Getting to Eilat

Depending on your location, there are several ways of reaching Israel's vacation capital. Most visitors arrive from within Israel overland, by car or bus, or by flying to Eilat Ramon International Airport, located a 20-min ride from the city.

Foreign tourists visiting several Middle East countries can enjoy trips to Egypt and Jordan and cross the border into Eilat on foot. Many tourists from all over the world choose Eilat to be their base for exciting day trips to Red Sea and other Middle East destinations because of its convenient location and because it is the most Western-style city on the Red Sea. Eilat is located at a point where Israel, Jordan, and Egypt converge, and many visitors to the Middle East refuse to forego overnights in Eilat, dipping in the Red Sea, discount shopping, and more.

Routes to Eilat :

From Israel

Eilat is a 4-hr drive from Tel Aviv, a 4:50-hr drive from Haifa, and a 3:45-hr drive from Jerusalem. There is also public transportation to Eilat. Egged Bus Company, for example, has a dedicated line to Eilat (390) that offers nine convenient departures from 8 AM to 8 PM. To date, there is no train to Eilat, but the Israel Railways does go to Beer Sheva. From there, the ride to Eilat can be continued by bus. Many tourists visiting Israel like to tour the large cities of the Holy Land, and save the best for last, combining luxurious rest and relaxation with discount shopping in Eilat.

Visitors from Israel can arrive via Rte. 90, the nation's longest road. It begins at Mt. Hermon in the north and ends at Eilat's southernmost tip – the border crossing to Taba. We recommend driving most of the way to Eilat via Rte. 40. Considered by many to offer an easier drive, it merges with Rte. 90 some 100 km north of the city. But no matter the road you choose to drive, the hours in the car will offer passengers gorgeous red desert vistas as well as wonderful rest stops along the way: the Dead Sea, the Ramon Crater, the Spice Road, and Timna Park. We recommend you plan your drive so that you get to fill up your gas tank in the city. As Eilat shopping is exempt from Israel's 17% VAT, fuel prices in the city are much lower than anywhere else in the country.

It's also possible to arrive by air to Eilat Ramon Airport from the other Israeli airports located near Tel Aviv (Ben-Gurion International Airport) and in Haifa. The airport near Eilat, commemorating the late Ilan and Asaf Ramon, was inaugurated in 2019 and is located a 20-min or so drive from Eilat. Passengers enjoy free WiFi throughout the terminal, which also offers first aid and adapted facilities for travelers with special needs, in accordance with Israel's People with Disabilities Law and subject to the accessibility standards practiced in Israel. Arkia and Israir, two Israeli airline companies, operate flights from Tel Aviv and Haifa to Eilat.

There are two bus terminals for visitors' convenience: the Timna Terminal on the north side for incoming visitors and the Evrona Terminal on the south side for outgoing passengers. Public transportation to Eilat is operated by the Egged Bus Company. Information about schedules, routes, and ticket prices may be found at the company's website. A cab stand is located just outside the airport terminal. All cabs operate according to the price control order issued by Israel's Ministry of Transportation. The charge for travel between Eilat Ramon International Airport and the city is determined by the cab's meter reading.

From Europe

Eilat Ramon Airport also serves tourists abroad who want to arrive by flying directly to Eilat. Several foreign companies, including Wizz Air, ASL, Ryanair, and Lufthansa, offer direct flights from Eilat to European destinations, such as Moscow, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Milano, Berlin, Budapest, and more.

From Egypt

Many tourists arrive in Eilat from Egypt after visiting Cairo, the Pyramids at Giza, Sharm a-Sheikh, the Blue Hole, Saint Catherine's Monastery, and the beaches of the Sinai Peninsula. The Menachem Begin Border Crossing to Taba is located at Eilat's southernmost point, a 10-min ride from the city center. From the Taba terminal, visitors can reach Eilat’s city center by taxi or Egged's bus line #15, which stops at the border every half hour. The bus ticket costs NIS 4.20. At the crossing, it is necessary to pay NIS 107 on the Israeli side plus another E£ 400 (~NIS 80) on the Egyptian side.

Click here for more information on the Menachem Begin Border Crossing

From Jordan

The land border between Israel and Jordan allows visitors to tour Jordan, which provides access to other Middle East countries, such as Saudi Arabia, whose border with Jordan is clearly visible from Eilat's beaches. The Yitzhak Rabin Arava Border Crossing is located about 3 km north of Eilat. The border crossing fee is NIS 107 on the Israeli side and US $15 on the Jordanian side each way. Most tourists crossing into Eilat from Jordan do so after having visited important historic sites, such as Wadi Rum and Petra, and some like to spend a few nights in Aqaba before visiting the city. Adjacent to the border crossing is a bus and taxi terminal offering convenient transportation to Eilat.

Click here for more information on the Yitzhak Rabin Arava Border Crossing

Winter 2022/2023: International Flights to Ramon Eilat, Israel