Beaches in Israel you won’t want to miss

With a Mediterranean coastline of more than 200km, you would be forgiven for thinking life in Israel is like a day at the beach. This small country, no larger than Lake Michigan, has three seas of its own – the Med, the Dead and the Red – as well as the Sea of Galilee (officially a lake) and more than 100 official beaches to enjoy, not to mention other unofficial ones.

How do you know which one to choose? Here are a few beaches you won’t want to miss.

Pic Credit: Ilan Bar

If you want to relax quietly, taking in mesmerizing sunsets, you will do no better than Palmachim Beach, one of Israel’s best kept secrets. Lying south of the city of Rishon LeZion, this immaculate beach is embraced by low cliffs to the south and boasts terrific views of the Tel Aviv skyline, 12 miles to its north. Such is its beauty and unique biodiversity
that it was declared a Nature Reserve in 2016, officially protecting the site for the visits of future generations.

Visitors can enjoy sunbathing, swimming, picnicking, and, if you are adventurous, you can explore the hiking trails crisscrossing through the dunes and take photos of the ancient city of Yavne-Yam.

Pic Credit: Ilan Bar

Hiking trails are available at another of Israel’s most spectacular beaches, HaBonim Beach Nature Reserve. Located between Atlit and the ancient city of Caesarea, the short drive takes you through banana plantations on route to one of the country’s most beautiful and relatively secluded spots from which to enjoy the sand, sea and camping underneath the open sky.

There are two short nature trails allowing families to explore the reserve and capture terrific views of many rocky inlets and hills, rock formations, plant and wildlife.

You can find Dan Hotels near the beach here:

Hotels in Eilat
Hotels in Tel Aviv
Hotels in Haifa

Sandwiched between Haifa and Tel Aviv, and just 9km north of the city of Netanya, is Michmoret Beach, an oasis of tranquility. A thoroughly pleasant and relaxed spot, this beach offers watersports, including paddleboarding and kayaking clubs as well as a sea turtle rescue center.

Impressive sea turtle nesting sites and unusual plant life lie in the shadow of rocky crevices, all close to the remains of the biblical town of Akhziv. These are among the many delights on offer to visitors of Akhziv National Park, declared as such almost 50 years ago. Located in the north, between Rosh Hanikra and Nahariya, Akhziv offers lagoons and sea-pools to swim in, while, on dry land, there is an old fishing village to explore as well as Crusader buildings which have been conserved. You can even join the local fishermen casting their nets until sunset.

If it is a variety of fish and wildlife you are after, you can do no better than Coral Beach Nature Reserve in Eilat. Extending 1,200 meters and under the sea off the coast of Eilat, this beach is one of the most beautiful and most famous due to the amazing coral reef, one of the northernmost in the world and the only one of its kind in Israel.

A short cab ride away from the Dan Eilat Hotel, Coral Beach offers visitors the chance to be immersed in a world of stunning multicolor and experience diving into mazes and canyons teeming with fish. Whether you Find Dory or not, you will swim in shallow warm water hosting 270 types of coral and an underwater jungle of over 2,500 species of underwater life – a kaleidoscope of colors that is hard to match anywhere else in the world.

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In addition to snorkeling and diving, there is the increasingly fashionable sport of Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP), which has been a growing trend, popular with all ages and a healthy exercise for all the family to enjoy. Equipment and training courses are on offer at the long-established Surf Center on Coral Beach.

From sunrise to sunset, Tel Aviv’s always-active beaches are often considered by many the jewel in Israel’s shimmering crown. The entire western side of the city boasts one long shoreline of more than a dozen beaches playing center stage to joggers, cyclists, swimmers, surfers and people watchers. There is capoeira, volleyball at Gordon, a family-friendly atmosphere at Metzitzim and big waves for the surfers at the extremely chilled Jaffa Beach.

Apart from the sound of ‘tac’ by players of matkot (or Israeli paddleball), the city’s clean and tidy beaches are ranked among the best in terms of environmentally friendliness and continue to attract tens of thousands of tourists every year.

Pic Credit: Ilan Bar

As long as the promenade is in Tel Aviv, Haifa also boasts a long boardwalk with Dado Beach at the heart of it. Easily accessible by public transport, Dado Beach is ideal for a lazy stroll down its promenade, which is known for seafood and fish restaurants, cafes and many eateries. From skateboarders to local folk dancing, the beach combines the modern with the traditional nature of Israeli life.

Whatever your choice of beach, pack extra sunscreen and take your camera. They are all not to miss.