MANAMA TRAVEL GUIDE

Sights & Landmarks In Manama

Bahrain is a magnificent nation renowned for its many historical, religious, and natural attractions. To see all the significant sites, you will need to spend more than one day in this city. In general, tours to the renowned Barbar Temple are quite popular among tourists. The temple complex is a three-story structure. You will also find the ruins of several old altars near the magnificent structure. Some of these altars are extremely ancient, dating back to the third millennium BCE. Seyadi House, which is located in the town of Muhharak, will undoubtedly be mentioned while describing Bahrain’s architectural highlights. This exquisite palace, constructed in 1905, is regarded as a national architectural treasure.

If you take a journey to the community of A’ali, you will see a renowned “royal tombs” complex. Visitors will be able to view the spectacular mounds and an ancient necropolis during an excursion. The hamlet is well-known for its skilled pottery production. Craftsmen of the community pass down their knowledge from generation to generation. Clay is used to create authentic pieces of art, which tourists like purchasing as mementos. Do not overlook Jabal al-Dukhan Mountain, one of the most stunning natural features of this location and the island’s highest point. In close proximity to the mountain, whose height is around 134 meters, is the “Tree of Life,” a longstanding symbol of Bahrain. Imagine a desert with no end and a solitary acacia tree; the landscape is extremely beautiful and fascinates both newcomers and those who return. The age of the tree is greater than 400 years. According to tradition, the acacia is the sole remaining tree from an enormous Garden of Eden that originally covered the majority of the island.

Manama, the capital of Bahrain, is home to a huge number of significant tourist attractions. Here, tourists must not forget to visit the old fort Qal’at al-Bahrain and the exquisite Al-Fateh Mosque. The enormous prayer hall of the mosque can handle around seven thousand prayers simultaneously. The mosque is the country’s largest religious structure. Bayt al-Qur’an is another another fascinating architectural complex that is well worth a visit. The compound has a mosque, a historic library, and a children’s school. The small town of Bani Dzhamran, located around ten kilometers from the city, is highly recommended for those who seek to become familiar with the locals’ daily lives. The community is renowned for its expert weavers who create fabrics of the finest quality. The local weaving shops offer custom-tailored clothing and one-of-a-kind accessories as gifts.

The Bahrain National Museum is a museum that is well worth a visit. It is not only attractive as a museum with intriguing exhibits, but also from an architectural standpoint. Here, you will learn about Bahrain’s history and culture, as well as the locals’ traditional crafts. Evening illumination of the structure evokes the adjectives “glory” and “grace” There is also a museum in the city that is solely devoted to the Bahraini traditional craft of pearl fishing. 

Numerous individuals like to unwind on the Reef Islands due to its tranquility and solitude. This is one of Manama’s newer neighborhoods, featuring a multitude of unique restaurants and towers. The only catch is that you cannot simply stroll here; you must arrange a table at a restaurant (on the way back, you must show a check). Nonetheless, it is worth it due to the nighttime vistas of the island: the word “Eden” comes to mind immediately. Additionally, the city contains two skyscrapers that have become emblems of the city. They are referred to as the Bahrain Financial Harbor. Observe the odd appearance of the high-rise structures, which you must do.

The ruins of the Ad-Diraz Temple will appeal to archaeology enthusiasts and those seeking a sense of history. The journey to the ruins is rather challenging, but the reward is well worth it. Here, you may have a closer look at the local culture and observe for yourself how the excavations were conducted. The al-Khamis mosque is a holy monument that cannot be overlooked. First, it is the state’s oldest mosque (built in 692, construction continued in the 11th, 14th and 15th centuries). Second, it is breathtakingly lovely.

There are a number of intriguing restaurants, exposition centers, and government organizations in the Sanabis neighborhood, all of which merit at least a cursory visit due to the uniqueness of these facilities. Al Fateh, the center for the study of Islam, is an additional location in Manama that is worthy of your attention. This features a mosque and a library containing over 7,000 volumes. Despite the fact that the building’s architecture is quite unremarkable and there are no exceptional attractions, its simplicity is so striking that it impresses even the most discerning traveler. The complex was constructed in 1987 and was given the name of its founder, Bahrain Ahmed Al-Fateh.

Bab Al Bahrain

8AM-12PM and 4:30PM-6PM.

Bahrain’s Gateway is located in Central Manama’s Customs Square. The Tourist Information Office and a handicraft shop are located on the ground level. Every day at 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., sightseeing bus trips depart from this location.

Manama Souq

(Behind Bab Al Bahrain building). 10AM-1PM and 4PM-9PM. 

The souq is a maze of narrow streets lined with modest shops offering anything from souvenirs and presents to electronics. Many gold and jewelry businesses, as well as tailors, can be found in the souq.

Al-Fateh Mosque

One of the world’s largest mosques, it can accommodate over 7,000 people at a time and is Bahrain’s largest place of prayer. It is also one of Bahrain’s most popular tourist destinations. The dome is the world’s biggest fibreglass dome, weighing more than 60,000 kg. The new National Library, which opened to the public in 2006, is located in Al-Fateh.

Corniche al-Fateh

This lovely coastal promenade on the city’s east coast gives nice views of the buildings to the south and planes taking off from the adjacent airport. There are plenty of exciting fair attractions for the kids, as well as shisha bars for the adults.

Museum of Pearl Diving

Pearl Diving Museum Is one of Bahrain’s most prominent historical structures. It is significant since it is Bahrain’s first formal courthouse. The structure was dedicated on October 18, 1937, by Late H.H. Sh. Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, the former Governor of Bahrain. Apart from three Directorates, the building housed four Supreme Courts at the time. The structure was later converted into a Traditional Heritage Center in 1984. The Museum of Pearl Diving is now under the authority of the Directorate of Archaeology and Heritage, one of the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and Information’s main Directorates.

Bahrain National Museum

Al Fateh Highway,  +973 1729 8718. 8AM-8PM. 

Bahrain’s natural and cultural history.

Tree of Life

30 km south of Manama. 

In the middle of an arid desert, there is a famous lonesome tree. Scientists are baffled as to how it thrives because there is no subsurface aquifer or spring under that region. In fact, all subterranean water sources near the tree are tainted with salt, indicating that the tree may have a salt-tolerant mutation.

Bahrain Fort

8AM to 8PM. 

The 14th-century Bahrain Fort on the island’s north shore was erected on the site of Dilmun towns going back to 3,000 BC, according to excavations. The Fort, which has just been refurbished and now has new night lighting, is an exceptional illustration of Bahrain’s rich and old past. In 2005, the Bahrain Fort, also known as Qalat Al Bahrain in Arabic, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bahrain Fort Museum

The first structure houses an exhibition hall and a child learning and training room, while the second houses a conference hall, a cafe with a view of the sea, offices, a technicians suite, and an archeological dormitory.

Bin Matar House: Place of Memory

The Shaikh Ebrahim Center’s latest project, the Bin Matar House, focuses on the restoration of traditional Bahraini residences affiliated with historic Bahraini families and prominent cultural figures. Mussa Bin Hamad, a well-known Bahraini architect, planned and constructed the home in 1905. Salman bin Hussein Matar utilized it as the location for his permanent “majlis” (a room similar to a salon, used to entertain family and guests). It was utilized as a clinic by the famed physician Dr. Bandar Kab in the 1940s, and as the Eslah Club’s headquarters from the 1950s through the 1980s. Until recently, the structure sat vacant and unused, waiting to be dismantled to make room for new development. The house’s ceilings are now fashioned of a palm leaf and wood beam mix, and the walls and flooring have been realistically restored.

Barbar Temple

In the settlement of Barbar, there is an archaeological site. There have been three temples unearthed there, the oldest of which dates back to 3000BC. The temples, which have two altars and a natural water spring, are assumed to have been built to worship gods. Tools, swords, ceramics, and several tiny bits of gold were uncovered during the dig.

Bahrain International Circuit

Even when there are no races, the Bahrain Race Track is worth a visit. Even if you are not a Formula 1 aficionado, you will have an exciting time here. This is, nevertheless, nirvana for motorsport enthusiasts.