Alma
Best for. Families who want a relaxed early swim or an atmospheric sunset rather than a fully serviced day, on a quieter southern beach with the clearest view of old Jaffa and the Friday drum circle.
Best spot. The open sand facing Jaffa in the late afternoon, with a blanket and your own picnic, which is when Alma is at its best for an easy family evening.
Know this. Alma has minimal facilities and limited lifeguard cover, and the sea is open. For a serviced day go to Charles Clore or the central beaches, and for the calmest toddler water head north to Metzitzim and Tel Baruch.
Alma is the southern beach you come to for the feeling rather than the facilities. It sits by the old Dolphinarium where the Tel Aviv front begins to turn towards Jaffa, and it has a relaxed, bohemian character that the groomed central beaches do not. The sand is soft and the crowd is easy, people read, play backgammon and watch the sea, and the view of old Jaffa rising to the south is the clearest on the coast. For a family, the honest appeal is an atmospheric evening or a quiet early swim, not a fully kitted out beach day, and it helps to arrive understanding that.
The honest read is that Alma trades amenities for atmosphere. It has minimal facilities, few or no concessions and limited lifeguard cover compared with the main municipal beaches, so a family needs to bring its own shade, water and snacks and judge the sea carefully, since the open Mediterranean here has no sheltered cove or shallow lagoon. That makes it the wrong choice for a long day with toddlers who need calm water and a tower close by. Where it shines is the late afternoon. Every Friday towards sunset, musicians gather on the sand to drum and welcome the weekend, a warm, mixed crowd of all ages who dance and watch the light fade over Jaffa, and anyone is welcome to join. For older children it is a lovely thing to witness. Keep little ones within reach and read any flags before a swim, since conditions here are typical and never guaranteed and we make no promise about swimming safety.
So treat Alma as the sunset and morning beach, the atmospheric stop rather than the base for the day. Bring a blanket and a picnic for the evening, time a visit for a Friday if you want the drummers and the energy, and come early if you only want a calm, quiet swim before the beach wakes up. When you need facilities and grass for the children, the neighbouring Charles Clore beach has the park and the play area, the central beaches around Jerusalem and Gordon have lifeguards and kiosks, and the sheltered Metzitzim and Tel Baruch beaches in the north have the calmest, shallowest water for the youngest. Any future facility or price is set locally and is to be confirmed.
A natural beach with little on the sand
Alma is a relaxed, minimal beach with few concessions, leaning on the atmosphere, the sunset and the neighbouring Charles Clore park rather than a row of clubs. Names, opening and prices change by season, so we describe what is typically there and mark the rest to be confirmed. See the Tel Aviv beach clubs guide for the full run.
Photo: Simon Stevens via GoogleAlma beach and the Jaffa sunset
Alma keeps its character by staying simple, with open sand, a bohemian crowd and the best view of old Jaffa on the coast, rather than a dense run of beach concessions. The Friday drummers gather here towards sunset, and the neighbouring Charles Clore park has the lawns, play area and the Manta Ray restaurant for the parts of the day that need more. It is a place for the atmosphere and the light, so bring your own kit and treat any future concession or price as to be confirmed.
By the old Dolphinarium towards Jaffa
Alma sits in the south of the Tel Aviv front by the old Dolphinarium where the coast turns towards Jaffa, reachable on foot along the promenade, by bus, taxi or a short ride. The promenade behind the beach is level, which suits a pushchair and a cool bag, and there is parking near the neighbouring Charles Clore park, though it fills through the middle of a summer day and on the weekend, so arrive early or plan for the evening.
Facilities at Alma are minimal, so bring your own shade, water and snacks, and use the Charles Clore park next door for toilets, lawns and a play area. Read any flags and judge the sea yourself since lifeguard cover is limited and to be confirmed, time a Friday afternoon for the drummers and the sunset over Jaffa, and if you want the calmest shallow water in the city pair the trip with the sheltered Metzitzim or Tel Baruch beaches in the north.
Photo: Simon Stevens via GoogleBook a beach club
Tell us your dates and party size and we can arrange a sunbed at an organised Tel Aviv beach to match your day, from a quiet southern swim to a relaxed sunset near Jaffa. We reply by email.
We are an independent editorial resource. Booking requests are passed to clubs and operators, and some may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices, availability and opening status are set by the venue and are to be confirmed at the time of booking.
Common questions about Alma
Is Alma beach good for families?
Alma works best for families as a relaxed sunset or early swim stop rather than a full equipped beach day. It is a quieter southern beach by the old Dolphinarium with minimal facilities, a bohemian feel and the best view of Jaffa, so it suits a calm morning swim or an evening on the sand. The sea is open with no shallow lagoon, so keep little ones close and read the flags, since conditions are typical and never guaranteed. For a fully serviced family day, the northern beaches are easier.
What is the Friday drum circle at Alma beach?
Every Friday afternoon towards sunset, musicians gather on the sand near the old Dolphinarium to drum and welcome the weekend, a tradition that has run for years. It draws a warm, mixed crowd who dance, sing and watch the sun drop over the sea, and anyone is welcome to join. It is a lovely thing for older children to see, though it is busy and lively, so it suits a family outing more than a quiet swim with toddlers.
Does Alma beach have lifeguards and facilities?
Alma has minimal amenities compared with the central and northern beaches, with a more natural, unspoilt feel. Lifeguard cover and facilities are limited and to be confirmed, so families should bring their own shade, water and snacks and not expect kiosks and rentals on the spot. Always read any flags and judge the sea yourself, since cover here is not guaranteed in the way it is on the main municipal beaches.
Why is Alma beach good for sunset?
Alma has the clearest view of old Jaffa rising to the south, so the sun sets over the sea with the silhouette of the old city alongside, which makes it one of the most atmospheric sunset spots on the Tel Aviv coast. Add the Friday drummers and the relaxed crowd and it becomes a genuine occasion. Bring a blanket and something to eat and treat it as an evening outing rather than a swimming day.
Where should families go near Alma for a serviced beach?
For a fully serviced family day near Alma, the neighbouring Charles Clore beach has the park, lawns and a play area, while the central beaches around Jerusalem and Gordon have lifeguards, kiosks and rentals. For the calmest, shallowest water for toddlers, head north to the sheltered Metzitzim and Tel Baruch beaches. Keep Alma for the sunset, the morning swim and the atmosphere.
