Eilat for Couples: A Real Guide

Romantic Getaways in Eilat

The Gulf of Aqaba turns purple and gold at dusk with Jordan’s mountains as a backdrop, which is a better setting for a first-night dinner than most cities can offer, and it’s free.

A quick check before you book

Israel currently sits at US State Department Level 3, “Reconsider Travel” (reissued 26 Aug 2026), though Eilat city itself is not on the Level 4 do-not-travel list, unlike the narrow strip near the Egyptian border. The UK FCDO lifted its blanket warning against travel to Eilat around June 2026 while still flagging Houthi drone and missile risk; drones hit Eilat and Ramon Airport in September 2025, and the Israel-Iran ceasefire holding since April 2026 is described by both governments as fragile. Eilat keeps functioning as a normal resort city, but check your government’s current advisory before booking.

1. Stalbet Al HaMayim, Dolphin Reef

An adults-only relaxation area set in botanical gardens on the water, with three heated pools (seawater, mineral-rich saltwater, and freshwater), underwater music, guided floating sessions, complimentary wine, and loungers. It’s a separate booking from Dolphin Reef’s paid dolphin swim product, and doesn’t involve the dolphins. That swim experience does exist at the same venue and is contested on animal-welfare grounds (TripAdvisor won’t sell it, welfare groups dispute the operator’s framing), which is worth knowing even if you’re only there for the pools.

2. Sunset Cruise

A catamaran or private charter on the Gulf of Aqaba at dusk, watching the desert mountains on both sides of the water shift color as the sun drops. Compare current sunset cruise options if you want one booked ahead.

3. Candlelit Seafood

The Last Refuge (HaMiflat HaAharon), a Coral Beach fixture since 1973, and Pago Pago on the marina both serve whole baked sea bream and Red Sea calamari with a water view.

4. Desert Glamping

Eco-cabins and desert lodges in the Arava Valley, roughly 45 minutes north, such as Kibbutz Elifaz or Six Senses Shaharut, swap the resort strip for genuinely dark sky. Check rates for Six Senses Shaharut if this is the splurge you want.

5. Twilight Walk, Mount Zefahot

An easy late-afternoon climb on the ridge behind Coral Beach, timed for a sunset view across four countries.

Tips

  • Book restaurant tables and boat charters ahead in the November to April high season.
  • From June to August, air temperatures of 38-44°C mean the Zefahot walk only works at sunrise or sunset, never midday.
  • Cards and mobile wallets are accepted almost everywhere, pools and lodges included.

The Zefahot trailhead starts near Coral Beach, so see the Coral Beach Nature Reserve page for access, and check the current US Israel travel advisory before locking in dates.

If you can only afford one splurge, pick the desert lodge over the boat charter: Eilat’s own hotels already face the sea, but real dark sky is harder to come by.

For the same Dolphin Reef visit built around kids instead, see family-friendly activities in Eilat .