Travelling

flag Bahrain Bahrain: Travelling

In this page: Entry Requirements | Organising Your Trip | Visiting | Living Conditions | Eating | Paying | Speaking | Useful Resources

 

Entry Requirements

Passport and Visa Service
Bahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bahrein
For Further Information
 
Check IATA Travel Website for visa requirements and health advices.
 

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Organising Your Trip


Transportation From Airport to City Centre:


Airport

Distance

Taxi

Bus

Train

Car Rental
Bahrain International Airport 6 km / 4 miles 15 minutes / 4 BHD 30 minutes / 0.2 BHD No rail connection Possible to rent a car

Major airlines

Name Type Domestic Flights International Flights
Gulf Air Traditional No Yes

You Can Consult The EU Air Safety List. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

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Visiting

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical
One of the largest prehistoric cemeteries in the world (A'Ali) can be found in Bahrain, on the site of the port city of Dilmun; the old fort Qal al-Bahrain and Capital of Dilmun is on the World Heritage list; the Qala'at Arad was originally built by the Portuguese in the 15th century; the historic palace Beit Sheikh Isa bin Ali and the Beit Seyadi traditional house located in Muharraq; Bahrain gate (Bab al Bahrain) originally built by the British in 1945 and "orientalized" in 1986; the al Jasra traditional house, built in the early 20th century is the birthplace of the emir Sheikh Isa bin Ancier Sulman al-Khalifa.
Cultural
A number of traditional crafts are still practiced in today's Bahrain, such as the construction of wooden fishing boats (dhows), pottery and weaving. The highly popular Bahrain National Museum offers a comprehensive introduction to the kingdom's history; the Fort Museum and Al Oraifi Museum contain artifacts from the Dilmun era. The International Exhibition Center hosts musical performances and the National Theatre of Bahrain with its 750-seat auditorium is a great venue for concerts, conferences, performances, etc.. La Fontaine Centre for Contemporary Arts exhibits works of both regional and international artists. Qal al-Bahrain, the Ancient Harbour and Capital of Dilmun, is on the World Heritage list, together with traditional harvesting and the pearl oysters industry.
Nature
Bahrain has two sites on the Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance, the natural reserve of the Hawar Islands and the Bay of Tubli, rich in marine flora and fauna, birds and mangroves. The Al Areen Nature Reserve is a sanctuary containing more than 500 species of animals and birds. Other places to visit are the Bahrain Tree of Life (Al Hayat Shajarat), which grows in the middle of the desert and flowers twice a year despite the absence of a known source of water, and the vertical garden designed by Patrick Blanc and containing more than 200 varieties of plants.
Religious
Bahrain has a number of different religious sites, including the Al Fateh Grand Mosque, which can accommodate 7000 worshipers, the Friday Mosque (not accessible to tourists) and the ancient temples of Barbar and Ad Diraz.
Beach
Bahrain is not an ideal destination for a beach holiday but the isalnds Al Dar and Amwaj have beautiful beaches and there are many private and/or artificial beaches, for example in Coral Bay.
Winter Sports
A project of a large fun resort dedicated to winter sports is under preparation.
Outdoor Activities
Bahrain offers a variety of outdoor sports. Football is the most popular team sport. Traditional sports include horse and camel races and falconry. Along the coast there are possibiltiies for swimming, underwater diving, windsurfing, water-skiing and fishing. There is an international Formula 1 circuit and a karting lane (Viva Karting Bahrain) in Manama.
Shopping
Bahrain offers a wide range of products and outlets. The traditional market (souk) in Manama, located just behind Bab Al Bahrain, has countless shops - from tiny outdoor stalls to department stores. Here, you can find clothes, electronic products, spices, tobacco, incense, antiques, gold and many good bargains. In Manama, Adliya and Isa Town there are many carpet dealers, while Gold City has more than 150 stores offering a wide selection of jewelry. The Craft Centre Bahrain, run entirely by women, has contributed to the revival of traditional crafts such as weaving, making paper from palm leaves, pottery and metalwork. The country also has many modern shopping centers (malls), the most famous being Bahrain City Centre, Bahrain Mall, Dana Mall, Moda Mall, Seef Mall, Al Aali Shopping Complex and Marina Mall.

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Living Conditions

Health and Safety

Health Precautions
Vaccination against yellow fever is obligatory for those coming from at-risk countries. In addition to updating existing vaccines, vaccination against hepatitis A and typhoid are recommended. Vaccination against hepatatis B and rabies can be recommended for some travellers. Sanitary standards of most foodstuffs and water are usually very high, especially in large hotels, but it is recommended to use bottled water.
International Hospitals
Bahrein has high-quality medical services, good hospitals and modern healthcare centres in small towns. These include the American Mission Hospital, the Awali Hospital, the Bahrein International Hospital and the Bahrein Specialist Hospital, which all offer walk-in medical consultations.
For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions
Ministry of Health
Information from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention of the US Government
WHO country profile
For Further Information on Safety Conditions
Advice to travellers from the Canadian goverment
Advice to travellers from the US government
 

Emergency Numbers

National emergency number 999
Ambulance 998
Firefighters 997
Traffic police 199
Coastal guard 994
Emergency, Injuries 990
Emergency, Criminal Investigation Bureau 992
 

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Time Difference and Climate

Time and Time Difference
It is %T:%M %A In Manama (GMT+3)
Summer Time Period
April/May to September/October
 

Map of the Time Zone

Time zone

Type of Climate
Bahrain alternates between two seasons: a very hot and humid summer (May to September), with temperatures reaching between 80 and 100 Fahrenheit, and a relatively mild and pleasant winter with temperatures between 68 and 86 Fahrenheit.
Hotel reservation websites
Bureau of Meteorology
 

Average Annual Temperatures and Rainfall

Climate

 

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Eating

Food Specialties
The Bahraini culinary specialties include the pitta bread, hommos, falafels, shawarma (marinated lamb or chicken cooked on a stick). Sambousas, crusty pastries with a variety of fillings, are sold on the souks. Dessers are made with ingredients such as rice and dates. Halva and baklava are also popular choices.
Drinks
The most popular beverages are tea and coffee, which is drank with cardamom. Another choice is fruit juice.
Dietary Restrictions
The Muslim population in Bahrain neither drinks alcohol nor eats pork and consumes "hallal" products.

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Paying

Domestic Currency
Baraini Dinar
ISO Code
BHD
To Obtain Domestic Currency
Money can be easily exchanged in any commercial bank or exchange office.
Possible Means of Payment
Most payments must be made in cash. Very few people use credit or debit cards for small purchases. It is very rare to use cheques. There are more than 300 cashpoints in Bahrain, most of them in service 24/7.

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Speaking

Official Language
Arabic
Other Languages Spoken
English, Farsi, and Urdu
Business Language
English

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Useful Resources

To Find a Job
Clarendon Parker Bahrain
Bayt Bharain

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Latest Update: October 2024