Eilat Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
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Eilat (אילת, also transliterated Elat) is an oddity in Israel: a tourist town without a hint of history, which is purely Jewish and purely secular. Located at the southern-most tip of the country, within its small "window on the Red Sea", Eilat is first and foremost a resort town these days, devoted to sun, fun, diving, partying and desert-based activities. 320 km (200 miles) away from the tension often felt in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, Eilat is a convenient escape for Israelis on vacation, but also attracts thousands of foreign travellers each year.
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Understand
Eilat is the southernmost town in Israel, and it covers all of Israel's 7-kilometer coastline on the Red Sea. Originally just a military outpost to prevent neighbors Egypt and Jordan from snapping shut Israel's access to the Red Sea, Eilat's first incarnation was as a port, used for shipping goods like oil and cars from Asia. But in the 1970s people started to realize that the coral reefs of the sea, the sandy beaches of the coast and the guaranteed sunshine of the desert climate would also make a tourist attraction, and the place took off.
Today, the 2-kilometer (1.2-mile) northern beach strip is boxed solid with opulent hotels with names like Herod's Palace Sheraton and Queen of Sheba Hilton. The Tayelet promenade extending the length of the beach is now complete, making this by far the most attractive part of town in a Disneylandish way. The southern beach, which has the coral reefs, is divided up into nature reserves, public beaches and scuba diving shops. (The navy outpost, a fortress of barbed wire in the middle of the town, is now being gradually removed.) The actual town of Eilat, where its 55,000 permanent inhabitants live, stretches off into the desert to the north and west of the coast.
At the southern tip is the border with Egypt, featuring the Taba Hilton, whose primary attraction is its casino (gambling being illegal in Israel). The Sinai desert starts here. To the east is the Arava border with Jordan and the immediately adjacent town of Aqaba, Jordan's largest port and a burgeoning tourist attraction on its own, especially with the added attraction of nearby Petra.
Get in
By plane
Eilat Airport (ETH) is right in the middle of the city. Flights to Tel Aviv are frequent and take only 50 minutes, but expect to pay around NIS 250 for a one-way trip. However, most tourists arrive in Eilat on charter flights via the Ovda International Airport (VDA), also known as Uvda, 65 km (40 miles) and nearly an hour's drive out of town.
A cheaper way to get from Europe directly to Eilat is via the nearby Taba international airport in Egypt. Charter flights to Taba are operated by several airlines, e.g. the German "condor" (on Wednesdays from/to all major German airports). Taxis from Taba airport to the Israeli border station at the Hilton hotel run for max. 150 Egyptian pounds (40 min), from there a taxi to Eilat is around 25-30 NIS (10 min). Or take local bus 15 (6 NIS). Border crossing normally takes less than 30 min. On arrival at the airport insist on Egyptian "Sinai only" visa, otherwise you're charged 15 USD visa tax. Note that Egypt charges 40 LE tax when leaving Taba coming from Eilat.
By bus
All buses in Eilat leave from the Central Bus Station on HaTemarim Boulevard, a 10-minute walk east from the city.
Egged express buses drive from Tel Aviv to Eilat hourly, the trip takes around 4 hours and costs around NIS 60.
Local bus 15 shuttles from the bus station both to the Jordanian border at Arava, for connecting to Aqaba, and also the Egyptian border at Taba, from where you can continue on south into Sinai. There is at least one bus a day heading from Taba bus station to Sharm-El-Sheikh via Nuweiba and Dahab (Dahab 22 LE).
By car
There are a couple of ways to drive from Tel Aviv to Eilat. One is via Mitzpe Ramon. Another nice alternative is from Tel Aviv to the Dead Sea via Arad, stay a couple of days there or just make a short stop and then continue to Eilat. It is about 5 hours of driving.
Get around
See
The two reasons people come to Eilat are the beaches (which some consider overrated), and the coral reefs, which are currently under some pressure from humanity and pollution. The good beach is in the north, which is owned by the hotels and packed tighter than a sardine can in season. The coral used to be among the world's finest, but excessive traffic -- both boats and the two-legged type -- has killed off over 90% of the reefs - despite the valiant efforts of the nature reserve it will possibly take centuries for them to grow back. Most serious divers head down the Egyptian Sinai coast to Dahab or Sharm el-Sheikh now to experience the best diving conditions (of course, this only puts pressure on other Red Sea reefs....)
- Coral Beach is the best of the bunch and a more than adequate place for an introductory dive or a little snorkeling.
- Underwater Observatory. Has a plethora of aquaria, the Oceanarium "simulator motion theater" and the Observatory itself, a large glass-walled chamber 4 m (13 foot) below the surface that gives you a surprisingly good look at the live reef.
- Dolphin Reef [1], Southern Beach (3 km (1.9 mile) south of the town on the Arava Road leading to the Egyptian border crossing point), tel +972-8-637-1846, fax +972-8-637-5921, entry NIS 42 adults, NIS 28 children. Not just a tourist trap, the staff actually work to rehabilitate dolphins for life in the open sea. Various paid options are available for interacting with the dolphins close up, starting with snorkelling with the dolphins at NIS 227.
- "What's Up" The Observatory in Eilat [2], "What's Up" the Observatory in Eilat is an educational attraction in Eilat that brings the planets, Saturn , Mars and Jupiter as well as the Moon to passersby on the promenade in Eilat. "What's Up" or “Malamalla” "מה למעלה" מצפה הכוכבים באילת in Hebrew also sponsors dark sky tours in the mountains around Eilat tours in the desert at night to see colorful stars galaxies star clusters etc. travel by taxi or jeep 4x4 to our desert location. Large groups make pita and have a campfire kumsitz
Do
- The Negev desert surrounds the entire area and there are plenty of jeep safaris, camel rides and hikes available.
- Every summer, the "Red City" music festival is held in Eilat (sponsored by 99 ESC radio station.) This FREE festival is held on the beach and consists of consecutive days of all night performances (Hip-Hop, rock and especially trance)
Buy
Eat
The beachfront is packed with stylish but expensive restaurants catering to tourists with money to burn.
- The Underground Pub (New Tourist Centre, corner of Derech Yotam and Derech Mitsrayim) is an Eilat institution, offering cheap beer and basic pub grub at the lowest prices in town.
- For cheap yet excellent falafel, check out the falafel joint just across the street from the bus station at the International Birdwatching Centre, on HaTemarim Boulevard.
Drink
- The Unplugged bar is a good option. If you're looking for a place with stuck-up people, barbie doll bartenders, or tough-looking bouncers, look somewhere else. The drink selection is somewhat limited, but still fairly good. The music ranges from American pop to Israeli trance, and they play songs in both Hebrew and English. You have the option of either sitting at the bar, chilling on a big couch, or dancing with the friendly locals. This place is often crowded, even on a Monday night.
Sleep
A new & nice place to stay, off the beaten track, is Cactus B&B, very colorful & cozy. [3]
Budget
The hillside around the Central Bus Station is home to many cheap but dingy backpacker dives.
Mid range
- Holiday Inn Express Eilat is located on the city's north beach (opposite the Crowne Plaza), ten minutes away from the beach and the shopping center. The hotel offers a perfect blend of service, availability and attractive prices. Tel: 972-3-5390808
- Crowne Plaza Eilat offers activities that the whole family will enjoy! An entertainment staff entertains the parents and keeps the children busy in the Freckles Club. Crowne Plaza Eilat is situated on the promenade, a real fun and entertainment hot spot for the entire family. Tel: 972-3-5390808
- Holiday Inn Patio Eilat offers pleasant and intimate guestrooms, some of which boast charming balconies facing the pool, along with a cozy, family atmosphere and the warm, personal attention from the hotel staff, all of which make the Holiday Inn Eilat Patio a pleasant and comfortable hotel in which you are sure to feel at home. Two exterior elevators rise between the floors, each opening onto a triangular lobby, illuminated and decorated with plants. The hotel is situated at a 15 to 20 minutes’ walk to the beach, the hub of daily activities and the new shopping mall. Tel: 972-3-5390808
Splurge
Eilat's North Beach is positively packed with luxury hotels, but in season rates can be as high as US$200 per night.
- Dan Eilat central, beach front hotel affording recreation and leisure facilities.Online Reservation with instant confirmation. Luxury, glamor, and a fun-loving lifestyle. The Dan Eilat is a vibrant mix of cutting-edge luxury and informality. Imagine a trip to your own private beach where all you see are wide expanses of blue sea, subtle shades of untouched desert and an immense backdrop of jagged mountains. That's the Dan Eilat, unquestionably the most glamorous hotel in a vacation resort acclaimed for its resort facilities. North Beach, Eilat, 88101, Tel: 972-3-5202552, Fax: 972-3-5480111, mailto:Reservations-T.DanEilat@DanHotels.com
- Sheraton Herods Palace [4] is a "near Las Vegas" experience, with staff in togas wandering around a pompously decorated palace. Service isn't quite up to scratch though, although the (separately charged) Vitalis spa is excellent by any standard
Get out
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