What is Eilat best for?

Red Sea snorkelling/diving, family resorts and desert day trips (Timna, Red Canyon, and Petra across the border).

Not within town (it’s compact and walkable); useful for Timna/Red Canyon, or join tours.

3–4 nights for beaches, a dive/snorkel and a desert day.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and autumn; summer is very hot but it’s a winter-sun favourite.

Can I visit Petra from Eilat?

Yes — day tours cross the Yitzhak Rabin/Wadi Araba border to Petra, Jordan.

SherryStay Destination Guide

Eilat

Red Sea resort city — winter sun, reef diving, year-round warmth.

Israel

About Eilat

To really understand Eilat, stop treating it as one city and split it into two completely different geographic worlds — the choice between them sets the whole tone of your holiday. The North Beach is the urban lifestyle: the lively, glittering, culinary Eilat, where you step from the hotel straight onto the upgraded promenade, dine at the marina’s new chef-driven restaurants and soak up the city’s nightlife and pace; the hotels here deliver a polished urban stay, vast pools and views over the bay and its yachts. The South Beach is the desert escape: the moment you pass Eilat’s port heading south the vibe flips 180 degrees — here the brown desert mountains meet the turquoise water and the coral reef head-on, and the holiday turns more private, quiet and eco-minded, the hotels built for travellers who want to switch off the noise, wake up facing a natural reef and enjoy absolute desert calm. February–May is the sweet spot: a warm sea and gentler prices than the December peak — and remember Eilat is a VAT-free zone, so the same hotel runs about 17% cheaper here than elsewhere in Israel.

Sherry's Take

Stay on North Beach for the promenade and restaurants, or Coral Beach for diving. Feb–May is the sweet spot: warm sea, cheaper than December peak.

Best For

BeachFamilyDivingWinter sunCouples

Go in

FebruaryMarchAprilMayOctoberNovember

Avoid if possible

JulyAugust

Where to Stay

North Beach (Lagoon)

Promenade, hotels, restaurants, family pools

Coral Beach

Reef diving, snorkeling, calmer atmosphere

Royal Beach / Marina

High-end resorts, walking distance to nightlife

Kibbutz Eilot

Desert hotels, quieter, free shuttle to centre

Money-Saving Tips

1Eilat is a VAT-free zone — hotels typically cost ~17% less than the same brand elsewhere in Israel.
2Day-use passes to luxury hotel pools (₪150–250) beat booking the room when you just want the pool day.
3Half-board hotel meals are usually 30% cheaper than the same restaurant à la carte.

Getting Around

1Buses 30 and 15 cover the entire hotel strip for ₪5; pay with Rav-Kav contactless or coins.
2Ramon (ETM) airport is 18 km north — Egged 282 runs every 30 min for ₪10; fixed-rate taxi ~₪80.
3Walking the promenade from North Beach to the marina takes 25 min — easier than parking.

Most Common Mistake

Booking a "city" hotel without a pool in summer — Eilat tops 42 °C and you will need pool access.

Ideal Stay

3–5 nights

Combine with

• Petra, Jordan (2h border crossing)
• Timna Park (30 min)
• Red Canyon (45 min)

Useful Local Hotel Phrases

Hebrew

Helloשלוםsha-LOM
Thank youתודהto-DA
Pleaseבבקשהbe-va-ka-SHA
Check-inקבלת חדרka-ba-LAT KHE-der
Check-outעזיבת חדרa-zi-VAT KHE-der
Hotelמלוןma-LON
Receptionקבלהka-ba-LA
Breakfastארוחת בוקרa-ru-KHAT BO-ker
Wi-Fiוויי-פייwai-fai
Taxiמוניתmo-NIT
Airportשדה תעופהs'deh te-u-FA
Train stationתחנת רכבתta-kha-NAT ra-KE-vet
Helpהצילוha-tsi-LU
How much?כמה זה עולה?KA-ma ze o-LE
Where is...?איפה?EY-fo

Eilat at a glance

Eilat is in Israel.
The nearest airport to Eilat is Ramon Airport (ETM), ~18 km north.
Getting in from the airport takes 20–25 min to the hotels.
The best way in is Airport bus or taxi; the town is walkable once there.
A day in Eilat costs roughly $60–110 per person on a budget, $150–300 mid-range and $450+ at the luxury end.
Sherry suggests 3–5 nights in Eilat.
November is usually the cheapest month to visit Eilat, August is the busiest, and March offers the best value.

Common questions

What is Eilat best for?: Red Sea snorkelling/diving, family resorts and desert day trips (Timna, Red Canyon, and Petra across the border).
Do I need a car?: Not within town (it’s compact and walkable); useful for Timna/Red Canyon, or join tours.
How many days?: 3–4 nights for beaches, a dive/snorkel and a desert day.
When is the best time to visit?: Spring and autumn; summer is very hot but it’s a winter-sun favourite.
Can I visit Petra from Eilat?: Yes — day tours cross the Yitzhak Rabin/Wadi Araba border to Petra, Jordan.

Where to stay in Eilat

Looking for hotels in Eilat? It helps to decide on an area first — our guide to where to stay in Eilat sets out which neighbourhoods suit which kind of trip.

Around Golf the options include Stylish 3BR Golf Residence Eilat, Trendy 2Br Golf Residence Eilat, New Top- Luxury De Golf Residence - Royal Family Resort Apartments and 3Br Garden Apt Golf Residence Eilat.

Elsewhere in the city you will also find Classic Inn, 179 דירות נופש, Mori house - whitney suite, GOLF2, Penthouse Palmore, Chambres D’Hôtes Eilat, YalaRent Royal Park Resort Complex Apartments, Villa Glamour Eilat, Cosy 2 rooms unit with a private garden, Comfort Hotel and Spa - Adults Only, Red Mountains, Sahara Hotel Eilat, 2Br Vacation Home Eilat, התמרים 40 אילת, Sunset Inn, אגם עופרים 115, Comfort Hotel Eilat, Fawlty Towers Motel, Comfort hotel Eilat and Melio Hotel Eilat.