What's on in Manama (Bahrain), Bahrain through the year

Busy — Ramadan, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Ramadan

  25 Jan – 25 Mar · usuallyClosures

  Bahrain is more relaxed about it than its neighbours and hotel restaurants serve behind screens, but the souk and the coffee houses shut through the day. The ghabga dinners after midnight are the point. Source ↗

Still on: The outdoor half of the year (1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — Ramadan, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Ramadan (25 Jan – 25 Mar (usually)), The outdoor half of the year (1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr

• Holiday

  Eid al-Fitr

  1 Mar – 15 Apr · usuallyRamadan & EidCrowdedClosuresBook early

  Three days off, and the causeway from Saudi Arabia carries an enormous weekend crowd across with it. Hotels, restaurants and the causeway queue are all at their worst. Source ↗

Still on: Ramadan (25 Jan – 25 Mar (usually)), The outdoor half of the year (1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — Eid al-Fitr, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Eid al-Fitr (1 Mar – 15 Apr (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Season

  Heat and humidity

  20 May – 30 Sep · usuallyExtreme heat

  Low-lying, surrounded by shallow water and correspondingly sticky; the difference from the desert states is that here it is the damp that beats you. The city retreats indoors entirely.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Heat and humidity (20 May – 30 Sep (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Heat and humidity (20 May – 30 Sep (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Heat and humidity (20 May – 30 Sep (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

• Festival

  Bahrain Grand Prix

  2–4 OctMotorsport weekendCrowdedBook early

  Race weekend fills every hotel on the island and the Saudi causeway with it. The round has moved around the calendar in recent seasons, so check the date before booking anything around it. Source ↗

Still on: Heat and humidity (20 May – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — Bahrain Grand Prix, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Bahrain Grand Prix (2–4 Oct)

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

• Season

  The outdoor half of the year

  1 Nov – 31 Mar · usuallyWinter-sun season

  The months the island is actually pleasant: the corniche, the fort at Qal'at al-Bahrain and the tree in the desert are all bearable on foot, and every outdoor event is scheduled into this window.

Busy — Bahrain National Day, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Bahrain National Day

  15–18 DecNational holidayClosuresCrowded

  The 16th and 17th of December give a long weekend at the best time of year to be outdoors, so the corniche and the beaches are busy and the hotels are full. Source ↗

Still on: The outdoor half of the year (1 Nov – 31 Mar (usually))