Traveling to Bahrain on a budget? When I booked my flight from Jordan to Bahrain, my first thought was: “Is backpacking in Bahrain even possible?”

Bahrain has a reputation for being expensive, especially compared to its neighbors, but I found that with a bit of planning, you can explore this nation with a budget of $40 a day. It’s not Southeast Asia prices, but it’s doable — even for budget travelers.

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Where to Stay in Bahrain on a Budget

When I traveled to Bahrain, there was only one hostel — the Bahrain Youth Hostel. I paid about $30 for a dorm, which might sound pricey, but I ended up having the entire dorm to myself. The next day, they even upgraded me to a private room at no extra cost.

This has been one of the best hostels I’ve ever stayed in. Think gym, swimming pool, sauna, game room — plus rooms with queen-size beds, TVs, fridges, and private bathrooms. It’s like a five-star hotel but at hostel prices.

Also what is nice about this hostel, is that they have a driver who can take you somewhere if he is free. I was lucky to meet the hotel manager who was so kind that he spent his Saturday just driving me around Bahrain and showing me all the sights. He was extremely helpful and was willing to take me wherever I wanted to go.

Update 2025: The only hostel in Bahrain has unfortunately closed down, but there are other budget-friendly hotel options on booking.com.

For cheap hotel options, check out for example Happy Days Hotel or Infinity Juffair Suites.

Getting Around – Public Transport in Bahrain

Public transport in Bahrain is almost non-existent, but there’s a bus from the airport to the city center, and if you’re staying at Bahrain Youth Hostel, take bus A1 to Isa Town. From there, you can either walk about 4 km or catch another bus to the Bahrain National Stadium (right next to the hostel).

I started walking, but within minutes, a friendly local stopped to offer me a ride. That became a theme — Bahrainis are incredibly kind and helpful, and I got more than a few free rides during my stay.

If you want to see more remote places like the Tree of Life or the Dilmun Burial Mounds, renting a car for a day is the easiest option. Without one, some of these spots are almost impossible to reach.

Eating on a Budget in Bahrain

Since the hostel was a bit far from restaurants, I often ordered takeaway through the Talabat app — it’s like the Uber Eats of Bahrain. You can get everything delivered to your door.

For lunch, I stocked up at nearby supermarkets, which have a surprisingly good selection of ready-to-eat meals and snacks.

 

Top Sights in Bahrain

Bahrain is a small country, and with a car, you can see all the main sights in just one day. That’s exactly what I did when the hostel manager kindly offered to drive me around. Getting around is so much easier with a car, and some places aren’t even accessible by bus. If you can’t find someone to take you, I highly recommend renting a car for a day to make the most of your time.

Al Fateh Grand Mosque

The largest mosque in Bahrain and one of the biggest in the world, able to hold over 7,000 worshippers. Visitors are welcome during designated hours, and free guided tours are available. Women are provided with abayas and hijabs to cover up. Here is a picture of me wearing my fashionable outfit:

 

Bahrain National Museum

If you want to learn about the history and culture, Bahrain National Museum is a good place to start. It’s located quite near to Grand Mosque, so you can visit this place after the mosque tour.

Bab el-Bahrain Souk

Bahrain is full of large, modern shopping centers but if you want something more traditional, head to the souk!

Bahrain Fort (Qa’at al-Bahrain)

A UNESCO World Heritage site dating back to 2300 BC. It’s beautifully lit up at night and offers panoramic views. Other than this, there aren’t many historical sites in Bahrain, so it was very interesting to explore this archaeological site.

King Fahd Causeway – Saudi Arabia Border

This 25 km bridge connects Bahrain to Saudi Arabia. You can’t cross without a Saudi visa, but it’s still worth visiting for the views and the feeling of standing so close to another country.

Dilmun Burial Mounds

Bahrain has one of the largest prehistoric cemeteries in the world. We just drove past this place, but I could see the burial mounds from the car.

The Tree of Life

A lone 400-year-old tree growing in the middle of the desert — with no obvious water source. On weekends, locals gather around with tents, music, food stalls, and quad bikes, giving it a festival-like atmosphere.

I have to admit, I was a little amused at first when I heard that one of Bahrain’s most famous sights is just a tree. But the drive there turned out to be fascinating, and seeing the tree in person was surprisingly interesting. On the way through the desert, you’ll pass countless oil pump jacks and pipelines, which really adds to the unique experience.

I was going there on Saturday, on New Year’s Eve when all the locals were enjoying their holiday, and they were camping there in the desert. There were many people, big tents, food carts, music playing, people driving quad bikes, and motocross bikes, and it was just crazy – somehow reminded me of music festivals. And the tree was very popular, as you can tell from the picture.

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Check out the pictures of Bahrain Youth Hostel! You can click to enlarge the images.

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