Beaches

Showers, restrooms and changing rooms, lifeguards, and first-aid stations are available free at all of Netanya's beaches, which cover 14 km (8½ miles) of soft, sandy coastline. Most beaches rent beach chairs and umbrellas.

Beit Yanai. About 5 km (3 miles) north of Netanya is lovely Beit Yanai, named after ancient Judean king Alexander Yanai. Amenities include barbecue grills, picnic tables, restrooms with showers, and chair and umbrella rentals. There's a seafood restaurant right on the beach, and you can stroll along the Alexander Stream, shaded by eucalyptus trees. Parking is NIS 24 on weekdays and NIS 33 on Saturday. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: walking; windsurfing. Rte. 2, Netanya, Central District. 09/866–6230. Free.

Herzl. Netanya's most popular beach, Herzl, has a broad staircase that leads down to the waterfront. For fitness nuts there's a shaded exercise area with all sorts of equipment, volleyball nets, and a paved basketball court. You can rent kayaks and windsurfing gear in the summer. The beach is wheelchair accessible. There is also a café and two lifeguard stations. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets; water sports; parking (fee). Best for: swimming; windsurfing. Ha'atzmaut Square, Netanya, Central District, 42116. Free.

Mikhmoret. The beach at Mikhmoret, a tiny moshav 7½ km (4½ miles) north of Netanya, is popular with swimmers as well as those who laze away the day under umbrellas. The huge dirt parking lot, which charges per car, is 1 km (½ mile) after the turnoff from Route 2. There are three lifeguard stations, a restaurant, café, and chair and umbrella rentals. This is a backpacker favorite, and the Resort Hostel is on the beach. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: sunset; swimming. Netanya, Central District, 4029700. Free.

Sironit. This main beach is the largest stretch of sand on the Netanya coast. An elevator takes you down the sandstone cliff to this beach. There are two cafés and two drink kiosks with seating inside and out. Fridays are filled with salsa and folk dancing. The parking lot is on the beach, just south of Ha'atzmaut Square. Handicapped accessible, the beach has a paved road that allows wheelchairs and walkers access almost to the shoreline. The lifeguard stand has ultralight wheelchairs for use that can drive right into the water. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; swimming. Gad Machness St., Netanya, Central District, 4211600. Free.