Bahrain - Pearl of the Middle East

 

Bahrain country is the smallest of the six GCC nations in terms of area and is made up of several islands (32 to be exact), although  its all so seamlessly connected via causeways and bridges so its quite difficult to make out. In terms of connectivity, Gulf air flies from most cities to Bahrain direct. Others might have a stop over at UAE, India , Oman or Germany etc. depending from where you’re coming.

First Impressions: 

As you land into the international airport at Muharraq you see the old houses and downtown Muharraq. Airport is pretty smooth in terms of immigration and check out. Currency exchanges are available offering good rates as well as telecom operators selling sim cards. Good duty free is available at the departure lounge.

Typically most operators provide two types of tours

City Tours which covers  

• Al Fateh Mosque - definitely a must visit when in Bahrain. This place is not only a prayer house (the largest mosque in Bahrain) but also a religious center of learning (ISA cultural center) . Take a short guided tour around the premises to know more about Islam , Islamic culture and the mosques history. Thereafter busk in the beauty of the mosque from the courtyards
• Bahrain National Museum - didn’t get to visit as it’s closed on Tuesdays (bear this in Mind)
• Bahrain Fort - an old fort of around 400-500 years built by the portuguese. Well maintained and beautiful views of the sea on one side and the city on the other side. Audio tour options are available
• Muharraq old houses walking tour - definitely a must visit .. showcases the old city with the heritage homes of eminent Bahrainis which are restored by the govt and converted into a tourist pad. I suggest taking a guided tour to understand best about each house or point of interest. Catch a coffee at the traditional coffee shop. The whole place makes for a very interesting photo stop with the narrow passage ways , coral walls etc which would transport you into a Bahrain some 300-400 years ago when it was a region of fishermen, subsistence agriculture, and camel farms. 
• Central Market and Bab al Bahrain - great place to buy trinkets and souvenirs at cheaper prices and scope to Bargain.  Good souvenirs from Bahrain include incense (called “Oud”), perfumes, handicrafts, textile, dates etc

In the Desert Tour, Typically one would see the countryside of Bahrain in this tour which includes the oil wells (including the regions first oil well), refineries , Camel farms and in the same trip the Bahrain F1 circuit and famous “tree of life” can also be covered. There is also a pottery workshop and display center which can be visited in this same trip. The whole trip could take unto 4-5 hours depending on traffic but is worth the do. You get to experience the offbeat and the country side of Bahrain and see Bahraini villages and small towns going about their normal business.

Food -

Bahrain is akin a global Food hub or a massive food court due to more than half the population being migrant. Food is reasonably priced at mid range restuarants but for a finer dining experience high end options are also available at the star hotels and gourmet restaurants. From local bahraini , arabic to italian, Indian, Chinese and much more. One cuisine worth mentioning and trying in Bahrain is Yemeni. (Mandi, Dejaj, Broth and Kunafa). Lots of Yemeni and Indian restaurants in particular. Suggestion is to avoid eating at malls where you have the run of the mill global brands, but rather savor local cuisines and delicacies from street side restaurants. Also offers the local experience of eating.

General Tips

• Carry water at all times, and a cap to protect from noon heat
• Bets time to visit Oct - March. During the time of Nov - Dec - Jan its hot during the day but the mornings are peasant and evenings are actually pretty chilly. 
• When visiting holy places like the mosque etc cover fully (no shorts , slippers etc.). Go early to beat crowds
• Buy Souvenirs at the Central market near Bab Al Bahrain gate. Lots of choice available and you can bargain a little for best prices
• Preferably Use Uber for taxi as flagged taxis might quote more than meter and can be expensive.  Public transport isn’t very robust and there is no metro / subway in Bahrain. Keep that in mind. So any commute , its better to have a pre-organised tour or use Ubers. 

Malls and Shopping 

Go Mall hopping  . There are about 8-10 malls and each one has something unique to offer brand Wise and experience wise. Prices at malls can be steep so do check for sales and discounts that run thru the year

Other experiences available in Bahrain include Scuba Diving, Go karting and F1 at world class racing tracks , Horse Riding.

Preferred your operators

Visit Bahrain (www.visitbahrain.bh) is what i used. Very professional agency. Fantastic tour guides, well maintained vehicles with Wifi , refreshments and water provided. Very timely , professional and courteous. Would highly recommend this agency. They are also one of the few operators that offer group / shared tours which is ideal if traveling solo or couples.

All in all, the pearl city makes for a good break for about 2-3 days at best. Being a small country you can complete all sight seeing in a couple of days and keep an extra day for shopping and general wandering about in malls or pubs. The currency is very powerful so rates might seem small but bear in Mind 1 Bahrain Dinar can be as much as 2.5-3 USD. Saudi Riyals are also traded as a alternate currency but do keep USD in handy as its the safest and most exchanged currency.