Brash, modern, and dotted with high-rises, Eilat squats over most of Israel’s few miles of Red Sea coast. The main things to do in Eilat itself are watery: snorkeling or diving the Coral Beach Nature Reserve or checking out sea life in the Underwater Observatory Marine Park. Timna Park and Ramon Crater beckon travelers into the Negev Desert, but the best things to do from Eilat lie across the border in Jordan or Egypt: Petra, Wadi Rum, St. Catherine’s Monastery, and Mt. Sinai are within 1–2.5 hours’ drive.
Europeans flock to Eilat for winter sun, but nights can be surprisingly cool December–February, often dropping to around 45–50°F (7–10°C). The summer peak season (June–August) sees crowded beaches, with temperatures soaring up to 104°F (40°C). Shoulder seasons of March–May and September–November hit the sweet spot for value and weather.
Eilat is a small city and generally pedestrian-friendly, but there are also public buses, including along the main coast road that leads south to Coral Beach Nature Reserve and the Underwater Observatory. Many travelers feel comfortable driving around Eilat, which has right-side driving, or you can use metered taxis, the homegrown Gett ridesharing app, or book a tour with transportation.
Eilat may not have much Red Sea coast, but it does offer some fantastic coral—including many shallower sites, such as the Japanese Garden, which are perfect for learners or absolute beginners. Discover scuba packages let you explore underwater without spending days training and studying. While diving in Eilat is more expensive than diving in Jordan or Egypt, safety standards are generally higher. And Dolphin Reef offers the chance of diving with dolphins—although you’ll need to wake up for sunrise.
