A Complete Guide to Ein Bokek, Israel
Read our travel guide on Ein Bokek in Israel, a famous gateway to the Dead Sea. Includes what to see and do in Ein Bokek, when to go, where to stay, or how to get.
Ein Bokek is a gateway to the Dead Sea in Israel and one of the must-visit places while in the country.
It's the main Dead Sea tourist zone in Israel, and we believe that it's a place no traveler should miss out on when road-tripping this incredible country.
And why is the Dead Sea area so popular?
It's the combination of the lowest elevation in the world, the healing effects of the Dead Sea, unique barren landscape, lush canyons, or the nearby Masada Fortress.
One of the best parts of the Dead Sea experience here in Ein Bokek is that it's free, so even budget travelers can enjoy it.
Staying in luxury hotels is out of the question for backpackers, but swimming in the Dead Sea for free with access to all public facilities is not something we would expect to find here.
But not everything here is so cheerful.
The disheartening part about the Dead Sea is that it's retreating about a meter per year due to crystal mining (mostly potash), so it's one of those places that can be gone in the near future.
As we can't see into the future and predict what happens next, we'll just focus on things to do in Ein Bokek and hope you'll be able to see the place the same way when your planned trip to Israel becomes a reality.
Moreover, Ein Bokek is located in the southern basin, and the Dead Sea Works factory pumps the water from the northern basin, so this area is not prone to sinkholes or water receding.
At least for now until the water runs out entirely.
So despite the far less optimistic introduction to the area, we still believe Ein Bokek is worth visiting.
Feel free to find out more in our Ein Bokek travel guide.
What to Do in Ein Bokek
Admittedly, there is not much to do in Ein Bokek except for enjoying the luxury perks of your accommodation, lying on the beach, or swimming in the Dead Sea.
But that's what all this area is about.
Soaking up the peaceful atmosphere and scorching temperatures, enjoying the healing effects of the salty water and surplus of oxygen, or reading a book or just chilling on the beach.
And as you get the chance to make some awesome day trips from Ein Bokek, you might stay longer here than you would have planned to do.
Ein Bokek Beach
The main reason to visit Ein Bokek is the idea of swimming in the Dead Sea. While the hotels' strip might feel overdeveloped and superficial, it has its advantages.
And there isn't probably a better place for soaking up than the beach in Ein Bokek.
So why do we believe Ein Bokek Beach is the best place to swim in the Dead Sea in Israel? The beach strip is well-maintained, has good facilities, but, most importantly, it's safe.
So while this place lacks the raw authenticity of the area along the Dead Sea Highway we visited in Jordan, it's definitely safer.
One of the first things that struck us as soon as we stepped on Ein Bokek Beach was its color and sand quality.
We had to crawl across some razor-sharp crystals last year when swimming in the Dead Sea in Jordan, and here we breezed in like wind without worrying about the bottom.
On top of that, Ein Bokek Beach has public facilities such as outdoor showers, changing rooms, or restrooms.
And as mentioned above, this is all free.
Swimming in the Dead Sea
Swimming in the Dead Sea is an experience on its own, and we believe that everyone should try it.
Regardless of whether you call it swimming or floating, the experience of being in the water that has so many unique features is almost indescribable.
We can tell you that the water feels oily, that the extremely salty water will very quickly remind you of any of your cuts or scratches, or that it's impossible to dive there.
But that's just some words written on paper, and the reality is far more interesting.
As it wasn't our first time and even though we knew what to expect, it's still hard to comprehend the swimming reality as it's so different from any other place in the world.
Some people like to bring some props to take some fun photos, but we enjoyed the place even without them.
Word of warning. Try your best not to get the water in your eyes. Trust us on this one.
If you do feel the urge to make a few strokes or kick with your legs, it's better to wear cheap sunglasses to prevent some accidental drops from getting into your eyes.
I can speak from my own experience that you will otherwise need a lot of water to make the pain go away.
Make sure to use the showers on the beach to wash the salt away once your Dead Sea session is over.
Spa Treatments
It's not a secret that the Dead Sea has healing powers that are sought by many travelers from all around the world.
The combination of unique minerals such as sodium, magnesium, or bromide, mud pools, plenty of sunshine, and a surplus of oxygen creates ideal conditions for treating specific ailments, such as skin diseases, rheumatic disorders, or respiratory problems.
And the area around Ein Bokek is Israel's most popular place for these therapeutic experiences.
Whether you're looking for swimming in mineral-rich waters, hydrotherapy, mud therapy, body nourishing wraps, medical massages, oil baths, body peels, facials, or sulfur pools, you've come to the right place.
The calming and soothing features of the Dead Sea have a positive impact on almost everyone, so make sure to get the most of it while there.
Moreover, it is a nice souvenir to bring cosmetics coming from the Dead Sea.
Staying in a Resort
You can often read that your Dead Sea experience wouldn't be complete without staying in one of its luxury hotels.
While we can't deny that the idea doesn't sound intriguing, it's also not exactly a budget-friendly thing to do.
And not everyone is willing to pay extra for the exquisite location.
The harsh cold truth about hotels in Israel is that it's not easy to find cheap accommodation (sometimes equals impossible) while there.
It's often required to find cheaper alternatives elsewhere, especially when visiting Israel on a budget.
However, if budget is not an issue, then staying in one of the resorts on the main strip in Ein Bokek will definitely change your perspective of the Dead Sea.
Hotels pamper their guests and feature outdoor pools, spas, private beaches, wellness or exquisite restaurants.
Where to Stay in Ein Bokek
This brings us to a more burning question. As mentioned above, while having fun in the Dead Sea is free, staying in Ein Bokek is not.
And the bad but obvious part about this fact is that the hotels in Ein Bokek are expensive.
The good part is that all hotels offer very similar facilities and services. Therefore, there aren't any huge differences between them, making the selection process easier.
Unfortunately, you won't find any budget hotels in Ein Bokek, which leaves you with not many alternatives. You can try your luck to find cheaper accommodation in Ein Gedi or Arad.
Alternatively, you can also stay in Neve Zohar, which is (a bit more peaceful) a miniature of Ein Bokek, located about 7 kilometers south of the town.
So here is our choice of the best hotels in Ein Bokek.
Vert Dead Sea Hotel | Located in the northern part of Ein Bokek, Vert Dead Sea Hotel boasts a private beach, newly designed rooms, exquisite spa treatments, and a unique swimming pool with the water from the Dead Sea.
Nevo by Isrotel Collection | Private beach, outdoor swimming pool, spacious rooms, dinner buffet, sun deck, sauna, or steam bath, you can find all that in Nevo by Isrotel Collection and much more.
Herods Dead Sea | Located in Neve Zohar, Herods Dead Sea offers panoramic views, wellness facilities, personal treatments, sulfur pools, a Turkish bath, hot tub, or basketball courts.
Neve Zohar
As we were descending in our car on Highway 31 to the lowest place in the world, we couldn't overlook a small settlement directly in front of us.
As we turned onto Highway 90, we realized that it was not Ein Bokek but Neve Zohar.
This dusty village has some smaller accommodations, but there is nothing else to do except stay overnight or watch trucks driving along the shore.
We continued towards Ein Bokek and spotted a couple of large hotels which already had resort vibes.
So if you want to stay further away from the primary hotspot and are deciding between Ein Bokek or Neve Zohar, this area might be perfect for you.
Visiting Masada
The Dead Sea is not the only gem that attracts hundreds or thousands of visitors each day in this area.
Masada is often regarded as the best one out of all the similar top places you can find in Israel, such as Knights' Halls in Akko or Nimrod Fortress in Golan Heights.
As we're not fans of rating places, as every site has its unique feel and vibe, we'll leave the decision up to you.
But we have to agree that Masada National Park is definitely one of the must-visit places in Israel.
Moreover, it's one of the most visited places in the country, so be prepared that you won't have the site just for yourself.
It might be a strange thing to say, but Masada reminded me a bit of Machu Picchu.
Now you might think that the comparison with a forgotten Inca citadel perched atop lush green mountains somewhere on the edge of the Peruvian Jungle sounds entirely off.
But once you arrive at the plateau on the top of the hill and the spectacular views open up in front of you, you'll understand what I meant.
Masada has two entrances, and you can even get to the top by cable car. We like to stay fit while traveling, so we decided to hike the Snake Path Trail.
It took us about forty minutes to tackle the elevation gain of 400 meters, but the extra effort was super rewarding while we reached the main entrance.
Romans, who conquered Masada in 74 CE, were a bit smarter than us tourists.
They approached it from the opposite side, where the path to the fortress is much shorter, and were even be able to build a massive siege ramp there.
Masada is not only famous for its resistance against the Romans but also for the palace and fortifications built during the reign of Herod the Great.
Simply put, the fascinating history and breathtaking scenery make Masada one of the best places in Israel that we visited on our trip.
Hiking in Ein Gedi
Like Ein Avdat in the Negev Desert, Ein Gedi is a place that you would think can't exist here. Yet, here it is.
A lush oasis with a crystal clear stream and waterfalls hiding in the canyon makes a stunning contrast to otherwise barren areas along the Dead Sea coast.
We arrived pretty late to Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, and it was fun to see more ibexes in the nature reserve than tourists.
By the way, the Nubian ibex is featured on the Israel Nature Parks and Authority logo.
Most importantly, it is an extraordinary animal, and seeing them hopping, jumping, and walking on sometimes almost vertical cliffs without any hiccups was an incredible experience.
Ein Gedi (sometimes spelled En Gedi) actually consists of two canyons, Wadi David and Wadi Arugot. Wadi David is the more popular one as it has the David Waterfall.
However, there are nine trails in the park, and if you have time, you can do a loop hike that connects both places.
Make sure to bring a swimsuit as you can take a refreshing dip into some of the pools along the trail.
Also, don't forget to have your Israel Pass with you to lower your entrance fee.
When to Go
So when is the best time to visit Ein Bokek? Well, it depends on your preferences and your Israel itinerary.
The area surrounding Ein Bokek is very dry and hot, and you should expect weather that corresponds to this fact.
We've been to Ein Bokek in November (autumn) and traveled along the Dead Sea Highway in Jordan in March (spring), and the weather was perfect for us.
Therefore, we believe that autumn or spring is the best time to visit Ein Bokek. In our opinion, this is the best time to visit Israel in general.
The summer months of July and August are the hottest ones of the year, and when the temperatures exceed 40 Celsius, it can make your life miserable there.
It might be fine to stay in an airconditioned room and make quick swimming trips to the sea, but it will be too hot to do anything else.
Arriving outside the hottest period also makes sense if you plan on doing some hikes in the region, as we don't want to imagine how it must feel in August or July to walk the Snake Trail to Masada.
Winter in Ein Bokek is not so cold, but the lower temperatures might not be exactly inviting for swimming or lazing on the beach.
Especially, if you want to also snorkel in Eilat.
But as you won't probably stay in the water too long anyway, it might be a great alternative for those who want to avoid crowds.
How Many Days Do You Need for Ein Bokek
When you start planning your Israel itinerary, you might ask yourself whether you need a whole day for Ein Bokek or a few hours will do.
Unless you want to stay in the resort or enjoy the complete Dead Sea experience thoroughly, you need only a couple of hours to swim in the sea or walk around the beach.
However, there is one more thing to consider.
The Ein Bokek, Masada, Ein Gedi, and the Dead Sea itself are close to each other. Therefore, you should allocate at least two days for this area if you want to visit them all.
Whether you decide to base yourself in Ein Bokek or not is a different story. We had a flexible itinerary, so we reserved our accommodation only a few days before we arrived there.
While we could decide on our next travel plans more spontaneously, we missed the window of opportunity to find a cheap(ish) room in Ein Bokek.
Therefore, we had to stay in a kibbutz near Ein Gedi as the hotels in Ein Bokek were simply completely out of our Israel budget.
What to Pack
Mind you, the salt is everywhere here, and you're better of leaving your expensive gear or clothes in your hotel room.
Regardless of what you bring with you, we recommend washing it, rinsing, or wiping it afterward. The salt can ruin almost anything, so it's better to be safe than sorry.
Swimsuit, sunglasses, beach towel, use the ones that you don't mind getting ruined.
If you follow the cleaning advice, you should be fine, but sometimes you don't have time to do it or forget all about it, and then you can hope for the best.
Unlike our painful experience with the Dead Sea in Jordan, Ein Bokek has a lovely sandy beach, so you don't need to bring water shoes with you just to enter the water.
Yes, unlike the place we found in Jordan, Ein Bokek Beach has no sharp bottom unless you venture too far into the water.
However, the sand can get very hot in the summer, and walking barefoot on the beach is not pleasing.
So, if you're not really sure whether leaving your water shoes behind is a good idea and have plenty of space in luggage, then you can bring them to ease your mind.
While some of the items on the list are quite obvious, you shouldn't also forget a lip balm as the area around the Dead Sea is very dry, and we were really glad we brought it with us.
Strong sunscreen and a hat are other must-have items.
We also believe that if you want to stay more than a day in Ein Bokek, you should bring a book or Kindle to kill some time.
While having flip-flops or water shoes might be enough for walking on the beach in Ein Gedi, make sure you also have proper trail walking shoes or runners to enjoy some of the more challenging hikes this area has to offer.
Is It Safe to Visit Ein Bokek
Ein Bokek is a safe destination to visit for tourists, but you should still keep an eye on the current situation in Israel.
One of the things to know about Israel is that the situation is constantly changing, so it's better to know what's currently going on in the country.
Also, use common sense while leaving your valuables on the beach, as opportunistic crime can happen anywhere in the world.
And unless you might be tempted to find some deserted place for swimming in the Dead Sea without crowds, it's smart to stay safe and use one of the designated beaches in Ein Bokek.
Here you will find more tips on staying safe in Israel.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
How to Get There
As mentioned above, Ein Bokek is a top tourist destination in Israel. Therefore, it's pretty easy to get there from most parts of the country, especially if you have a rental car.
But even people without their own transport can get to Ein Bokek relatively easily.
Car
Having said that, the easiest way to get to Ein Bokek is by car.
Renting a car in Israel is easy, and by doing so, you'll gain a lot of flexibility and freedom to get around the country.
Tel Aviv is 170 kilometers northwest of Ein Bokek and about 180 kilometers north of Jerusalem.
So why not just cut through West Bank?
Driving a rental car with an Israeli license plate through West Bank is not recommended, and you can't enter areas that are not under full Israeli control.
And even though the route is 70 kilometers shorter when driving from Jerusalem, if there were a police checkpoint along the way, it wouldn't be that much faster either way.
From Jerusalem, leave the city via Highway 1 and then turn left onto highway 6. Continue all the way to Be'er Sheva, where you take Highway 31 and continue toward Arad and Neve Zohar.
Once you descend to the Dead Sea level, turn left onto Highway 90 and stay on the road for 8 kilometers until you reach your destination.
It's similarly straightforward to get to Ein Bokek from Tel Aviv. So you need to get to Highway 6 via Highway 1 from the west and then follow the driving directions as if you'd be arriving from Jerusalem.
Beer Sheva is the nearest largest city to Ein Bokek and lies less than 80 kilometers west of the Dead Sea.
Eilat is 205 kilometers south of Ein Bokek, and Highway 90 connects both towns, so it's virtually impossible to get lost on the way.
Don't forget that when driving on Highway 6, you need to pay for the toll.
It's an electronic system, and you can read about our experience with it in this helpful post on driving in Israel that you should definitely check out before you go.
Bus
Getting to Ein Bokek from Jerusalem by bus on a day trip might be a great alternative to those who don't want to drive in a foreign country.
Bus 486 or 444 (Egged) from Jerusalem Central Station leaves a few times a day, and the ride takes approximately two hours.
Both buses stop at Masada, and the 444 continues even to Eilat, making traveling around this part of Israel quite convenient.
If you want to travel from Tel Aviv to Ein Bokek by bus, then you should take 405 from Tel Aviv New Central Bus Station (also Egged) to Jerusalem, and from there either 444 or 486.
From Beer Sheva Central Station, take a direct bus 384 (Egged) to Ein Bokek.
Here you will find more information on how to get around Israel.
Tours
Alternatively, you can take a Dead Sea tour from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv if you're short on time. These tours usually include English speaking guide, transportation, and entry fees.
Here you can reserve Dead Sea Tour from Tel Aviv or Dead Sea Tour from Jerusalem.
Both trips include Masada Fortress, so you don't need to worry that you'll miss this top attraction out.
Parking
Unless you're staying in a hotel directly in Ein Bokek with private parking, the chances are that you'll need to find a space to leave your car somewhere.
If there was some free parking in Ein Bokek, we didn't find it.
So we used one of the many paid parking lots in Ein Bokek located conveniently close to the beach and paid about 6 NIS ($2) per hour.
It's definitely not cheap, but we didn't mind that much as the parking was fifty meters from the beach.
When staying in Ein Bokek overnight, make sure to reserve accommodation with free private parking to avoid paying a lot of money.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
