Top 15 Things To Do In Ashdod, Israel

Things to do in Ashdod
Hemasudha
Hemasudha 
Updated
| 6 min read

Perfectly nestled between Tel Aviv and Gaza, Ashdod is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in Israel. This captivating city is renowned as the largest port in heavenly Israel. If you wish to experience serenity in this city, you can visit the public beaches and the marina which is mostly not very crowded. You can also stay in hotels or Airbnb vacation rentals available in the area. With 13 exhibition halls, Ashdod Museum of Art is a wonderful spot for art lovers visiting this quaint city. To enjoy the panoramic views of the city, visit the highest hill, Givat Yonah, and get stunned by its magnificence. There is a long list of things to do in Ashdod, Israel. Below is a list of the top things to see and do in this coastal city.

1. Spend a day at Ashdod Yam Park

fountain singing ashdod yam park
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user שמוליק ש. used under CC BY 2.5

Ashdod Yam Park is a well-designed park to ensure perfect family fun. There is a man-made pond to enjoy boating. The paved trails enable visitors to admire the scenic green areas of the park while walking. The playground, with swings, ropes, and other amusing equipment, can make any kid jump with joy. Basketball, football courts, and a skating rink are also available in the park. You can relax by the fountain in the evening. Due to the park’s location near the beach, one can marvel at the breathtaking views of the beach and sunset easily.

Ashdod Yam Park

Address: Moshe Dayan Boulevard, Ashdod, Israel

Opening hours: 6am - 11pm (daily)

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2. Check out the Eye of the Sun

עין השמש
Source: Photo by user Motti Mizrachi used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Eye of the Sun is a majestic sculpture designed by famous multimedia artist, Motti Mizrachi. It is portrayed as the sun during the day and becomes a LED panel with attractive colors at night. It changes its colors to yellow, blue, pink, green/red, pink/blue and so on to make wonderful patterns. The LED lighting show is a visual treat for the visitors. You can marvel at this masterpiece when driving by the beach. Click on some photos with this unique sculpture and create colorful memories on your visit to Ashdod.

Eye of the Sun

Address: 3 Har Gilbo'a, Ashdod 7772003, Israel

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

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3. View the city from the top of Givat Yonah

Israel, Ashdod, Giv'at-Yona. אשדוד - panoramio
Source: Photo by user ‫יודקה yudkey‬‎ used under CC BY 3.0

Givat Yonah is the highest point in Ashdod. It is located on the north-west part of Ashdod city with sights of Lachish River and Ashdod port. The hill offers an astounding, 360-degree view of the entire city. You can witness the panoramic views of the port, Ashdod city, majestic mountains near Jerusalem, and the high-rise buildings of Ashkelon right from the top of the hill. There is a huge lighthouse on the hill. You can enjoy picnicking in this amazing location.

Givat Yonah

Address: Ashdod, Israel

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4. Watch the sunset at Gil Beach

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Gil Beach is a beautiful beach near Beer Sheva Beach. The beach water is pure and includes plenty of safety features. You can find four lifeguards on duty all the time for the safety of the visitors. The beach includes two boats to explore the splendors of the area. For physically challenged visitors, there is a handicap-access path. There is a shelter, four outdoor showerheads, bathrooms, drinking fountains, and playground for the convenience of the visitors. It is recommended to visit by evening in order to enjoy the stupendous views of the sunset.

Gil Beach

Address: Ashdod, Israel

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

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5. Visit Ashdod Citadel

Ashdod yam citadel
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user אבישי טייכר used under CC BY 2.5

Ashdod Citadel is one of the prominent archeological sites in Ashdod city. The ruins are located exactly in the eastern part of the city near the Arab Village. During the Bronze Age period, there were eight towers in the fortress. Later, the fortress was conquered by Mameluke in the 13th century and destroyed its magnificent structure. Now, the Citadel stands as an abandoned archeological site. Once you pass through the ruins, you can admire the stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea. Many visitors enjoy picnicking in this area due to the serene atmosphere. It is a unique attraction in Ashdod which has to be photographed for keepsake.

Ashdod Citadel

Address: Sderot Moshe Dayan - Kikar HaShalom, Ashdod, Israel

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6. Museum of Philistine Culture

Philistine Culture Museum
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user FireSky used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Museum of Philistine Culture is one of the famous historical attractions in Ashdod. The museum showcases the culture of the Philistines once lived in the area. It is renowned as the only museum in the world dedicated solely to Philistine culture. Also, the museum is the first museum of Ashdod city which was opened in 1990. It is a three-level museum with artifacts displaying Philistine culture on the first level; the second level is for the temporary exhibits which change regularly; the third level showcases food history of the Aegean Sea through the exhibits of ‘Philistines Kitchen.’

Museum of Philistine Culture

Address: Ha-Shayatim St 16, Ashdod, Israel

Website: Museum of Philistine Culture

Opening hours: Tue - Thu & Sun: 9am - 4pm; Mon: 9am - 8pm; Fri & Sat: 10.30am - 1.30pm

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7. Relax on Metzuda Beach

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Metzuda Beach is an isolated beach in Ashdod city, packed with pristine beauty. Due to its secluded nature, visitors can enjoy the virgin beauty of this beach without much of a crowd. There are ruins of an ancient fortress on the beach, which is worth a visit. You can explore the fortress if you are a hard-core history buff. You can walk, jog, or take a long walk in the beautiful sands of the beach. The mesmerizing sunset views should not be missed during the visit.

Metzuda Beach

Address: Ashdod, Israel

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8. Take your kids to Etgarim Lakhish Park

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Etgarim Lakhish Park is a lovely park located along the Lakhish River. The park is popular among children and young people due to the presence of amusing activities. There are bumper cars, inflatables, a trampoline, and a play area to entertain your kids. There is a pool to take a cool dip and refresh. There is also a mini petting zoo in the park which exhibits kingfisher, turtles, deer, zebra, ostriches, and so on.

Etgarim Lakhish Park

Address: Ashdod, Israel

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9. Shop till you drop at The Big Fashion Mall

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

The Big Fashion Mall is an amazing open-air mall offering luxury shopping and entertainment options. An array of popular fashion brands and lavish restaurants are available in the mall to offer the best shopping experience. Some of the fashion brands to check out in the mall are Forever21, Urbanica, H&M, MAC, Mango, and Swarovski. The mall covers over 2.6 hectares (6.4 acres) and includes the finest selection of shopping, dining, and recreation. It is located close to Ad Halom train station which enables easy transportation.

The Big Fashion Mall

Address: Derech HaRakevet 1, Ashdod, Israel

Website: The Big Fashion Mall

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 9.30am - 9.30pm; Fri: 9am - 2.30pm; Sat: 10am - 11pm

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10. Visit the Ashdod Museum of Art

Ashdod Art Museum
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Talmoryair used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Ashdod Museum of Art is located in the heart of Ashdod close to the marina. You can witness the Israeli and international modern art in the 12 galleries of the museum. There is a pyramidal venue which conducts interesting events regularly. The famous Mishbetzet gallery exhibits authentic works of Israeli artists related to children’s education. The Green Submarine gallery includes displays made from recycled materials and it is devoted to the environment. There is an underground vault in the museum to protect the artifacts even during the rocket attacks. The vault was used earlier to safeguard the works of Israeli artist Tsibi Geva during the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict.

Ashdod Museum of Art

Address: Derech Erets 8, Ashdod, Israel

Website: Ashdod Museum of Art

Opening hours: Sun, Mon, Wed & Thu: 9am - 4pm; Tue: 9am - 8pm; Fri & Sat: 10.30am - 1.30pm

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11. Indulge in water sports at Ashdod Marina

Ashdod Marina (Israel)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Seascape2018 used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Also known as the Blue Marina, ‘Ashdod Marina’ is a gorgeous attraction in Ashdod. The marina is a popular spot for enjoying exciting sea sports. You can find sailing, surfing, and diving schools on the site to indulge in water sports. There are plenty of boats to explore the sea. You can stroll along the marina in the promenade and relish local food from the eateries in the surrounding area.

Ashdod Marina

Address: Ashdod, Israel

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12. Spend a day at Lido Beach

Lido Beach
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user VisitSarasota used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Lido Beach is a quaint, white beach in Ashdod. Surfing boards and stand up paddleboards are available for rent on the beach. On every Wednesday, you can shop in the clothes and farmers market at an affordable price. Plenty of restaurants, cafes, and bars are located in close vicinity to the beach. The beach is also a famous spot for striking sunset views.

Lido Beach

Address: Ashdod, Israel

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13. Enjoy Mediterranean food at Pescado

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Posted by Pescado Fish Restaurant on Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Pescado is a chic Mediterranean restaurant located near the Ashdod port area. Due to its close proximity to the port, the restaurant serves locally sourced, fresh seafood to its guests. Bass baked in tomato confit, carpaccio and amberjack sashimi on avocado are the signature dishes of the restaurant. Vegetable starters like raw tahini, eggplant crusted in panko crumbs, and many more are also served here.

Pescado

Address: Martin Buber St 1, Ashdod, Israel

Website: Pescado

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 12pm - 12am; Sat: 7pm - 12am (closed on Fri)

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14. Try some karaoke at Beat Ashdod

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

תשובות‼ ?? ?? כמה פעמים הלוגו שלנו מסתתר בחדר הסמבה 7 פעמים - לוגו BEAT! תודה לכל המשתתפים האלופים ביט קריוקי היהלומים 19, אשדוד

Posted by ‎ביט קריוקי - חדרים פרטיים - Beat Karaoke‎ on Saturday, December 26, 2020

Karaoke rooms - Beat Ashdod, is a popular karaoke bar in Ashdod. There are five karaoke rooms dedicated to diverse music genres such as rock, pop, disco, jazz, samba, and reggae. The disco room is designed with a mirror ball; the rock room is equipped with drums; the pop room’s decor showcases a tribute to Gorillaz. The capacity of the rooms ranges from 6 to 40 guests. At the max, four microphones are available in each room.

Karaoke rooms - Beat Ashdod

Address: HaYahalomim St 19, Ashdod, Israel

Website: Karaoke rooms - Beat Ashdod

Opening hours: Sat - Tue: 5pm - 2am; Wed - Fri: 5pm - 3.30am

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15. Enjoy live music at Lorence Bar

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Posted by Lorence Bar on Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Lorence Bar is the best place to hang out and enjoy the nightlife in Ashdod. The DJ nights are packed with rocking music and an energetic dance scene. The upscale decor and attractive lighting elevate the mood of the guests. The uplifting ambiance of the bar can ensure the ultimate fun and excitement. You can find a wide array of local and international drinks at the bar along with delectable food options.

Enjoy the live music at Lorence Bar

Address: HaBana'im St 12, Ashdod, Israel

Website: Lorence Bar

Opening hours: Thu - Sat: 10.30pm - 4am; (closed on Sun -Wed)

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Ashdod: a perfect blend of history and nature

Ashdod is an ancient, port city known for its historical greatness. Whether you want to have some beach fun, join a tour, or explore the archeological sites, the city will take you to the right destination and ensure maximum contentment. Browse through our recommended list of things to do in Ashdod and plan your itinerary.

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Hemasudha is a dedicated travel writer whose true passion lies in exploring the world. Traveling, for her, is not just a hobby but a profound spiritual experience that she is deeply passionate...Read more

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