Bahrain's best souks: essential guide 2025

A trip to Bahrain’s best souks is about much more than shopping.

With souk (or souq as it’s sometimes spelt) meaning marketplace in Arabic, you’ll find an open-air trading centre where you can experience a taste of what was Bahrain’s bustling trading hub and soak up some authentic street life.

Narrow streets and alleyways thrum with their own distinct sights, sounds, scents, tastes and textures.

Bahrain’s best souks are a rabbit warren of interconnecting streets through old Manama, but there are smaller, less well known souks in other parts of town, too.

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Wander through in wonderment, grab a chai and a shawarma, or if you’re feeling bold, go forth and haggle with traders for your own good.

If you opt for the latter, make sure you follow the basic rule of all Bahrain’s best souks: never, ever pay the original suggested price. Offer a lower price and be prepared to negotiate (and stand your ground).

Ready to explore? Here’s the complete guide to Bahrain’s best souks.

Where are Bahrain’s best souks?

Al Qaisariya Souq

Located in Muharraq, this is one of the Kingdom’s oldest souks and is actually part of the Bahrain Pearling Path and as such, the place to go if you want to purchase pearls. There are also spices and teas to pick up.

Open daily, 8.30am-10pm. Muharraq.

Gold City Bahrain

This is one of the modern souks in Bahrain, not to be confused with the Gold Souq, located in the main Manama Souq. You’ll find gold, silver, precious stones and pearls in rows of shops. It may look more like a modern mini mall, but this is still a place for some serious bargaining to be had.

Open daily, 10am-10pm. Manama @goldcity.bahrain (3434 6420).

Gold Souq

Set within the Manama Souq, you’ll find the Gold Souq. One of Bahrain’s best souks and one of the Kingdom’s main attractions for shoppers, you’ll need your haggling hat firmly on here.

Sat-Thu 9am-1pm and 4pm-8.30pm, Fri 9am-1pm. Manama. (1721 4979).

Manama Souq

Framed by the twin-arched Bab Al Bahrain building, and sometimes called Bab Al Bahrain souq because of this, Manama Souq is Bahrain’s oldest and main souk. If you have enough time to visit only one of Bahrain’s best souks, make it this one.

Manama Souq has been around since 1926. Parts of it have been redeveloped, modernised and pedestrianised, but you can still explore the old part and all the traditional stalls, many of which have been passed down through families over the decades.

You can buy pretty much anything, from spices, handwoven rugs, tailored suits, traditional Bahriani clothes and gold to some classic tourist tat – just don’t forget to haggle.

There’s all sorts to places to eat too, including Haji Gahwa, one of Bahrain’s oldest traditional cafés, not to mention numerous teeny tiny coffee shops.

And don’t miss Little India, the section of streets occupied by Hindi traders, where you can pop into Swagat, a tiny and super cheap South Indian vegetarian restaurant.

Open daily, 8.30am-10pm. Al Mutanabi Ave, Manama (3445 1280).

Muharraq Souq

Worth a stroll for a glimpse into what the market stalls of Bahrain’s best souks used to be like. Wander past the small shops as you sup a cup of chai and pick up some traditional sweets at the same time.

Redevelopment works have given Souq Al Muharraq a modern entrance and exterior, making it easier to find.

Open daily, 9am-11pm. Sh Hamad Ave, Muharraq.

Souq Al Baraha

It’s the best of both worlds at Souq Al Baraha, blending the vibes of the oldest souks and the convenience of modern-day architecture. Head here for culturally authentic yet contemporary shopping.

In this 13,431 sqm souk, you will find everything from gold, traditional Bahraini sweets and spices, fresh fruit and vegetable markets, meat and poultry markets, handicraft shops, fashion, and even restaurants and cafés.

There’s also dedicated family and entertainment areas, plus open courtyards which are great for events and shows.

Sun-Wed 10am-10pm, Thu-Sat 10am-11pm. Diyar Al Muharraq. @souq.albaraha (1333 3060).

Souq Waqif

Located in Hamad Town, this strip stocks everything from fashion and cosmetics to animal feed and hay. You can find almost anything here, so worth a visit if you want to explore. Just make sure you are prepared for *lots* of cars and pretty tight, bumpy roads.

Daily 8.30am-10.30pm. Hamad Town (3545 8899)