Eilat sits at the very bottom of Israel, where the Negev desert meets the Red Sea and Jordan is visible across the water. It is unlike anywhere else in the country – less about history and religion, more about sun, sea, and switching off. I visited Israel again, as part of the Where Else? Israel Tourism Conference which takes travel agents on a week-long tour of the country each year. Our southern circuit covered Tel Aviv, the Dead Sea, Masada, Eilat, and Jerusalem in seven days, and Eilat was the breath of fresh (hot) air in the middle of it all.
Dolphin Reef Eilat
Dolphin Reef sits on the shores of the Red Sea and is one of Eilat’s most visited attractions, and rightly so. What makes it different from most marine parks is that the dolphins here are not performing. They live in the open sea and choose whether or not to interact with visitors. That distinction matters.
Your entrance fee covers access for the full day, including the relaxation pools – three shallow pools right on the water, each with a different theme of calming underwater music. You float, the water team assists you, and someone gives you a massage. It is as good as it sounds. There is a VIP lounge above the pools, a restaurant, a café-bar, and a souvenir shop for when you eventually surface.
Later in the day we got to spend time near the dolphins themselves. Watching them move through the water on their own terms, without any performance cues, is genuinely moving. They also run programmes here for children with learning disabilities – the interaction is therapeutic in ways that are hard to explain until you see it.
A few resident cats and a peacock wander the grounds, which only adds to the feeling of being somewhere quietly wild. And from the upper levels, the view across to Aqaba in Jordan is beautiful.
You can book snorkelling on the coral reef or an introduction to scuba diving as add-ons. The Red Sea coral here is genuinely spectacular, one of the northernmost coral reefs in the world.
Information about Dolphin Reef Eilat:
Southern Beach, Eilat, Israel
Phone: +972- 8- 6300111
Website: dolphinreef.co.il
Open Sunday – Thursday 09:00-17:00
Friday-Saturday & Holidays 09:00-16:30
Closed on the Israeli National Memorial Day and Yom Kippur.
Kids below 15 yrs have to be accompanied by an adult.
Ice Mall Eilat
That evening we visited the Ice Mall – one of the few shopping centres in the world with an Olympic-size skating rink inside. In the desert. In Israel. We watched a skating and saxophone performance that was genuinely charming, and then had time to explore the mall itself.
I’ll be honest though: most of the shops were firmly in the “rich and famous” bracket, so I did more window shopping than actual shopping. But the food options are good: restaurants, coffee shops, and food stalls, and there are rides and games for families. It is also a VAT-free shopping zone, which matters if you are buying anything significant.
Ice Mall Eilat practical info:
8 Kampen St., Eilat, Israel
Phone: +972-8-6379552
Open Sun–Thu 9:30–23:00 | Fri 9:30–22:00 | Sat 9:30–midnight
Where to Stay in Eilat
We stayed at the Queen of Sheba Hilton, and the view of the sunset over the reef from my room was worth the trip on its own. Eilat has a wide range of accommodation options, from large resort hotels along the beach to smaller guesthouses, and most of the main attractions are within easy reach of the seafront.
More Things to Do in Eilat
Beyond Dolphin Reef and the Ice Mall, Eilat has a lot to offer. The coral reef itself is one of the main draws — the Red Sea here has some of the most accessible reef snorkelling in the world, with good visibility and water warm enough to swim in for most of the year. You can also book a diving experience directly on the water.
If you want to cross the border, a day trip to Petra and Wadi Rum is possible from Eilat — the border crossing into Jordan is straightforward and the journey is short. Worth knowing if you have an extra day.
You can also browse all Eilat tours and experiences on Viator, there is quite a range, from glass-bottom boat rides to jeep tours of the surrounding desert.
Getting to Eilat
Eilat has its own airport — Ramon Airport (ETM) — with domestic flights from Tel Aviv taking about an hour. Driving from Tel Aviv takes around four to five hours through the Negev. Most organised tours of the southern circuit include transport between stops.
More Israel Travel Posts
- Jerusalem: The Old City and Eternal City
- Visiting Masada: Israel’s Fortress in the Desert
- The Dead Sea: Floating at the Lowest Point on Earth
- Best places to eat in Jaffa
- Israel: A Biblical and Christian Summary
Although Sarah has worked in travel for 15 years and specializes in Africa, she loves music, wine, food, and travel. Armed with her camera, she’s on a mission to photograph old memories and tell stories showcasing her East Indian community and her love for travel and culture. Her book Jevayla Ye with her sister Abby has won the international Gourmand Award for Best Indigenous People Cookbook in the World.
I have not heard of Eilat before now. It looks so beautiful and your pictures capture it really well. Another place for the bucketlist
Yes, its a really amazing place, a must see !
I am always very wary of animal based attractions so it’s great to see a place where the dolphins come and go as they please but actually want to interact with humans rather than being forced. it looks like a fantastic experience! The views out towards Jordan are beautiful! If I head to Israel at any point, I will make sure to add this to my itinerary!
Yes, it is. A must do for any Israel Itinerary.
I’m ashamed to admit that I knew NONE of these things were in Israel until your post. I hadn’t even heard of Eilat. I mean a dolphin reef? A mall with a skating rink? This definitely seems like a place I will add to my bucket list for the future!
You’re not alone, I’ve heard that before. There’s a lot of interesting places to visit in Israel, bucket list for sure!
It’s good to read about a different place in Israel, I’ve never heard of Eilat on the southern tip. The dolphin reef looks fantastic, I wouldn’t have imagined there were dolphins in Israel. Jordan looks so close in your image, incredible, you could swim there!
Its a country you must visit. A lot of different experiences, horse riding, wine tasting, skiing and a lot more
Israel is high up on my wishlist!
I haven’t heard of Eilat. It looks beautiful! The place is a total natural beauty!
To see peacocks just roam around like that is incredible! The Dolphins are just so gorgeous!
There is a lot to Israel that people don’t know about. Did you know you can also go skiing in the north ? It is an amazing country, a lot of diversity.
This seems to be a lesser know destination of Israel to me. I like such places tucked away at corners but capable of satisfying a traveler and tourist both.
Dolphins are such pleasing creatures, love the friendliness captured in these pics. Last time I interacted with one was in Singapore.
Yeah, most people believe Israel is only about religious and historical sites, but there is a whole lot more to see. They have a lot to offer.
I saw Eilat from the Jordan side. I saw the view from Aqaba side. I was in Jordan in May, 2016 and I was craving to cross the border. I could see Israel from so many places. That didn’t happen. Never mind, after seeing your blog, now I know whta Eilat is all about.
Glad to be of help, but I think you should still visit Israel. It’s a totally amazing experience!