Trip Planner
Where to stay for the Bahrain Grand Prix
Sunday December 6 2026
What to expect in this guide
• Where should you base yourself for the Bahrain Grand Prix?
• Which hotels are worth considering in Manama?
• What about hotels close to the circuit?
• Best booking resources for F1 trips
• Frequently asked questions
• Money-saving tip
Estimated Reading Time: 2-3 minutes
Most fans stay in Manama and travel to the circuit each day. The city has the largest concentration of hotels at every price level, alongside the country’s main restaurants, bars, and nightlife. The drive from central Manama to the circuit takes around 30 to 40 minutes by road.
A handful of hotels are closer to the circuit, in the Sakhir area, around 10 minutes by car.
In recent years, free shuttle buses have run between several major hotels in Manama, the airport, and the circuit during race weekend. The service has been consistent year to year, although the participating hotels and exact timings can change. Details are usually published on bahraingp.com a few weeks before the race.
If you’re staying at a participating hotel, the shuttle is the simplest way to get to the circuit each day.
Hotels on the shuttle network
These hotels have been participating shuttle pick-up points in recent years.
• The Olive Hotel »
• Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain »
• Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay »
• Jumeirah Gulf of Bahrain »
• InterContinental Bahrain »
• The Gulf Hotel »
• Conrad Bahrain Financial Harbour »
• Wyndham Garden Manama »
• Downtown Rotana »
• The K Hotel »
Hotels close to the circuit
A handful of hotels sit close to Bahrain International Circuit, around 10 minutes away by car. Room rates here are higher during race week because of the location.
• Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa »
• Raffles Al Areen Palace Bahrain »
The Sofitel has historically been served by the free shuttle bus.
Best booking resources for F1 trips
Take a look at our Grand Prix ticket & travel packages »
Prefer to do it all yourself? You’re welcome to take what you’ve learned here and build your own trip from scratch.
I keep going back to these travel companies because they’re reliable, easy to use, and usually have the best value. They’re where I start every time I plan a trip.
Tickets
Motorsport Tickets and Grand Prix Tickets are the two agencies I’ve trusted for years. They’ve always been reliable, easy to deal with, and quick to help if something comes up.
Hotels
ZenHotels is one of my go-to sites for hotel bookings. It pulls prices from loads of smaller sites you might not know about, so it’s great for finding deals. I also check Expedia and Booking.com when I want more options.
Excursions
Viator is packed with walking tours, attraction tickets, and local experiences. It’s especially handy if you’re heading to a new Grand Prix city. It’s a great place to find extras to add to your trip.
FAQ's
In Manama. The city has the widest range of hotels at every price level, and the circuit is a 30 to 40 minute drive away.
Hotels in the Sakhir area, including the Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa and Raffles Al Areen Palace, are around 10 minutes from the track , but rates are higher during race week.
Yes. The shuttle has run consistently between major hotels in Manama, the airport, and the circuit during race weekend. If you're staying at a participating hotel, it's the simplest way to get to the track each day. Check bahraingp.com closer to race weekend for the current year's hotel list.
Yes. Booking early gives you the most choice and the best rates.
Money-saving tip
Stay in Manama and use the shuttle
Hotels close to the circuit carry a strong race-week premium because of the limited supply. Staying in Manama at a hotel served by the free shuttle gives you a wider choice of hotels at a lower nightly rate, with circuit transport included.
Introducing the Bahrain Grand Prix
In this guide you'll learn about Bahrain International Circuit, the circuit's location in the Sakhir desert, and how a race weekend works.
Getting to the Bahrain Grand Prix
In this guide you'll learn about how to get to Bahrain for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Getting around at the Bahrain Grand Prix
In this guide you'll learn about the different options for getting around during the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Choosing a grandstand at the Bahrain Grand Prix
In this guide we'll help you choose the right grandstand for your Bahrain Grand Prix experience.
