Planning to holiday in Israel's vacation capital any time soon? Early planning of your vacation will help you arrive at the city ready to take advantage of all that interests you without wasting time on adjustment issues. Here you'll discover what's important to know before coming to Eilat so that you can arrive untroubled and enjoy a real, carefree vacation.
To plan a vacation suited to your budget, preferences, and style, we suggest planning your vacation so that you know ahead of time the tours you'll want to take, your means of travel and transportation, the length of your stay, the season, and the accommodations. Before you being to plan your holiday, it's important to get to know the city and what's important:
Useful Information
Eilat is a port city located at the southernmost point of the State of Israel. It is a thriving tourist center thanks to some central draws, such as the Red Sea beaches, the world's northernmost shallow water coral reef, and the dozens of international and Israeli festivals and special events it hosts throughout the year. The accommodation options are many. Visitors can choose from some 12,000 guest units in more than 50 hotels. The most commonly spoken language in Eilat is Hebrew, but at the hotels, tourist centers, and beaches, most personnel speak excellent English. The local currency is the New Israeli Shekel (abbreviated as NIS), and throughout the city you can find banks and cash machines for easy withdrawals.
The Best Time to Visit Eilat
In Eilat, winter lasts from December through February, when daytime temperatures average 20-25°C with very low precipitation and scant chances for rain. This weather makes it possible for visitors to enjoy walking in the Eilat Mountains and any of the dozens of Winter Sun Festival events, and above all to lie in comfort on the enticing shoreline of the Gulf of Eilat, engage in a range of fun sports activities at any of the many amazing diving spots, or just dip in the cool water. From March through the end of November, the weather is hot and summery, with average temperatures of 30°C in the day and 20°C at night. During the Israeli summer, i.e. June through August, the peak of Eilat's tourist season, temperatures climb to 40°C and more, and the beaches are full of foreign and Israeli visitors coming to tan and enjoy the waters of the Red Sea.
What to Do in Eilat
Most of the attractions and activities are open year round, although hiking tours of the desert outside the city are less recommended in the summer because of the intense heat. In Eilat, a lot of walking, hiking, and climbing are activities best suited to fall and winter when the weather is considerably cooler. Eilat's shopping malls and centers, with brand name, VAT-free shops, are open year round, as are the many restaurants and pubs in the tourist areas. The beaches, too, are open all through the year and the winter months are great for lazing in front of the Red Sea. Many visitors opt to take advantage of Eilat's geographical location to embark on day trips to Egypt and Jordan, and take in fascinating sites such as Petra and Aqaba in Jordan and the Blue Hole and Saint Catherine's Monastery in Egypt.
Getting to Eilat
There are several ways to get to Eilat. Most visitors arrive from within Israel by car or public transportation, which allows them to stop some fascinating points along the way, including the Ramon Crater, the Dead Sea, and Timna Park. It's also possible to arrive by air to Eilat Ramon Airport, located a 20-min drive from town. The Eilat Ramon Airport has weekly flights from Tel Aviv and Haifa and several international flights from various European locales. After landing, the city can be reached by public transportation available right outside the terminal exits. Many tourists arrive in Eilat as part of a Middle East vacation package and cross the border on foot at the Taba Crossing from Egypt or at the Aqaba Crossing from Jordan, both located some 10 min from the city center by cab or bus.
Hotel Reservations
Accommodations in Eilat vary and are suited to every type of holiday. There are hotels suited to families with children, hotels catering to romantic couples, vacation rentals for singles and groups, hostels for youth and adults, and outdoor overnighting in old-fashioned tents or new glamping options. There are many overnight options suited to every budget and vacation type. You can search for accommodations and make reservations on leading websites such as booking.com, agoda.com, airbnb.com, etc.; use the hotels' own website; or work with travel agencies, which typically arrange vacation packages that include flights, transfers, and hotels.
Important to Pack
Because of the summer's hot, dry desert weather, we recommend coming with sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses. In the winter, the sun is not as strong, but the weather is still quite warm so that it's possible to walk around in shirtsleeves by day. However, at night, it can become quite chilly, so we suggest you pack some warmer items as well. If you intend many visits to the beach, come with beach towels, goggles or face mask, and a snorkel, as well as water shoes, because at some beaches it is necessary to walk across pebbles and stones, which can be quite uncomfortable if you're barefoot. If you prefer to pack lightly, all of these items can be purchased at shops, supermarkets, and souvenir stands at the beaches and throughout the city.
