By DeadSea.com Editorial
Last reviewed: September 2026
Wear secure swimwear, a light cover-up, a broad-brimmed hat and comfortable footwear for the beach approach. Pack sunscreen, sunglasses, a towel, drinking water and dry clothes. Water shoes can help at a rough access point, but they are not a universal rule. Follow the exact beach operator and lifeguard instructions.
Use the complete Dead Sea packing list for broader clothing, equipment, and trip decisions. Here, focus on body and bag.
What should you wear in the water?
Choose a swimsuit that stays secure when you lean back to float. A one-piece suit, swim shorts or another close-fitting option can all work. The best choice is the one that lets you move slowly without adjusting straps or loose fabric in the water.
You do not need a special mineral-proof swimsuit. There is no reliable basis for a blanket rule that Dead Sea water permanently stains light fabric or degrades every elastic. If you prefer not to expose a favourite suit to salt, sunscreen and repeated washing, packing an older one is a personal precaution rather than a scientific rule.
Bring a dry change of clothes. Rinse at the beach’s freshwater shower, dry off and change before a long drive or another attraction. The first-time visitor guide explains how to keep the float itself simple.
Pack eight core items for a Dead Sea beach visit: secure swimwear, a cover-up, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, a towel, drinking water, and dry clothes, then add footwear suited to the exact approach instead of following a universal water-shoe, swimsuit-colour, or water-volume rule. Keep the choice practical.
Do you need water shoes?
Wear comfortable sandals or shoes between the car, changing area and shoreline. Water shoes can be useful when the operator identifies rough ground, salt crystals or a hot walking surface. At a smooth managed entry, they may be unnecessary.
Stay on the marked route. A pair of thick soles does not protect against unstable shoreline ground, closed areas or sinkholes. Check the Dead Sea sinkhole guide before using exposed shoreline.
Ask the chosen beach whether footwear is recommended in the water and whether any section is slippery. Then follow the lifeguard’s entry instructions. The Dead Sea swimming rules take priority over a generic packing list.
What sun-protection clothing works best?
Use several forms of protection together. Israel’s Ministry of Health recommends shade, a hat, protective clothing, sunglasses and sunscreen rather than relying on sunscreen alone. A lightweight long-sleeved shirt or loose cover-up is useful before and after the float, especially when the walk between facilities and water is exposed.
Choose a broad-brimmed hat that shades the face, ears and neck. Use sunglasses that protect against UVA and UVB. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher according to its label and reapply as directed after swimming, sweating or towelling.
Current conditions decide. Check the live UV index and weather the day before you leave and again before an outdoor stop, because a permanent seasonal slogan cannot describe the exposure on your exact date. The Dead Sea weather guide and heat-safety guide cover those decisions separately.
Israel’s Ministry of Health recommends combining shade, protective clothing, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen, while its child sun-safety guidance specifies SPF 30 or higher rather than one universal SPF 50 rule for every visitor and situation. At the Dead Sea, use the product label and current UV conditions to guide reapplication.
What should stay out of the water?
Leave valuables in a secure locker or with a trusted person. Removing rings, watches and loose jewellery lowers the chance of losing them while changing, showering or floating. No rule says every metal will corrode.
Keep your phone and camera in a genuinely water-resistant case or away from the water. Never hold it over your face. A splash can reach your eyes and a dropped device can provoke a sudden movement.
Contact lenses require their own decision. Read the Dead Sea contact-lens guide before the trip. Fresh cuts, shaving irritation and broken skin can also make concentrated brine painful, so check the cuts and wounds guide rather than hiding discomfort under clothing.
Israel and Jordan clothing context
Ordinary swimwear is common at Israel resort beaches. Use a cover-up in shops, hotel corridors and shared public spaces, then follow any venue-specific dress rule.
At a Jordan resort or public beach, ask the exact operator about swimwear and modesty expectations before arrival. Keep the Jordan decision separate from Israel. A hotel pool, private resort beach and public beach may apply different rules, and a generic country statement cannot replace the operator’s current policy.
Complete Dead Sea clothing and beach-bag checklist
- Secure swimwear
- Light cover-up or loose long-sleeved shirt
- Broad-brimmed hat
- UVA and UVB protective sunglasses
- SPF 30 or higher broad-spectrum sunscreen
- Comfortable sandals or walking shoes
- Water shoes only when the chosen access point calls for them
- Towel
- Drinking water, with the amount adjusted to the day, traveler and heat conditions
- Dry underwear and clothes
- Water-resistant bag for wet items
- Any personal medication kept according to its storage instructions
Pack the bag before entering the water, especially when supervising children. The Ministry of Health advises having towels, sunscreen, hats and water within reach so an adult does not have to leave a child unattended. The children’s Dead Sea safety guide covers the full supervision decision.
Frequently asked questions
Should I wear an old swimsuit at the Dead Sea?
You can, but it is a personal precaution rather than a universal requirement. There is no reliable basis for a categorical claim that the water permanently stains light fabric or degrades every elastic. Choose secure, comfortable swimwear and rinse it according to the garment label after your visit.
Are water shoes essential at the Dead Sea?
No, they are not universally required. They can help on a rough, hot or crystal-covered approach when the operator recommends them. Wear suitable footwear from the car to the water, remain inside the marked route, and follow the exact beach and lifeguard instructions even if another path looks easier.
What sunscreen should I bring?
Bring broad-spectrum sunscreen rated SPF 30 or higher. Israel’s Ministry of Health advises combining sunscreen with shade, a hat, sunglasses and protective clothing. Reapply as the product directs after swimming, sweating or towelling instead of assuming one application lasts all day.
Can I wear jewellery in the Dead Sea?
Leave valuable or loose jewellery in a secure place before approaching the water, so it is not lost while you change, shower, walk, or float. Materials and finishes react differently to concentrated brine, so follow the maker’s care instructions and keep any important item dry.
What should I wear at a Jordan Dead Sea beach?
Wear the swimwear permitted by the exact resort or public beach and carry a cover-up for shared areas. Policies can differ among hotel pools, resort beaches, and public access. Confirm the operator’s current dress guidance rather than applying an Israel beach assumption to Jordan.
How much drinking water should I pack?
No single volume fits everyone. Bring accessible drinking water and adjust the amount to the forecast, travel time, age, health needs and length of outdoor activity. For an older adult, child, or person with a medical condition, use qualified health guidance that accounts for the forecast, travel time, activity length, and individual needs instead of relying on a generic two-litre rule.
