Bahrain

A traditional market full of hand-crafted items and family-run workshops welcomes visitors into the characteristic district of A'Ali. Artisans' hands model the clay on top of old-fashioned revolving wheels according to techniques which has remained unchanged through generations.

Showaiter family has been synonyms with halwa in Bahrain for over 150 years. Learn about all the secrets behind the preparation of this extremely sugary Middle-Eastern sweet in its Bahraini version at the Muharraq Factory and buy some of the bright gelatinous cake at the end of your tour.

With its red brick facade and fortress build, this huge mall was designed to evoke the history and tradition of Bahraini architecture, along with the palm trees, torches and water features found within. It contains everything the modern shopper could need, department stores, boutiques, restaurants and more.

For an authentic local shopping experience there is no better place than Manama Souq, the old bazaar of Manama. Look for the best bargains and haggle with traders in this melting pot of alleys and narrow streets. Its numerous stalls and shops sell everything you may long for: from spices, jewelry and gold items to colorful textiles and handcraft rugs. Several souvenirs shops and street-food kiosks can also be found in the market.

One of the most popular shops with tourists in the Manama Souq, Kingdom of Perfumes has a dizzying array of fragrances from around the world. All the popular brands are represented, but the real jewels here are the locally created perfumes with all manner of fresh ingredients from the area.

Bahrain is famous worldwide for the quality of its pearls and work in gold. The exclusive showrooms at Gold City, a continuation of the Gold Souq founded by Indian immigrants, showcase some the country's very best precious metals and gems, worked with incredible skill into true works of art. You are assured to find only natural pearls at Gold City.

One of the best parts of the souq experience is the feast for the senses that are the spice sellers. Their stall feature heaps of colourful and fragrant herbs and spices from around the world, along with other treats like seeds, dried fruit, lentils and countless other delicacies.