Things to Do in Bahrain

From the ancient Bahrain Fort to the lone Tree of Life in the desert - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.

Travel guide - last updated September 2026

Bahrain is one of the smallest countries in the world, connected to Saudi Arabia by a causeway, and packs a UNESCO-listed fort, a Formula 1 circuit, and a genuinely unexplained centuries-old tree surviving alone in the desert into an island easily covered in a few days. Here are 5 places worth building a trip around.

Top attractions

The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.

🏰

Bahrain Fort (Qal'at al-Bahrain)

A UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site with layers of settlement dating back roughly 4,000 years, believed to have been the capital of the ancient Dilmun civilization.

📍 near Manama

🚉 Bahrain has no rail or metro: the fort is 15 minutes by taxi from Manama, and bus route 4 passes within a walk of the site museum on the northern coast.

🌳

Tree of Life

A roughly 400-year-old mesquite tree standing alone in the desert with no obvious water source nearby, its survival still not definitively explained - one of Bahrain's most visited curiosities.

📍 Sakhir

🚉 The lone tree stands in the desert 40km south of Manama with no bus service - a taxi or hire car is the only way, and drivers usually wait while you walk out to it.

🏎️

Bahrain International Circuit

Host of the Bahrain Grand Prix each spring, with tours of the track and facilities available outside race weekends for motorsport fans.

📍 Sakhir

🚉 The circuit is at Sakhir, 30km from Manama, with no scheduled service outside race weekends, when shuttle buses run from the city - otherwise it is a taxi or hire car.

🕌

Al Fateh Grand Mosque

One of the largest mosques in the world by capacity, with a distinctive fiberglass dome, open to non-Muslim visitors for guided tours outside prayer times.

📍 Manama

🚉 The mosque is on the Al Fateh highway in Juffair, a 10-minute taxi from central Manama, with bus routes along Sheikh Isa Avenue passing nearby - guided tours run for non-Muslim visitors.

🦪

Pearl Diving Heritage

Bahrain's pre-oil economy centered on pearl diving, documented today through the UNESCO-listed Pearling Path in Muharraq, a trail of restored historic buildings and oyster beds.

📍 Muharraq

🚉 The Pearling Path runs through Muharraq, reached by bus 1 or a short taxi across the causeway from Manama, and the trail is walked between its restored merchant houses.

Mark Bahrain, get the stamp

🇧🇭BAHRAINVISITED

🇧🇭BAHRAINLIVED

🇧🇭BAHRAINWISHLIST

In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.

Open MyPassportStory

Planning questions

How many days do you need in Bahrain?

2-3 days covers Bahrain Fort, the Tree of Life and Manama's main sights well, given the country's small size.

What's the best time to visit Bahrain?

November-March has comfortable, warm-not-scorching temperatures. Summer (June-September) regularly passes 40°C (104°F).

Is Bahrain good for a first-time visit?

Yes - it's compact, modern and easy to navigate, and generally considered one of the more socially relaxed Gulf states for visitors.

Do I need a visa to visit Bahrain?

Many nationalities, including the US, UK, EU and Australia, can get an e-visa online or a visa on arrival for short tourist stays. Check the official visa information for your nationality: evisa.gov.bh.

What are some things to do in Bahrain on a tight budget?

Bahrain Fort and the Tree of Life are both inexpensive to visit, the Al Fateh Grand Mosque is free to tour, and Manama's older souq areas offer cheap local food compared to hotel dining.

Can I rent a car in Bahrain, and what licence do I need?

Yes, and with limited public transport it is the easiest way to see the island, which is small enough to cross in under an hour. Visitors from many countries may drive on a national licence for the length of a tourist visit, and an International Driving Permit is accepted and often asked for at rental desks. Minimum age is generally 21 to 25 with a credit card. Driving across the King Fahd Causeway into Saudi Arabia needs separate insurance and permissions that standard rentals do not include. Official rules sit with the General Directorate of Traffic, reachable through the national portal at bahrain.bh, with visitor guidance at bahrain.com.