Getting around Eilat
Public transport
Eilat is compact and the areas around the promenade are best traversed on foot.
Egged (tel: + 972 3 914 3711; www.egged.co.il) is the largest bus company in Israel and runs an extensive network in Eilat. Line 1 is popular as it makes a loop around tourist areas such as Mul HaYam Mall. A single journey within the city is 4.90 shekels. Apart from routes within the city, there are buses from the Central Bus Station on HaTemarim Boulevard to other destinations, including Ovda Airport (line 392), Be’er Sheva (line 392/397) and Tel Aviv (line 390/393). Please note that buses don’t run during Sabbath, from Friday sunset to Saturday nightfall.
Taxis
Taxis are widely available with official taxis carrying the Taxi+ logo sticker. You can flag one down on the road, however, it is best to ask the driver to turn on the meter or agree on a price before starting the journey. Several companies including Taba (tel: +972 8 633 3333) offer pre-booking as well. For visitors who prefer to book with an app, the GETT app connects you with the nearest taxi.
Driving
Driving in Eilat is easy as traffic is generally smooth running. The compact size of Eilat also helps to keep the journey time low. The roads are in great condition and all signs are in Hebrew, English and Arabic.
Car hire
Hire a car is particularly useful if you intend to travel out of Eilat to the stunning desert in the north or other destinations. All international car hire companies are well presented in Eilat including Avis (www.avis.com), Hertz (www.hertz.co.il) and Sixt (www.sixt.com). Although hiring a car and driving around Eilat is easy, petrol stations tend to display text in Hebrew only.
Bicycle hire
Bicycle Rental Eilat (tel: +972 52 906 6880; www.bicycleeilat.com) is a reputable company from which visitors can rent a bike on an hourly basis. There are also several companies in the region offering mountain bike tours to the desert. Alternatively, you can also rent a bike using the IsraBike app.
