Last Updated on November 25, 2021
Top attractions & things to do in Eilat
Warm weather, beautiful beaches and reefs make Eilat a popular holiday destination for locals and tourists. Accommodation from a basic hostel to 5 star luxury hotels, time sharing and self-catering holiday apartments range from less than 100 shekels per night and run into the thousands for super-luxury suites. Last minute 3 day holiday packages, midweek or weekend come relatively cheaply and some include flights as well. January and February are low season.
A flight to Eilat takes about one hour and now the new Ilan & Assaf Ramon International Airport, just a few kilometers outside the town, make Eilat accessible and an even more popular destination for tourists from abroad. Overseas investors can purchase a magnificent home or apartment with spectacular views and vistas of the mountains; Egypt to the west, Akaba in Jordan a short distance away and Saudi Arabia on the distant horizon.
Once you are in Eilat you can choose to relax on one of the magnificent beaches and soak up the rays, or take advantage of other attractions
The Promenade
The Promenade (Heb: Tayelet) is a hub of activity. Lots of restaurants and fast food joints to choose from. An amusement park with activities for small children and adventurous adults. Participate in folk dancing or zumba classes too. Inexpensive beach wear, sunglasses, children’s toys, cheap jewelry and souvenirs can be bought at the flea market on the promenade.
Bar Hopping
Lots of pubs and happy hours starting from 3 p.m. on the promenade. Enjoy singers, local and international bands and informal jam sessions or perhaps you prefer to ‘down a pint’ and watch a sporting event on a giant TV screen.
The Eilat Fountain
Israel’s largest musical fountain and spectacular audio-visual show, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday evenings. Free entrance at Eilat Central Park.
The Eilat Museum
Three exhibition halls with displays depicting the history and establishment of Eilat. Did you know that prior to being called ‘Eilat’ the name of the town was Um RashRash? The museum displays hundreds of photographs and multimedia shows on 9 screens. A ten shekel entrance fee and open on Monday – Thursday from 10:00 – 20:00, Friday from 10:00 – 14:00 and from 12:00 – 20:00 on Saturday.
The Bird Watching Park
Often described as the ‘jewel in the crown’ by Israeli bird watching enthusiasts. The Eilat bird watching park is the place to learn about desert and other native birds.
Beaches
If you are not staying at one of the luxury hotels that has its own private beach, you can still enjoy the many other public beaches. HaShchafim Beach screens films, the romantic HaZahav Beach or the Papaya Beach with an exotic vibe. Head to the Dolphin Reef if you want to swim and cavort with dolphins or to the Coral Beach for snorkeling, scuba diving and best views of underwater gardens.
Water Sports
Adults and children can enjoy extreme water sport activities such as jet skiing, water skiing, banana boats, tubing, parasailing and more. In addition, you can rent small motor boats and kayaks and enjoy the the coastal waters.
The Aquarium & Underwater Observatory
Coral World Eilat. The Gulf of Eilat is part of the 180km Gulf of Akaba. The gulf water temperature varies between 19º in winter to 26º in summer. A wide range of fish (about 1350 different species) and hard and soft corals (approximately 300 species) are found in the Red Sea.
You might want to check out the ‘Life in the Dark’ exhibition – A display of mesmerizing jelly fish, illuminated fish, glowing corals, cuttle-fish and sea urchins that live in the deep waters.
The Shark and Invertebrates Pool where you can see the “kings of the ocean”; sharks, manta rays and stingrays in their full splendor.
Head down to the underwater observatory 6 meters below sea level for a window into the Red Sea. You can also board a glass bottomed boat which sails over the coral reserve.
Experience the Desert
The Aravah valley – or dry region – forms part of the border between Israel and Jordan. In Biblical times, the Arava was a center of copper production; King Solomon is believed to have had mines here.
The Timna Valley Park – 20 minutes out of Eilat – with some of the oldest copper mines in the world, amazing rock formations and a convoluted cliff called King Solomon’s Pillars.
The Eilat Mountains or Harei Eilat offer breathtaking views and spectacular desert trails. This large mountain range is known for its stunning beauty. Marvel over the rich yellow, red and brown rocky landscape. Over time erosion has resulted in narrow canyon only one or two meters wide, but hundreds of meters high. The area is home to animals like the Striped Hyena, Golden Jackal, and Dorcas Gazelle. Explore the mountains on foot or in a jeep safari tour. Camel safaris are another option.
Eilat Shopping
Eilat is a VAT free zone but we do suggest that you do price checks before your shopping expedition.
Eilat’s promenade has a wide selection of designer and upmarket stores where you can buy clothes, shoes and other apparel, high-end jewelry and other luxury items.
The Ice-Mall, a standard Israeli shopping mall has a 150 stores and eateries on 2 levels. There is also a selection of stands in an exclusive section called the “Mall Market”. The Ice Mall’s biggest attraction is an 1,800 square meter ice rink. Ice shows, acrobatic shows, ice skating competitions and even lessons can be watched from every corner of the mall.
Mall HaYam, is classed as one of the city’s major attractions for residents, visitors and tourists and is located on the shores of the North Beach close to the city center, hotels and other attractions. You will find a variety of fashion, accessories, shoe shops, perfume and beauty products, jewelry and electronic stores, a food-court and a variety of cafes.
Plan your next outing or vacation in Israel using our resources and recommendations.
