Is It Worth Visiting the Dead Sea? Kalia Beach Guide
Is It Worth Visiting the Dead Sea in Israel?
Over the years leading up to my Dead Sea visit, many people have told me that it is not worth visiting the Dead Sea. Not wanting to take their word for it, I decided to see for myself what it was like floating in the Dead Sea. I also wanted to see if it was truly worth visiting the Dead Sea.
Floating in the Dead Sea has been on my bucket list for years, and I finally got the chance to do so in July of 2023. The only issue was that Israel was experiencing record high temperatures, which meant the temperature on the shore of the Dead Sea was over 110°F. In addition to the air temperature being extremely hot, the Dead Sea water temperature was also extremely warm.
The extreme temperatures made it almost impossible to stay in the Dead Sea for more than ten minutes, but I still felt that it was one of those Dead Sea bucket list experiences that was absolutely worth having at least once.
Is It Worth Visiting the Dead Sea? Kalia Beach Guide - Table of Contents
- Is it Worth Visiting the Dead Sea?
- How to Get to the Dead Sea?
- Visiting the Dead Sea’s Kalia Beach
- Changing Rooms at the Dead Sea’s Kalia Beach
- Walking to the Dead Sea Shoreline
- Dead Sea Air and Water Temperatures in July
- Floating in the Dead Sea
- Is Floating in the Dead Sea Worth It?
- Tours that Visit the Dead Sea
- Dead Sea FAQs
- Support Buzzin’ Around the World – Visit Our Affiliates
- Earning Points and Rewards
- Related Content
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How to Get to the Dead Sea from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem
Now that I knew I was visiting the Dead Sea, the first thing I had to figure out was how to get there. The closest Dead Sea beach to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem is Kalia Beach, which is the one that I visited. By car, it takes about 90 minutes to drive the 100 kilometers from Tel Aviv. From Jerusalem, the drive to the Dead Sea’s Kalia Beach only takes about 45 minutes to drive 42 kilometers.
For those that don’t have a car, there are buses that run between both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. In my opinion, the best way to visit the Dead Sea is to take a Dead Sea day trip from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv as part of an organized Dead Sea and Masada tour. I took a tour of the Dead Sea paired with Masada. I will link some tours that visit the Dead Sea toward the bottom of this page.
Regardless of how you choose to get to the Dead Sea, make sure you stop at the Sea Level Sign. This sign marks the location where the elevation drops below sea level. From the Sea Level Sign, the road continues downward until the elevation reaches just over 1,400 feet below sea level.
Another perk of a tour is that the tour guides know the best viewpoints for photographing the Dead Sea. The photo below (right) was taken from a viewpoint near Masada.
Kalia Beach: The Best Northern Dead Sea Beach in Israel
Kalia Beach is the furthest north beach on the Israeli side of the Dead Sea. Admission to Kalia Beach was included in the cost of my Dead Sea and Masada tour. If you are visiting Kalia Beach without a tour, the entrance fee is ₪54 ($16.00). The admission fee to Kalia Beach includes the use of the changing facilities, locker rooms, and all of the beach facilities, including showers, lounge chairs, and umbrellas. Overall, this felt like a solid Kalia Beach review in terms of value and facilities.
The Dead Sea is about ten times saltier than the Mediterranean Sea. When visiting the Dead Sea, visitors must follow the safety instructions below.
Facilities and Changing Rooms at Kalia Beach, Dead Sea
There are changing rooms at the Dead Sea’s Kalia Beach for both men and women. Each changing room has lockers, although they are not free. Our guide suggested bringing our belongings with us and leaving them on a chair at the beach. He knew that I had my camera and GoPro and offered to keep his eye on my belongings while I floated in the Dead Sea.
Towels are not provided by Kalia Beach but are really not necessary. It was over 110 degrees with low humidity. After floating in the Dead Sea, my swim trunks were dry by the time I returned to the changing room.
If you’re wondering what to wear at the Dead Sea, I recommend a comfortable swimsuit you don’t mind getting salty and a pair of water shoes or sandals. The sun is very strong, so if you burn easily, consider wearing a sunshirt with SPF protection as well. This is one of my biggest tips for visiting the Dead Sea in summer.
Walking to the Dead Sea Shoreline and Water Levels
The Dead Sea is dying. Each year the Dead Sea loses about a meter (around three feet) of water. Due to this water loss, there is quite a walk from the changing room to the Dead Sea beach.
Throughout the walk, there are various signs showing the height of the water level during different years. The lifeguard tower below was used to observe swimmers in the Dead Sea in 2002. You can clearly see how much the Dead Sea water has dropped. Our guide explained that Israel is considering pumping water from the Red Sea to keep the Dead Sea from shrinking even more.
Be sure to wear sandals or shoes when walking from the changing rooms to the Dead Sea. The sand was so hot that I could barely stand on it for even a second. I ended up wearing my sandals into the Dead Sea because of the extreme temperature of the sand and rocks.
So, at this point, I was beginning to experience what it was actually like to visit the Dead Sea. I quickly realized this was not a tropical beach with white sand like you would see in the Caribbean. It didn’t even feel similar to the Mediterranean beaches in Tel Aviv. The Dead Sea beach was a mix of dirt, small rocks, and dark brown sand. Mixed into the sand were layers of salt deposits.
You’ll notice the chairs at Kalia Beach are super close to the shoreline of the Dead Sea. As I stated before, the sand was so hot that it was impossible to walk on the beach. The chairs were at the shoreline, so visitors had a place to put their shoes after entering the Dead Sea.
Dead Sea Weather in July: Air Temperature and Heatwave Conditions
How Hot Is the Dead Sea in Summer?
What is the Dead Sea really like? It is HOT! In July, the average temperature of the air by the Dead Sea is in the upper 90s°F during the day and warm at night. During my visit, Israel was experiencing a massive heatwave, and the temperature was approaching 110°F. According to my research, the record temperature on the banks of the Dead Sea was well over 110°F, and it definitely felt like it.
If you’re planning a Dead Sea day trip from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv in July or August, keep in mind that this is not going to be a cool, refreshing swim. You’ll want to plan your Dead Sea Israel travel guide around early morning or late afternoon if possible.
Dead Sea Water Temperature in July
So with the air temperature being 110°F, you would think that bathing in the Dead Sea would be extremely refreshing. That is not really true, as the Dead Sea water temperature was close to 100°F during my visit. I would compare the Dead Sea water temperature in July to the temperature of a hot tub or a warm bath.
What Floating in the Dead Sea Really Feels Like
So now I had arrived at the shoreline of the Dead Sea. I took off my sandals and stepped into the salty water. As I walked out into the shallow water of the Dead Sea, I struggled to keep my legs on the ground. My body wanted to float, so I decided to sit back and experience the strange sensation of floating in the Dead Sea.
The feeling is so surreal. It’s like lying in a bed of water. When I wanted to get my feet back on the ground to stand, I had to kick quite hard to get my feet through the dense salty water.
I spent about ten minutes floating in the Dead Sea. Between the air temperature and the water temperature, it was all my body could take. I really didn’t see any tourists stay in the water for more than ten to twenty minutes.
There were freshwater showers stationed throughout the beach. Those showers had cold water, and after cooling down, I was able to go back into the Dead Sea for an additional ten minutes.
The video below shows me floating in the Dead Sea. One of the younger members of our tour group helped film this video. He was about 12 years old and did a great job. If you are reading this, thanks for filming this video!
Is Floating in the Dead Sea Worth It? My Honest Opinion
So is it worth visiting the Dead Sea? In my opinion, yes—at least once. So what was it really like floating in the Dead Sea? Was floating in the Dead Sea worth the trip? Despite the hot temperature of the air and water, it was absolutely worth visiting the Dead Sea.
Visiting the Dead Sea had been on my bucket list for a long time, and although it wasn’t as refreshing as I expected, it was definitely a worthwhile experience. That being said, I am not sure that I would need to visit the Dead Sea again.
For those visiting Israel, I highly recommend visiting the Dead Sea. It doesn’t need to be a long visit. Our group had just two hours to spend at the Dead Sea, and everyone was ready to get back on the bus after about 90 minutes.
I hope this summary of my experience visiting the Dead Sea’s Kalia Beach helps encourage you to visit the Dead Sea and gives you some realistic tips for visiting the Dead Sea in summer.
Tours that Visit the Dead Sea
Below are various tour packages that visit the Dead Sea. Many of these packages are paired with other great sights such as Masada, making it easy to book a single Dead Sea and Masada tour from either city. Please note that I am an affiliate of Viator. If you purchase a tour using one of my links, I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no additional cost to you.
Dead Sea FAQ: Is It Worth Visiting the Dead Sea?
Is it worth visiting the Dead Sea?
Yes, it is absolutely worth visiting the Dead Sea at least once, especially if it’s on your bucket list. The experience of floating in the Dead Sea in such salty, dense water is unlike anything else, even if the conditions are hot and the beach isn’t tropical. If you’re asking yourself, “is it worth visiting the Dead Sea?”, my honest answer is yes—for the unique experience alone.
Is it worth visiting the Dead Sea in summer?
Visiting the Dead Sea in summer can be extremely hot, with air temperatures often near or above 100°F. However, if you plan your visit for early morning or late afternoon, wear proper footwear, and limit your time in the water, it can still be a memorable and worthwhile stop. Just don’t expect a refreshing dip; think of it more as a once-in-a-lifetime experience you check off the list.
Can you visit the Dead Sea on a day trip from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv?
Yes, you can easily visit the Dead Sea on a day trip from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. Kalia Beach is about a 45-minute drive from Jerusalem and around 90 minutes from Tel Aviv, making it a convenient stop on many organized tours. Booking a Dead Sea and Masada tour is one of the simplest ways to see both major sights in a single day.
How long should you stay at the Dead Sea?
You don’t need a full day at the Dead Sea for it to be worth the trip. On my visit, we had about two hours at Kalia Beach, and most people were ready to leave after 60–90 minutes because of the heat and salty water. That’s usually enough time to walk down to the shoreline, float in the Dead Sea, take photos, and rinse off in the freshwater showers.
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