Bahrain International Airport is on Muharraq Island, 6 km north-east of Manama. Flight time from London is 6 hrs. It has 24-hr banking, restaurant and cafeteria, bar, car rental and a tourist information desk. Award-winning Bahrain Duty Free offers some of the lowest duty free prices in the world. In addition to the above it has outlets selling electronics, music, food, toys, luxury goods and a fairly good bookshop by usual airport standards. Good place to buy cameras, camcorders, mobile phones. If you like to take a chance, you can enter the draw for a luxury car. It is pricey, but the draw is generally limited to 1,000 tickets.
Airport to City Centre
Taxis are ranked outside the terminal. Expect to pay BD5 for the 15-min drive into Manama. Car hire costs about BD15-20 per day for a basic, 4-door model. A prestige vehicle such as a Mercedes will cost up to BD50 per day. Weekly car hire ranges from BD60 to BD275. Most international hotels provide a pick-up service, or your host should send a limousine.
Orientation
Manama is situated on the northern tip of Bahrain island, the biggest of the 33 isles that make up the archipelago of Bahrain. It measures 50 km long by 16 km wide and is as flat as a board, with the exception of Jebel Dukhan, a rocky outcrop rising to 134 m from the centre of the island and the highest point in Bahrain. From the top of the Jebel you can see right across the island from coast to coast, though it’s mainly a military area at present so you may be prevented from climbing it. Bahrain is connected to Saudi Arabia, Muharraq Island and Sitra by several causeways. The bulk of the population lives in or around Manama and Muharraq, and in Isa Town and Hamad Town, south of Manama. The city centre is the area between King Faisal Highway on the northern shore and Shaikh Abdulla Avenue to the south. The main street through the city centre is Government Ave, which runs between the Hilton Hotel and Shuwalfiyah Ave. Bab Al Bahrain is no longer the ‘nerve centre’, as the commercial area of Manama has expanded considerably in recent years. Many banks, financial institutions and Government Ministries are located in the Diplomatic Area at the north-eastern end of the King Faisal Highway. 
Al Seef District, to the west along the Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Highway, is the latest area to be developed and is intended as Bahrain’s smart new business district. Citibank has built its new Bahrain headquarters here and a number of residential and commercial complexes and prestigious office towers are springing up in the area between Le Royal Méridien hotel and the hugely popular Seef Mall and Al A’ali Shopping Complex. The Bahrain International Exhibition Centre, Bahrain Mall and Al Dana Mall are located opposite on the other side of the Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Highway.
Excursions    boka flygbiljett - boka flyg - Queensway Travel
Al Dar Island: A perfect retreat from the hustle and heat of central Manama, just 10 mins off the Bahrain coast by speedboat. Apart from the full range of water sports, snorkelling and swimming in the beautiful azure waters, beach barbecues are laid on. You can even catch your own lunch and prepare it in traditional Bahraini style. 
Hawar Resort: Hawar Resort and Hotel is located on Hawar, an archipelago of more than 16 islands. The beach resort is the only commercial property of its kind on the islands. Access being only by sea, the hotel operates a hovercraft and three speedboats, which transport guests to the resort. Mountain bikes are hired out for adventure rides around the island, within the hotel’s property. Boat departure timings are flexible and are scheduled according to group requirements. Water sports are the unique attraction at the Hawar Resort Hotel, which offers jet skis, paddleboats, banana boats and water skis. Fishing trips continue to be a favourite with Europeans and Arab tourists alike, and horse-riding is turning out to be another major attraction.
Getting Around
Taxi fares within the city start at 800fils and should cost no more than BD2. Taxis have orange sidewings and yellow number plates, and can be hired from stands outside the main hotels and tourist attractions, though you’ll get a cheaper ride than if you start walking along the road and wait for the inevitable passing cab to ‘toot’ at you for business.
What to see
National Museum: Opened in 1988 at a cost of BD11 million, the popularity of Bahrain’s National Museum with visitors and tourists has gone up dramatically. The venue consists of three exhibition halls, an art gallery and auditorium. Exhibits include contemporary Bahraini paintings, sculptures and ceramics, and a reconstruction of a burial mound. 
Saar Archaeological Dig: A settlement existed at Saar around 5,000 years ago in the Dilmun era. This ancient town was the subject of an annual dig by the London-Bahrain Expedition throughout the 1990s and much has been uncovered, including a temple, rows of houses and a central marketplace. You can even see a bread oven exactly like those still in use in some Bahraini villages today. A display of artefacts found at the site is exhibited in the portacabins, though many pieces are now in the National Museum. 
Bahrain Fort (the Portuguese Fort): Less than 10 mins drive from downtown Manama and 5 mins from Le Royal Méridien hotel, this is one of the most important archaeological sites in the country. Surrounded by date farms, the impressive reconstruction of this substantial 14c fort takes at least an hour to get round – it’s particularly captivating at sunset when you can watch from the ramparts as the sun sinks into the sea. 
Heritage Centre: The old Law Court building. The centre gives a valuable insight into traditional Bahraini life via exhibits of fishing, falconry, pearl diving, modern art and weaponry. It also has a fine collection of traditional costumes and musical instruments plus a photographic archive tracing the development of Bahrain through the ages. On Government Avenue, near Bab Al-Bahrain. 
Shaikh Isa bin Ali House and Siyadi House: These two houses are located in the old part of Muharraq. The former was used as the centre of government from 1869 to 1932. Built in traditional style, it is an excellent example of local 19c construction incorporating coral stones, gypsum and palm tree trunks. Open Sat-Thurs 0800-1400 and Mon and Tues 1530-1830. Siyadi House is an enchanting, multi-storeyed house that once belonged to a wealthy pearl merchant named Ahmed bin Jassim Siyadi. Well worth a visit to view the gypsum designs, engraved wooden windows and stained glass, though it’s only open Thurs from 1600-1800. 
Al Jasra House: This was the birthplace of the late Amir of Bahrain, Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa. Built in 1907, it fell into disrepair in the 1940s but was restored in 1986 and is now a heritage museum providing a fascinating insight into the way of life in Bahrain before the discovery of oil. 
Beit Al Quran: The House of Korans was built to house a unique and precious collection of holy Korans and related Islamic manuscripts. The complex also comprises a library, mosque, auditorium, school and museum. Opposite Diplomat Radisson SAS Hotel, southern end of Diplomatic area. 
Bab Al-Bahrain: The Gateway to Bahrain, designed by Sir Charles Belgrave in 1945 as government offices, was refurbished in 1986, introducing classic Islamic architectural features. Today it houses the Directorate of Tourism and also serves as the entrance to the souk. Maps and guides available, while the handicrafts shop here is an excellent place to pick up good quality souvenirs such as wooden dhows, silver jewellery, Bahraini dolls and camels – handy for people who don’t have a lot of time to spend browsing in the souk. 
Riffa Golf Club: Keen golfers will be pleased to know that Bahrain boasts an 18-hole, par 72, all grass, PGA standard golf course complete with 5 lakes and a 30-bay driving range – and it’s just 20 mins drive from Manama. Opened in 1999, the Clubhouse features a spike bar and restaurant, fine dining restaurant open at weekends and a corporate entertainment suite plus a well-stocked golf shop. Floodlighting on holes 10-18 means that you can play golf until midnight, and visitors are welcome. 
Dhow Trips: If you’re looking to fill a couple of hours, we recommend a trip out onto the Gulf with local fishermen in the traditional dhow fishing vessels. Many visitors will have friends or associates who have their own boat berthed at the Marina Club or the Bahrain Yacht Club. 
The Bahrain Yacht Club: Non-members can book Dolphin Watching boat trips, guaranteed to bring mnay dolphins coming up to swim and play around the boat, and you may even be rewarded by the sight of dolphin calves with their mothers. Al Bander. BD24 per person.
Shopping  boka flygstol -  Queensway Travel
The choice is either Arabic-style souk or international shopping mall. If you are looking for good gold deals the Manama souk is the place, with a maze of glinting gold and jewellery shops on either side of the road. On the other hand, Seef Mall, open daily 1000-2200, houses a number of familiar outlets like Debenhams, River Island, BHS, the Body Shop, Diesel and even Marks and Spencer. The BD9.2 million mall, which opened in 1998, has around 200 outlets in total. Alternatively, next door is Al A’ali Shopping Complex, with more major retail department stores as well as franchises from the US, UK, Western Europe and the Far East. If you’re shopping here, replenish your energies at the Al Bindaira Café – the ice cream and fruit cocktails are deliciously refreshing. The Yum Yum Tree off Exhibition Road is another acceptable food court. 
Where to walk
Since the development of various corniches, some areas have become quite popular for family picnics, or a quiet walk by oneself for more simple contemplation. If you are staying in one of the main Manama hotels, try the Manama Corniche opposite the Regency Inter-Continental Hotel. Just head across the pedestrian crossing bridge to the corniche. There you’ll find not only a traditional coffee shop, where the country’s Public Security Band performs every weekend, but also some fast-food outlets, ice cream parlours, Le Royal Méridien Hotel, shopping malls and a beautiful view of the sea. If you don’t want to sit and take in the view, the whole walk might take you about half an hour. 
On the other side of town, just opposite the Best Western Baisan Tower and many of the embassies just off Exhibition Avenue, there is another corniche with more of a bustle about it, courtesy of the young traders. The walk on this corniche, from one end to another, might take about an hour. 
Weather and Climate
It is fiercely hot Jun-Oct with temperatures regularly passing 40C. From Dec to Apr the weather can be quite cool, especially in the evening (10C-20C) – you may need a light sweater. Dec, Jan and Feb can also be rainy. Sometimes, Jan can be extremely cold and you may actually need a heavy coat.

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