, there are a ton of beach cafes on the water. Most of them have similar menus and reviews so just read the reviews before you go; if the food is the same, I always try and pick the place with the best service reviews. This beach is best if you just want to spend the day lounging and relaxing.
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Kali