Stand on the ridge at Givat Yonah and the whole city arranges itself below you: the port to the north, the Lachish river winding west to the sea, and the Mediterranean running unbroken along the western edge. It is the highest point in Ashdod, and the lighthouse on top makes it easy to find your bearings before you set out.
Ashdod suits travellers who want a coastal city without a resort atmosphere. The beach strip is long and rarely crowded, the museums are small enough to see properly in an afternoon, and the ancient sites sit at the edges of the modern town rather than in the middle of it. This guide covers the sights and experiences worth your time, followed by a plan for a single day.
Top things to do in Ashdod
1. The beach
Ashdod's coast runs for roughly 8 km, with several public beaches and a marina that is open to the public. Because the strip is long relative to the number of people using it, it stays calm and uncrowded, and it is a good place for a quiet day rather than a busy one.
Combine a beach visit with the Musical Fountain in the Ashdod Sea Park close to the beach, which runs its sound and light show in the evening. Note that it does not operate on Friday night or when there is rain.
2. Givat Yonah (Jonah's Hill)
Named after the prophet Jonah, who is believed to be buried here, this is the highest point of the city at around 150 m above sea level, with the city lighthouse on top. The elevation gives you the clearest view of Ashdod and the coastline.
Bus lines 2, 3, 5 and 11 serve the hill. Go for the view and the lighthouse, and pair it with Lachish Park, which lies along the river below.
3. Lachish Park
This park follows the southern bank of the Lachish river, which reaches the Mediterranean Sea here. Alongside the usual park facilities it has a small zoo, and it is a popular spot for birdwatchers.
Bus lines 2, 3, 5 and 11 stop here. Bring binoculars if birds are your interest, and allow time for the zoo as well as the riverside walk.
4. Ashdod Yam ruins
The ancient port of Ashdod stood here, while the ancient city itself lay further inland. You can see a large fortress several metres from the coastline, built in the 7th century and used until 1260.
The fortress is impressive to see but is fenced off, so you cannot enter it. Bus lines 2 and 23 serve the site. Plan your visit around viewing and photographing the structure from outside rather than exploring inside.
5. Ashdod Museum of Art
Located at 8 Derech Eretz in the CBD Quarter, the museum sits in the MonArt center and holds 13 exhibition halls. In an architectural echo of the Louvre, you enter through a glass pyramid.
It opens Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 9AM-4PM, Tuesday 9AM-8PM, and Friday 10:30AM-1:30PM. The Tuesday evening opening makes it a good late-afternoon stop, and the MonArt centre itself hosts art schools, studios and events if you want to extend the visit.
6. Corinne Mamane Museum of Philistine Culture
The ancient Philistine people had a culture of their own, and this museum is where you see it. Ashdod was one of the five main Philistine cities in the Biblical period, which makes the subject a natural fit for the city.
It is at Ha-Shayatim St 16, served by bus lines 2, 9, 11, 29 and 33. Pair it with the Ashdod Yam ruins if you want the archaeological side of the same story in the same day.
7. Musical Fountain
This fountain in the Ashdod Sea Park, close to the beach, was inspired by the Magic Fountain in Barcelona and puts on a sound and light show several times each evening.
Summer times are Sunday to Thursday 8:30AM, 9:30AM and 10:15AM, and Saturday 9AM and 10AM; winter times are Sunday to Thursday 6:30AM and 8:30AM, and Saturday 8:30AM and 9:30AM. It does not run on Friday night or when there is rain, so check the weather before you build an evening around it.
8. Ashdod Sand Dune
The only surviving sand dunes in central Israel lie in the national reserve between southeast Ashdod and Highway 4, the road to Tel Aviv. The largest dune is about 35 m high and 250 m long, and the reserve preserves wildlife, mostly deer, rabbits, birds and jackals.
Entrance is free. It is near the Ashdod Ad Halom Railway Station, or reachable by bus line 21 to the western areas of the dunes. Go early or late in the day when the animals are more likely to be active.
9. Ad Halom Memorial Park
This park in east Ashdod, near the southern entrance to the city by road 4, marks the northernmost point the Egyptian army reached during the 1948 Israel Independence War before being forced to retreat by Israeli forces. It holds memorials, including one to fallen Egyptian soldiers erected after a peace treaty with Egypt was signed, the old bridge around which the battle was fought, and military relics from the battle.
Its position near the southern entrance makes it a convenient stop on the way into or out of the city. Allow time to read the memorials rather than treating it as a quick photo stop.
10. Israeli Andalusian Orchestra
This award-winning, internationally known orchestra performs music originating in Andalusia in southern Spain, a blend of Western and Arabic music. It is a chance to hear a repertoire you are unlikely to encounter at home.
Check what is on during your stay and build an evening around it, since performances are the point rather than a standing attraction.
11. Shayit Ashdod
This operator at the Ashdod marina runs glass-bottomed boat rides, with instruction and explanation for classes and parties, and speed-boating for smaller groups in which you drive the boat.
Reservations are required, and it is at Egoz 27. Combine it with a walk around the marina and the beach, which are accessible to the public.
12. Buffalo Farm
The farm is in Bizron village, about 6 km east of Ashdod. It is a change of scene from the coast and the museums.
Horse riding and 4X4 rental are available in the area, and the city marina provides yacht and cruise services if you would rather stay on the water. Treat the farm as a half-day outing rather than a quick stop.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Givat Yonah for the view over the city and the lighthouse, then walk or take the bus down to Lachish Park to follow the river bank and look in on the small zoo. If you are up early and the weather is clear, the Musical Fountain runs morning shows in both summer and winter.
Afternoon: Head to the beach for a swim and a stretch of the coast, then visit the Ashdod Museum of Art in the CBD Quarter; Tuesday gives you the latest opening, until 8PM. If you have time left, the Corinne Mamane Museum of Philistine Culture at Ha-Shayatim St 16 fills in the city's ancient side.
Evening: Return to the Ashdod Sea Park for the Musical Fountain's evening sound and light show, which does not run on Friday night or in rain. If the Israeli Andalusian Orchestra is performing, that makes a strong alternative close to the end of the day.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get around Ashdod's sights without a car?
Several of the main sites are on bus routes. Bus lines 2, 3, 5 and 11 serve Givat Yonah and Lachish Park; bus lines 2 and 23 serve the Ashdod Yam ruins; bus lines 2, 9, 11, 29 and 33 serve the Corinne Mamane Museum of Philistine Culture; and bus line 21 reaches the western areas of the Ashdod Sand Dune.
Can I go inside the fortress at the Ashdod Yam ruins?
No. The fortress is impressive to see, but it is fenced off and you cannot enter it.
When does the Musical Fountain run?
In summer it runs Sunday to Thursday at 8:30AM, 9:30AM and 10:15AM, and Saturday at 9AM and 10AM. In winter it runs Sunday to Thursday at 6:30AM and 8:30AM, and Saturday at 8:30AM and 9:30AM. It does not operate on Friday night or when there is rain.
Do I need to book the boat trips at the marina?
Yes. Shayit Ashdod requires reservations, and it is located in the Ashdod marina at Egoz 27.
Pick the days that fit your trip, check the fountain and museum times against them, and start planning your time in Ashdod.