Al Korar House
This house is a gathering point for Muharraq women intent on preserving the craft of al korar (gold-thread weaving), which three generations of a local family have saved from extinction. Once, the intricate threadwork was the occupation of all resident women; now only a handful of
Al Areen Wildlife Park & Reserve
This 10-sq-km reserve, off Al Zallaq Hwy in the islands southwest, is a conservation area for species indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa. After a short introductory film (in Arabic only), a small bus leaves roughly every hour for a tour (with commentary in Arabic and En
Al Jasra House
One of several historic homes around Bahrain that has been restored to its original condition, Al Jasra House was built in 1907 and is famous as the birthplace in 1933 of the former emir, Sheikh Isa bin Sulman Al Khalifa. Its constructed in the traditional way from coral stone, sup
Beit Al Quran
With its wrapping of carved Kufic script, the distinctive Beit Al Quran is a fine example of modern Bahraini architecture. It houses a large and striking collection of Qurans, manuscripts and woodcarvings and functions as a good introduction to Islam in general, and Islamic calligr
Formula 1 Racetrack
The Al Sakhir Tower of the Formula 1 Racetrack rises above the desert like a beacon. If youre visiting Bahrain out of season and want to see what a state-of-the-art track looks like, then you can join a 40-minute tour of the grounds, media centre and control room, and even take a l
Sar Burial Chambers
The excavations at Sar have revealed a honeycomb of burial chambers dating from the Dilmun period. They have all long since been plundered, but the systematic removal of the coping stones has at least revealed the inner sanctum of the site. There are plans to turn the site into a m
Bab Al Bahrain
Built by the British in 1945, Bab Al Bahrain, the ‘Gateway to Bahrain’ and the entrance to Manama Souq , was originally designed by Sir Charles Belgrave. It was redesigned in 1986 to give it more of an ‘Islamic’ flavour. The small square in front of the bab (gate) was once the term
Riffa Fort
Commanding the only piece of high ground overlooking the Hunanaiya Valley, this fort was originally built in the 19th century and was completely restored in 1983. The limited captions and explanations are in Arabic, and the rooms are mostly empty, but it’s interesting enough and th
Al Fatih Mosque
Built on reclaimed land in 1984, Al Fatih Mosque is the largest mosque in the country and is capable of holding up to 7000 worshippers. The mosque was built with marble from Italy, glass from Austria and teak from India, carved by local Bahraini craftspeople, and has some fine exam
Oil Museum
Built in 1992 to mark the 60th anniversary of the discovery of oil, this museum is housed in a grand, white-stone building quite out of keeping with the surrounding nodding donkeys and sprawling pipelines. In the shadow of Jebel ad-Dukhan (Mountain of Smoke) – Bahrain’s highest poi
Tree of Life
The Tree of Life is a lone and spreading mesquite tree, famous not because it somehow survives in the barren desert (plenty of trees and thorn bushes do that) but because it has survived for so long. No one is sure what sustains this old knot of thorny branches, but it has presumab
Bahrain National Theatre
Adjacent to Bahrain National Museum, this stunning architectural showpiece opened in November 2012. Covering nearly 12,000 sq metres, its the third-largest theatre in the Middle East and its at its best up close. Seeming to float upon the water, its design owes much to local tradit
Bahrain Fort
Overlooking the northern coast a 10-minute drive from central Manama, and standing guard on an ancient tell (mound created by centuries of urban rebuilding), Unesco World Heritage–listed Bahrain Fort was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century as part of a string of defences al
AAli Burial Mounds
To gain an idea of the significance of these burial mounds on the approach to A’Ali, visit Manamas Bahrain National Museum beforehand. The mounds, which date from the Dilmun period, encase burial chambers used for all members of society, young and old. At 15m in height and 45m in d
Bahrain National Museum
Deservedly the countrys most popular attraction, the National Museum is an outstanding introduction to Bahrains history. The highlights of the collection, which is housed in a postmodern building with landscaping that brings the waterfront location up to the windows, are the archae
Beit Sheikh Isa Bin Ali Al Khalifa
Offering a fascinating look at pre-oil life in Bahrain, this building was constructed around 1800 and is one of the finest examples of a traditional house anywhere in the Gulf. The chief sitting room downstairs was kept cool in summer by the down draft from the wind tower (badqeer
Doing business & staying in touch while in Bahrain
Bahrain: Doing business & staying in touch
Bahrain Weather, Climate and Geography
Bahrain Weather, climate and geography
Bahrain History, Language and Culture
Bahrain History, Language and Culture
Bahrain Travel Guide and Travel Information
Bahrain Travel Guide
