9 best museums in Bahrain: all you need to know

Aside from putting your suitcase down and jumping on your comfy hotel bed, what’s the first thing you want to do after touching down in a new country?

For us, it’s definitely heading out to explore, whether that be museums in Bahrain, art galleries, or just local landmarks.

Bahrain has plenty of options for you to check out – including the very impressive Bahrain National Museum – but to help you choose where you want to head first, we’ve rounded up the best museums in Bahrain.

Whether you’re a military buff or are more in the mood for some art, the museums in Bahrain have something for everyone.

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Read on for the top museums in Bahrain, along with their opening hours, entry prices and locations.

9 museums in Bahrain to visit now:

Bahrain Currency Museum

Call yourself a history buff? There are plenty cool museums in Bahrain and at this one, you get to learn all about the Kingdom’s currency evolution. Here, you can explore what Bahrain currency looked like before and after Islam, from BC to AD.

There are also tons of Islamic coins on display as well as a collection of ancient Arabic and Byzantine gold and silver coins.

Apply for a visit request here.

Free admission. Sun-Thu 9am-1pm. Central Bank of Bahrain, Manama. cbb.gov.bh (1754 7747).

Bahrain Fort Museum

Qal’at Al-Bahrain, or the Bahrain Fort, is an extremely important archaeological site for understanding Bahrain from the Dilmun empire up until the 18th century. If you truly want to get your head around the Kingdom’s history, this is one of the top site museums in Bahrain for just that.

The exhibition hall collection is focused around five different historical periods and you’ll soon be up-to-speed on the fort’s occupants over the centuries. This spot is easily one of the best museums in Bahrain.

You’ll also find a café, a lecture hall, and gift shop.

BD2 (tourists and residents), BD1 (Bahriani citizens). Tue-Sun 8am-8pm, Mon closed. Bahrain Fort Museum, near Karbabad (1729 8777).

Bahrain Military Museum

Military buff? Then you absolutely have to visit the Bahrain Military Museum for its collections of weapons, uniforms and documents of the Kingdom’s defence forces over the decades. Visitors can also see who was ruling Bahrain over the ages, and check out jeeps and horses used for transporting soldiers.

Entrance is free, but it’s only open during the week, so plan your visit accordingly to one of the coolest museums in Bahrain.

Free. Sun-Thu 8am-1pm, Fri-Sat closed. Bahrain Military Museum, Riffa (1749 5511).

Bahrain National Museum

If you’re keen to get to grips with the Kingdom’s history, from the Dilmun civilisation and Portuguese rule to its pearl diving heritage, the Bahrain National Museum will be right up your street.

You can spend hours in the 20,000 sqm museum and still not see everything, but it’s definitely worth a try. Exhibitions focus on different eras including the Dilmuns and Tylos (the name of Bahrain in the 2nd century), and features sections on traditional trades and crafts.

Plan for a day here, including lunch at the rather lovely Darseen Cafe, and if you time it right, a show afterwards at the National Theatre of Bahrain, located right next door.

BD1 (tourists and residents), 500fils (Bahriani citizens). Wed-Mon 9am-8pm, Tue closed. Shaikh Hamad Causeway, Manama. culture.gov.bh (1729 8777).

Bu Maher Fort

Before oil took over Bahrain’s economy in the 1930s, pearl diving was one of the Kingdom’s main businesses. The importance of this historical trade has been recognised by UNESCO, which has named a number of attractions including this centre as a world heritage site as part of the pearling path.

If you are looking for museums in Bahrain that is worth every minute of your time, this is one of them.

Also known as the Museum of Pearl Diving, visitors can find out more about the trade here before heading off on a 3.5 km route around Muharraq.

Arrange your visit via Bahrain National Museum as you can only access Bu Maher Fort visitor centre via boat trip – which makes the visit even more special.

BD1. Wed-Mon 9am-6pm, Tue closed. Qal’at Bu Mahir, Muharraq (1729 8777).

Beit Al-Qur’an

The Beit Al-Qur’an is one of the must-visit museums in Bahrain for anyone who wants to see ancient copies of the Qur’an. The museum part of the complex also holds a large collection of Islamic art, and those wanting to learn more can ask for a tour.

Free. Sun-Wed 8.30am-2.30pm; Thu and Sat 8.30am-1.30pm, Fri closed. Hoora, Manama (1729 0101).

Ibrahim Al Arrayed House of Poetry

This museum, which is part of the Shaikh Ebrahim Centre for Culture and Research, is dedicated to the works of Ibrahim Al Arrayed, who was one of Bahrain’s greatest poets before he passed away in 2002. Visitors can look around Al Arrayedh’s private office and look through volumes of poetry collections.

Free. Sat-Thu 8am-1pm and 4pm-7pm, Fri closed. Ibrahim Al Arrayed House of Poetry, Gudaibiya, Manama (1732 2549).

Shaikh Ebrahim Centre

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This centre was established in the memory of Shaikh Ebrahim, who was once a leader in the fields of education, culture, and the social sciences. He was passionate in his search for knowledge and enlightenment and held weekly debates at his majlis on culture, philosophy, and the arts.

The centre today stands as a forum for dialogue between individuals of philosophy, literature, poetry, culture and the arts.

Sat-Thu 8am-2pmand 4pm-7pm, Fri closed. Muharraq. shaikhebrahimcenter.org (1732 2549).

Shaikh Isa Bin Ali House

This building, constructed around 1800, was once the home of Shaikh Isa Bin Ali Al Khalifa, ruler of Bahrain between 1869 and 1932. Aside from the fact that this was once a royal’s home, making it fascinating enough, the building is also one of the best-preserved architectural examples from this period.

Temporarily closed for restoration. BHD1 (tourists and residents), 500fils (Bahriani citizens). Sat-Tue, 8am-2pm. Wed-Thu, 9am-6pm. Shaikh Isa Bin Ali House, Muharraq, culture.gov.bh.