How to have fun in Eilat
The resort area of Eilat is conditionally divided into 2 parts: the north coast and the coral coast. On the north coast there is the bulk of hotels, and, accordingly, the bulk of vacationers. There are an order of magnitude fewer hotels on the coral beach, but there are much more entertainment and ways to have fun for outdoor enthusiasts.
Of course, the main entertainment in Eilat is the Red Sea, but you can spend time on it in different ways.
The beaches on the north coast are sandy and pebbly. The coast here is cleared of stones, corals and other surprises, so swimming here is much easier and more enjoyable. In this part of Eilat, you won't step on a sea urchin, trip over a stone, cut yourself on coral...In addition, the entry into the sea is quite gentle. However, you will not see the marine life that the Red Sea is so famous for here. For this, you just need to go to the coral coast.
The coral coast stretches for several kilometers and rests on the checkpoint on the border with Egypt. Immediately after the barrier, the Egyptian resort of Taba is already beginning. There are several beaches on the coral beren where you can simply sunbathe and swim, or study the underwater flora and fauna: on your own with a mask and fins or with scuba diving under the guidance of an instructor.
One of the most popular beaches is Princess, located opposite the Isrotel Princess hotel of the same name. There are 2 pontoons from which it is convenient to dive. All the necessary infrastructure is also available - toilets, showers, sun loungers and umbrellas (you will have to pay for the latter). There are quite a lot of fish and corals that you can explore for your pleasure.
For those who want to see more, I recommend a trip to Coral Beach. This beach has the status of a national park, so the entrance fee is 30 shekels / person. (approx. 8$).
Throughout the coast there is a wall of coral, along which you can swim at least all day. Marine life is also in abundance, I even saw an octopus. Entry into the sea - from the pontoon. Chairs can be taken for free, but if you want a sunbed, you will have to pay extra. All the necessary infrastructure for a comfortable stay is available - showers, toilets, a small cafe.
underwater observatory
This is one of the most popular attractions in Eilat. The tower, built right in the middle of a coral reef, allows you to go down to a depth of 6 meters under the water and watch the fish in their natural habitat. After the descent, I recommend climbing to the top of the tower, from there you have a great view of the coast.
In addition to the aquarium itself, there are a lot of interesting things on the shore - a pool with huge sea turtles, a pool with sharks and much more.
Every half an hour there is some kind of action: feeding turtles, feeding sharks, opening pearl shells ...
Entrance is not cheap, almost 100 shekels / person. (approx. $ 27), but it's still worth going, especially for those traveling with children. You can also have lunch in one of the cafes, but the prices are quite expensive.
dolphin reef
If a trip to the underwater observatory takes you 2-3 hours, then I advise you to go to the Dolphin Reef for the whole day. It is very pleasant to relax here, the whole territory is a large and beautiful garden, along which pheasants and peacocks walk. There is a beach where you can swim and sunbathe, and, of course, dolphins. You can both watch dolphins from special bridges (sometimes they swim up so close that you can even touch them), and swim with them for a fee (about $ 100). Among other things, there is a SPA, with a sauna and three pools: with fresh water, Red Sea water and Dead Sea water.
Great way to relax.
Desert trip – Timna Park
If you are tired of water, you can go where it is not. Timna Park is a natural and archaeological reserve in the desert, which is a 20-minute drive from Eilat. Amazing "lunar" landscapes, rocks of bizarre shapes and ancient archaeological finds. It is believed that it was here that the famous mines of King Solomon were located - one of the oldest copper mines in the world.
The best time to visit here is from October to April. In summer, temperatures can reach 50+ degrees.
I consider the rest in Eilat a great addition to the excursion program from Jerusalem / Netanya / Tel Aviv. A trip only to Eilat, in my opinion, is suitable, first of all, for those who have already visited Israel once or twice and are not going to travel long distances outside the city. The exception is Petra in Jordan. Eilat is the closest to this New Wonder of the World!
