Visitors arriving by air touch down at the airport on Muharraq, a small island connected by the causeways to Bahrain Island. Manama occupies the top north-eastern corner of Bahrain Island, bounded on two sides by attractive corniches, built on reclaimed land. Most of the city’s tourist activity is sandwiched between Bahrain’s famous Pearl Monument and the Sail Monument, close to the causeways.

The main thoroughfare is Government Ave., punctuated by Bab al-Bahrain, a veritable hub of activity day and knight, and the gateway to the souq. Most of the city’s budget and mid-range hotels are near this gateway, while top-end accommodation centres on the Diplomatic Area, near the two causeways to Muharraq Island, and extends in the suburbs. The new malls are also largely outside the city center, especially around Al-Seef.