Conveniently located along the coast of the Mediterranean, Israel is not only a tourist destination for its history and holy sites, but it is also home to some of the best beaches in the world. From the Sea of Galilee in the north, Eilat in the south and Tel Aviv and the Dead Sea in the center, Israel has a total of 137 beaches to choose from.
Here are some of the best:
Dead Sea: The Dead Sea is best known for its iconic “floating experience”: with water 10 times saltier than any other body of water, visitors can easily float on its surface, hence the name Dead Sea. Visitors can also enjoy a day spa with the famous mineral-rich mud that people lather up from head to toe. The mud is known to help psoriasis, skin blemishes, arthritis, chronic back pain and acne. And as if all this were not enough, the Dead Sea is considered one of the world’s most important natural wonders, since it is located at the lowest altitude on earth, 3,000 meters below sea level.
Tel Aviv: Tel Aviv’s beaches stretch all over the western part of the city and along the Mediterranean, from Herzliya to Bat Yam. This strip of land has many different beaches for all types of travelers. Gordon-Frishman Beach is the most popular of the beaches, as it is located in the heart of Tel Aviv. Hilton Beach is known as the city’s gay beach, while Banana Beach is perfect for daytime drinks and sunsets.
Eilat: Located on the Red Sea coast, Eilat is the ideal destination for a beach holiday. With year-round sunshine and temperatures that rarely drop below 68 degrees, you can have a great day at the beach. Visitors can lie on the beach all day while enjoying the stunning views of Eilat’s mountains, or enjoy a day at Dolphin Reef and interact with a school of bottlenose dolphins in their natural habitat. In addition, Eilat has some of the most vibrant marine life and coral reefs that offer the perfect destination for snorkeling or diving.
Sea of Galilee: If camping on the beach piques your interest, Gofra Beach, located on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, is your destination. The Sea of Galilee, also known as Lake Tiberias, is the lowest freshwater lake on earth, 209 meters below sea level. Although the Galilee is known for its biblical and historical sites, visitors can also enjoy the many public beaches, kayak the lake or spend time fishing.
