Best Beaches in Israel: Tel Aviv, Eilat & Beyond (2026)

Israel has two coastlines with entirely different characters. The Mediterranean coast runs 274 km from Rosh Hanikra in the north to the Gaza border in the south — a long sweep of sandy beach, much of it within easy reach of Tel Aviv, Herzliya, Netanya and Haifa. The Red Sea coast is a 12-kilometre strip at Eilat, the country’s southernmost point, where the attraction is not the sand but what lies beneath it: one of the northernmost living coral reefs in the world.

This guide covers the best beaches on both coasts, what to expect at each, and how to reach them.

At a glance

Tel Aviv beaches

Tel Aviv’s beachfront is the city’s defining public space. The Tel Aviv beach strip runs 14 km of continuous public sand from the Yarkon river mouth in the north to Old Jaffa in the south. All beaches are free. The whole stretch is walkable via the Tayelet (promenade) or cycleable via the dedicated beach bike path — Tel-O-Fun bike-share stations are positioned throughout.

For a more detailed breakdown of every named Tel Aviv beach including surfing, jellyfish season, Nordau’s gender-separation schedule, and disabled access, see the dedicated Tel Aviv beach guide.

Gordon Beach and Frishman Beach

The central city beach. Gordon and Frishman sit side by side in the heart of the tourist-hotel zone, a short walk from Dizengoff and the White City. They are consistently well-maintained with showers, changing rooms and summer lifeguards. Beach volleyball courts operate year-round. The Tayelet promenade fronts both beaches, lined with cafes and juice bars. This is the default recommendation for visitors staying in central Tel Aviv — everything you need is within walking distance.

Best for: First-time visitors, couples, solo travellers. Busy but manageable on weekdays; very busy on weekend afternoons June–September.

Hilton Beach

Hilton Beach sits north of the main hotel strip, slightly removed from the most densely packed central zone. It has been the recognised gathering spot for Tel Aviv’s LGBTQ+ community since the 1980s — Hilton Beach is consistently welcoming, inclusive and lively, with an especially strong weekend afternoon atmosphere. The northern end of the beach is also dog-friendly (one of the few Tel Aviv beaches where dogs are permitted), which brings a mixed local crowd alongside tourists.

Best for: LGBTQ+ travellers (see our full LGBTQ travel Israel guide); dog owners; anyone who prefers a slightly more relaxed vibe than the main hotel beach.

Banana Beach

Banana Beach occupies the southern section of the main city strip, between the hotel zone and Old Jaffa. It has a younger crowd than Gordon/Frishman, beach bars and kiosks that stay busy into the evening, and slightly more space between people. The Tayelet becomes more relaxed here — more runners and cyclists than tourists. The Jaffa clock tower and lighthouse are visible in the distance.

Best for: A younger crowd, beach bars and sunset drinks; Jaffa day-trip combination.

Alma Beach (Jaffa)

At the southern end of the strip, near Old Jaffa, Alma Beach is the quietest of the main Tel Aviv beaches. Local residents rather than tourists dominate. There is less infrastructure (fewer vendors, basic facilities), which is the attraction — fewer umbrellas, more open sand. A short walk from here reaches Old Jaffa with its flea market, galleries and waterfront restaurants.

Best for: Visitors combining beach time with Old Jaffa; anyone looking for a less crowded experience.

Nordau Beach

Nordau Beach, north of the main strip, operates as a religiously observant separated beach on certain days and hours — men and women bathe in designated separate sections. This makes it accessible for Orthodox and traditional Jewish visitors (including some Muslim visitors) who prefer separated bathing. Check current operating hours at the Tel Aviv municipality website before visiting, as hours vary by day and season.

Best for: Religious and traditional visitors; the beach itself is clean and well-maintained.

Herzliya

Herzliya Marina Beach sits 15 km north of Tel Aviv, adjacent to the upscale Herzliya Marina. The beach is consistently clean and calmer than the Tel Aviv city beaches — the Marina acts as a partial windbreak — with good facilities including changing rooms, cafes along the marina promenade, and parking. Families and slightly older visitors tend to prefer Herzliya over the Tel Aviv strip.

Getting there: Train from Tel Aviv HaShalom station to Herzliya station, then a 15-minute walk or short taxi to the marina. Journey time approximately 20 minutes. By car: 20 minutes north on Route 2.

Dor Habonim Beach (Carmel Coast)

Dor Habonim Nature Reserve, about 30 km south of Haifa on the Carmel coast, is one of Israel’s most distinctive Mediterranean beach experiences: rocky outcrops and tidal lagoons alternate with stretches of sand, creating natural pools at low tide that are popular with families and excellent for snorkeling among Mediterranean marine life. The reserve is managed by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (Israel National Parks Pass valid). It is a nature reserve rather than a resort beach — facilities are basic, crowds are lower, and the rocky coastal scenery is dramatically different from the flat sand of Tel Aviv.

Getting there: Requires a car or hire vehicle. Approximately 30 minutes south of Haifa on Route 4, then a short drive to the reserve entrance.

Achziv Beach (North Coast)

Near the Lebanon border north of Nahariya, Achziv offers a wilder stretch of Mediterranean coast: ancient Phoenician ruins sit among the dunes, the sea is clear, and the beach is far quieter than anything near Tel Aviv. Part of the Achziv National Park area managed by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. The slightly remote location keeps visitor numbers low. Note that Achziv is near the northern border region; check current travel advisories before planning a visit.

Getting there: Train to Nahariya, then taxi or car.

Eilat: the Red Sea coast

Eilat is a different proposition entirely. The 12 km of Red Sea coastline here are not primarily about the sand — they are about what lives beneath the water. Eilat’s beaches rank among the world’s best-value entry points to living coral reef diving and snorkeling. See the Eilat beach guide for a full comparison of all Eilat beaches, or the Eilat travel guide for a complete city overview.

North Beach Promenade

North Beach is Eilat’s main resort strip — a 2 km arc of public beach backed by hotels, restaurants and watersports operators. The water is calm (the Gulf of Aqaba has minimal wave action), the sand is fine, the beach is free. Chair and sun-lounger hire from vendors costs roughly ₪30–50/day. Watersports — jet skis, parasailing, wake-boarding — operate from the central beach section. The promenade is lively in the evening with restaurants and bars running along the boardwalk.

Best for: General beach relaxation, watersports, families. Limited snorkeling interest compared to Coral Beach.

Coral Beach Nature Reserve

Coral Beach Nature Reserve, 3 km south of Eilat’s city centre, is the outstanding beach experience on Israel’s Red Sea coast. The reserve protects 1.2 km of original coral reef that begins directly offshore at snorkeling depth — you walk in from the beach and within a few metres you are swimming above intact coral formations. The diversity of fish species here is comparable with Sinai and Jordan’s Aqaba coast.

Practical:

• Entry managed by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority — roughly ₪30 per adult (Israel National Parks Pass valid)
• Reef-safe sunscreen is mandatory and enforced at the entrance — buy it before visiting or at the entrance kiosk
• Snorkel equipment hire available on-site (mask, snorkel, fins)
• Water shoes strongly recommended — the shoreline has coral rubble and rocky patches
• Best time: morning (9:00–11:00) for clearest water and lowest crowds

Honest note on coral health: Eilat’s coral reef has shown remarkable resilience compared to reefs elsewhere in the Red Sea — scientists attribute this partly to cooler upwelling water from the Gulf of Aqaba. The reef is protected and recovering in sections. Do not touch coral; do not stand on it; keep fins away from the reef surface.

For Red Sea diving and snorkeling gear, conditions and dive operators, see our detailed Eilat diving and snorkeling guide.

Sea of Galilee (Kinneret)

Not a sea beach — the Sea of Galilee is Israel’s largest freshwater lake, 12 km wide and 21 km long, 209 m below sea level. But it functions as a beach destination for Israeli families: the water is warm in summer, calm, and swimmable from multiple designated beaches around the lake perimeter.

Golan Beach (eastern shore) and Lavnun Beach (western shore, near Tiberias) are the best-maintained public swimming areas, with changing rooms, showers, lifeguards in season, and sometimes paddleboat hire. The lake setting — ringed by hills, with ancient villages and churches visible on the banks — is quite unlike any Mediterranean or Red Sea experience. A 60 km cycling loop around the lake is the most popular leisure activity; see the cycling in Israel guide for details.

Entry: Most Kinneret beaches charge a fee of roughly ₪25–35 per adult in season.

Practical beach information

Beach flags and safety

Israel’s public beaches use a standardised flag system:

• White flag — supervised, safe to swim
• Red flag — dangerous conditions (strong currents or waves), do not enter the water
• Black flag — beach closed

The Mediterranean coast can develop jellyfish blooms in July and August; check with lifeguards on arrival. Rip currents are uncommon at sheltered city beaches but possible at more exposed coastal sections.

Shabbat at the beach

The Tel Aviv beaches are one of the few places in Israel where Shabbat is irrelevant — they are fully operational on Saturday (the Israeli beach season’s busiest day). Friday afternoons into Saturday are the peak times for Israeli families. In Eilat, all beaches and water activities operate normally on Shabbat.

Best seasons

• Mediterranean (Tel Aviv, Herzliya): May–June and September–October for the best combination of warm water, manageable heat and lower crowds. July–August is hot and busy. The water cools significantly November–March.
• Red Sea (Eilat): Year-round. Winter (November–March) is peak season for northern European visitors — warm days (20–25°C), calm sea, no summer heat. Summer is extremely hot (40°C+) but the sea stays warm and Eilat’s hotels run fully.

What to bring

• Reef-safe sunscreen (required at Coral Beach; advisable everywhere)
• Reusable water bottle — beach kiosk drinks are expensive
• Old swimsuit if visiting the Dead Sea (the salt will bleach and corrode fabric)
• Water shoes for Coral Beach and rocky Mediterranean coves
• National Parks Pass if visiting Coral Beach, Dor Habonim or Achziv multiple times — it pays for itself in 2–3 entries

For accommodation near Tel Aviv’s beaches, see where to stay in Tel Aviv. For the Red Sea, see the Eilat hotels guide. For Israel’s many inland natural swimming spots, see the water hiking guide.