With 200 kilometers of Mediterranean coast, Israel has some of the best beaches in the region. Add to that the beaches on the Sea of Galilee, in the resort of Eilat, and along the edge of the Dead Sea, and you will be spoiled for choice.
Shatour’s experienced Israeli tour guides know which are the best beaches in Israel for families, which are quiet and which are fun, and when are the best times to lay out on the sands. If you love swimming or wind-surfing, we know where to take you. And if you just want to relax at the end of a day of energetic touring, trust us to schedule the perfect layover break for your group.
Israel has 50 public beaches which are equipped with lifeguards, cafes, washrooms, deckchairs and sun shades for hire. During the busy summer season and at the weekends, you can expect to see beach volleyball and matkot matches taking place on the sands. Matkot is Israel’s national sport, played with wooden bats and a small ball. Swimming is usually possible, but best avoided when the jellyfish float into town during July.
Israeli Beach Experience
To really experience Tel Aviv beach life, head to the Gordon, Frishman and Bograshov Beaches in central Tel Aviv, where the locals spend their evenings and weekends sipping beer, smoking nargila, and watching the other sun-worshippers stroll past. There is a different energy on Drum Beach, the perfect place to sit back, relax, and watch the surfers, except for on Friday afternoons when it is taken over by Tel Aviv’s most talented drummers for a huge drumming and dancing session – hence the name!
Away from the bustle of Tel Aviv, there are much quieter beaches at Ashdod and Ashkelon in the south, and at Caesarea and Nahariya in the north. In Netanya there are miles of golden sands, and you can even go horse-riding along the edge of the surf.
It is important to pay attention to the signs when you arrive at any beach, to check whether it is a public beach and whether swimming is permitted there. Some beaches are open to dogs and others are not. Some areas of beach are set aside for the guests of the adjoining hotels, but they will be sign-posted accordingly. Most of the cities along the coast have fenced off areas reserved for separate swimming for men and women at different times, and Tel Aviv has a designated gay beach.
Israel’s Different Seas
All around the Sea of Galilee there are public and private beaches that are quite different from the Mediterranean variety. The best spots for sunbathing are alongside the hotels in Tiberius, because the public beaches are often full of hikers and families camping out and cooking under the stars. At the Dead Sea, erosion and falling water levels have ruined many of the beaches, leaving a smaller choice of locations from which you can safely enjoy swimming – or rather floating – in the salty water and slathering on the Dead Sea mud. Make sure to check in advance which beaches are safe without sink-holes.
Eilat is Israel’s premier winter resort on the Red Sea, where temperatures can reach 50 degrees Celsius in the summer, so its beaches are quiet in the summer and busy in the winter. There are beaches here with facilities for swimming with dolphins and for snorkeling and deep sea diving.
Finding You Your Happy Place!
If you enjoy sunbathing or swimming, talk to Shatour Israel about the perfect beach location to suit your itinerary and your tastes. We know all the best beaches in Israel and we will be happy to help you find your happy place!