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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 (104°F) highs), major Jewish holidaysJul–Aug (104°F (40°C) 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 (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.12 mi (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.
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
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Central Eilat is walkable, but Coral Beach is 7 km (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.Central Eilat is walkable, but Coral Beach is 4.3 mi (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.
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 (5.6 mi) southBus 15/16 to the Menachem Begin–Taba crossing, 5.6 mi (9 km) south | About 30 min |
| Aqaba, Jordan | Taxi or bus to the Rabin (Arava) crossing, 5 km (3.1 mi) north, then a taxiTaxi or bus to the Rabin (Arava) crossing, 3.1 mi (5 km) north, then a taxi | About 1 h |
Sleep
- North Beach and the Tayelet promenade
- Hotel strip, 2 km (1.2 mi) of beach, walkable to the centre; best for a short trip without a car.Hotel strip, 1.2 mi (2 km) 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 (4.3 mi) south, next to the reef and dive clubs; you need bus 15/16 or a car for everything else.4.3 mi (7 km) 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.