How to Visit the Dead Sea: The Essential Guide for First Time Visitors

The Dead Sea is a must visit for any one traveling to the region. However, it’s not always the easiest to get to. With a littler preparation though, you’ll know how to visit the Dead Sea and everything you need to plan your trip. Let’s get to it so you can hit the road, or should I say float the sea, as soon as possible? (Bad humor…. sorry, you can’t take me anywhere.)

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Table of Contents

About the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is a landlocked salt lake that is famous for having the lowest elevation on Earth at 423m below sea level (~1,380 feet below sea level). It is also the saltiest (or possibly the second saltiest) body of water in the world. The salinity was actually measured at 34.2% back in 2011. That’s about 9.6x saltier than the ocean! This makes it too salty for marine life to live in, which is how it got its name, the Dead Sea.

Why Visit the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is not only famous for being the lowest elevation on Earth, but also for its water and mud which are said to have healing properties. In fact, the salt and mud are harvested and sent all over the world for home remedies and beauty products.

Where is the Dead Sea located?

The Dead Sea sits in the Middle East between Israel, the West Bank in Palestine, and Jordan. As such, you can technically visit it from any of these areas.

How large is the Dead Sea?

You may be surprised to learn that the Dead Sea is not actually a sea but rather a lake. It is only about 60 km long and 8-12 km wide. This means you will be able to see across to the opposite shore in some locations. You’ll also likely be stunned to find that it sits in an extremely arid, desert-like area.

What is there to do at the Dead Sea?

Ultimately, you’re going to visit the Dead Sea for the experience of floating on one of the saltiest bodies of water, and maybe the fabulous spas! Water sports are not a thing on the Dead Sea, so if you want to spend a few days in the area, definitely book a resort with some activities, like a world-class spa.

How long do you need at the Dead Sea?

As noted above, there are limited activities to do at the Dead Sea, so you can easily visit it as a day trip. But, if you are looking to relax a bit more, spend a few nights at one of the resorts in the area.

The Dead Sea with hills in the background — The Stunning Colors of the Dead Sea

How to Get to the Dead Sea

There are a lot of nearby cities you can travel to the Dead Sea from, both in Israel and Jordan. You’ll want to evaluate your overall trip and determine where else you’ll be to decide the best way to get to the Dead Sea.

Visiting the Dead Sea from Israel

If you’re headed to Israel to check out Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, you can easily add on a side trip to the Dead Sea. Now a bit more about options to get there.

Self-Driving from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem

When driving from Jerusalem, you’ll arrive at the Dead Sea in about one hour. It will take closer to 1.5 hours from Tel Aviv. However, trying to find an access point to the shore of the Dead Sea can be a challenge, so I recommend planning out your destination before you head out.

Take the Bus from Jerusalem

Somewhat surprisingly, there is a bus option from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea. Head to the Jerusalem central bus station and catch Egged Bus 486 which will take you to the Dead Sea, Ein Gedi, and/or Masada. (Note there are no buses from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening due to Shabbat.) It will take about 1 hour to reach the public beach, 1.5 hours to reach Ein Gedi. There is also an option to take a bus to Ein Bokek, the resort area in Israel on the Dead Sea. This will take about 2 hours. Find the latest information on buses on the Egged website.

Let Someone Else Handle the Logistics with a Tour

Don’t want to worry about it? There are lots of tour options.

Getting to the Dead Sea from the Jordanian Side

The Dead Sea is an excellent addition to your Jordan bucket list of P e tra and Wadi Rum. Go for a day or spend a few days at one of the many resorts. After all, it’s only about an hour from Amman, the capital of Jordan.

Self Driving or Taxi from Amman

Amman is the best launching point to get to the Dead Sea in Jordan. It is only 37 miles and can be done by renting a car or jumping in a taxi. Taxis in Amman are easy to find and are typically yellow cabs with a licensed driver with a meter. You can also book them in advance from your hotel. Or, Uber is an option as well to book your trip.

Take the Bus from Amman

There are a number of bus and mini-bus options, and this is definitely cheaper than renting a car or taking a taxi. The JETT tourist bus does not run everyday, but they will take you from the 7th Circle bus station to Amman Beach. The other option is to take the minibuses from Muhajireen station in Amman to Rame. From Rame, you can take a taxi to your resort.

Make Your Trip Easy by Taking a Tour

Floating effortlessly in the Dead Sea — Floating in the Dead Sea

Where to Stay & How to Access the Coast

While you will be able to see the Dead Sea from the road, you will want to find an “access point” to get in the Dead Sea. It could be a resort, spa, or a public beach, all of which are plentiful across Israel and Jordan. Palestine, however, may prove a bit more challenging.

Here’s why you need to plan out where to stop, particularly if you are self-driving:

The Dead Sea sits a fair distance off the road. In the intense heat there, you do not want to be hiking to reach it.
There is no shade in most of the Dead Sea region and the sun feels like it is frying you alive. It was well over 100 Fahrenheit when I was there.
Once you get out of the water, a fresh water shower is really important to get the grease and salt off of your skin. Otherwise the salt will get on anything you touch, and it can erode and discolor items.
Sinkholes have been opening up recently, particularly along the norther side of the Dead Sea. In fact, over 5,500 sinkholes have emerged along the shoreline. Stay safe – use the beaches!

Finding a Hotel on the Dead Sea in Israel

In Israel, there are a number of options to choose from. From boutique hotels and spas to camping on the beach, you can make the trip your own by selecting what level of luxury you want.

Camp for Free: There are two stretches of Ein Bokek public beachfront where you can camp for free.
Budget Friendly Options: HI – Ein Gedi Hostel | Dead Sea Camping
Mid-range Hotels: Isrotel Ganim Hotel Dead Sea | Oasis Dead Sea Hotel
Luxury Hotels: Isrotel Dead Sea Hotel| Crowne Plaza Dead Sea Hotel

Determining Where to Stay on the Dead Sea in Jordan

The Jordanian coast of the Dead Sea offers a number of five-star resorts and is often host to conventions and corporate retreats in the area. While you may not find many budget friendly options like in Israel, you do have more affordable high end hotels. Here are some of your best options:

Mid-range Hotels: Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea | Crowne Plaza Jordan Dead Sea Resort & Spa
Luxury Hotels: Dead Sea Marriott Resort & Spa | Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea

My Trip’s Access Point & Experience at Ein Gedi Sea of Spa

As we were self-driving to the Dead Sea, we stopped at Ein Gedi Sea of Spa to access the Dead Sea. It has an indoor cosmetics store selling all kinds of Dead Sea products, a spa with 6 thermo-mineral water pools, a corner for the famous mud from the Dead Sea, a swimming pool, and more. My personal favorites were the free tractor rides out to the Dead Sea, some shade coverings in the Sea, and fresh water showers upon return to the main Spa building.

Upon arrival at Ein Gedi Sea of Spa, you can just jump on the shuttle to the seaside. We were very eager to get in the water and highly enjoyed the water, floating, and taking pictures. At the end of the day, they will give you a five minute warning for the last trailer back inland. From there, definitely hit the fresh water showers. It will feel amazing in the heat!

The pool at the Ein Gedi Sea of Spa in Israel — Ein Gedi Sea of Spa

Must Know Tips for Visiting the Dead Sea

Here are some tips for making your trip to the Dead Sea a success. Do not make some of the mistakes I made!

Being the lowest place on Earth, it is actually much harder to sunburn here, although sunscreen is still recommended due to the brutal Middle Eastern sun.
Due to the high salt content, it is super easy to float in the Dead Sea. There are actually precautions to only float on your back as trying to float on your stomach increase your chances of drowning as your legs and arms will be floating too high to turn over easily.
Do not put your head underwater! The salt will sting your eyes, nose, ears, etc. This includes being careful about scratching your eyes while in the water. Trust me… it burns.
Wear water shoes or sandals because the rough salty shore and bottom of the sea can cut your feet.
As the weather is pretty warm year round, the water is very hot. Think bath water. Be prepared!
Do not shave the day of or day before visiting. It will burn intensely from the high salt content. Same if you have an open wound. It will sting.
Remove jewelry prior to entering the water. The high salt content will tarnish most surfaces, although it can be shined afterwards.
The water has an almost greasy feel to it and even after you get out, your skin will be slick and salty from the water. Definitely shower in fresh water as soon as you can.

A sign showing the Lowest Place on Earth — Lowest Place on Earth

Find Additional Resources for Nearby Cities and Sites

Now that you know how to visit the Dead Sea, it’s time to tackle your trip at a higher level. Where else do you want to go? Here are some posts to help you decide:

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How to Visit the Dead Sea: The Essential Guide for First Time Visitors