Manama: Bahrain Fort, souq and Bahrain National Museum
Bahrain Fort, Bab Al Bahrain and the souq, and the National Museum: 4,000 years of history in one port day.
At a glance
Bahrain Fort was the capital and port of Dilmun, the Bronze Age civilisation that traded between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley.
This plan covers three places that sum up Bahrain. Qal'at al-Bahrain, Bahrain Fort, on the north coast about 5.5 km from Manama, is an artificial mound 12 m high formed by successive settlements from around 2300 BC: it was the capital and port of the Dilmun civilisation and is crowned by a Portuguese-era fort. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005, and its site museum, opened in 2008, displays seals, coins and pottery found there.
In central Manama, Bab Al Bahrain, built in 1949 when it stood on the shore, is the gateway to Manama Souq, a market dating from the early 19th century known for gold, spices, textiles and Bahraini halwa. A few kilometres east, the Bahrain National Museum, opened in 1988, tells 6,000 years of history in six halls, from the Dilmun burial mounds to the trades and customs of Bahrain before oil.
Cruise ships berth at Khalifa Bin Salman Port in Hidd, about 22 km by road from central Manama, so this is not a walk from the ship: a taxi or a ship excursion links the three stops in a morning or a full call. Check the closing days, as the museums close on different days of the week.
Official websiteGetting there from the port
2 optionsYour day in port
Example: call from 08:00 to 17:00, all aboard at 16:30.
- 08:15Taxi to the fortFrom Khalifa Bin Salman Port to Bahrain Fort, about 30 minutes.
- 08:45Bahrain FortWalk the path around the mound and up to the Portuguese fort, then the site museum (closed on Mondays).
- 10:45Bab Al BahrainTaxi of about 10 minutes to the gateway and into Manama Souq.
- 12:30Lunch in the souqBahraini breakfast dishes and karak tea at one of the traditional cafés.
- 13:45National MuseumShort taxi ride to the museum (closed on Tuesdays) for the Dilmun and pre-oil halls.
- 15:15Back to the portTaxi of about 20 minutes to the terminal, to be on board by 15:30.
What to see
- 1Bahrain FortThe mound of superimposed cities, the Dilmun port remains and the Portuguese fort on top, by the sea and the palm groves.
- 2Qal'at al-Bahrain Site MuseumSeals, cuneiform tablets, Greek coins and pottery from the site, with a café facing the fort.
- 3Bab Al BahrainThe 1949 gateway on Government Avenue that marks the entrance to the old souq; it houses a tourist information office.
- 4Manama SouqLanes of gold, spice, textile and sweet shops, and traditional cafés such as Haji's Café.
- 5Bahrain National MuseumSix halls on Dilmun, Tylos and Islam, customs and crafts before oil, and documents and manuscripts.
- 6Hall of Dilmun GravesA real burial mound moved into the museum to explain the Dilmun Burial Mounds, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019.
Tips for cruise passengers
- Check closing daysThe National Museum opens daily 09:00 to 20:00 except Tuesdays; the fort site museum 08:00 to 18:00 except Mondays; the fort itself daily 08:00 to 18:00.
- Free audio guideBahrain Fort has a free audio guide service for the different areas of the site.
- Taxi faresTaxis are metered with government-set fares, slightly higher at night, on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays; ride-hailing apps also work.
- CurrencyThe Bahraini dinar (BHD) is divided into 1,000 fils and is pegged at about 2.66 US dollars.
- Try the sweetsManama Souq is the place for Bahraini halwa and traditional sweets to take home.
Accessibility & families
The National Museum is a modern building; at Bahrain Fort the paths around the mound are walkable but the climb to the fort is uneven, and the souq lanes are narrow and busy. Children enjoy the fort and the life-size souq scenes in the museum.
In pictures
