Beer Sheva

Ashdod, among Israel's prettiest cities, has been blessed with an amazing natural resource - a blue sea bordering the city's golden shores, covering ~10 km, from the Lakhish Stream estuary in the north to the city's southern Riviera. There are seven bathing beaches along this amazing shore with clear water, all sophisticated and branded as Israel's golden beaches. Two of the beaches, Lido and Yod Aleph, already proudly bear the international Blue Flag standard and the other five beaches: Mei Ami, Oranim, HaKshatot, the segregated beach and Tet Vav - will be joining them this year.

As a tourist destination, Ashdod is planning a large-scale tourist venture - the boardwalk, for which planning has been completed and which is now entering the execution phase. The boardwalk will combine the well-kept shores with centers of leisure and entertainment, playgrounds and fitness accessories, a sophisticated sports section, hotels and green parks, taking full advantage of its promising potential for developing its tourism at an international scale.

During the bathing season, hundreds of thousands visit Ashdod's golden shores and it provides its visitors high quality beach services, including handicapped access, available transportation and plenty of (free) parking space.

Following are the five beaches that were granted the international Blue Flag standard this year: Riviera Beach

The southernmost beach along the shore, located in an area that will become a center of hotels and leisure activities. A new hotel is being built nearby (Crowne Plaza) and the opening is scheduled for this summer. Nearby, is the Eye of the Sun Square, the second largest square in Israel, encompassing Sculptor Moshe Mizrachi's monumental piece: a hug sun floating on a bed of shiny marble, surrounded by an expansive lawn. Riviera Beach is a spacious beach, suitable for families and youngsters and, in the evening, for romantic couples.

At the beach: a rescue station equipped with a jet ski, first aid services, restrooms, showers, water taps, playground equipment for children and fitness equipment, shady shelters, a huge parking lot with handicapped parking. The beach is handicapped friendly.

All of these beaches provide convenient access with all means of transportation: public transportation, taxis and private vehicles. There is a great deal of free parking and most sites offer bike paths and bike parking facilities. The short distance between the residential area also allows pedestrian access, enabling a combination of athletic walking and swimming.