Surfing in Israel: Tel Aviv Waves, Surf Spots & School Guide

Israel doesn’t appear on most global surf itineraries — but it should feature on your list if you’re a beginner, a travelling surfer who wants to surf somewhere unexpected, or simply someone who wants to combine a cultural trip with time in the water. The Mediterranean coast produces real, consistent waves, the surf community is friendly and well-organised, and Tel Aviv’s beachfront access is among the easiest in the world.

This is a guide for anyone who wants to understand what surfing in Israel is actually like: where to go, what to expect from the waves, when to come, and how to find equipment and instruction.

Understanding Mediterranean surf

The Israeli coastline faces northwest across the Mediterranean, which means it is directly in the path of Atlantic wind-swells that travel east through the Strait of Gibraltar and across the Mediterranean Basin. These swells are the dominant source of Israel’s surfable waves — not locally generated wind chop, but genuine groundswell, though with shorter periods and smaller faces than you’d find in the Atlantic or Pacific.

What to expect:

• Wave heights of 0.5–1.5 m on average swell days; occasionally 2–2.5 m on the best autumn and winter swells
• Short to medium periods (6–10 seconds) — the Mediterranean is a partially enclosed sea, so long-period swell is rare
• Predominantly beach breaks along the Tel Aviv city coast; reef-influenced breaks at Bat Yam, Jaffa South and Herzliya Pier
• Consistent surf October through March; generally flat or tiny June through August

Honest assessment: Israel is not a destination for experienced surfers chasing big or perfect waves. It is an ideal destination for learning to surf, for intermediate surfers who want to stay sharp during a trip, and for anyone who loves surfing as an activity even in modest conditions. The local surf community treats it exactly that way — relaxed, social, with a focus on progression and fun over heavy performance.

Surf spots guide

Jerusalem Beach (Bograshov), Tel Aviv

The centre of Tel Aviv’s surf scene. Jerusalem Beach — also called Bograshov Beach or, colloquially, “Geula” — sits between Gordon Beach to the north and Frishman Beach to the south, and has the most consistent wave break on the central Tel Aviv stretch.

The break is a sand-bottom beach break that works on northwest swell and southwest wind swell. It rarely exceeds 1.5 m but is remarkably consistent from October through March. Several surf schools operate from the sand here, making it the best place to learn, hire equipment, and find other surfers.

Best for: Beginners, intermediate surfers, surf lessons, equipment hire Getting there: Tel Aviv Light Rail (Red Line) to Gordon Beach / Frischman stop, then 5-minute walk south along the promenade

Bat Yam South Beach

Bat Yam, a city immediately south of Tel Aviv (about 20 minutes by bus or car), has Israel’s most consistent performance break at its southern end near the cliff promenade. A combination of reef influence and a different sand configuration means the waves here are faster and more powerful than in central Tel Aviv — hollower, shorter, and more forgiving to intermediate-plus surfers.

The break is less crowded than Tel Aviv on weekday mornings. There are no surf schools on site, but experienced surfers who know their way around a lineup will find this the most rewarding option in the greater Tel Aviv area.

Best for: Intermediate and experienced surfers; anyone who finds Tel Aviv too crowded Getting there: Bus 10 from Tel Aviv central bus station area; taxis and ride-share readily available from central TLV (20 min)

Jaffa South Beach

The harbour groyne at the southern end of Jaffa port creates a semi-sheltered left-hand break on north-northwest swells. It is inconsistent — the groyne blocks a lot of swell — but when it works on a solid northwest swell it can produce clean, longer rides than the open Tel Aviv beach breaks.

Local surfers and longboarders gravitate here when the swell is oriented just right. Combined with the Jaffa Old City immediately behind the beach, this is the most scenically interesting surfing location in Israel.

Best for: Longboarders; experienced surfers on clean northwest swell Getting there: Walk south from the clock tower in Jaffa Old City; or Tel Aviv Light Rail (Red Line) to Jaffa Dalet stop

Herzliya Pier

About 15 km north of Tel Aviv, Herzliya Marina and the pier create a semi-sheltered break that local surfers use when south-facing breaks are blown out by northwest wind. The wave quality varies considerably with swell direction, but on good north-northeast swell it holds well and is relatively uncrowded.

Herzliya is most easily reached by car or the suburban train to Herzliya station (20 min from Tel Aviv Savidor Central, then a 10-minute taxi ride to the marina).

Best for: Experienced surfers; a change of scenery from Tel Aviv Getting there: Suburban train (Herzliya line) + taxi; or direct by car

Haifa – Bat Galim Beach

Haifa’s Bat Galim (literally “wave house”) Beach is an established local surf spot with a Mediterranean beach break similar in character to Tel Aviv’s. It is popular with longboarders and beginners. The Mount Carmel cliffs behind the beach give it a distinctive backdrop and reduce the wind on northwest days.

Visiting surfers staying in Haifa who want to check the water will find Bat Galim accessible and welcoming. There are no surf schools on site, but independent board hire has historically been available nearby — verify locally before visiting.

Best for: Casual surfing; longboarding; surfers based in Haifa Getting there: Carmelit cable railway to Bat Galim station; or bus 40/41 from Haifa Central Bus Station

Surf schools and equipment hire

All the established surf schools operate on the Tel Aviv beachfront, primarily on Jerusalem Beach (Bograshov) and the surrounding stretch.

What to expect from a lesson:

• 60–90 minute sessions including beach instruction (paddling technique, pop-up mechanics, wave reading) followed by in-water time
• Group lessons typically include board and wetsuit rental in the price
• Instructors are certified and the standard of teaching is solid for beginner and early-intermediate levels

Equipment hire (independent, without a lesson):

• Boards range from soft-top foamies (ideal for beginners) to fibreglass shortboards and longboards
• Wetsuits are available in a limited size range — bring your own if you have one
• Hire rates in 2025 were roughly ₪60–80 per hour for board alone; ₪100–180 for a group lesson with equipment; independent operators’ prices vary

Booking tip: Walk the Jerusalem Beach promenade in the morning and you’ll see the surf school setups. For a specific school, search for Surf Station Tel Aviv (which operates from the Gordon Beach area) or ask at the beach. During school holidays and long weekends, classes fill up — booking a day ahead is advisable.

Seasonal conditions and wetsuit guide

Reading conditions: apps and forecasts

Israel’s surf community relies on two primary forecast tools:

Windguru — the most widely used forecast among local surfers. Search for “Tel Aviv” or “Bat Yam”. The key parameters to watch are:

• Wind direction: northwest (NW) is ideal for swell generation; strong NW on the break itself creates chop — a slight offset (NNW or WNW) with light local wind is the cleanest condition
• Swell height and period: anything above 0.8 m with a 7+ second period is worth paddling out; 1.2–1.5 m at 8–9 seconds is a solid day

Magicseaweed — covers Israeli breaks with wave-height and swell-direction data; useful for a second opinion on Windguru forecasts.

Israeli Surf Association (ISRA) — the national governing body; follows their social media for competition announcements, session reports and local news.

Practical tips

Transport with a board: Boards in a bag are allowed on most El Al and Israir domestic flights (check individual airline policies and fees). For getting around Tel Aviv, taxis, ride-share apps and private rentals handle surfboard transport easily; the city’s light rail carries boards off-peak.

Red Sea note: Do not go to Eilat expecting to surf. The Gulf of Aqaba is enclosed on three sides and generates no meaningful wave — it is excellent for kitesurfing, windsurfing and diving, but surfing is not viable there. All Mediterranean coast spots receive swell that the Red Sea never sees.

Crowds: Tel Aviv beaches are busy from April through September with sunbathers, but the surfing lineup itself is rarely overcrowded by international standards. Weekend mornings in autumn draw the most local surfers; weekday sessions are calmer.

Safety: No special hazards beyond standard Mediterranean swimming caution. The beach breaks at Tel Aviv are beginner-safe. Bat Yam’s reef section is fine for confident swimmers; don’t surf there alone until you know the local layout. There are no rip currents comparable to Atlantic or Pacific beachbreaks — the enclosed Mediterranean geometry minimises this risk.

Surfing and other water sports

Israel’s water-sports portfolio extends well beyond wave surfing:

• Kitesurfing — Haifa Bay (Kiryat Yam) is Israel’s premier kitesurf spot with consistent thermal winds and established kite schools; Eilat lagoon is excellent year-round. See the adventure sports guide for full kitesurfing details.
• Windsurfing — Tel Aviv’s summer sea breeze creates good windsurfing conditions from May–September; Eilat operates year-round for windsurfers.
• Paddleboarding (SUP) — available on every major Tel Aviv beach, particularly popular at Gordon Beach’s northern section. Calmer conditions than surfing make this accessible in summer when waves are flat.
• Kayaking — guided coastal kayak tours operate from the Tel Aviv seafront and from Jaffa Port. See the Israel kayaking guide for river kayaking on the Upper Jordan.

For a full overview of all beaches with swimming ratings, jellyfish season information and facilities, see the best beaches in Israel guide and the dedicated Tel Aviv beach guide.

For all other adventure activities — canyoning, jeep tours, skiing and more — see the Israel adventure sports guide.