You cannot talk about summer in Israel without talking about Eilat.

Located at the southernmost point of Israel, bordered by Egypt on one side and Jordan’s dramatic mountains on the other, this small city has long been a destination for visitors from both home and abroad. With sunshine almost every day of the year and a relaxed vacation atmosphere, Eilat has become synonymous with the Israeli summer holiday.

Eilat’s story stretches back much further than its modern skyline of hotels. The area appears several times in the Bible, first as a stop on the Israelites’ journey through the desert and later as the strategic port city during the reigns of Kings David and Solomon. Thanks to its location at the northern tip of the Red Sea, this corner of the desert has been coveted for thousands of years. Archaeological discoveries show that the region was home to ancient Egyptians, Midianites, Nabataeans, Romans, Byzantines, Crusaders, and many others, all drawn here by its strategic position at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Europe.

The modern city of Eilat was founded in 1951. Originally, it was a small community populated mainly by port workers and military personnel, but over the decades, it transformed into Israel’s premier resort town. It has gone through many iterations, experiencing both highs and lows. Ask almost anyone in Israel about Eilat, and they are bound to have a strong opinion. Some will tell you it’s the perfect place to shop thanks to its tax-free status. Others will argue that its heyday is long gone. But regardless of where people stand, almost everyone has memories of family vacations and school trips spent at Israel’s southernmost point. 

In many ways, Eilat is Israeli tourism. Home to over 50 hotels, countless restaurants, and attractions for every age, it continues to be one of the country’s most popular vacation destinations. Rather than booking flights abroad, many Israeli families still choose an all-inclusive resort in Eilat as their summer getaway.

The city has no shortage of family attractions. The on-the-nose concept of the famous Ice Mall, with its indoor skating rink, offers a chance to experience a winter activity in the middle of the desert heat. The city’s waterfront promenade comes alive in the evenings with street performers and ice cream shops. As well as a plethora of water activities, where Families can spend the day parasailing, kayaking, and much more.

Having grown up just 40 kilometers north of Eilat on Kibbutz Yotvata, I always saw it as the big city. Growing up in such a small kibbutz, a trip to Eilat felt exciting. There were shopping malls, movie theaters, and everything that seemed impossibly big.

Years later, after living between New York and Stockholm, I see Eilat differently. It’s neither a big city nor a major international destination. Parts of it are run-down; attractions that used to be an inseparable part of the city, like the IMAX theater and the biblical-themed park “The City of Angels,” were all closed down and bulldozed over. And yet, the city still holds a unique charm in my heart, one that’s difficult to explain to someone who didn’t grow up in the Arava desert.

For starters, it’s incredibly hot. Unlike the shaded paths and tree-lined pavements of the kibbutz, Eilat never lets you forget that you’re in the middle of the desert. In the summer, average daytime temperatures regularly climb above 40°C, and the pavement seems to radiate heat long after the sun sets. Oddly enough, that’s part of its magic. The smell of asphalt baking under the relentless sun is, to me, the smell of childhood, or perhaps that’s why I eventually moved as far north as I could.

Though even after years in the Nordics, I still describe Eilat as magical. Not because of its hotels or shopping malls, but because of its surrounding nature, specifically the wonder that lies on its edge: the Red Sea. It is truly a sight to behold. Surrounded by dramatic desert mountains, the landscape feels almost otherworldly, more like an alien planet than your typical beach destination. The striking contrast between turquoise water and endless red and brown desert mountains creates one of Israel’s most unique natural landscapes.

photo: Tal Shema, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Perhaps the greatest beauty of the Red Sea, however, lies beneath the surface. Eilat’s coral reef is the northernmost shallow water coral reef in the world, and is home to hundreds of species of colorful fish, sea turtles, rays, and countless other marine creatures. Whether snorkeling or diving, it’s one of the best places in Israel to experience the country’s incredible biodiversity.

One of Eilat’s most beloved attractions is the Dolphin Reef, where a resident pod of bottlenose dolphins has (out of their own volition) chosen to live for decades. Rather than performing in shows, the dolphins roam freely within the protected reef, allowing visitors to observe, and, in some cases, even swim alongside them in a natural environment.

For those who prefer to stay dry, the Underwater Observatory Marine Park offers a window into the Red Sea without getting wet. Descending below sea level, visitors can watch reef fish and coral through panoramic viewing windows, making it one of Eilat’s most iconic attractions.

Zairon, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The surrounding nature is equally spectacular. Just outside the city lies Timna Park, famous for its breathtaking desert landscapes and the towering sandstone formations known as Solomon’s Pillars. A little further north, the Yotvata Hai-Bar Nature Reserve works to protect and reintroduce biblical desert animals, including the Arabian oryx, Caracal, and ostriches, offering visitors a glimpse into the wildlife that once roamed this region.

Whether you come for the sunshine, the coral reef, the mountains, or simply a few days by the pool, Eilat remains one of Israel’s quintessential summer destinations. For many Israelis, it’s more than just a vacation spot: it’s a place filled with childhood memories, and the unmistakable feeling that summer has finally arrived.