Day Trips from Manama

October 29, 2026

Travel advisory, as of October 2026. Bahrain was struck by Iranian missiles and drones from 28 February 2026. A ceasefire has held since 8 April 2026, with reported violations and later drone and cyber incidents. Airspace and the King Fahd Causeway have closed at short notice. Tourism is open, but check the UK FCDO advice , the US State Department advisory , your insurer and your airline before you book, and expect tours and events to change at short notice.

Day trips from Manama

Bahrain is small, so every day trip is a half-day or a full day by car, taxi or a booked tour. Most visitors hire a car (economy cars run from roughly BD 6 to 15 a day) or use Uber, Careem or a metered taxi. Distances below are approximate. Because the land is flat desert and coast, trips are about archaeology, craft and wildlife, not mountains; the island’s high point, Jebel Dukhan, is 134 m and reached by a paved road.

Muharraq heritage circuit (about 15 minutes)

Muharraq was Bahrain’s capital until 1932 and is linked to Manama by bridges. Walk the Pearling Path, then add Sheikh Isa bin Ali House, a 19th-century royal residence with a classic courtyard, and Arad Fort, a 15th-century fort guarding the bay. The dhow shipyard is where carpenters still build wooden boats by hand, and Muharraq Souq is the place to try warm Showaiter halwa. The Pearling Path visitor centres are open 10:00 to 18:00 and closed on Tuesdays.

Qal’at al-Bahrain (about 6 km west)

This UNESCO site is a 12 m mound of seven layers of settlement, from about 2300 BC to the 18th century, topped by a Portuguese fort. The grounds are reported free, and the museum has pottery, bronze and cuneiform tablets for about BD 2. The site and museum are closed on Mondays.

A’ali and the burial mounds (about 15 km south-west)

A’ali holds the Royal Mounds, two-storey Dilmun burial chambers that are part of the UNESCO burial mounds listing. Near the Pottery Roundabout, workshops make terracotta jugs on foot-powered wheels. See the Dilmun burial exhibit at the National Museum first, and visit in the morning, because the mounds have almost no shade.

Tree of Life and Jebel Dukhan (about 40 km south)

The Tree of Life is a mesquite roughly 400 years old, and tourism sources say up to 440. It stands inside a circular protective wall 125 m around, with a small visitor centre opened in 2014. Entry is reported free, though one source mentions a small fee. Nearby, Oil Well No. 1 marks the 1932 discovery of oil in the Gulf. Allow about 45 minutes each way from Manama and go in the cooler months or late afternoon.

Hawar Islands by boat

The Hawar Islands lie south of the main island, and are known for a large breeding colony of Socotra cormorants, plus dugongs and ospreys. Boats leave from Durrat Al Bahrain Marina, a crossing of about 25 to 45 minutes depending on the source. Visits are arranged through Hawar Resort or tour operators, and permission may be needed. The 2025 resort day-pass offer has ended, so ask for current terms.

Not a day trip: the King Fahd Causeway

The causeway is a border crossing to Saudi Arabia. Passport control for both countries is on Passport Island, so it cannot be treated as a viewpoint, and a Saudi visa is needed to enter Saudi Arabia. The toll is SAR 35 per car for each crossing, about BD 3.5. There is no land link from Bahrain to the UAE or Ras Al Khaimah.

Tips

June to September, start by 07:00, carry water and avoid the middle of the day.
Check airport and causeway status before any plan that depends on them.

Find organised options at GetYourGuide and Viator .