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Asia Bahrain Bahrain Do & See Bahrain National Museum

Overview

Bahrain National Museum

The guide was updated: 2022-10-11

Housed in an impressive building that seems to float effortlessly on calm waters, Bahrain's National Museum is the country's most visited attraction. It provides a thorough and fascinating tour through the archaeological, artistic and cultural history of the country, with its numerous exhibits, including traditional handicrafts, manuscripts and burial mounds.

Useful Information

Address: Shaikh Hamad Causeway, Manama
Opening hours: Daily: 10am-6pm, closed on Tuesday
Website: www.culture.gov.bh/en/authority/cultural_sites/BahrainNationalMuseum
Phone: +973 17 298 777

Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.

*this will be downloaded as a PDF.

Price

€4,95

Purchase

Bahrain National Museum

Bahrain National Museum

Housed in an impressive building that seems to float effortlessly on calm waters, Bahrain's National Museum is the country's most visited attraction. It provides a thorough and fascinating tour through the archaeological, artistic and cultural history of the country, with its numerous exhibits, including traditional handicrafts, manuscripts and burial mounds.

Al Fatih Grand Mosque

Al Fatih Grand Mosque

Bahrain's grand mosque, named after the founder of the country, is a sight to behold. It's one of the largest mosque in the world, accommodating 7,000 worshipers and containing a library with many ancient volumes. Its precious materials were brought from all over the world and processed by local craftspeople: visitors have been endlessly fascinated by the huge domes and the beautiful calligraphy ornamenting the walls. Guided tours are available daily for free in both English and Arabic.

Bahrain Fort

Bahrain Fort

Just outside of Manama lies the imposing, centuries-old Qal'at al-Bahrain, originally built by the Portuguese in order to defend their outposts in the Gulf. The site has been in use for almost 5,000 years, and the archaeological digs around the fort showcase the rich history of the area, including ruins of two earlier forts.

Tree of Life

Tree of Life

An old belief says that Bahrain was the location of the Garden of Eden: this majestic tree is considered to be all what is left of it. At over 400 years old, this solitary mesquite tree has survived in the desert for centuries, and is believed to be the site where ancient cults practiced worshipping rituals. A small visitor centre welcomes visitors to the site.

Shaikh Isa bin Ali House

Shaikh Isa bin Ali House

This majestic building of Beit Sheikh Isa Bin Ali Al Khalifa was once the seat of power for the ruling Sheikh, and it is one of the finest and best-preserved traditional Gulf buildings found anywhere. A marvel of architecture, the rooms are kept quite cool in the summer heat through an inventive system of draft towers. Though unfurnished, the meticulous decoration in the different rooms deserves hours of examining.

Pearl Diving Tours

Pearl Diving Tours

A long-standing industry for the island, which is recognized to have some of the finest pearls in the world, pearl diving has recently become available also to tourists. Licensed companies will take visitors off Ras Rayyah Port to both expert and non-qualified snorkelling sites for up to 2 hours diving sessions. All pearls which have been found can be kept!

Bahrain National Theatre

Bahrain National Theatre

Emerging from the placid waters just as the nearby National Museum, the National Theatre is one of the biggest theater in the Arab world. It hosts performances by some of the foremost artists in the world, ranging from classical music and ballet to contemporary shows. The impressive architectural achievement owns much to local tradition with the wooden interiors and the 1,001 seats inspired by the world-famous Arabic tales.

Bahrain International Circuit

Bahrain International Circuit

A must-see for motorsports enthusiasts, Bahrain Formula 1 racetrack is a modern structure located just at the heart of Shakir desert. Beside Bahrain Grand Prix it hosts many events and offers tours as well as a variety of driving experiences.

Dilmun Burial Mounds

Dilmun Burial Mounds

This burial site complex is believed to be the largest prehistoric cemetery in the world, encompassing thousands of burial mounds spread throughout the island's northern area. Dating as far back as the Dilmun era, some of the tombs are incredibly well preserved, particularly those around the village of A'Ali.

Oil Museum

Oil Museum

Bahrain owes much of its wealth to the oil reserves present on the island, and Dar al-Naft Oil Museum, housed in an impressive white building at the site where oil was first discovered, provides insights into the oil industry in Bahrain through exhibits and photographs. The country's first, rather primitive oil well, dating from 1932, can also be admired.

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