Apolonia (Herzliya Pituach)
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Swell
- Spot Type
- Busy
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Apolonia is an exposed sandbar surf break in the Herzliya Pituach area, set under dramatic sandstone cliffs and within the Apollonia National Park zone. The break is described as visually striking and scenic, but the waves are also frequently characterized as unreliable, with conditions depending heavily on sandbar formation. Surf typically works best in winter when northwest swells are present. East winds are generally described as favorable because they can act offshore, improving face cleanliness and grooming the swell into more rideable waves. The spot can produce both lefts and rights, and it functions across all tide stages. Wave quality varies: it may range from poor/unreliable to average, with ride opportunities often short to medium and described as punchy. As swell and wind intensify, conditions can become messier—especially if winds shift—so it’s important to be selective and responsive to real-time conditions. Safety considerations are a priority at Apolonia. There are submerged rocks/archaeological ruins and cliff-base debris, along with possible moderate rip currents near the rocks. Access and water safety may also be affected during heavy storms due to erosion; riders are advised to respect the national park boundaries and restricted swim zones, and to check the water for hazards before paddling out.
- Winter northwest swells with offshore east winds are the core recipe
- Sandbar break with multiple peaks and lefts/rights
- All-tides functionality (conditions still vary by sandbar)
- Exposed sandbar break that can work across all tides
- East winds can act offshore and help groom faces
- Produces both lefts and rights
- Best in winter with northwest swells
- Waves can be unreliable
- Poor to average wave quality depending on conditions
- Significant hazards in the water (rocks/ruins) and rip-current risk
- Wind reliability is described as low; cliffs can create turbulence/wind shadow
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E
- Offshore directions
- E
- Wind Type
- Gradient — East winds described as prevailing/best for the spot; also characterized as gradient wind in seasonal/spot notes.
- Reliability
- low
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts
- Best Months
- October, November, December, January, February, March
- Shadow Zones
- Significant wind shadow and turbulence caused by the 30-meter high cliffs.
- Thermal Window
- Other · Winter notes mention light morning offshore breezes in addition to the general offshore shaping effect of east winds; summer thermal pattern for the wider coast is not directly applied to this winter-focused spot wind regime.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell
- Beach
- Sand
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — Also described as medium in other spot notes; overall spot conditions are often small-to-medium and sandbar-dependent.
- Launch
- Medium — Narrow sandy launch at the foot of high sandstone cliffs.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Narrow launch and cliff-based access with underwater hazards.
Through the year
Can be crowded during good winter swells and on weekends.
Winter months (December–February) see occasional heavy rain and Mediterranean storms.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed sandbar break with multiple peaks depending on shifting sandbars; works best on winter northwest swells with offshore east winds and can produce both lefts and rights. Waves can be unreliable and may feel punchy/short-to-medium.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- NW, W
- Swell Height
- 0.5–2 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed beach setting under cliffs; wind shadow/turbulence from tall cliffs can affect conditions.
- Wind Effect
- East winds act as offshore, grooming the swell into cleaner faces (offshore-favors-east).
- Bigger Swell
- Can become messy and heavy with strong west winds, while still holding size moderately well up to about 2 meters.
- Wave Quality
- Average — Wave quality described as average, but also characterized elsewhere as poor due to unreliability.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Wave power described as moderate; spot notes also characterize overall wave quality as poor/average depending on conditions.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Medium — Waves tend to be punchy and short to medium; ride length described as medium with short-to-medium sections depending on sandbar shifts.
- Ride Length Details
- Punchy waves with short to medium length depending on sandbar formation.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Apolonia (Herzliya Pituach) in the full forecast view.
Apolonia (Herzliya Pituach) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–12 ktsGusts 20 kts
- Direction
- WNW302°
- Strongest day
- Thu, Oct 2912 kts
- Windy days
- 1/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.4–1.9 m5s period
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C
Over the next 7 days, Apolonia (Herzliya Pituach) is forecast for daytime winds of 2–12 kts, peaking around 12 kts on Thursday, October 29 with gusts to 20 kts. The prevailing direction is WNW. Waves run 0.4–1.9 m with a period of about 5s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Submerged rocks
- Ancient archaeological ruins in the water
- Rip currents
- Falling debris from the cliffs
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal municipal lifeguards operate on designated beaches (April to October).
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue described as limited; for deep-sea emergencies, Israeli Marine Police and Coast Guard operate out of Herzliya Marina.
- Emergency Info
- Contact local Herzliya lifeguards at nearby Sidna Ali or Zvulun beaches during seasonal hours.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Spot-level notes indicate mild localism.
Rules of the spot
Respect the borders of the Apollonia National Park; surfing is generally done outside restricted swim zones.
- Access may be restricted during heavy storms due to cliff erosion.
- No motorized watercraft.
- Check the water for submerged rocks before paddling out.
- The walk from the Sidna Ali parking lot is a common access point.
- Watch for turbulence and wind shadow near the cliffs.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Herzliya
- Nearest Town
- Herzliya Pituach
- Parking
- Parking available at the Sidna Ali mosque parking lot or near the Apollonia National Park entrance.
- Access
- Beach access via Apollonia Beach Loop trail near Herzliya; access also via a walk along the shore from Sidna Ali beach to the south or via the trail from the national park area. Park entrance hours noted: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (Sat–Sun) and 8:00 AM–4:00 PM (Mon–Fri).
- Local Language
- Hebrew
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Near — Herzliya Pituach hotels and vacation rentals are within walking/short driving distance.
- Food & Drink
- Restaurants and cafes available in the Herzliya Pituach area and near Sidna Ali.
- Equipment Rental:
- Available at surf shops in nearby Herzliya Marina or Zvulun Beach.
- Gear Storage
- Yes
- Gear Repair
- Gear repairs available at surf shops in Herzliya (board repairs noted).
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
The nearby coastline and marina area provide a mix of watersports culture and sightseeing around the Apollonia cliffs and ruins.
The largest marina in Israel, featuring a mall, numerous restaurants, and yachting facilities.
Ancient ruins of a Crusader fortress and Roman settlement perched on the cliffs overlooking the sea.
A museum dedicated to Israeli and international contemporary works.
Offers yacht sailing courses and skipper certification.
Popular breakfast-oriented restaurant near the hotel district.
A large green space with playgrounds, a lake, and cycling paths.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Apolonia (Herzliya Pituach)?
The best overall months at Apolonia (Herzliya Pituach) are January, February, March, December. The best wind months are October, November, December, January, February, March.
Which wind directions work at Apolonia (Herzliya Pituach)?
Apolonia (Herzliya Pituach) works with E winds. Offshore directions are E.
What skill level is Apolonia (Herzliya Pituach) suitable for?
Apolonia (Herzliya Pituach) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate.