tough question. I was only there for about 8 hours on my one visit and that was on a day pass from active duty in 1991…

Hrm. I walked around alot, visited a peir of old boats, did some shopping in old antique shops, visited some open air markets, investigated the architecture of various Mosques, and tried to take in as much of the culture there as I could.

My friends got drunk at a bar for apx $8US per beer.

I didn’t and still don’t speak Arabic, I didn’t have a clue what any signs said, and I didn’t know how to ask anyone while I was there for directions or suggestions. So I basically just wandered and did as much as I could in my short stay.

these websites might help:
http://travelguides.lastminute.com/sisp/?fx=60sec.guide&loc_id=147843
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Bahrain

Sorry I can’t provide more useful information.

Two things.
1. Go shopping in the Souk. It’s not bad. Lots of shops.

2. Get a taxi. Go out into the desert (about 40 minute ride) and see the Tree of Life. It stands alone out there, maybe 450 years old. Nothing else lives around it. People of all religions come to pray. If you pray through the tree God must listen. They don’t know how it lives. There may be an aquifer running underneath.

i ve been as a teenager in transit and also from al khobar for the weekend.. they hv a beach.. called half moon beach. hmm.. next time im there i’ll consider doing the above.