A Guide to Israel’s Stunning Beaches

Israel is perhaps best known—and deservedly so—for its holy sites, but its standing as a stellar beach destination often goes unsung. With coastline bordering the Mediterranean, the Dead Sea, the Red Sea, and the Sea of Galilee, and everything from world-class scuba diving to ancient ruins to explore, the beaches of the Land of Milk and Honey have something for every type of sand lover. Here are the must-visit spots for a day (or a few) in the sun:

Tel AvivThe White City’s perpetual sunshine draws people to its 13 beaches, which rest on a nine-mile stretch of Mediterranean seashore. A casual, walking city with sycamore-lined streets and clusters of Bauhaus architecture, beach life in Tel Aviv is part of the culture. “Life happens outside in Tel Aviv, in the cafés and on the streets,” said Ofra Ganor, owner of seaside restaurant Manta Ray at Alma Beach. “The connection to the sea is part of our daily life.”

Beachgoers traipse from sand to street, popping into restaurants with indelible views of the Mediterranean, such as Manta Ray, known for its mezze and fashionable crowd; chef Meir Adoni’s internationally renowned Israeli-Moroccan restaurant, Lumina, overlooking the Tel Aviv Marina; Cassis, a Mediterranean restaurant in the millennia-old port city of Jaffa; and Fortuna Del Mar for rustic fare in a more removed setting in the northern part of Tel Aviv.

Hilton Beach is the LGBT community’s second home and where Israel’s Pride parade starts and ends. A special light system at the beach also allows for surfers to ride waves late into the evening. The neighboring Nordau Beach is frequented by Tel Aviv’s more religious residents and segregated by gender during the week. Windsurfers and kitesurfers hang out at Aviv Beach for the perfect wind conditions. A promenade runs along Tel Aviv’s coastline where people jog, bike, and work out at outdoor gyms in the sand; there are several public beach libraries along the coast; and free Wi-Fi is available just about everywhere. “The beach belongs to everybody,” Ganor explained. “We have a big mix of people in Tel Aviv: Jews, Arabs, surfers, yogis. It’s about peace here.”

Tel Aviv’s larger hotels, such as the Carlton with its rooftop bar; the David Intercontinental; and the Shalom, preside over the sea. Smaller boutique hotels, like the Montefiore, the Norman, and the Rothschild, are tucked into the bustling city and are about a 10-minute stroll to the beach.

Old City AcreOld City Acre, pronounced “akko,” is a charmingly small, walled 18th-century former fortress and one of the oldest cities in the world (the area has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years, and there are also remains from a Crusader town). It’s 2 hours north of Tel Aviv, and travelers can rent or hire a car to make the drive up the Mediterranean or take the train for about $5 each way.

Beachgoers sunbathe beside ancient ruins and purple wildflowers, but be sure to bring your essentials, as there are no shops on the beach. Tourist boats at Acre Harbor grant visitors panoramic views of Old City Acre from the sea. For lunch, swing by Uri Buri, a famed restaurant nestled in a 400-year-old stone house with spectacular views of waves crashing into the fortress walls. Just steps from the beach, the Efendi Hotel is a masterfully restored structure made of two ancient palaces and is itself worth the trip to Acre.

CaesareaHerod the Great built this port town in 25 B.C. and many ancient remains can still be seen. Aqueduct Beach, also known as Arches Beach, is the site of an impressive Roman-era aqueduct and provides sunbathers an opportunity to swim and lounge beside the ruins. Just south of Aqueduct Beach is the Old Port of Caesarea, where a small hub of art galleries, shops, and restaurants line the harbor.

Housed in a structure more than 2,000 years old is Helena, where esteemed chef Amos Sion uses local ingredients to create inspired Mediterranean dishes. “The calamari swam right there, just a few hours ago,” Sion said, pointing to the sea outside panoramic windows and referring to the star of his calamari a la plancha dish, served on za’atar leaves with chickpeas and labaneh cheese.

Behind Helena is Old Caesarea Diving Center, where divers can experience the port ruins from underwater. Also in the Old Port of Caesarea is the Roman Theatre of Caesarea, an ancient amphitheater right on the Mediterranean that is still used today to host live concerts for big-name artists such as Björk and the Pixies.

There aren’t any beachside hotels in Caesarea, so many travelers simply make this a day trip from Tel Aviv—a 45-minute car ride south.

Ein BokekThe best way to enjoy the Dead Sea is to spend the day (or a night or two) in Ein Bokek, the sea’s four-mile Israeli shoreline (it also borders Palestine and Jordan). For thousands of years, people have traversed the mountainous desert to reach the Dead Sea to float in its salty water (it is almost 10 times as salty as the ocean) and rub some of the mineral-rich mud on their skin. For those wanting to spend the night, book a room with views overlooking the Dead Sea and Jordan’s immense mountains in the distance. Hod Hamidbar, Daniel Dead Sea Hotel, and Isrotel Dead Sea Hotel and Spa are all good options.

EilatOnly from Eilat, Israel’s southernmost point, can beachgoers see Jordan to the east and Egypt to the west: a striking view. The northern area of Eilat hosts seaside resorts, including the Royal Beach hotel, a boardwalk with shops and nightclubs, and Eilat’s hottest restaurant at the moment, Leviathan, Hebrew for “whale,” which overlooks the Eilat Lagoon at Herods seaside hotel.

In-the-know adventurers head to Eilat’s southern side, an oasis for kiteboarders, snorkelers, and scuba divers who want to experience one of the world’s northernmost coral reefs. At Coral Beach, amateurs and pros alike rent gear and take lessons at Surf Center Eilat, before swimming out to explore the coral reef. Aqua-Sport Red Sea Diving Center offers boat rides for scuba divers and snorkelers to more obscure locations on the Red Sea.

Mosh Beach (pronounced “moosh”), the relaxed locals’ spot, has a small but lively scene. Enjoy a nourishing vegetarian Mediterranean lunch on the sand at Mosh, which also has a bar where tanned local bartenders serve up fresh cocktails and fruit smoothies. At Eilat’s Dolphin Reef, an ecological attraction and dolphin oasis, guests pay a day rate to sun on the private beach; wander the tree houses; and swim with dolphins, which come and go as they please. Three relaxation pools of salt water, freshwater, and water akin to the Dead Sea are surrounded by lush botanical gardens.