Bahrain
Kingdom of Bahrain
Western Asia · BHR
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Bahrain
Bahrain is a compact Gulf stop where heritage sites and museum time fit easily into a short city break. It works best as Manama plus a handful of cultural sites rather than a long, multi-stop itinerary.
Popular For
Things To See
- Manama
- Qalat al-Bahrain
- Pearling Trail
- Al Fateh Grand Mosque
- Muharraq
- Tree of Life
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- Cooler months are far more comfortable for outdoor sightseeing.
- The country is small, so a single base in Manama works well.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Bahrain.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Bahrain Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Bahrain.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Manama
- Population
- 1,594,654
- Area
- 765 km²
- Region
- Western Asia
Languages
- Arabic
Currency
Bahraini dinar (.د.ب)
BHD
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
44.3
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 45.2
- Restaurants
- 47.0
- Rent
- 21.4
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Manama (26.23°N, 50.57°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
37/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 20/100
- Lived safety
- 69/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.899
Very high human development
- 5-year change
- +0.013
- 10-year change
- +0.053
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.957
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.165
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.632
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (3)
- 🏛️
Dilmun Burial Mounds
Inscribed 2019
- 🏛️
Pearling, Testimony of an Island Economy
Inscribed 2012
- 🏛️
Qal’at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbour and Capital of Dilmun
Inscribed 2005
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 11.7%
- Forest cover
- 0.9%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 3
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 8
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
42/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
81/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Updated to reflect the ordered departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members of government personnel on March 2. There were no changes to Travel Advisory Level or the risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated to reflect changes to U.S. embassy operations. Reconsider Travel to Bahrain due to terrorism and armed conflict. Advisory Summary On March 2, 2026, the Department of State ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members of U.S. government employees to leave Bahrain due to safety risks. Armed Conflict Following the onset of hostilities between the United States and Iran on February 28, there has been an ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran and significant disruptions to commercial flights. Terrorism There is a risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Bahrain. Visit the U.S. Department of State’s country reports on terrorism to learn more. Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Bahrain. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning. Targets may include tourist sites, transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, and religious sites as well as government and military facilities. Aviation Safety The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an ongoing Special Federal Aviation Regulation and Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). This is due to risks to civil aviation operating within or nearby Bahrain. For more information Americans should consult the Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices. For U.S. citizens in Bahrain: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency. Stay alert at all times, especially in locations frequented by tourists. Develop a communication plan with family, your employer, or host organization. Plan together how and when you'll confirm you are safe (text or call) Be aware of your surroundings. Review the Country Security Report for Bahrain. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest Travel Health Information for Bahrain. Have a plan to leave in an emergency that does not depend on U.S. government help. Review our information on Crisis and Evacuations. We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data