Riffa is Bahrain's second-largest city, spread across the low hills of the Central Governorate south of Manama. The city is divided into East and West Riffa, with the western half home to many of the royal family's palaces — you will spot their walled compounds and manicured grounds as you drive through. The main historical attraction is Riffa Fort, also known as Sheikh Salman bin Ahmed Al Fateh Fort, a nineteenth-century stronghold perched on a hilltop with views across the surrounding palm groves and residential districts.
Modern Riffa is largely a residential city, with shopping malls, schools, and the sprawling Riffa Views development. The Bahrain International Circuit, home to the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix, lies just to the south in Sakhir, and on race weekends the area buzzes with international visitors. A short drive north of Riffa, the village of A'ali sits among the UNESCO-listed Dilmun burial mounds — one of the largest ancient cemeteries in the world, and a startling reminder that this quiet island was once a major trading civilisation. For everyday life, Riffa offers a quieter, more local alternative to the bustle of Manama, with a handful of good Arabic restaurants and the Friday morning market worth a browse.