Explore Bahrain's Best Swimming Spots

Bahrain is an archipelago of around 80 small islands and inlets in the Arabian Gulf, with a range of public and private beaches offering swimming spots. Public beaches tend to be more conservative, so it's important to dress modestly. Abu Subh Beach, also known as Diraz Beach, is a popular spot for families, with a play area, food trucks and shallow waters. Karabad Beach is a five-minute drive from Seef Mall and has soft golden sands and shallow waters perfect for a beach stroll. For those looking for a more luxurious experience, the Four Seasons Bahrain Bay and The Ritz-Carlton both offer private beaches with a range of amenities.

Public vs private beaches

Bahrain has a range of public and private beaches, offering various facilities and experiences. While the island is not renowned for its coastline, there are several beautiful beaches in Bahrain, from five-star beach clubs to family-friendly public sands.

Public Beaches

Public beaches in Bahrain are generally more conservative than private beaches in terms of dress code. Here are some of the top public beaches:

• Al Jazayer Beach is the biggest and most popular public beach in Bahrain. Located near the Bahrain International Circuit and the Al Areen Wildlife Park, it offers clear and shallow waters, making it ideal for families. There are also plans to develop new food outlets and retail shops in the area.
• Abu Subh Beach, also known as Diraz Beach, is a long stretch of public beach perfect for families. It has food trucks, a kids' play area, and grassy areas for picnics. It is quite popular with locals, so visitors should dress modestly.
• Karbabad Beach is conveniently located near Seef Mall and offers golden sands and shallow waters perfect for strolls. It is a favourite spot for locals and expats, especially in the evenings.
• Hidd Beach is known for picnicking and barbecuing rather than swimming. It offers beautiful views of Juffair and Manama at sunset and is a great spot to relax and spend time with family and friends.
• Budaiya Public Beach is a stunning white sandy beach with a range of activities for all ages, including a children's playground, soccer field, and volleyball nets. It is usually quiet but can get busy during sunset.
• Damistan Beach is a serene and quiet beach lined with lush trees, offering natural shade and stunning views. The water is calm and shallow, making it safe for swimming.

Private Beaches

Private beaches in Bahrain often offer more luxurious experiences and amenities. Here are some of the top private beaches:

• Four Seasons Bahrain Bay is a luxurious beach resort with golden sands, three swimming pools, and a swim-up bar. It offers a range of water sports, including kayaking, wakeboarding, and jet-skiing.
• The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain is located in the north of Manama and offers a private beach and an island accessible by swimming. It provides luxury amenities, including a swimming pool, changing rooms, sun loungers, and umbrellas.
• Coral Bay Hotel & Resort is one of Bahrain's liveliest beach clubs, offering a Riviera vibe with live DJs on weekends. It has a beach, lagoon pool, swim-up bar, and water sports facilities.
• Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa is a five-star resort with a spacious beach, volleyball courts, and a lagoon-like swimming pool. It is open to both hotel guests and external visitors for a fee.
• Bahrain Sailing Club offers a peaceful and rustic beach experience with soft sandy shores and warm shallow waters for swimming. Kayaks are available for rent, and sailing lessons are also available.

Whether you're looking for a conservative family-friendly spot or a luxurious private beach, Bahrain has a variety of options to suit your needs.

Family-friendly spots

Bahrain has a good number of family-friendly spots for swimming, with children's play areas, food trucks, and shallow waters.

Abu Subh Beach / Diraz Beach is a favourite with families, tucked away in the northwest of Bahrain near Budaiya and Northern City. It has a decent play area and a bevy of food trucks, but it's also popular with locals, so remember to dress modestly and cover up.

Al Jazayer is the biggest and most popular public beach in Bahrain, located close to the Bahrain International Circuit and the Al Areen Wildlife Park and Reserve. The waters are clear and shallow, and there are plenty of spots to pitch your beach gear, along with space for picnics.

Karabad Beach is conveniently located just five minutes from Seef Mall and offers soft golden sands and shallow waters perfect for a beach stroll. It's popular with both locals and expats and is a great spot for an evening walk.

Budaiya Public Beach is a stunning, white-sandy beach with a children's playground, a soccer field, volleyball nets, and many other activities. It's usually quiet but can get busy during the evening when visitors arrive to admire the sunset.

Damistan Beach is a serene and quiet beach lined with lush trees, offering stunning views and natural shade. The water is calm and shallow, safe for swimming, and there is a soccer field in the area.

Marassi Al Bahrain is very popular with locals due to its low entry prices. Stretching for one kilometre, the well-maintained sands offer plenty of spots to pitch up and space for picnics, along with better waters for swimming. There are also bungee trampolines, volleyball courts, and watersports options like parasailing, wakeboarding, jet boards, and doughnut boats.

Swimming conditions and safety

Bahrain has a range of swimming spots, from private beaches to public sands, and swimming pools. The archipelago is surrounded by the warm waters of the Arabian Gulf, but it isn't well-known for its beaches.

Public beaches in Bahrain tend to be more conservative than private ones, so it is important to dress modestly and cover up. Karbabad Beach, for example, is popular with both locals and expats, but one visitor described it as ""not a 'nice beach area' and maybe not even a beach". They noted that there was a lot of construction rubble and fishing boats on the beach. Abu Subh Beach (also known as Diraz Beach) is a favourite with families, thanks to its play area and food trucks, but it is also very popular with locals, so modest dress is important.

Al Jazayer is the biggest and most popular public beach in Bahrain. It is located near the Bahrain International Circuit and the Al Areen Wildlife Park and Reserve. The waters are clear and shallow, and there are plans for new food outlets and shops. However, one visitor noted that it can be crowded at the weekend.

Bahrain does have some private beaches attached to hotels, which are a good option if you are looking for more luxurious surroundings. These include the Four Seasons Bahrain Bay and The Ritz-Carlton, which both offer day passes.

There are also several private pools in Bahrain that can be rented out, such as The Bungalow Resthouse and Platinum Pool.

One visitor to Bahrain expressed concern about water pollution, but another replied that, as far as they knew, it was safe to swim in the waters around the islands. They recommended swimming at Karbabad Beach and Nurana Island late at night to see the stars without the glare of the city lights.

Beach clubs and water sports

Bahrain has a range of beach clubs and public beaches, offering water sports, sun loungers, and swimming spots. Here are some of the best places to go swimming and enjoy beach clubs in Bahrain:

Private Beach Clubs

• Four Seasons Bahrain Bay: This luxurious beach resort offers a private beach with golden sands, three swimming pools, and a swim-up bar. Guests can enjoy water sports such as kayaking, wakeboarding, and jet-skiing. The beach is usually exclusive to hotel guests and members of the hotel's spa, but they occasionally host special events that are open to the public.
• The Ritz-Carlton: Located in the north of Manama, The Ritz-Carlton offers a stretch of private beach and an island that guests can swim to. In addition to the beach, the hotel provides tennis courts, golf, luxury rooms, private pool villas, and a vast swimming pool. A day pass includes access to the gym and swimming pool.
• Coral Bay Hotel & Resort: Coral Bay is a lively beach club with a Riviera vibe, featuring live DJs every weekend. The site includes restaurants, a bar, a spa, and a dive centre. Guests can enjoy the golden beach, lagoon pool, and swim-up bar, as well as water sports. Groups can rent a boat and explore the lagoon.
• Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa: This five-star resort offers a spacious beach, volleyball courts, and a large lagoon-like swimming pool. The beach is open to both in-house and external guests for a fee.
• Bahrain Sailing Club: Located south of Mamama, this peaceful sailing club and beach offer soft sandy shores and warm shallow waters for swimming. Visitors can rent kayaks by the hour to explore the coastline or take sailing lessons.
• Marassi Al Bahrain: This beach is popular with locals due to its low entry prices. It offers a well-maintained one-kilometre stretch of sand with plenty of space for picnics and better waters for swimming. Various water sports options are available, including parasailing, wakeboarding, jet boards, and doughnut boats.

Public Beaches

• Al Jazayer Beach: The biggest and most popular public beach in Bahrain, located close to the Bahrain International Circuit and the Al Areen Wildlife Park. The waters are clear and shallow, and new food outlets and retail shops are being developed.
• Abu Subh Beach: Also known as Diraz Beach, this family-friendly beach is located in the northwest of Bahrain near Budaiya and Northern City. It has a decent play area and a variety of food trucks. It is popular with locals, so it is important to dress modestly.
• Karabad Beach: Conveniently located just five minutes from Seef Mall, Karabad Beach offers soft golden sands and shallow waters perfect for a beach stroll. It is popular with locals and expats, especially for evening walks.
• Hidd Beach: Hidd Beach is known for picnicking, swimming, and barbecues. It has a small area of sand near the Prince Khalifa bin Salman Park, offering a perfect view of Juffair and Manama at sunset.
• Malkiya Beach: This long beach is a favourite for family outings, with soft sand and stunning views. The water is calm and safe for swimming, and visitors can enjoy boat trips and horseback riding. There are restaurants and stores nearby.

In addition to these beach clubs and public beaches, Bahrain also offers unique swimming pools that can be rented out for private parties and gatherings. These pools have different themes, such as shaded pools, pools with slides, and aesthetically pleasing designs.

Beachside accommodation

Bahrain is an archipelago of small islands and inlets surrounded by the warm waters of the Arabian Gulf. While it may not be known for its beaches, Bahrain does offer a handful of public and private beaches, as well as beachside accommodation. Here are some options for beachside stays in Bahrain:

Four Seasons Bahrain Bay: This luxurious beach resort offers a private beach with golden sands, three swimming pools, and a swim-up bar. Guests can enjoy water sports such as kayaking, wakeboarding, and jet-skiing. The beach is currently available only to hotel guests and members of the hotel's spa, but they occasionally host special events that are open to the public.

The Ritz-Carlton: Located in the north of Manama, The Ritz-Carlton offers a stretch of private beach and an island accessible by swimming. In addition to the usual luxury amenities, guests can enjoy tennis courts, golf, restaurants, luxury rooms, and private pool villas. A day pass includes access to the pool and gym facilities.

Coral Bay Hotel & Resort: Coral Bay is a lively beach club with a Riviera vibe, featuring live DJs every weekend. The site includes restaurants, a bar, a spa, and a dive centre. Guests can enjoy the golden beach, lagoon pool, and swim-up bar, as well as water sports and boat rentals.

Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa: This five-star resort, located near the Bahrain International Circuit, offers a spacious beach, volleyball courts, and a lagoon-like swimming pool. The beach is open to both in-house and external guests for a fee.

Bahrain Sailing Club: For a more rustic and peaceful beach experience, the Bahrain Sailing Club offers soft sandy shores and warm shallow waters for swimming. Kayaks are available for rent by the hour, and amateur sailors can take sailing lessons. Entrance is just BD3.

Marassi Al Bahrain: This beach is very popular with locals due to its low entry prices. The well-maintained sands stretch for one kilometre and offer plenty of space for picnics and swimming. Various water sports and adventures, such as bungee trampolines, volleyball courts, parasailing, and jet boards, are available. Residents can purchase a family pass for BHD100 per year. The new Vida Beach Resort Marassi Al-Bahrain, a modern beach resort, is also located nearby.

In addition to these beachside accommodation options, Bahrain also offers several public beaches such as Al Jazayer, Abu Subh Beach (Diraz Beach), and Karabad Beach, which are popular spots for locals and expats to enjoy the sun and sea.

Frequently asked questions