Discover 6 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Bahrain. Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Bahrain Fort (Manama), Bahrain National Museum (Manama) or Adhari Park (Manama).
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Bahrain.
Table of Contents
Bahrain Fort, Manama
Also known as: قلعة البحرين
Ruins of a 16th-century Portuguese fort. The Qal'at al-Bahrain, also known as the Bahrain Fort or Portuguese Fort, is an archaeological site located in Bahrain. Archaeological excavations carried out since 1954 have unearthed antiquities from an artificial mound of 12 m height containing seven stratified layers, created by various occupants from 2300 BC up to the 18th century, including Kassites, Greeks, Portuguese& Persians. It was once the capital of the Dilmun civilization and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.[1]
Bahrain National Museum, Manama
Also known as: متحف البحرين الوطني
History and art in Bahrain National Museum. The Bahrain National Museum is the largest and oldest public museum in Bahrain. It is situated in Manama, adjacent to the National Theatre of Bahrain. Opened on 15 December 1988 by the Emir of Bahrain Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the $30 million museum complex covers 27,800 sq meters and is the country's most popular tourist attraction. It is believed to be the region's first modern museum.[2]
Address: Shaikh Hamad Causeway, Manama
Adhari Park, Manama
Also known as: منتزه عذاري
Amusement park in Bahrain. Adhari Park is an amusement park in the Kingdom of Bahrain based around the historic freshwater spring known as Ain Adhari which is located around the Zinj area. In 2003, the site was remodeled and it became a major tourist attraction. In 2006, it was remodeled at a cost of over $23,000,000 US dollars. In 2007, the park is projected to receive over a million visitors. It had opened to the public in 2008 and covers an area of 165,000 square meters. It has 8 outdoor and indoor rides for people of all ages, a Family Entertainment Centre, 1 food outlet at the Food Court, dine in restaurant, and coffee shops. It has 1200 parking spaces.[3]
Address: Sheikh Isa Bin Salman Highway, Manama
Tree of Life, Bahrain Island
Also known as: شجرة الحياة
Tourist attraction in Bahrain. The Tree of Life in Bahrain is a 9.75 meters high Prosopis cineraria tree that is over 400 years old. It is on a hill in a barren area of the Arabian Desert, 2 kilometers from Jebel Dukhan, the highest point in Bahrain, and 40 kilometers from Manama.
The tree is abundantly covered in green leaves. Due to its age and the fact that it is the only major tree growing in the area, the tree is a local tourist attraction and is visited by approximately 65,000 people every year. The yellow resin is used to make candles, aromatics and gum; the beans are processed into meal, jam, and wine.
It is not certain how the tree survives. Bahrain has little to no rain throughout the year. Its roots are 50 meters deep, which may be enough to reach the water. Others say the tree has learned to extract moisture from grains of sand. Some claim that the tree is standing in what was once the Garden of Eden, and so has a more mystical source of water.
In 2009, the tree was nominated to be on the New7Wonders of Nature list, but it did not finish on the list.
In October 2010, archaeologists unearthed 500-year-old pottery and other artefacts in the vicinity of the tree. A soil and dendrochronology analysis conducted in the 1990s concluded that the tree was an Acacia planted in 1582.
The tree was mentioned in the 1991 film L.A. Story, where Steve Martin calls it one of the most mystical places on earth.[4]
Address: 30 km south of Manama, Bahrain Island
Al-Sakhir Palace, Bahrain Island
Also known as: قصر الصخير
Palace in Bahrain. Al-Sakhir Palace, also known as Sakhir Palace, is a palace in the Sakhir desert region of western Bahrain. The palace lies off the Zallaq Highway, northeast of the Bahrain International Circuit, the town of Zallaq and the University of Bahrain. It lies southwest of Sadad, Shahrakan and Dar Kulaib, the nearest town to the palace.[5]
Ain Umm Sujoor, Bahrain Island
Also known as: عين أم السجور
Archaeological site in Diraz, Bahrain. The Ain Umm Sujoor is an archaeological site located in the village of Diraz, Bahrain. Believed to have been built during the 3rd millennium BC, the site consists of an oval hollow, approximately 60x30 meters, with two wells, several rooms and ovens. It has been largely neglected in recent times.[6]