Its economy once nourished by Persian Gulf pearls—and now supported by Persian Gulf oil—the Kingdom of Bahrain is an archipelago that showcases the Middle East in a fairly liberal and tourist-friendly form. Travelers from neighboring countries and around the globe come here for entertainment, recreation, and a culture rooted in thousands of years of colorful history. Although the Arab Spring has unsettled Bahraini society to some extent—so it’s worth reading up on the current situation before planning your itinerary—but the country remains something of a regional tourist magnet.
This smattering of nearly 40 islands—not far offshore from Saudi Arabia and Qatar on the Arabian Peninsula—has seen some heavy-hitting rulers over the millennia, from the homegrown Dilmun civilization (mentioned in the Epic of Gilgamesh) to the Babylonians, Persians, Arabs, Portuguese, and British. For its modest topside real estate, Bahrain boasts a formidable (and fantastic) collection of archaeological sites and monuments: the former Dilmun capital of Qal’at al-Bahrain; the Dilmun tombs and temples of Sar; several vintage Arab forts such as Abu Mahir; ancient burial grounds such as A’ali; and many other treasures of antiquity. You can learn more—and see some amazing collections of artifacts—in the Bahrain National Museum.
If history doesn’t interest you, Bahrain’s dining, shopping, and nightlife may well captivate. In this relatively laidback Muslim society, you can quaff booze and groove to many a musical genre in bustling clubs. One of the country’s best-known and most popular spectacles is the annual Grand Prix Formula One race.
Meanwhile, you can get a firsthand sense of Bahrain’s pearl-diving legacy, the richness of its Persian Gulf waters, and the caliber of its sunshine in many seaside hubs—from Muharraq to the Hawar Islands (a wildlife hotspot).
From its Formula One racetrack to its crumbling Dilmun ruins, Bahrain has a mighty broad spread of attractions. Ongoing mass protests are a reminder that its post-2011 course is a volatile one, but we can all hope that the country maintains its longstanding social and religious tolerance.
10 things not to miss.
- Tree of LifeVisit the Tree of Life
- Bahrain Fort at sunsetSee Bahrain Fort at sunset
- pearl-diving heritage trailTour the pearl-diving heritage trail
- Burial Mounds of A’aliThe city of A’ali includes an ancient necropolis of the Bronze Age Dilmun civilization.
- Bahrain FortThe Portuguese-built fort’s the tip of the iceberg: Its tell (mound) has been used for millennia, including for the Dilmun capital.
- Hawar IslandsThis Persian Gulf archipelago offers up lovely beaches and wildlife-watching—look for endemic Socotra cormorants as well as dolphins and dugongs.
- Bahrain International CircuitThis desert racetrack hosts an immensely popular Grand Prix Formula One contest every year.
- Manama SouqWith the vintage Bab Al Bahrain building as its gateway, the central bazaar is among the Bahraini capital’s chief attractions.
- National Museum of BahrainOrient yourself to Bahrain’s thousands of years of human history at Manama’s excellent museum, which includes the Babylonian Durand Stone.
- Oil MuseumBahrain’s modern history is inextricably linked to black gold; this informative museum sits near the site of the country’s first oil well.
