A souq is an Arabic word for a traditional market. Manama Souq has been a busy trading place for centuries, and walking through it today feels like stepping into the past — with wooden shop fronts, overhead covers shading the lanes and the smell of spices drifting through the air. Gold, silver, frankincense, saffron and dried limes are just some of the things you will find.
Different parts of the souq specialise in different things. There is a gold souq where jewellers display glittering necklaces and bracelets, a fabric section where bolts of brightly coloured cloth are stacked to the ceiling, and a spice area where open sacks of cinnamon, turmeric, dried rose petals and cardamom sit waiting for customers to scoop them out.
The fish market is a special part of the souq where local fishermen bring in their morning catch. Hammour, kingfish and sea bream are popular choices. Shopkeepers call out to customers, families push through the crowds, and the whole place hums with voices, music from nearby shops and the clinking of teacups.
Shopping in a souq is different from a modern supermarket — prices are often agreed by talking with the seller, and buying something is part of a friendly conversation rather than just a quick transaction. Many visitors say that the Manama Souq gives them the best taste of everyday Bahraini life.