Travel advisory · IsraelSome governments advise against all but essential travel to Israel.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- Area within 10 km of the Gaza Strip · avoid all travel · Canada, US
- Gaza envelope (area around the Gaza Strip) · avoid all travel · Germany, France, Ireland, Italy
- Gaza Strip · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, France, Italy, New Zealand, UK, US
- Golan Heights · avoid all travel · France, Ireland, New Zealand
- Lebanon border within 5 km · avoid all travel · Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand
- Northern Golan Heights · avoid all travel · Italy, UK
- Northern Israel north of Route 85 · avoid all travel · Germany, UK, US
- West Bank · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, France, New Zealand, US
- Jerusalem · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, France
Also named by one government: Gaza border strip within 500 m (UK), Ghajja (UK), Golan Heights east of Highway 98 bordering Syria (Canada), Golan Heights within 500 m of the Alpha line (UK), Israel-Egypt border within 2.4 km (US), Jenin Governorate (UK), Occupied Palestinian Territories (New Zealand), Sheba'a Farms (UK), Tubas Governorate (except Route 90) (UK), Tulkarm Governorate (UK), Border with the Occupied Palestinian Territories within 5 km (New Zealand), Desert areas bordering Sinai (Italy), Route 12 (Italy), West Bank (rest, with exceptions) (UK)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | No advice against the whole country (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Reconsider Travel | Oct 23, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Avoid non-essential travel to Israel | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | Von Reisen wird abgeraten (regional advisories) | Oct 29, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Avoid non-essential travel | – | Read the advice |
| Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs) | Avoid non-essential travel | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | déconseillé sauf raison impérative | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 3, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Eilat
Eilat is Israel's Red Sea resort, known for coral reef snorkeling and diving, winter sunshine, and a short drive into the desert.
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Eilat is a resort city at the southern tip of Israel, on the Gulf of Aqaba, an arm of the Red Sea. Its neighbors are Aqaba in Jordan and Taba in Egypt, so both borders are close. The city sits in the Arava desert, where summers are very hot and the air is dry. The city is compact, and the beaches, hotels and downtown are all within a short taxi ride of each other.
Reefs are the main reason to come. Coral Beach Nature Reserve, a short drive south of the centre, lets you snorkel from the shore, and coral and fish sit close to many beaches. Timna Park, just north of town, adds desert hiking, old copper mines and sandstone rock formations. Spring and autumn suit beach and reef trips best, since summer is very hot. Plan two to four days for the city, the reefs and one desert day, and a longer stay if you dive.
Eilat in five
- Set up an eSIM before you flySet up an eSIM or local SIM before the flight, so maps and a taxi app work when you land at Ramon Airport.Phones and eSIM
- Plan around Shabbat in EilatFrom Friday sundown to Saturday nightfall, public buses stop and many shops and restaurants close. Book transfers and buy food before Friday afternoon.
- Get to Eilat by bus or flightNo passenger train runs to Eilat. The bus leaves from Tel Aviv's Central Bus Station and takes about 4 to 5 hours; flights land at Ramon Airport, north of the city.Getting around
- Check visa rules before a day trip to Jordan or EgyptAqaba in Jordan and the Taba crossing into Egypt are both within reach of Eilat. Each border has its own visa and entry rules, so check them before you book.Visas and entry
- Carry shekels for beach kiosks and tipsCards work in most hotels and restaurants, but small beach kiosks and tips are easier with cash. Keep some New Israeli Shekels in small notes.Money and costs
Need to know
- Currency
- New Israeli Shekel (ILS)
- Entry
- Visa-free for many passports; ETA-IL may apply, check before flying Read more
- Emergency
- 100 police, 101 ambulance, 102 fire; 112 from a mobile
- Tipping
- About 10 percent in restaurants if no service charge is added
- Time
- UTC+2, UTC+3 in summer (daylight saving)
Weather by month
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryMild, sunny
- FebruaryMild, sunny
- MarchMild, spring
- AprilWarm, dry
- MayHot, dry
- JuneVery hot, dry
- JulyVery hot, dry
- AugustVery hot, dry
- SeptemberHot, warm sea
- OctoberWarm, pleasant
- NovemberMild, pleasant
- DecemberCool, sunny
Right now in Eilat
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
22
- Feels like
- 18°
- Humidity
- 30%
- Wind
- 13 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Eilat
07:03 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today30°20°0%Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 30°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed27°18°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 27°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu26°19°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 26°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri23°17°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat21°15°0%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 21°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun22°13°0%Sunday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 06:45 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 3.14 ILS
Rates from Nov 3, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Timna Parkabout 30 min by carA desert park north of town, with red sandstone cliffs and old copper mines.Read the guide
- Masadaabout 2.5 to 3 hours by carA hilltop fortress above the Dead Sea; go early before the heat.Read the guide
- Aqaba, Jordanunder 1 hour to the borderA Jordanian port city across the border, with its own visa and entry rules.Read the guide
Before you go to Eilat
Rules for Eilat, checked
- During Shabbat, public buses stop from Friday sundown to Saturday nightfall, so plan transfers and food for that time.
- Many passports enter Israel visa-free, but some travelers need an ETA-IL; check eligibility on the official government site before flying.Source
- Carry your passport when traveling within Israel, since security checks at bus stations and on some roads can ask for ID.
- Do not touch or stand on coral at Coral Beach Nature Reserve; the reef is protected by law.
Plan around Eilat
Regions, entry rules and transport for an Israel trip
Read the guideGetting aroundBuses and flights to Eilat and getting around the town
Read the guideWhere to stayWhere to stay near the beaches and in the centre
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs a visa, and the ETA-IL check before you fly
Read the guideMoney and costsCards, cash and typical daily spending
Read the guideEilat FAQ
How many days do you need in Eilat?
Two days cover the beaches and the coral reef. Add a day for Timna Park, the desert park north of town, and go in the morning before the heat.
Is Eilat worth visiting?
Yes, for a Red Sea beach and reef trip with desert scenery close by. It is a resort town, so it suits swimming and snorkeling more than city sightseeing.
When is the best time to visit Eilat?
Spring and autumn suit beach days best. Summer is very hot and dry, and winter is milder and sunny.
Do you need a car in Eilat?
Not for the town itself, which is compact and has taxis. A car helps for Timna Park, Taba or Aqaba day trips, and for travel into the desert.
How do you get from Tel Aviv to Eilat?
By bus from Tel Aviv's Central Bus Station, about 4 to 5 hours, or by a short flight to Ramon Airport. Check the bus schedule and flight options before you go, since Shabbat changes both.
Is Eilat safe for tourists?
Check your government's current travel advice before you go, since the security situation in the region can change quickly.