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Things to do

Things to do in Eilat: reefs, desert and the bay

Snorkelling at Coral Beach, the Dolphin Reef, the Underwater Observatory, bird migration, Timna and VAT-free shopping.

2 min readChecked 11 November 2026

In the directoryParks, trails & springs (1)Attractions & sights (17)Museums & heritage (2)Parks & playgrounds (7)Beaches (1)Day trips nearby (1)Sport & pools (4)

Under the water

The Coral Beach Nature Reserve is the northernmost shallow coral reef on Earth, with snorkelling straight from the shore. At the Dolphin Reef you can swim with dolphins, and the Underwater Observatory is the biggest public aquarium in the Middle East.

The desert

Eilat lies on the main bird-migration route between Africa and Europe; see the International Birding and Research Center. North of the city, Timna Park has ancient copper mines and sandstone formations. See also lookouts and attractions.

Shopping, hotels and food

Shops are VAT-free; malls include the Ice Mall. See hotels, hostels, restaurants and shopping. Check kashrut with each place.

Common questions

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