beach
Aqaba, Red Sea
Jordan's only coastal city on the Red Sea with vibrant coral reefs, excellent diving, and proximity to both Wadi Rum and Petra.
7 km · about 15 min drive
AsiaIsraelSouthern District
Eilat
Southern District, Israel · Asia
About Eilat
Eilat is worth a stop: 15 minutes from Aqaba, 26km from Timna Park.
Eilat is in Southern District, Israel, with about 52,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Aqaba, about 7 km away.
Eilat ( ay-LAHT, UK also ay-LAT; Hebrew: אֵילַת [eˈlat] ; Arabic: إِيلَات, romanized: Īlāt) is Israel's southernmost city, with a population of 56,004, a port and popular resort at the northern tip of the Red Sea, on what is known in Israel as the Gulf of Eilat and in Jordan as the Gulf of Aqaba. The city isRead more
considered a tourist destination for domestic and international tourists heading to Israel.
Eilat is located at the southernmost tip of Israel, at the southern end of the Arava valley and the Negev desert, adjacent to the Egyptian resort city of Taba to the south, the Jordanian port city of Aqaba to the east, and within sight of Haql, Saudi Arabia, across the gulf to the southeast.
Eilat hosts numerous hotels, holiday resorts, and beaches. Its renowned coral reefs make it a popular destination for diving tourism, with activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving. The city's shopping centers benefit from its status as a tax-free zone. Notable attractions include the Dolphin Reef, where visitors can swim with dolphins; the Coral Beach Nature Reserve, the northernmost shallow coral reef on Earth; the Coral World Underwater Observatory, the Ice Mall, and the city's marina and sea-side promenade, home to many bars, restaurants and shops. The city also offers opportunities for hiking and exploration in nearby natural reserves like Timna Valley Park and the Eilat Mountains.
Eilat's arid desert climate and low humidity are moderated by proximity to a warm sea. Temperatures often exceed 40 °C (104 °F) in summer, and 21 °C (70 °F) in winter, while water temperatures range between 20 and 26 °C (68 and 79 °F). Eilat averages 360 sunny days a year.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Eilat?
Within an hour or so of Eilat: Aqaba, Red Sea (7 km), Timna Park (26 km), Wadi Rum Protected Area (46 km), Wadi Rum (Lawrence of Arabia) (46 km).
Are there any good drives near Eilat?
The nearest famous roads are Dana to Petra Trail and Scorpions Ascent (Ma'ale Akrabim).
Where is Eilat?
Eilat is in Southern District, Israel, about 7 km from Aqaba.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 52,299
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Israel
- Region
- Southern District
- Timezone
- Asia/Jerusalem
- Coordinates
- 29.5581, 34.9482
Tags
Worth the detour from Eilat
5 notable places within an hour's drive.
national park
Timna Park
A desert valley of red sandstone north of Eilat with the Mushroom hoodoo, the Arches and Solomon's Pillars, plus Egyptian copper mines and a Hathor shrine from Seti I's reign. A driving route links the formations.
26 km · about 30 min drive
national park
Wadi Rum Protected Area
A vast red desert landscape of sandstone arches, canyons, and towering cliffs known as the Valley of the Moon.
46 km · about 55 min drive
film location
Wadi Rum (Lawrence of Arabia)
The sandstone desert where David Lean shot Lawrence of Arabia, and since then The Martian, Rogue One, Dune and countless others.
46 km · about 55 min drive
natural wonder
Wadi Rum Desert Camps
Bedouin-style desert camps offering overnight stays under some of the clearest and most star-filled skies in the Middle East.
47 km · about 55 min drive
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