Manama

Manama is Bahrain's capital, and the cruise port (Khalifa Bin Salman Port) is about 20 minutes from the city centre by taxi. Bahrain is a small island nation connected to Saudi Arabia by a causeway. The Bahrain National Museum covers 4,000 years of history and has artefacts from the ancient Dilmun civilisation. The Al-Fateh Grand Mosque, one of the largest in the world, is open to non-Muslim visitors outside prayer times. The Manama Souq (Bab al-Bahrain) has narrow alleys selling gold, spices, textiles, and perfumes. The Tree of Life, a solitary tree surviving in the desert for over 400 years with no visible water source, is about 40 minutes south. Bahrain Fort, a UNESCO site on the northern coast, has excavated ruins from multiple civilisations. Local food includes machboos (spiced rice with meat or fish) and fresh shawarma from street stalls. The Bahraini Dinar is the currency. Dress conservatively at religious sites.