“The Pearl of the Gulf” - Bahrain - was once conquered by the Portuguese and colonized by the British. Rich in history and culture, Bahrain has a reputation for being more cosmopolitan and liberal than other countries in the Middle East, especially after the Formula One Grand Prix began in April 2004. The event draws more than 2 million visitors a year from all over the world. And when booking a flight to Bahrain bear this in mind as flights do get booked well in advance.
Adding to its mystique is a history that dates back five thousand years to the ancient civilisation of Dilmun, and the landscape is still dominated by settlements, temples and thousands of burial mounds left behind by its inhabitants.
The first stop off your Bahrain flight will undoubtedly be to its capital, Manama. This buzzing financial hub is full of restaurants, shopping malls and high rises dramatically juxtaposed beside the sea. If you want to experience real Arabian culture then visit the souk. There, vendors sell a dizzying array of merchandise from Persian carpets and jewellery to frankincense and tea.