Cheap flights to Bahrain City Airport from £153

Bahrain overview

The Kingdom of Bahrain is an archipelago in the Persian Gulf. It has a long history, dating back thousands of years; it is believed that Bahrain was one of the first areas to adopt Islam in around 628 AD. After receiving British protectorate for 110 years, in 1971 it became an independent country and successfully developed a strong economy based on tourism and banking. In recent years it has had a certain amount of civil unrest but nevertheless is considered one of the more liberal and western-looking nations in the Middle East. For visitors, this means the benefit of being able to experience traditional Arab culture yet at the same time enjoy a western style of entertainment and nightlife. In terms of other things to see and do, some of the best tourist attractions are in Bahrain’s capital city, Manama. Al-Fatih Mosque (The Great Mosque) is one such attraction: built in 1984 on reclaimed land, it is a beautiful building and offers a fascinating insight into the history of the Islamic religion in this country. Knowledgable guides are on hand there to help make the experience even more enlightening. For another dose of culture and history, Bahrain’s National Museum comes highly recommended. It covers 6,000 years of Bahrain’s history, particularly focusing on the archeology and natural history of the area. A much more modern attraction, motorsport fans will know that Bahrain holds an F1 Grand Prix each year in April. Whilst there is much to see and do during race days, visitors on other days can still enjoy a karting experience or take a tour around the track.

Getting around Manama

As far as traveling around Bahrain is concerned, many visitors choose to self-drive. There isn’t a rail network on the island and the public bus network isn’t particularly comprehensive.

Getting from the Airport to the City

Bahrain International Airport serves those arriving by air. It is located on an island just a few miles north of Manama. In order to get to Manama, where many visitors head first, there are a few options. Some hotels provide a transfer service, so check to see if that is applicable. Otherwise, taxis are normally available outside the arrivals lounge and there is also a bus service to Muharraq bus terminal from where connecting services to Manama and beyond can be caught.