We all want to live our best lives in the city, but it can sometimes come at a cost. Luckily, there are tons of amazing free things to do in Bahrain.
Believe it or not, our little Kingdom is filled with fabulous experiences at absolutely no cost.
From brilliant attractions, to hobbies, to making the most out of the vibrant nightlife, there’s a handful of activities you can do when the only thing you can afford to spend is time.
You might also like: How to spend 24 hours in Bahrain
So, whether you’re in a pinch right now or on a seriously strict budget – save this brilliant list and explore the city guilt free.
37 brilliant free things to do in Bahrain
Enjoy the fresh air or workout at the parks
Al-Estiqlal Jogging Park
If you’re looking for free things to do in Bahrain that you can enjoy as a family, the Al-Estiqlal Jogging Park is a brilliant spot for a stroll or picnic.
There’s a walking and jogging track as well as nice play area for the little ones too.
Plus, there’s a fabulous open gym where you can get a workout in.
Open 24 hours, Riffa.
Andalus Garden
A popular spot for expats to jog, hangout, and play sports – Andalus Garden (also known as Filipino Garden) is quite a lively park with lots of free things to do in Bahrain including a children’s play area, large spaces for training, and a basketball court.
Open daily 6am-11.30pm. Palace Avenue, Manama (1721 7785).
Dohat Arad Park
Also known as ‘Arad Bay’, a visit to the Dohat Arad Lagoon is what you add to your list of free things to do in Bahrain when you just want a chill day (or evening).
It is perfect for a walk or jog, especially during the cooler months and there are seats if you prefer to relax. There are also mosques within the area.
Open 24 hours daily. Khalifa Al Khabeer Highway, Muharraq.
King Faisal Corniche
The King Faisal Corniche is home to the famous Athar monument, which is a popular waterfront spot for photos, walks, biking, and jogging. There are also swings and slides in the garden as well. A visit here would be one of the top free things to do in Bahrain where you have a view of the sea and the Bahrain World Trade Centre.
Open 24 hours. Manama.
Salmaniya Garden
This popular neighbourhood garden is a top spot for those who like to go jogging, outdoor yoga, or simply just people watch. There are nice gazebos here for chilling with friends and family.
There is a small football court as well as play areas for the kids, and lots of space to run around and be *free*.
Open 24 hours. Salmaniya Avenue, Manama.
The Gardens, Bahrain Bay
A popular spot for both expats and tourists, The Gardens is a stunning park in Bahrain Bay with tons of art installations, a jogging path, hopscotch template on the floor, and is overall very Instagrammable.
There’s also a ‘Sensory Garden’ featuring a variety of plants and flowers, all tagged with their Latin names.
Open 24 hours, Bahrain Bay.
Explore the vibrant souks
Manama souk
One of the unmissable free things to do in Bahrain is definitely going through the vibrant Manama souk where you will find shops filled with gold, spices, souvenirs, traditional clothing and sweets. To enter, you’ll have to go through the Bab Al Bahrain, one of the Kingdom’s most defining landmarks which opened in 1949.
Open 24 hours. Bab Al Bahrain, Manama.
Muharraq souk
One of the fabulous free things to do in Bahrain is stroll through the Muharraq souk for glimpse into what the market stalls of Bahrain’s best souks used to be like.
Muharraq was once the capital of the Kingdom and is very known to be very rich in history and cultural sites.
Redevelopment works have given Souq Al Muharraq a modern entrance and exterior, making it easier to find.
Open daily 9am-11pm. Shaikh Hamad Avenue, Muharraq.
Go people watching
Al Liwan
Al Liwan’s distinctive architecture and lush greenery makes it a crowd favourite for both tourists and residents alike.
There are outdoor seating spaces for when you go people watching, fountains that are great for the gram, and occasionally live entertainment that you can enjoy without spending a penny.
Here, you’ll come for the beauty and stay for the vibes.
Open daily, 10am-10pm. Hamala. @alliwanbh (3511 1155).
Lagoon
The Lagoon is a two kilometre waterfront spot in Amwaj is lined with shops and restaurants, and dotted with benches to relax and people watch.
It’s one worthy to be added to your list of free things to do in Bahrain. Head here when you fancy a stroll, some fresh air, and a relaxing view.
Sat-Wed 9am-10pm; Fri-Sat 9am-midnight. Muharraq, @thelagoonbh.
Water Garden City
Lovely for family days out, Water Garden City is a waterfront strip mall featuring tons of restaurants and boat ride activities.
Luckily, you don’t need to spend anything here if you head straight for the kids’ play park or just visit here for a stroll overlooking the stunning Bahrain Bay.
Seef District/Manama. @watergardencity (1710 0150).
Go window-shopping
Al Aali Mall
Designed with a nod to all things Arabesque, Al Aali Mall houses luxury and boutique brands including Muse, Rocco Couture and The Wardrobe. When looking for free things to do in Bahrain, go window-shopping here for gifts, jewellery, flowers, and fashion.
Open daily 10am-10pm. Seef District. alaalimall.com (1758 1000).
Bahrain City Centre
Not only will you have plenty of stores to window-shop through, but spend a few hours walking around this mall and you’ll probably get all your steps in for the day. That’s two off your list of free things to do in Bahrain right off the bat.
As one of the largest shopping malls in Bahrain located right near the heart of the city, you can expect to find a lively crowd here especially on the weekends.
Sat-Wed 10am-10pm, Thu-Fri 10am-12am. Seef District. citycentrebahrain.com (1717 7771).
Dragon City
Dragon City is very aptly named as this massive Chinese-themed shopping mall may as well be a mini city, complete with more than 700 commercial units and a 50,000 sq m market.
It may be hard to *not* buy anything here, but if you have strong willpower and self-control, add window-shopping here for cute toys, clothes, shoes, and even home furniture to your list of free things to do in Bahrain.
Sat-Wed 10am-10pm; Thu-Fri 10am-12am. Road 6347, Diyar Al Muharraq dragoncity.bh (3939 3131).
Gold City
Some of the more interesting free things to do in Bahrain is browsing through the Kingdom’s modern-day gold souks. This mall focuses mainly on showcasing precious metals and assorted gems.
As a country with a rich trade history, this mall located in Manama (not to be confused with the gold souks in the main Manama Souk) is… an oldie but a goldie.
Open daily 10am-10pm. Manama. @goldcity.bahrain (3434 6420).
Marassi Galleria
This is one of the most stunning and fairly new shopping malls in Bahrain with a fabulous beach view.
When on the hunt for free things to do in Bahrain, head here for people-watching (both in the mall or on the beach), window-shopping through premium and high-street brands, and a lovely stroll by the water.
Sat-Wed 10am-11pm; Thu-Fri 10am-midnight. Marassi, marassigalleria.bh (7793 8888).
Seef Mall
If you’re looking for free things to do in Bahrain, pay a visit to one of Bahrain’s oldest malls in Seef District. With more than 300 retail stores and several department stores, you’ll have plenty to window-shop through.
For Brits missing home, make sure you visit the Marks and Spencer inside.
Sat-Wed 10am-10pm; Thu-Fri 10am-11pm. Seef District. seefmall.com.bh (7791 1113).
The Avenues
The Avenues is the only mall in Bahrain that makes you feel like you’re outdoors when you’re actually indoors. If you do head outdoors though, you’ll be greeted by the stunning Bahrain Bay – which is perfect for selfies or a leisurely walk – especially during the cooler months.
This is another mall in Bahrain that is quite popular and can get quite busy, so if you’re looking for free things to do in Bahrain such as people-watching, seaside walking, or window-shopping – this is a brilliant choice.
Sun-Thu 10am-10pm; Thu-Fri 10am-midnight. Manama. the-avenues.com/bahrain (1715 1060).
Head down to the free beaches
Arad Fort Beach Park
With the weather cooling down, some of the best free things to do in Bahrain is to go for a picnic or casual stroll by the beach.
Located next to the picturesque Arad Fort, this beach park is not necessarily for swimming, but don’t dismiss it.
It’s a perfect spot to practice your photography skills too.
Arad Fort Beach Park, Arad.
Salman City Beach
Salman City Beach is one of the understated spots for fab views. Plus getting some sand between your toes is part of the fun.
Whether you go during the day or evening, this spot is brilliant when you’re looking for free things to do in Bahrain.
There are benches and walkways, so it’s perfect for a relaxed visit or to go jogging, biking, even skateboarding.
Open 24 hours. Northern Governorate.
Solymar Beach (after 6pm)
If you’re the type who enjoys sunset at the beach and an evening dip, a trip to Solymar beach would quickly become one of your new favourite free things to do in Bahrain after 6pm.
This beach promises #NoBadDays. If you thought Solymar was beautiful as it is, just wait until golden hour hits. It’s stunning.
Free after 6pm. Tue-Sat 10am-12am, Sun-Mon 10am-10pm. Amwaj Islands. solymarbahrain.com (3509 4777).
Make the most of ladies’ night offers (sorry, boys)
If you’re one of the gals, you’re in absolute luck. There are tons of brilliant ladies’ night deals in Bahrain that you can head to any night of the week and enjoy the perks of being a girl (AKA free drinks).
A ladies night is one of the most fun free things to do out in the city, all you need to do is pick a spot.
Various locations.
Practice your photography skills
Hidden gem alley
This stunning hidden gem alley with no name was captured by a resident who shared the video online and went quite viral. When looking for free things to do in Bahrain, head out and find this vibrant alley near the Al Fadhel Grand Mosque and capture your best shots.
Near Al Fadhel Grand Mosque, Manama.
Arad Fort
Capturing a shot of the Arad Fort from the outside may be one of the free things to do in Bahrain, but the result is priceless.
It is said that this fort played a major role in Bahrain’s defense against marauders throughout the centuries. It features the typical build of Islamic forts from the 15th century and a typical example of Omani military architecture towards the end of the 15th and early 16th centuries. There are cylindrical towers at each of the four corners of this fort and it is surrounded by a small trench, which once was filled with water.
Today, it is illuminated at night and makes for stunning photos.
Entry is BD1, but if you hang around the outside of the fort, you’ll get a stunning view – for free.
Sat-Thu 9am-5pm. Arad. culture.gov.bh (1729 8777).
Athar
The waterfront monument Athar was built in recognition of Bahraini womens’ progress through history, their achievements until today, and their role in achieving national development for the Kingdom.
One of the fabulous free things to do in Bahrain is pay a visit here to appreciate its modern architecture. Plus, it makes for lovely photos no matter what time of day.
Open 24 hours, King Faisal Corniche. @atharbahrain
Bahrain Fort
This is one of the Kingdom’s most notable historical sites dating back nearly 5,000 years. Although the area of the Bahrain Fort (Qal’at Al Bahrain) was first inhabited sometime around the third century BC, and was thought to be the capital of the Dilmun civilisation on the island.
After thousands of years of continuous inhabitation, in the 16th century the Portuguese came along, bricked it off and built an impressive fort. One of Bahrain’s three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, there is an informative museum situated alongside it.
Entrance is BD2 for expats and BD1 for Bahraini citizens, but admiring its beauty from the outside is completely free.
Tue-Sun 8am-8pm; Mon closed. Bahrain Fort Museum, near Karbabad (1729 8777).
Karzakan Forest
Not exactly a forest, but this spot gained popularity for its natural beauty, attracting many photographers and residents who all want to walk or drive through the lush greenery leading up to the Karzakan Beach. It’s known for the tall trees towering above this one road creating a forest-like atmosphere. Drop by here if you’re a nature lover looking for brilliant photos and free things to do in Bahrain.
Open 24 hours. Karzakan. @karzakanforest
Tree of Life
With no apparent water source, the Tree of Life stands alone in the desert and is reckoned to be around 400 years old. A species of mesquite, the tree is the camel of fauna, able to withstand long periods of drought without any apparent dehydration.
A national metaphor for the resilience of the Bahraini character, local legend has it dating back to the Dilmun period.
One of the best free things to do in Bahrain for both tourists and residents alike is to pay a visit to this natural wonder.
Open daily 6am-10pm. Jebel Dukhan.
Visit the free museums
Bahrain Currency Museum
History buff looking for free things to do in Bahrain? Head to the Bahrain Currency Museum and learn all about the Kingdom’s currency evolution –super cool.
Here, you can explore what Bahrain currency looked like before and after Islam, from BC to AD.
There are also tons of Islamic coins on display as well as a collection of ancient Arabic and Byzantine gold and silver coins.
You will need to apply for a visit request before heading here.
Sun-Thu 9am-1pm. Central Bank of Bahrain, Manama. cbb.gov.bh (1754 7747).
Bahrain Military Museum
The Bahrain Military Museum has wide collection of weapons, uniforms, and documents of the Kingdom’s defence forces from over the decades.
If you’re interested in Bahrain’s history, some of the best free things to do in Bahrain is learn about its past rulers, and check out jeeps and horses used for transporting soldiers.
Sun-Thu 8am-1pm; Fri-Sat closed. Bahrain Military Museum, Riffa (1749 5511).
Beit Al-Qu’ran
Engraved with Arabic script, the Beit Al Qur’an (or House of Qur’an) has plenty of Islamic art and manuscripts from many centuries ago.
You can take a look at some very old Qur’ans here that have been written on parchment, rice, peas, and grains. There’s also a mosque, ten exhibition halls, and a library for you to visit.
Learning more about Islamic Art is one of the top free things to do in Bahrain, if we do say so ourselves.
Open Sun-Wed 8am-2.30pm; Thu, Sat 8.30am-1.30pm, Fri closed. Manama (1729 0101).
Dar Al Naft Oil Museum
The Kingdom was fundamentally changed by the discovery of oil in 1931, and luckily, a visit here is one of the free things to do in Bahrain.
You can also check out the very first oil well in the Kingdom nearby, too.
Like most museums in Bahrain, it is open on weekdays but as it’s quite a drive, it’s best to call ahead and confirm it’s open on the day you visit.
Sun-Thu 9am-5pm, Fri-Sat, closed. Jebel Dukhan (1775 3475).
Ibrahim Al Arrayed House of Poetry
If you’re interested in literature and the arts, you’ll find your visit to the Ibrahim Al Arrayed House of Poetry to be one of the coolest free things to do in Bahrain.
This museum, which is part of the Shaikh Ebrahim Centre for Culture and Research, is dedicated to the works of Ibrahim Al Arrayed, who was one of Bahrain’s greatest poets before his death in 2002.
You can look around Al Arrayedh’s private office and look through volumes of poetry collections.
Sat-Thu, 8am-1pm, 4pm-7pm; Fri, closed. Ibrahim Al Arrayed House of Poetry, Manama (1732 2549).
Other free things to do in Bahrain
Go for a drive (with no particular destination)
Let’s be real, some of the best free things to do in Bahrain is to jump in the car or motorcycle, put your favourite songs on blast, and just drive.
You can do this at any time during the day when you feel like you just want to get away for a little while (best to avoid peak traffic hours though).
If you’re a night owl, the later hours of the day leaves you with an open (and nearly empty) road to just drive away.
Anytime, anywhere.
Hangout at home with your bestie
Nothing can be quite as comforting as the presence of a good friend. So, when it comes to the best free things to do in Bahrain, you can always count on your best friend – even if you both end up sitting in silence, each scrolling on your own phones. It’s the vibes that count here.
Anytime. Your or your bestie’s place.
Scroll endlessly on social media
If you’ve made it all the way until here, congrats. You’ve just completed one of the easiest free things to do in Bahrain – scroll endlessly on social media.
Whether you’re on a postpaid or prepaid data plan, chances are, you don’t really need to count the minutes you spend on your phone – so it’s basically free.
Anytime, anywhere.
Stay in and binge on Netflix shows
Another one of the basically free things to do in Bahrain is make the most of your Netflix (or any other streaming channel) subscription. How many of you have finished a whole season in one sitting?
Anytime, anywhere.
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