Our welcomeYour pleasure

Our hospitality: it is, perhaps, the thing that impresses when you arrive; and what lingers longest once you’ve left. Being a trading nation that has welcomed the world for over 4,000 years, putting our guests first has become second nature. To visit Bahrain is to know Bahrainis. Our people are our most precious natural resource. Their readiness to smile and eagerness to help are legendary.

And we couldn’t be easier to find. Our cluster of thirty-three islands sits happily in the heart of the Gulf. Flights from most cities in the region take less than an hour. Saudi Arabia is a short drive across the causeway. Cruise passengers can pay a relaxed call on Manama, our capital, or historic Muharraq from nearby Khalifa Bin Salman Port.

And wherever in the world you’re travelling from, our navigable and well-connected airport makes Bahrain the gateway to the Gulf.

Our historyYour adventure

4,500 years ago, the Dilmun people were the first to settle in Bahrain, making a home on islands surrounded by waters rich in both fish and pearls. They have left their mark on our landscape, our culture and our spirit.

Visit Bahrain Fort, one of the Gulf’s few UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and discover perhaps the region’s richest archaeological treasure trove. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Pearl Trail, and find out why Jacques Cartier followed in the footsteps of our Dilmun forebears, seeking pearls – and inspiration – for some of his most spectacular jewellery.

And everywhere, but especially in Muharraq City, there is evidence of the old and venerable living comfortably alongside sleek, 21st-century modernity.

Our calendar Your choices

Whenever you visit us, you’ll find something happening. It might be the rush of Formula 1 or the riches of the annual Spring of Culture. It could be the global rhythms of the International Music Festival or the aerial thrills of the International Airshow. It might even be the shopoholic’s utopia: Shop Bahrain, which takes place every autumn.

Besides these headline events, there is plenty more to get up to. Aspiring Lewis Hamiltons can challenge themselves on the kart track at Bahrain International Circuit. You can venture into the desert in intrepid 4x4s. You can make a splash in one of three water parks, dive to the pearl beds or swim with dolphins.

Or you can… just… do… nothing… in the blissful calm of a five-star spa.

Our cafésYour conversation

Café society thrives in Bahrain. Block 338 in Manama, with its dozens of restaurants, cafés and galleries, is a vibrant, vivacious hub of great food and excellent conversation. Easy to stroll around, it has a buzz that is unique in the Gulf. At its heart you’ll find Al Riwaq Gallery, which showcases the best art from both Bahrain’s burgeoning scene and from around the world.

Our retailYour therapy

is a sensory experience. Take in the scents of a

Like any self-respecting Gulf nation, Bahrain has malls to die for, where you can shop for the world’s most desirable fashions, accessories and gadgets in marbled splendour. But you can’t leave us without also visiting Manama’s ancient souk. A mall from the pre-air-conditioning age, it truly

myriad of spices and the hubbub of a thousand traders, while you admire – and perhaps even buy – colourful, hand-woven carpets, Bahraini pearl jewellery, finely wrought gold and exquisite silk prints.

Our luxuryYour relaxation

Given our long, long history of hospitality, you would expect us to have our share of fine hotels. We don’t disappoint. We’re especially proud of our newest landmark, the Four Seasons in Bahrain Bay, where Michelin-starred Wolfgang Puck has created distinctive dining experiences across three restaurants.

Bahrain offers you a wide selection of four- and five-star hotels, comfortable, spacious serviced apartments – ideal for larger families and extended stays – and five-star spas that offer tented luxury in the perfect stillness and silence of the desert.

Our prideYour joy

We hope you have enjoyed this brief paper tour of our country. It would give us even greater pleasure to welcome you for the real thing.

When can you come?

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