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Hello!
Bahrain may be small, but its contrasts are striking. Manama blends modernity and tradition, while smaller towns reveal the country’s true essence. Our New Year’s Eve 2023 visit provided insights on celebrating there. This article covers impressions and tips to prepare for your own trip.
How did we get to Bahrain?
Arriving in Budapest
During our trip to Bahrain, we decided to take advantage of the low-cost option of flying through Saudi Arabia again, taking a Wizz Air flight to Ad-Dammam. To save money, we took side roads from Warsaw to Győr, where we stayed overnight at an Ibis hotel, avoiding vignette fees. Breakfast at the hotel and good fuel economy of the fuel-guzzling Opel Insignia made the trip to Budapest smooth.
In Budapest, we left the car in the parking lot at Praktiker to avoid airport parking costs. Below you will find the place where we parked the car at no cost. Looking at the parked cars nearby – we were not the only ones who came up with such an idea ;).
Bus to airport
The best option is to take the 200E bus, which runs directly to the airport from the “Vecsés-nyugat” stop. The ride time is about 5-8 minutes, and a ticket from the driver costs HUF 600, or HUF 450 in the ticket machine/mobile app. Note: the driver only accepts cash payments, so you should prepare properly. Alternatively, you can fake not knowing any language and show that you want to pay by card. We lucked out in this case and drove for free this stop – so there was PLN 9 left in our pockets 😀
At Budapest Airport, we went through the standard check-in procedures. After checking luggage and security checks, we had some time for a quick meal at KFC.
After checking in, we boarded the plane for the 4.5-hour flight to Ad-Dammam. The flight went smoothly, and the plane was not full, allowing us to relax and watch a few episodes of the TV series “ER”.
Transfer to a car
The inspection by the border guards in Dammam went well (due to already having a visa – it did not need to be verified again), although we had minor problems with the rental car. It turned out that Sixt did not offer the possibility to cross the Bahrain border, despite previous information on their website. Fortunately, at Budget we were able to get the proper credentials to cross the border. The cost of the rental, along with an allowance for the ability to go abroad, was acceptable, and all the paperwork was handled quickly.
Crossing the King Fahd Bridge, which connects Saudi Arabia to Bahrain, costs 2 BHD one way. We crossed the border smoothly in about 35 minutes, and the visas, which are cheaper locally, were also obtained without any problems. If you want something to eat or drink coffee, there is a McDonald’s near the border, among other places, so you can rest easy before continuing on your way.
If you want to know how impressed we were with Saudi Arabia and the details of our stay there, click here. There you will find our thoughts, impressions and practical tips that may be useful if you are planning a trip to the country. ✈️
Visas and documents
You can, of course, apply for a visa to Bahrain online at the eVisa Bahrain website, but it’s worth noting that it costs more than on the spot. Over the internet it costs a total of 9 BHD. This consists of an application fee of 4 BHD and a visa fee of 5 BHD. On the ground, when crossing the border, you pay only 5 BHD, as there is no additional application fee. The single-entry visa is valid for 2 weeks.
The border crossing process is really friendly and well organized. First, you leave Saudi Arabia, where the guards check your passports, and then you proceed to document control by the Bahraini border guards. In our case, everything was stress-free and in a nice atmosphere.
You can pay for your visa in cash, either with Saudi riyal or Bahraini dinar. However, if you choose to pay by card, you have to go to a separate room where two officers, busy playing “Candy Crush Saga,” operate the payment terminals. Bad work, yeah? XD The entrance to this “office” will be pointed out to you by the officer holding your passports, and you will find it right next to the restroom.
Confirmation of payment
When you come back with payment confirmation, you pick up your passports and can move on. The whole procedure goes very smoothly, with no need for additional assistance. At the end, you still have to wait for a possible trunk inspection and payment of vehicle insurance – this too can be handled by card. In general, crossing the border is simple, fast and hassle-free, and everything goes according to plan.
Car rental
Renting a car in Bahrain at the airport is, of course, a convenient option if you are arriving directly, but in our case we decided to rent in Saudi Arabia. Flights to Bahrain are not that cheap compared to budget options, so choosing the route via Saudi Arabia was more economical. However, it is worth noting a few key aspects when renting a car if you plan to cross the border.
Permission from rental
First of all, make sure that the rental car has permission to cross the border into Bahrain. Not all rental companies in Saudi Arabia offer this option. In our case, it turned out that the initially selected car did not have such permission and we had to arrange it on the spot, which cost some time and nerves.
In addition, it is worth remembering that cars rented in Saudi Arabia usually have a daily kilometer limit – usually around 250 km. Once this limit is exceeded, additional fees are charged for each kilometer. Fortunately, Bahrain is small enough that you are unlikely to exceed this limit, even if you visit all the places of interest.
If you are planning a backward trip, i.e. renting a car in Bahrain with the intention of going shopping in Dammam or exploring Saudi Arabia, also make sure that the rental car has permission to cross the border. Be sure to read the rental terms and conditions carefully to avoid additional fees or problems at the border.
When driving, there is nothing to test the strength of the car, and it is better to avoid pushing the vehicle unnecessarily to avoid possible technical problems. Rented cars should be in good condition, but proper handling is always a good idea.
Public transport
Public transportation between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, particularly from Dammam, is operated by SAPTCO. There are daily buses from Dammam to Manama, also stopping in Khobar. The cost of a one-way ticket is about SAR 90, and the travel time is about 3 hours. As of the date of writing this article – buses leave twice a day. This is a convenient option if you want to travel between the countries without renting a car.
As for public transportation inside Bahrain, we didn’t use it because we had a car, which gave us more flexibility. A public bus operator within Bahrain is available – it’s called Bahrain Bus. You can find more information at: bahrainbus.bh .
For those using ride-hailing apps, Uber works flawlessly in Bahrain – we have used this option twice ourselves and had no problems ordering a ride.
Accommodation
We usually book all our accommodations through Agoda or Booking.com, choosing the platform with the best deals. This is no advertisement, just a practical approach to finding the best price. It’s always a good idea to compare the two services before booking. When it comes to payment, we prefer to use a credit card – this provides extra protection in case of problems with the accommodation. Should the place turn out not to be as described or non-existent, it will be easier to get your money back through the chargeback procedure.
During our trip to Budapest, where we had a flight to Saudi Arabia, we stayed at the Ibis Gyor hotel. The overnight stay cost us PLN 211, plus we paid PLN 40 per person for breakfast. The total for two people came out to about PLN 291. The hotel offered all the basic amenities, including free Wi-Fi, which is standard in Europe, but it’s always worth checking when booking accommodations outside of it.
Destination apartment
In Bahrain we stayed at the Swan Executive Suites, which unfortunately is no longer available on Booking.com or Agoda. We paid PLN 850 for both of us to stay from December 29 to January 1. The price included Wi-Fi, which is an important convenience, especially in countries where Internet access may be limited or at an additional cost.
On the way back, after a late arrival in Budapest, we chose to stay overnight at the Ibis Styles Budapest Airport next to the airport to rest before the onward journey to Poland. The cost of this accommodation was PLN 395 with breakfast. This was a convenient option, as a direct flight back home could have been too tiring due to the late arrival time.
SIM card
On this trip we used Airalo, an eSIM provider, which proved to be the most advantageous and convenient solution. Airalo can be uneconomical in some places, but it worked great here. Remember to turn off background photo syncing on the iPhone, as this can quickly use up all your data transfer.
We had downloaded maps for the car earlier, as we drove without a SIM card for about 30 minutes while crossing the border, still within Saudi Arabia.
Food
On the first evening after our arrival, we decided to try the local cuisine at Shams Al Iraq Restaurant. The atmosphere was really interesting – the tables were covered with plastic oilcloths, and the atmosphere was very casual. We ordered several meat dishes, which were exceptionally tasty. Price-wise it also worked out decently, we didn’t overpay. If someone likes to discover new flavors, it’s worth a look there. The restaurant is located in Jidhafs and is popular with the locals, so you can taste the authentic flavors of Iraqi cuisine.
Our accommodation didn’t offer breakfast, so a quick calculation in my head and it stood at a choice – once to Starbucks for a quick meal, and a small breakfast at Carrefour. Yes, in Bahrain you can also find a Carrefour familiar to Europeans.
Alcohol?
Bahrain, despite being more liberal than other Gulf countries, still has a strict approach to alcohol. Consumption of alcohol is legal, but access to it is limited. You won’t buy it in grocery stores or gas stations like in Europe. Alcohol can only be found in a handful of hotels and some restaurants. For those looking for nighttime entertainment, Bahrain is a popular destination with Saudi Arabia, where alcohol consumption is completely prohibited. It is worth keeping these restrictions in mind when planning your trip.
If you’re looking for something delicious to eat, we definitely recommend Shake Shack. This is no ordinary fast food – the burgers are excellent, and the quality of meat and toppings is incomparable to other chain restaurants.
Unfortunately, the Uber Eats service does not work in Bahrain, so if you plan to order food to go, you need to use other apps such as Talabat.
New Year’s Eve
We visited Bahrain primarily to experience New Year’s Eve in Manama and see the fireworks. Finding events was easy with English. We had options like Bahrain Bay and The Avenues. We picked The Avenues, but the fireworks view was not as impressive as we expected. Based on TikTok videos, the view from Bahrain Bay wasn’t much better.
Maybe by car?
If you decide to go to New Year’s Eve by car, we advise against this idea. Roads are closed unannounced, causing nightmarish traffic jams. Even entrances to parking lots get clogged up in no time. Although the driving culture is better than in Saudi Arabia, the “bigger has priority” rule still applies in some places.
It is worth knowing that if you are a single man, you may have a problem getting into some places – mainly couples or families are allowed in. It was not known what this was due to, but one can only guess.
In front of the mall, we parked at another mall with luxury brands, where the price per hour after 3 hours was supposed to be about PLN 30. Luckily we were able to leave for free because the barrier was open and no one was charging. For a good start to the new year, we had a leisurely late dinner, drank tea, took a photo together, and later bought a non-alcoholic beer and watched New Year’s Eve with Polish television station in the room.
Conservatism or openness? Differences between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia
It’s a title that captures well the theme of comparing the two countries. Bahrain, although also a Muslim country, has a much more liberal approach to tourists. Women do not have to wear abayas or headscarves, and society is more accustomed to the presence of foreigners. More openness and tolerance are evident here, although local norms and respect for Islamic culture still need to be kept in mind. It is not yet the level of openness known from the Arab Emirates, but the difference in attitude toward tourists and women is clearly noticeable. You can walk the streets, visit restaurants or shopping malls in peace without the feeling of tension you can sense in Saudi Arabia.
In Bahrain, female tourists can dress more casually, though of course within the bounds of decency – short shorts or strapless blouses may arouse some stares, but do not lead to immediate problems. Men also do not have to fear ostracism, as is the case in some parts of Arabia. By the way, locals are more open to contact with tourists, more willing to strike up conversations and even willing to help.
Bahrain is an interesting compromise between tradition and modernity – a place where respect for culture is evident, but at the same time the society is ready to be exposed to new influences and open to the world.
Climate and weather conditions
Safety
In terms of security, Bahrain made a very positive impression on us. We did not feel any concern that someone might rob us or threaten us in any way. People are polite and calm, and the atmosphere on the streets was friendly. We also didn’t notice any dangerous situations in the city center or popular tourist spots. Of course, as everywhere, it is advisable to exercise basic caution, but overall we felt comfortable and safe there.
There are also strict regulations for photographing military sites here. This can lead to absurd situations like the one in the photo below. The monument is located at the entrance to Isa Air Base. It shows a fighter jet and an eagle, symbolizing the strength and pride of the air force. Although it looks like a public monument, it is a military site, which means that officially it should not be photographed. Despite the fact that such places attract attention, one must be careful not to violate safety rules. It is worth remembering to avoid taking photos near military sites to avoid unnecessary problems.
Road conditions
Road conditions in Bahrain are generally good, and the infrastructure is well developed. Roads are wide, asphalt of equal quality, and signage is clear. The speed limit on highways is 120 km/h, but it is worth remembering that speed monitoring cameras are quite frequent, so it is better to stick to the rules.
Traffic is heavy in Manama, especially during rush hour, which can lead to traffic jams. Added to this is the peculiar driving style of local drivers, who are sometimes impulsive, so you need to be alert, especially at traffic circles and intersections.
Parking in the center of Manama is a challenge – parking spaces are scarce, and in the most crowded parking lots you sometimes have to wait for a free spot. In the vicinity of shopping centers and popular tourist attractions, it is worth checking parking availability in advance. The parking meters we encountered in the city center did not support payment cards. I would not recommend parking without paying for parking – not knowing the realities of life here 😉
If you’re planning to drive around Bahrain, it’s a good idea to keep in mind that in some places, especially around new settlements under construction, roads may be less well lit and marked. The GPS works well, but it’s a good idea to have up-to-date maps, as road infrastructure development is dynamic and sometimes apps can’t keep up with updates.
In conclusion, driving in Bahrain is not difficult, but it requires attention and adjustment to local road realities.
Places we visited
During our stay we visited many interesting places that are certainly worth seeing to get to know Bahrain better. The country is relatively small, so it is possible to visit it in a short time, but it is not worth doing it in a hurry, so as not to miss anything. We encourage you to go to a separate page, where we have described in detail the places we recommend. There you will find details of the main tourist attractions, our impressions and practical tips.
Summary
In conclusion, Bahrain is a fascinating place that combines tradition with modernity. Although it is a small country, it offers plenty of attractions and interesting places to discover. The peaceful atmosphere, open-minded people and relatively liberal attitude towards tourists make you feel at ease. It’s worth taking the time to explore and experience the local culture without rushing. Despite its small size, Bahrain surprises with its diversity and interesting history, which is worth exploring in person.
