Eilat: Location and Arrival

Eilat's geographical location – a spot where four nations meet – means that masses of tourists visit this port city every year. Here are the ways to arrive to the most central city on the shores of the Red Sea.

Many visitors think of Eilat as a wonderful base for day-trips to the Red Sea and the Israel-Egypt-Jordan triangle. Aqaba, arguably Jordan's premier vacation city, is easily accessed from Eilat via the Yitzhak Rabin Arava Border Crossing. The same is true for the Egyptian vacation paradise of Taba, reached via the Menachem Begin Taba Border Crossing. Both crossings are a mere a 10-min drive from the city. Many prefer to stay overnight in the city's Western-style hotels, which are considered to be particularly pampering and luxurious, and leave each morning for tours across the border, coming back to the city for a superb dinner and a great night's sleep.

Visitors from Israel can arrive via Rte. 90, the nation's longest road beginning at Mt. Hermon in the north and ending at Eilat's southernmost tip, the border crossing to Taba. We recommend driving most of the way to Eilat via Rte. 40. Considered by many to offer an easier drive, it merges with Rte. 90 some 100 km north of the city. But no matter the road you choose to drive, the hours in the car will offer passengers gorgeous red desert vistas as well as wonderful rest stops along the way: the Dead Sea, Ramon Crater, Spice Way, and Timna Park. We recommend you plan your drive so that you get to fill up your gas tank in the city. As Eilat shopping is exempt from Israel's 17% VAT, fuel prices in the city are much lower than anywhere else in the country.

Eilat is a 4-hr drive from Tel Aviv, a 4:50-hr drive from Haifa, and a 3:45-hr drive from Jerusalem. There is also public transportation to Eilat. Egged Bus Company, for example, has a dedicated line to Eilat (390) that offers nine convenient daily departures (except for Friday night and Saturday) from 8 AM to 8 PM. To date, there is no train to Eilat, but Israel Railways trains do go to Beer Sheva, where the ride to Eilat can be continued by bus. Many tourists visiting Israel like to tour the large cities of the Holy Land, and save the best for last, combining luxurious rest and relaxation with discount shopping in Eilat. The city, which can also serve tourists as a transit point en route to Egypt or back from it, is a must-see destination during a visit to the Middle East.

Border Crossing to Egypt

The Menachem Begin Taba border crossing is located at Eilat's southernmost point, a 10-min ride from the city center. Taba Terminal can be reached by taxi or by the Egged bus line 15, which departs from Eilat’s Central Bus Station every half hour (ticket price: NIS 4.20). At the border crossing, it is necessary to pay NIS 107 on the Israeli side plus another E£ 400 (~NIS 80) on the Egyptian side.

Click here for more information on the Menachem Begin Border Crossing

The border crossing to Egypt allows visitors to vacation in Sinai and enjoy the peninsula's famous beaches, as well as visit fantastic attractions, such as: Saint Catherine's Monastery at Mt. Sinai; the Blue Lagoon, one of the world's most beautiful scuba diving sites; and Cairo, the Egyptian capital and one of the most important cities of global cultural value. Many tourists who choose to stay in Eilat cross the border by foot every night to gamble at the casinos in Taba, as Israel prohibits casino operations.

Border Crossing to Jordan

The Yitzhak Rabin Arava border crossing, the land border between Israel and Jordan, is located about 3 km north of Eilat. The crossing fee is NIS 107 on the Israeli side and US $15 on the Jordanian side each way. Most tourists crossing into Eilat from Jordan do so after having visited important historic sites, such as Wadi Rum and Petra, and some like to spend a few nights in Aqaba before visiting the city. Adjacent to the border crossing is a bus and taxi terminal offering convenient transportation to Eilat.

Click here for more information on the Yitzhak Rabin Arava Border Crossing

Winter 2022/2023: International Flights to Ramon Eilat, Israel