Made up of maze-like streets, Bahrain’s Manama Souq tantalises visitors with a traditional market experience. It’s a quintessential Arabian bazaar, selling everything from clothes and electronics to spices and shisha. While it’s eternally popular with tourists, locals also rely on the souq as a place to buy everyday essentials and luxury items alike.

It’s divided into sections, each with its own unique specialty. For dazzling jewellery, the Gold Souq is a must. In addition to tourists, this area is wildly popular with locals in search of dazzling gifts and wedding accessories. Ladies make a beeline for the intoxicating scents of the Kingdom of Perfumes, while the vivid colours of the Spice Souq and World of Herbs never fail to impress.

Sprawling along the narrow streets of central Manama, the souq is easy to find. It’s located just behind the historical Gateway of Bahrain arch and is an easy 30-minute stroll from the trendy Hoora district. To Muharraq Island and Bahrain International Airport, the drive is a short 20 minutes.

Bahrain has a wealth of modern malls, which makes Manama Souq a refreshing change of scene. And unlike its air-conditioned counterparts, bargaining is a rite of passage at Manama Souq. From a gleaming golden necklace to a custom tailor-made suit, haggling with vendors is all part of the fun.