overview
Eilat is the southernmost town in Israel, located on the shores of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. Eilat is Israel’s primary resort town, offering tourists and visitors a plethora of hotels, attractions, night clubs & pubs, festivals and leisure activities, a wonderful Underwater Observatory / Marine Park - not to forget the beautiful clean beaches and truly spectacular diving opportunities.
Eilat was formerly called Umm Rashrash, but in 1959 it was renamed Eilat and declared an independent Israeli town. The present population of Eilat numbers some 50,000 residents. Eilat is defined as a free-trade zone and is thus exempt from payment of VAT and other taxes - which obviously also makes it a preferred destination for shoppers. Eilat’s airport caters to direct international airlines, which has turned the town into a popular center for foreign tourists. Additionally there is excellent bus connection with the rest of Israel.
Hotels in Eilat offer a wide variety of accommodation for every pocket. You can stay in prestigious, luxurious 5-star hotels through inexpensive hostels which provide clean, basic accommodation. The climate is comfortable for many months of the year - rarely less than 20 degrees centigrade - although between June and August the temperatures soar.
Eilat offers a wide variety of restaurants - lots of fish restaurants due to its situation on the Red Sea, as well as some excellent meat restaurants and a wide selection of cuisines and dining options. The town also offers tourists a wide assortment of attractions - for instance, numerous diving clubs which conform with international standards and are, for the most part, located at the spectacularly beautiful Dolphin Reef, the Coral Reserves, the Eel Gardens, and so on and so forth. In Eilat you will find a good selection of water sports and, for the more conservative, yachts and boats for more leisurely activities.
Additional attractions in Eilat are the Biblical Fun Park, the City of Angels and the Oceanarium. You can ice-skate at Ice Space or have a breathtaking 3D experience at the IMAX cinema complex. You can take tours to the ancient Timna copper mines; enjoy the spectacular hiking trails; take a thrilling Jeep or ATV tour of the Eilat Mountains or the Negev desert. Most of the activities are suitable for children too - especially you can take them to Child’s World and the Planetarium, which will offer them an interesting and enriching experience.
