Pearls once flowed from the ports of Bahrain to all over the world.
It was those precious stones of the sea, not oil, that first made this Middle Eastern enclave rich.
However, modern times have seen the black liquid take over, and Bahrain graduated from fisheries to refineries in no time at all.
That said, oil is slowly being drained completely from the arid earth, and this old island has had to look to another income stream altogether.
It has chosen two: banking and tourism.
And while we aren’t that interested in the first, the second is a fine addition to the menu.
Visitors today come despite uprisings in the Arab Spring, and occasional calls of human rights violations by the government.
They come by their thousand, in fact; to see the crumbling ruins of the old Dilmun civilization; the Qalat Al Bahrain; the SCUBA sites; the rare birds of Hawar; the desert towns and craft centers – the list goes on!
Lets explore the best places to visit in Bahrain:
1. Manama
Source: flickr
Bahrain National Museum
On the surface, Manama can seem just like another gilded metropolis of the sci-fi age – the sort that have become common right across the Middle East.
But delve down below the shimmering high-rises and the steel-clad skyscrapers that loom above the Corniche al-Fateh and you’ll discover a lived-in Arabic city that still clings to a rich history and a deep culture.
You can wander throbbing souks and seek out spices and carpets and pearls, or case out the Portuguese and Persian past at the Bahrain National Museum.
Of course, the haunts of oil bigwigs are never far away either, with luxury resorts along the gulf coast and swish shopping malls aplenty.
2. Riffa
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Riffa
Riffa sits smack bang in the heart of Bahrain island.
Once the country’s largest city, it’s since been overtaken by its big brother (Manama) to the north – largely thanks to booms in oil and peal diving.
That means this town comes loaded with an older character, offering sights like the great Riffa Fort and its crenulated bulwarks and old court rooms of the Shaikh.
Riffa also has shopping streets and Arabic bazaars, where everything from pearl necklaces mix with spices and Middle Eastern trinkets.
And then there’s the golf course – one of the most acclaimed in the region.
3. Juffair
Source: flickr
Juffair
Some say Juffair is just another of section of the great urban sprawl that is Manama.
Others stick with the district, and talk of the times when it was a separate entity from the Bahraini capital.
The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, because there’s no denying this neighborhood of high-rises and sparkling new hotels has become virtually heterogenous with the great city in the north in terms of geography.
Still, it’s worth a mention on account of its up-coming vibes.
New towers sprout here every year; chic restaurants and accommodation options soaring up above the roadways.
And it is home to the more dubious expat area known as American Alley – think bars and fast food joints.
4. Amwaj Island
Source: hotstar1
Amwaj Island
The archipelago of Amwaj Island is a lesson in all things modern Middle Eastern opulence.
Made from 100% reclaimed land and sprouting from the light swells of the Persian Gulf just off the north-eastern edge of the country, the whole thing represents an ambitious construction project intended to cater to the affluent end of the spectrum.
Here, you’ll find whitewashed towers packed with luxurious apartments.
You’ll see million-dollar yachts bobbing on the private jetties.
And on Tala Island, you’ll even discover shimmering white beaches and lagoons all fringes with gorgeous villas.
It’s the place to be for Bahrain’s moneyed elite.
5. Muharraq
Source: flickr
Beit Sheikh Ali house
Mentions of Muharraq go all the way back to the ancient ages of the Dilmun civilization, while it was the Greeks that brought real prosperity to this city in the north when they set up a powerful trading empire from its natural harbors.
Today, Muharraq is perhaps best known as the home of the Bahrain International Airport, meaning it will probably be the entry point for most travelers.
Far from being just a transport hub though, the city has its own distinct charm.
There’s a traditional souk, where the bazaars throb with hookah smoke and the scents of mint tea.
And there’s the local football team – the best in the nation.
6. Hawar Islands
Source: flickr
Hawar Islands
The Hawar Islands represent the southernmost point of the Bahraini archipelago.
Located just a stone’s throw from the coast of Qatar, they are about 19 kilometers away from the country’s main island.
They are also uninhabited, thanks largely due to their arid backcountry and problems with sourcing water.
However, there’s one thing that draws groups of travelers here without fail each year: the birds.
Yep, the Hawar are some of the top birding spots in the Middle East; the home of the rare and threatened Socotra cormorant, which can often be seen wandering the shorelines.
Wildlife lovers can also spot the occasional Arabian oryx glowering in the background to boot.
7. Isa Town
Source: mapio
Isa Town
A patchwork of whitewashed villas and luxury homes, Isa Town belies its well-to-do status from the get-go.
However, it’s not completely dominated by the fruits of oil money and big business.
This one also has a fantastic marketplace, where the bazaar stalls burst with colorful fabrics and Bahraini crafts, people chatter and mint tea bubbles in the samovars.
Isa is also where the colossal Bahrain National Stadium makes its home – the largest football venue in the country (you can imagine just how busy that gets on match days!).
8. Hamad Town
Source: panoramio
Hamad Town
Hamad Town is a relatively recent addition to Bahrain’s line-up of cities.
Built only back in the 1980s, it was raised to be a residential settlement to serve the booming crowds of commuters looking to reach the capital of Manama, which sits just 18 kilometers to the north.
Of course, that means connections here from the big city are very good; and it means there’s a charming, lived-in vibe to the place, which houses the army of workers needed to keep Bahrain’s industrial-economic gyroscope ticking over.
Aside from a wealth of ridiculous roundabouts, the town is also near the famous Bahraini Formula One circuit.
9. Zallaq
Source: sofitel
Zallaq
A clutch of resorts and boutique hotels fringe the western coastline around Zallaq, spilling down to the edge of the Persian Gulf in a medley of lagoon pools and date-palm-dotted gardens.
They host sunbathers aplenty, many of whom come in search of the sands of Al Jazaer Beach.
This arc of shimmering white is one of the best-known public beaches in the country, and comes complete with jet ski rentals and barbeque points.
It’s not the cleanest spot though (think the occasional oil slick in the shallows), so it might just be better to stick to the hotel gardens!
10. A’Ali
Source: flickr
A’Ali
Sandwiched between Isa Town and the western coast, the charming little backcountry village of A’Ali is the self-proclaimed home of Bahraini arts and crafts.
And one craft in particular takes center stage: pottery.
Head down to the local bazaar and wander between the ceramics shops, watching as the locals whittle and chip their beautiful arabesque designs into the wares.
And once you’ve bagged the souvenirs, be sure to go out of town; to the famous Dilmun burial mounds nearby.
These have revealed secrets of the ancient civilizations of the Persian Gulf, and given evidence for rigid caste systems of more than 5,000 years ago.
11. Al Jasra
Source: flickr
Al Jasra
The handicraft theme continues on in the charming little village of Al Jasra, which sits just where the King Fahd Causeway begins to cross the straits on the western coast.
Now considered one of the major centers of local heritage, the place is home to its very on acclaimed arts and craft center.
That has helped keep the inhabitants weaving and whittling, making pottery and producing interesting arabesque cloth works, all of which are on sale to tourists.
The so-called Al Jasra House is another major sight here.
The former summer residence of Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, it has now been restored to its original beauty with flourishes of coral stone.
12. Qal’at Al Bahrain
Source: flickr
Qal’at Al Bahrain
The major UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bahrain pokes its head above the dusty desert dunes just west of the capital of Manama.
Accessible and easy-to-find, it’s a veritable palimpsest of history.
On the surface, the fortress of Qal’at Al Bahrain bears all the hallmarks of a 6th-century citadel, formerly used by the Portuguese to exert their control over the coast.
But delve deeper and the subterrane reveals another, older, story.
Large mounds that have now been excavated have shown that the site here was occupied since as far back as 2,300 BC, with relics of the Dilmun civilization coming to the fore.
Put simply, it’s a must see for any history buffs!
13. Al Areen
Source: flickr
Al Areen
Al Areen might come peppered with a couple of good hotels and boutique resorts with pools, but lazing isn’t this one’s major draw.
That honor goes to the wildlife reserve, which covers seven square kilometers (and that’s quite a lot for this pint-sized country) in the south-western reaches of the nation.
In actual fact, Al Areen is much more like a zoo than a naturalist park, with enclosures that host Arabian camels and springbok, Nubian gazelles and Arabian oryx, all lining up along the manicured pathways.
You can also see exhibitions of masterful Middle Eastern falconry here.
14. Saar
Source: saarmallbahrain
Saar
Prep the Gucci and the designer ware for this little town on the north-western edge of Bahrain.
Close to the capital, but far enough away to be peaceful and less-bustling, it’s drawn some of the nation’s biggest names.
Ambassadors and oil giants have made their homes here, and a clutch of chichi coffee houses and country clubs and fine dining joints have popped up in their wake.
However, there’s history too, with the awesome remnants of early Dilmun settlements peppering the area, each of which has revealed metalwork and copper ore from millennia gone by.
15. Sitra
Source: albander
Sitra, Bahrain (Al Bander Hotel)
The island of Sitra juts its way out into the Persian Gulf from the eastern edge of Bahrain.
Half consumed by oil conglomerates and half the rustic fishing region it always was, the spot offers an interesting insight into the changing nature of the nation.
You’ll see old agricultural villages like Al Kharijiya and Mahazza slowly transforming into concrete-built towns, and the hulking metal outlines of the rigs in the north.
And when that gets a little tiring, consider making for the Al Dar archipelago: a clutch of beach-fringed resorts and international eateries that lurks just 10 minutes from Sitra’s port by boat.
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