Best beaches in Israel: 9 spots by three seas

In Israel there are three seas, and you can swim here almost all year round.

Your choice of beach changes everything. In one place there's a loud party, in another a coral reef, and in a third therapeutic mud.

Tel Aviv's city beaches are free, while entry to the Eilat nature reserve costs money (according to the Israel Nature and Parks Authority). Below are nine beaches on three seas: what's there, how to get there, and who they suit.

How Israel's beaches are organized

💡 In short:

• Mediterranean Sea (Tel Aviv, Herzliya, Caesarea): a long sandy coastline, city beaches are free.
• Red Sea (Eilat): the country's only coral reef, part of the shore is protected as a nature reserve.
• Dead Sea: therapeutic water and mud, northern beaches are sometimes closed due to sinkholes.
• Access and rules: 09/2026, verified on the official Coral Beach reserve website.

The country's beaches are divided by sea, and this determines the season and infrastructure. On the Mediterranean, swimming is comfortable from April to November. On the Red Sea, the season lasts almost all year round. On the Dead Sea, swimming is secondary; the water and mud matter more.

Choose a beach based on your type of vacation, not on its distance from your hotel.

1. Tzur beach in Tel Aviv

Tzur Beach opens the long line of Tel Aviv's city beaches. It's loud here: music, volleyball, young crowds. Pick this beach if you want a lively vacation in the city center.

• Who it's for: young people and groups who care about music and volleyball.
• How to get there: along the Tel Aviv promenade, on foot from the center.
• The catch: on Friday and Saturday it gets crowded.

2. Hatzuk beach in northern Tel Aviv

© israel zeller ישראל זלר · CC BYPhoto: israel zeller ישראל זלר, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5), Wikimedia Commons

HaTzuk Beach lies at the very north of the city, below a cliff, near Herzliya. It's quieter here than in the center, and even in season there are fewer people.

• Who it's for: those who want a quiet beach near the city.
• The catch: you need to take a bus or drive to reach central Tel Aviv.

3. Caesarea Beach by the ancient Roman aqueduct

Caesarea Beach is located north of Tel Aviv, near Caesarea National Park. The arches of an ancient Roman aqueduct stand right on the sand, so you can combine swimming with a walk among the ruins.

• Who it's for: lovers of history and ancient ruins.
• How to get there: along the coastal highway from Tel Aviv, under an hour by car.
• The catch: the infrastructure is more modest than in Tel Aviv.

4. Herzliya beaches

Herzliya lies north of Tel Aviv, with its own marina and wide beaches. It's calmer here than in Tel Aviv, and surfers stay close to the shore.

• Who it's for: families and surfers who want less noise.
• The catch: in the evening, local cafes are pricier than in central Tel Aviv.

5. Coral Beach and the Eilat coral reef

© Yoav95179 · CC BY-SAPhoto: Yoav95179, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Coral Beach stretches along Israel's only coral reef. The reef starts right at the shore, so you can reach the corals and fish without a boat (according to the Coral Beach reserve). You enter the water via walkways to avoid damaging the corals.

• Cost: entry is paid; check the price and hours on the reserve's website.
• Who it's for: snorkelers and divers.
• The catch: touching or breaking off corals is prohibited, and you can be fined.

6. Dolphin Reef with dolphins

Next to Coral Beach, Dolphin Reef operates as a private beach with dolphins. Guests are offered snorkeling, guided dives, relaxation pools, and a cafe (according to Dolphin Reef).

© טל שמע · CC BY-SAPhoto: טל שמע, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

• Cost: the ticket is paid and depends on the time and type of visit (according to the official Dolphin Reef website).
• Who it's for: families with children.
• The catch: entry is paid, and dolphin feeding follows a schedule.

7. North Beach in Eilat

North Beach attracts with soft white sand rather than corals. It's calmer here than on other Eilat beaches, with less daytime noise.

© Henrik Sendelbach · CC BY-SAPhoto: Henrik Sendelbach, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

• Who it's for: those who want soft sand and calm water.
• The catch: at the height of the season the sand gets scorching hot, so bring footwear.

8. Ein Bokek beaches on the Dead Sea

Ein Bokek has a free public beach and hotel beaches. The main reason to come here isn't swimming but the water and natural mud. Apply the mud near the shore, then rinse it off under a shower.

© Tiia Monto · CC BY-SAPhoto: Tiia Monto, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

• Who it's for: for therapeutic mud at no extra cost.
• How to get there: along the southern part of the Dead Sea, near the hotel zone.
• The catch: in summer the air is extremely hot, so come in the morning.

9. Kalia and Neve Midbar on the northern shore

On the northern shore, the well-equipped paid beaches of Kalia and Neve Midbar are open. They have showers, freshwater pools, and natural mud, so both families and couples come here. Bring a towel and footwear for the salty shore.

© Bahnfrend · CC BY-SAPhoto: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

• Who it's for: for comfort with showers and a pool.
• The catch: part of the northern shore is closed due to sinkholes, so check the status in advance.

Closed beaches and water safety

The northern Dead Sea beaches are periodically closed due to sinkholes. Old guidebooks mention Mineral Beach and Ein Gedi Beach, but both have long been closed. Check the shore status before your trip.

Corals in Eilat are protected by law: you cannot touch them, break them off, or take them out of the country. You can be fined right at the airport during baggage inspection. Swim in designated areas and don't stand on the reef.

• Important: watch the flags and lifeguards, and swim only where lifeguards are on duty.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Can you swim in Israel in winter?

In the Red Sea in Eilat you can swim almost all year round; the water barely cools down. On the Mediterranean it's chilly in winter, comfortable until November. On the Dead Sea the season is long, but in summer it's better to come in the morning before it gets hot. Bring a windbreaker for the evenings.

How much does it cost to enter Israel's beaches?

Municipal beaches in Tel Aviv and Herzliya are free. You pay for the Coral Beach reserve in Eilat, for Dolphin Reef, and for the developed Dead Sea beaches. Check exact prices and opening hours on the official websites before your trip.

Where is the best snorkeling in Israel?

The best snorkeling awaits at Coral Beach in Eilat, where the country's only coral reef begins. You enter the water via walkways, so the corals stay intact. The neighboring Dolphin Reef offers a similar experience, and there you can also swim near dolphins.

What should you bring to Dead Sea beaches?

Water, shore footwear, and a towel. Enter the salty water slowly so the salt doesn't sting any cuts. After swimming, rinse the salt off under a shower. In summer the air is extremely hot, so come in the morning or evening and don't stay in the sun for long.

When is the best time to visit Israel's beaches?

The Mediterranean is comfortable from April to November. The Red Sea in Eilat works almost all year round. The Dead Sea is best visited in spring and autumn, when it's not as hot. The beach season in the country is long, so it's easy to fit the schedule around your vacation.

In short: which beach to choose

If you love noise and parties: pick Tzur Beach in Tel Aviv. If you're looking for quiet near the city: HaTzuk Beach. For history and ruins: Caesarea Beach. For families and surfers: Herzliya beaches. For snorkeling: Coral Beach in Eilat. With children: Dolphin Reef. For open space on the sand: North Beach. For free therapeutic mud: Ein Bokek. For comfort: Kalia and Neve Midbar.

Build your trip around one sea and don't try to cover everything at once. Choose the sea that matches your vacation style and come to Israel in spring or autumn.