Bahrain International Airport is about 10 km from Manama city centre. The country is small and distances are short, which keeps transfer costs reasonable compared to other Gulf airports. Better still, both the taxi meter and the bus fare are published by an authority, so you can check them.
The taxi meter
Bahrain taxis run on a national tariff set by the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, effective 18 March 2026:
| Element | Amount |
|---|---|
| Start, Sun-Thu 06:00-22:00 | BHD 1.000 |
| Start, 22:00-06:00 and all day Fri/Sat/holidays | BHD 1.250 |
| Per km, first half of the journey | 200 fils |
| Per km, second half of the journey | 250 fils |
| Airport pickup | BHD 2.000 |
| Waiting / stopped in traffic | 50 fils per minute |
| Minimum fare | BHD 2.000 |
| Trips over 25 km | BHD 2.000 extra |
| Public holidays | BHD 1.000 extra |
| More than five passengers | BHD 0.500 each |
Fixed-price private transfer
BAH Manama & Capital
From€31for 2 passengers
4 passengers: €46 per vehicle, about €12 per person
- Fixed price, no meter
- Flight tracked
- 60 min free waiting
- Driver meets you at arrivals
- Free cancellation up to 24 h before pickup
Other destinations
The official taxi counter in the arrivals hall lets you settle the fare before you get in, so there is no haggling. Tariffs are revised periodically — check the current one before you travel.
Distances and what the meter gives
| Destination | Distance | Taxi (derived from the meter) |
|---|---|---|
| Amwaj Islands | 5 km | ~BHD 4 |
| Juffair | 8 km | ~BHD 5 |
| Manama centre | 10 km | ~BHD 5-6 |
| Seef District | 12 km | ~BHD 6 |
| Riffa | 20 km | ~BHD 7-8 |
| King Fahd Causeway | 25 km | ~BHD 9, plus BHD 2.000 if the trip exceeds 25 km |
These are calculated from the published tariff and exclude waiting time, so treat them as the shape of the fare rather than a quote.
The bus
Four routes serve the airport — A1, A2 (the fastest into Manama, via Manama Bus Terminal, City Centre and Seef), and the circular routes 10 and 11. A single trip from the driver is BHD 0.300. A GO Card costs BHD 0.500 once, then BHD 0.275 a trip with a daily cap of BHD 0.700 (Bahrain International Airport / Bahrain Public Transport Company). There is no service late at night.
What is not published
Ride-hailing apps (Uber, Careem) price dynamically, so fares move with demand and can rise at peak hours or late at night. Check a live quote in the app.
Pre-booked transfers are quoted per booking, by distance and vehicle, and fixed at that price. They include meet-and-greet, flight monitoring and guaranteed availability, and the meter's 50-fils-a-minute traffic charge is not your problem. The difference is modest given how short the distances are in Bahrain.
Tipping and extras
Tipping is not mandatory in Bahrain but rounding up is appreciated. Tolls do not apply for airport routes within Bahrain. If you are crossing the King Fahd Causeway to Saudi Arabia there is a bridge toll each way — check the current amount with the operator, and note that a metered taxi picks up the BHD 2.000 surcharge for trips over 25 km.
When a private transfer from BAH is the right choice
- Three or more people: a 4-seat car to Manama & Capital is from €46, about €12 per person, usually level with or below separate public-transport tickets once you count the walk, the wait and the last mile with bags.
- Going to a specific address rather than the main station: the car goes to the door, so the public-transport fare is not the whole cost of the trip.
- Arriving tired or late: the driver waits at arrivals with your name, included for 60 minutes after landing.
BAH → Manama & Capital from €31Fixed price, flight tracked, free cancellation up to 24 h before pickup.