Khamis Mosque is believed to be the first mosque in Bahrain, built during the era of the Umayyad caliph Omer II. It is considered to be one of the oldest relics of Islam in the region with the foundation of the mosque believed to have been laid as early as 692 AD.

Arad Fort is a 15th century fort in Arad built in a typical Arab style. Close to the Bahrain International Airport, the fort has been extensively renovated and presents a magnificent sight when it is illuminated at night. Little is known of the history of the fort and there is no firm evidence of the precise date of construction; however, comprehensive excavations are in process in order to discover its past.

Bab Al Bahrain means 'Gate of Bahrain' and is located in Manama's central business district. Built by the British in the 1940s, it housed the government offices of the time and marked the coastline which since has been reclaimed.

Manama Souq is a bustling marketplace with numerous traditional as well as modern shops. The souq (marketplace) is located in the heart of the city, near Bab Al Bahrain. All kinds of spices, fabrics, kaftans, handicrafts, souvenirs, dry fruits, nuts, and just about everything one can imagine are on view and available for purchase.

Gold Souq. The Gold Souq is well worth a visit, and all the gold on displayed is of the highest purity and hallmarked as 18 carat and 21 carat. The Bahraini pearls available for sale are the only natural pearls in the world today and every one unique.

Barbar Temple is an important archaeological site located in the village of Barbar. The most recent of the three Barbar temples was discovered by a Danish archaeological team in 1954. A further two temples were discovered on the site with the oldest dating back to 3,000 BCE.

Bahrain Fort is an archaeological site composed of an artificial mound created by human habitation ranging in age from 2,300 BCE up to the 17th century CE. Archaeological evidence indicates that the site once served the capital of the Dilmun civilization, and most recently as a Portuguese fort. Due to its archaeological importance it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.

Dilmun Burial Mounds. The Dilmun Burial Mounds is a necropolis dating back to the Dilmun era. A Danish group excavating what they considered a city of the Bronze Age came across artifacts dating back to around 4,100 - 3,700 BCE within the tumuli.

King Fahd Causeway is a multiple causeway and bridges combination connecting Khobar, Saudi Arabia with the island nation of Bahrain. The 25 kilometer causeway officially opened to traffic on November 25, 1986.

The Tree of Life is a 400-year old mesquite tree in Bahrain considered a natural wonder. This lone tree rises from the desert and nurtured by a source of water the origin of which remains a mystery as no aquifers are known to exist at the tree’s location

Siyadi House This is one of the most impressive examples of a 19th century house built by the pearl merchant Ahmed Bin Qassem Siyadi, and has many fine features to look out for, including ornate ceilings, stained-glass windows, carved screens and a large safe set into the wall of a small, upper reception room.

Salman bin Ahmed Al Fateh Fort Standing on a low escarpment overlooking the valley between East and West Riffa, the fort held an ideal strategic position during the 18th century. In more recent times, it was used as a private dwelling, but it has now been restored and is open to the public. A section in Arabic calligraphy, including a beautiful display of illuminated Qur'an and other religious documents, is breathtaking, and course of visit would not be complete without viewing the traditional trades and crafts which have been cleverly displayed in a reconstruction of a typical souk of the 1930s.

Al-Jasra House The house was built by Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla Al Khalifa in 1907, and was the birthplace of the late Amir in July 1933. When the family moved to Riffa later in the 1930s the building fell into disrepair, but was restored in 1986 and is now open to the public.

Shaikh Isa's house in the old town of Muharraq, was once the home of Shaikh Isa Bin Ali Al Khalifa, the ruler of Bahrain at that time. It provides a fine example of local architecture, complete with wind tower, wall carvings and lattice work, and is representative of traditional 19th century life.

A'ali Pottery Workshop You can watch the potters at work at the A'ali Pottery Workshop where traditional methods using ancient kilns in a tradition that has been handed down generation after generation.

Al Jasra Handicrafts Centre Located in the village of Al Jasra, you experience the practice of local crafts where the centre is divided into small rooms, each containing craftsmen engaged in the traditional arts of pottery, cloth and basket weaving. Souvenirs are also available for purchase

Textile Weaving Located in the village of Bani Jamra, weavers produce works of arts on their manually operated looms. The looms need excellent co-ordination with nearly 2,600 threads extending for about 30 meters.

The Craft Centre The craft centre is run entirely by Bahraini women and has some of the most exquisite creations you will find, ranging from jewellery, iron, wood and paper products to embroidered and crocheted goods as well as highly artistic Arabic calligraphy.

For modern-style shopping, there are state of the art malls. Of the biggest malls, Bahrain City Centre, Al A’ali Shopping Complex and Seef Mall are located in the Seef area, and Bahrain Mall and Dana Mall are located in the adjacent Sanabis area. The newly-opened Sitra Mall is a little further off Sitra bridge.

Other smaller, centrally located malls offer a wide variety of goods. The malls include the Yateem Centre (located in the Manama souq), Marina Mall, Lulu Mall (well known for fabrics), GOSI Centre (specializing in telecommunications products and accessories) and Moda Mall, (better known as the Sheraton Complex due to its proximity to the hotel), which is rapidly expanding.

For a complete shopping in Bahrain visiting the traditional souqs is a must. The biggest and most popular is the Manama souq. Others well worth a visit are the Muharraq Souq, the Iranian souq in Isa Town (second hand goods, low cost household items and a bird market), Souq Waqif in Hamad Town (fresh fruit and vegetables), and of course Manama Central Market and the Fish Market, provide a fascinating insight into local trading and produce.

The suburbs are well served by Riffa Mall, Al Alawi complex in Nwaidrat and Isa Town Mall – each serving their local community with a cross section of goods. Other malls, with a food retailer as the anchor store, include Jawad Dome in Barbar, the Najibi Centre at Saar, and Al Jazira Centre in Mahooz.

You can’t miss Ramez, a huge multi-purpose store; it is the right place for bargain hunters and families alike, selling a mixture of household. It’s the perfect place to stock up in bulk for parties or other celebrations, or simply for those with big families.

It’s true to say that Bahrain boasts a multitude of other unique, individual retail outlets, too numerous to mention, scattered around the suburbs of Manama and beyond. There are handmade chocolates to sample, designer boutiques, local art galleries, antique stores and artifact sellers galore.

Bahrain City Centre

Al A’ali Shopping Complex

A shopping mall with traditional Bahraini motifs and elements, it hosts Bahrain elite shopping brands.

Bahrain Mall

Yateem Centre