Netanya beaches: which one is right for you

Netanya has more than ten kilometres of Mediterranean coastline, and almost all of it sits below a sandstone cliff. That one fact explains the city: the promenade, the cafés and the apartments are on top, the sand is below, and every beach has its own way down — stairs, a ramp or a lift. Here is how the beaches differ and who each one suits, from the host who walks them every week.

How is Netanya's coast laid out?

Netanya's beaches run north to south along one cliff. In order: the Kiryat Sanz separate beach in the north, then the quieter Blue Bay and Argaman stretch, then the central pair below Kikar HaAtzmaut — Herzl and Sironit — and finally, past a long run of undeveloped cliff, Poleg beach beside Ir Yamim and the Poleg nature reserve. The cliff-top promenade links the centre to the north on foot.

That geography decides your day more than the sand does. The centre is walkable and busy; the south has parking at beach level and space; the north is quiet and, at Kiryat Sanz, separate. Two breakwaters facing the central beaches — the city's most photographed landmark — are what make Sironit calm enough for toddlers.

Which Netanya beach is best for small children?

Sironit, the beach directly below Kikar HaAtzmaut. Breakwaters hold the water inside them calm and shallow — Russian-language guides describe it as “flat bottom, no waves” — and it is the only central beach reachable without stairs: a public glass lift descends from the promenade straight to the sand, and a road leads down to a parking lot at beach level. Kiosks, showers, toilets and umbrella rental make a full day easy.

Who it suits: parents with toddlers, grandparents, anyone with a stroller or limited mobility, and guests without a car. Who it does not suit: surfers and anyone who wants an empty beach — in July and August it is busy by late morning. The lift runs during beach hours and generally not on Shabbat; check the current schedule on the sign at the top.

Which beach is closest to Kikar HaAtzmaut?

Herzl beach lies directly below Kikar HaAtzmaut at the foot of Herzl Street, a few minutes along the sand from Sironit. It is the lively one: wide sand, lifeguard towers in season, kiosks and beach restaurants, music on summer afternoons and the promenade with its cafés right above. Access is by stairs and ramps from the promenade — fine for most people, less fun with a stroller.

Who it suits: teenagers and adults, couples, and anyone staying around Kikar HaAtzmaut who wants to be on the sand in five minutes and back at a café in six. It is also the beach you reach on foot on Shabbat, when the lift down to Sironit does not run.

Where do surfers go in Netanya?

Poleg beach, in the south of the city beside the Ir Yamim towers and just north of the Poleg stream and nature reserve. It has no breakwaters, so it gets real Mediterranean waves, and it is wide enough that even in August you can find space. There is a parking lot at beach level, a lifeguard station in season and very little natural shade — bring an umbrella.

Who it suits: surfers, teenagers, families with a car, and anyone staying in the south of the city. The reserve behind it, where the stream runs through dunes to the sea, makes a good morning walk before the heat. Our Park & Sea Tower apartment is about seven minutes on foot from the nearest beach on this southern stretch and about ten from the Winter Pond reserve.

Is there a separate beach for religious bathers in Netanya?

Yes — the beach below Kiryat Sanz in the north of the city operates separate bathing, with men and women swimming on different days or hours. The schedule is posted at the entrance and changes by season, so check it before you go down. Modest dress is expected, there is a lifeguard in season, it is reached by stairs down the cliff, and it is not used for bathing on Shabbat.

Kiryat Sanz: who the separate beach suits

Religious and Haredi families, and anyone staying near Laniado Hospital who wants a swim without the city-centre scene. The atmosphere is that of the neighbourhood above it: quiet, unhurried, no music from kiosks. Shade is limited, so bring an umbrella, and note that it is a genuine walk from Kikar HaAtzmaut rather than a stroll along the promenade.

Argaman and Blue Bay: quieter sand north of the centre

Between the centre and Kiryat Sanz the coast runs past the Blue Bay and Argaman beaches — wider, quieter and reached by stairs and ramps from the cliff-top paths and the hotel zone. They are the beaches for a long walk at the water's edge, an early swim, or simply fewer people than Herzl on a summer Friday. Lifeguard cover and kiosks here are seasonal, so check what is open before you settle in for the day.

When is it safe to swim on Netanya's beaches?

Swim only where a lifeguard is on duty and inside the marked area. The lifeguard season on Netanya's beaches runs roughly from April to October, with towers staffed during the day; exact dates and hours are set each year and posted at each beach. Outside those hours, or on any beach with no lifeguard, do not go in — the currents near the breakwaters are strong.

• Flags: white means calm, red means swim with care near the tower, black means swimming is forbidden.
• Shade: the central beaches rent umbrellas and sunbeds in season; Poleg and the northern beaches have little natural shade. In summer go before 11:00 or after 16:00.
• Jellyfish: swarms pass along the Israeli coast in July and August. Ask the lifeguard or look at the water before the children run in.
• Shabbat: the beaches stay open, but the Sironit lift generally stops, kiosks on the central stretch close, and parking follows the usual street rules. From our central apartments you reach Herzl and Sironit on foot via the promenade stairs and ramps.
• Parking: Poleg and Sironit have lots at beach level in season; around the centre it is blue-and-white paid street parking, paid through the Pango or Cellopark app.

Netanya beach questions