Eilat, the southernmost city in the country, is considered the undisputed holiday capital of Israel. Geographically, the Gulf of Eilat is located at the edge of a long narrow estuary separating the Arabian Peninsula and the Sinai Desert. As an oasis on the shores of the Red Sea, Eilat provides visitors with a spectacular combination of mountainous desert landscape, a beautiful bay and the summer sun that shines all through the year. Without a doubt, Eilat is one of Israel's most unique cities, and one of the most exclusive resorts in the world, attracting over 3 million visitors a year.
The city offers a fantastic ranger of hotels to suit any budget, restaurants, VAT FREE shopping, and a vibrant nightlife alongside a variety of attractions aimed to suit all types of vacationers. Eilat is famous for its fantastic diving and a top destination for scuba divers seeking to explore spectacular coral reefs and vibrant marine wildlife. Due to its unique location, Eilat, unlike most resort towns, offers nature lovers a variety of hiking and cycling trails through the beautiful and historic landscapes of the Arava Desert.
Bordering with Jordan and Egypt, Eilat was classed a remote and secluded city. However, since the official opening of Eilat airport, in the early 60's, the southernmost city began to rapidly grow and develop. Today the city is classed as one of the top ten destinations on the rise according to the TripAdvisor Choice Awards and definitely a city to add to your bucket list!
Eilat spreads out over a territory of approximately 87,000 hectares and is classed as home to approximately 60,000 residents. It is the fourth largest jurisdiction in the country. Tourism is a major employment sector in the city, with dozens of hotels and guesthouses that offer more than 12,000 rooms. In 1985, Eilat was declared as a "free trade zone", and its Tax-Free status certainly attracts many tourists.
