Bahrain. 21st of January 2026.
We ran against a strong desert wind in our 15k run around Manama, Bahrain’s capital, while we traversed highways and bridges with F1 ads everywhere, to finally reach the World Trade Center’s famous skyscraper.
TLDR; “too long, didn’t read”
- I just want to run! Take me to RUN.
- I have 1 minute. Take me to USEFUL INFORMATION.
- Running is my excuse for travelling. Take me to TRIP.
- I want to know what to read in the plane. Take me to ONE BOOK.
🌍 The trip 📷: What to see in Bahrain in a day
If you have a day in Bahrain, you can experience the country’s past, present, and future by visiting a few carefully chosen landmarks. Bahrain is compact, making it possible to explore a surprising variety of sites in a short time.
🏰 Qal’at al-Bahrain. The Bahrain Fort
Start your day at Qal’at al-Bahrain, also known as the Bahrain Fort. This UNESCO World Heritage Site offers an excellent introduction to the island’s long history as a center of trade and civilization.
Walking through the fort reveals layers of settlement dating back thousands of years, and the elevated views toward the sea help explain Bahrain’s historic connection to maritime routes.
Visiting early in the day is ideal, as the area is open and exposed to the sun.
🏛️ Bahrain National Museum. Culture and Heritage
Next, head to the Bahrain National Museum, one of the best ways to understand the country beyond its landmarks.
The museum provides clear, well organized insight into Bahraini culture, from ancient Dilmun artifacts to pearl diving, traditional crafts, and modern life. It adds valuable context to everything else you will see during your visit and is especially worthwhile for first time travelers.
🐪 Royal Camel Farm. Living Tradition
In the afternoon, visit the Royal Camel Farm. This stop offers a more informal and local experience, showcasing an animal that remains an important symbol of Gulf heritage.
The farm is free to enter and allows visitors to see large numbers of camels up close, making it a unique contrast to Bahrain’s urban attractions and an easy, memorable stop.
🏙️ Bahrain World Trade Center. Modern Bahrain
End the day by visiting Bahrain’s modern icon, the Bahrain World Trade Center. Its distinctive twin towers represent the country’s contemporary ambition and focus on innovation.
Located near the waterfront, the area around the building is ideal for an evening walk and provides a striking visual contrast to the historic sites visited earlier in the day.
✨ Together, these locations offer a balanced one day itinerary that highlights Bahrain’s ancient roots, cultural identity, traditional life, and modern development. This approach makes the most of limited time while offering a well rounded view of the country.
🏃♀️ The Run 🏃♂️
✈️ As you can probably tell by the pictures, we had visited Bahrain before, specifically in 2022 during Qatar’s FIFA World Cup.
However, we had never had the chance to run here 🏃♂️…. and since we were passing through the region on our way to Pakistan for the Islamabad Half Marathon, we decided this was the perfect opportunity to explore the city on foot.
Setting off: Better to be prepared than sorry!
⏰ We set off at 8 a.m., and the temperature was ideal for running. The wind, however, was extremely strong 🌬️, especially in the area where we were staying.
We decided to put on our ski goggles 🥽, the same ones we had used during our Iron Ore Train adventure in Mauritania a few days earlier. It turned out to be the best decision: we would have struggled without them!
🏗️ Manama’s East Coast
We started along Manama’s east coast, an area filled with construction sites and advertisements promising the chance to “live your most luxurious life”. Or so they say 😂
Here, we joined a clearly marked running circuit. It began with a “Start” sign in both Arabic and English, and continued with distance markers every 100 meters 📏.
With Bahrain being home to the famous Formula 1 circuit, it is clear that precise distances matter here.
Desert dust formed small whirlwinds, and progress was difficult at times, but we kept going.
🌴Marina Beach Garden Park
After 2 kilometers, we reached Marina Beach Garden Park. The park is filled with trees, flowers, and plants, although heavy maintenance is clearly required due to the desert climate.
There were even pigeons and benches where locals sat feeding them. The scenery was striking, with skyscrapers, Gulf waters, and fishing boats all in view.
The paths were wide and comfortable for running, and we even encountered a few fellow runners who were exercising despite the strong wind.
🚦 To the City Centre
We continued and entered the city center, where it quickly became clear that Manama is not designed for pedestrians. We had to cross extremely wide highways, with cars moving at high speed. At one point, a kind driver stopped to let us cross, only for the two cars behind him to honk loudly in protest.
Fortunately, an elevated walkway allowed us to cross safely from Marina Beach Garden Park into the city center.
🕌 Beit Al Quran and the World Trade Center
In the city, we passed by the beautiful Beit Al Quran mosque and even the National Museum. Eventually, we reached the iconic World Trade Center building, which we had last seen four years earlier.
Advertisements featuring Lando Norris, the current Formula 1 champion, were everywhere, while a nearby billboard showed Lewis Hamilton looking noticeably less cheerful as he promoted Bahrain’s mobile company.
Juffair Beach
Approaching our hotel, we passed by Juffair Beach. It is rocky and not very similar to our beaches in Spain 😀
There we ran past many stalls with the Bahrain flag, all of them closed. Later, at night, we realied they were opened at dusk!
It was so windy that we struggled to advance, but we saw a guy thanking the windy weather…: he was kite surfing!
📏 Having already run more than 8 kilometers, we turned back and once again enjoyed the wide, flat, and clearly marked circuit in Marina Beach Garden Park, eventually completing a total distance of 15 kilometers.
🏎️ Bonus. Fitness on Track
There is also the option to run on the Formula 1 circuit itself! How cool is that? Running sessions are available from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., and booking in advance is required.
We did not manage to do it this time, as it was not open on the day we were in the country, but we definitely made a note to come back and run there in the future
Useful information
🇧🇭 15k Run in Bahrain. It can be extended to a half marathon easily, or shortened to a manageable 5k run.
👟 Urban: bring shoes for asphalt.
✅ Clearly Marked Routes: The Marina Beach Garden Park and city circuits had signs every 100 meters, making it easy to keep track of distance and pace. 🏃♂️
✅ Scenic Variety: The run included a mix of urban landmarks, waterfront views, and parks, from the harbor and skyscrapers to wide garden paths, keeping it visually engaging. 🌊🏙️
⚠️ Strong Desert Wind: The wind in some areas, especially near the coast, can be very strong and may make running challenging; protective gear like goggles is recommended. 🌬️🥽
⚠️ Traffic Hazards in the City: Some urban sections are not pedestrian-friendly, requiring caution when crossing highways or busy streets. 🚦
Map
One book
“The Pearl Thief”, by Noor Al-Noaimi
This short novella is set in Bahrain’s past, before the modern skyscrapers and oil economy, when fishing villages and the pearl-diving industry shaped everyday life.
Reading The Pearl Thief before or during your visit will help you appreciate how dramatically the island has transformed over time, and deepen your understanding of its historic roots.
Plot Summary: The story follows Hassan, a young villager who becomes a pearl diver in hopes of improving his family’s fortunes, despite his fear of the sea. The setting and characters bring to life a Bahrain very different from today — one centered on the sea, traditional livelihoods, and human courage.
