Tiberias Car Rental

On Israel's Mediterranean coast, Netanya is often overshadowed by nearby Tel Aviv. However, it's well worth taking the time to discover in its own right. This is a charming city, with great beaches and fascinating museums. The coast here was closed for a long time. Since it has opened up, it's become a delightful place to visit, with sandy beaches and the temperate, clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

One of the best beaches in the area is Poleg Beach, which is sandy and ideal for water sports. There's enough wind in the area that you can go surfing, but jet skis are also popular in the bay. If you're really up for an adventure, you can even try paragliding - but if you prefer something more sedate, don't worry. There are plenty of sun loungers on the sand, so you can just lie back and relax, enjoying the sunshine and the ocean views.

Poleg Beach is just the start. With a rental car in Netanya, you can also visit Blue Bay Beach, Onot Beach, Herzel Beach, Zanz Beach and more. With year-round sunshine and great weather, it's easy to see why Netanya is known as the Israeli Riviera! Most of the beaches have sports facilities, cafés and restaurants.

When you're finally tired of the beach, it's time to explore the city. Start with the iconic Netanya Square, with the massive independence monument. On a hot day, you can cool off beside this large fountain. Visit after dark to see it lit up, with a magical mixture of water and lights that's sure to impress. Wander the streets of downtown, where you'll find some of Israel's best cuisine. Netanya is a city of immigrants, so you can sample dishes from all over the world. As well as Middle Eastern favorites, you'll find all kinds of tasty treats. The recent wave of Eastern European migrants has created a unique fusion cuisine that you won't find anywhere else.

Use a rental car or van in Netanya to visit the stunning Alexander Stream Hof Bet Yanai National Park. This park is built around a river. It teems with freshwater fish, and it's in a picturesque location, with meadows bursting with wildflowers. Look out for the softshell turtles by the Turtle Bridge. They were once a common sight in Israeli rivers, and efforts are currently being made to increase their declining population. There are also some fascinating old Ottoman ruins in the park.

Netanya is most popular as a resort town. While it attracts visitors all year round, it is at its busiest in the summer months. You won't normally have much traffic to worry about, but there are more cars on the roads in peak season. If you drive into nearby Tel Aviv, then traffic can be a problem. Rush hour in Tel Aviv is notoriously difficult, with gridlocked streets being common. For a trip to Tel Aviv, plan your day carefully, so you can avoid driving between 7:00 am and 9:00 am and from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Remember that in Israel, the weekend is from Friday through Saturday, so Sunday mornings and Thursday evenings have particularly heavy traffic.

There is ample parking around Netanya. You will generally have to pay for a parking space, as free parking is usually limited to residents of the city. If you are visiting in the summer months, your best bet is to choose one of the underground parking lots. Summer in Netanya is incredibly hot, and leaving your car out in direct sunlight is not a good idea. You can usually pay for parking either at a meter or by using a phone app.

If you drive into Tel Aviv, be warned: you will likely be sharing the road with a huge number of e-bikes and electric scooters. The city has an excellent network of bike lanes, so cyclists are not a problem. However, these small electric vehicles are on the road. They often zig-zag through traffic, so make sure you keep an eye out for them. At times, they seem to come out of nowhere, so stay attentive.

When stopping for gas, be aware that most gas stations in Israel only have signs in Hebrew. If you can't read Hebrew, don't panic. English is widely spoken around the country, and there will almost always be someone at the gas station who can translate it for you. On the road, this is not a problem. Israel has multilingual road signs in Hebrew, Arabic and English, which makes navigating easier for visitors.

Netanya is in an area of Israel that is generally very safe. However, you may pass some police or military checkpoints from time to time, often on the outskirts of cities. Don't panic - this is perfectly normal in the region. The officers may ask you for your documentation but are unlikely to do anything else.