A Guide to Kuwait: What to Do and Where to Stay

Traditional architecture towered over by gleaming office complexes, and historic souks nestled beside brand new shopping malls. Luxury yachts berthed alongside traditional dhow sailing ships, and timeless dunes traversed in modern 4x4s. This is Kuwait and its endlessly fascinating play between the old and the new. In Kuwait City, the country’s sprawling coastal capital, all the comforts of the contemporary urban Gulf are on offer, while the deserts beyond call to you with promises of adventure.

The best places to visit in Kuwait

Kuwait City: the Corniche

Head up to the Kuwait Towers viewing deck, 123 metres above the city, for fantastic views of the Gulf shore and the capital itself (Photo: Getty Images)

An icon of the city skyline, the Kuwait Towers are one of the best places to visit in Kuwait City, and a great way to get your bearings. The triple pillars soar high above the Gulf shore, and from the 123m viewing deck the full breadth of the city stretches far below. The view includes the long curvature of the waterfront Corniche pathway, which defines the central ten kilometres of the city’s sandy shoreline and is a lovely feature to simply stroll along. If this kind of pedestrian-paced experience appeals to you, then ask at your hotel about booking a walking tour, which will reveal the history and personal stories behind the city's sights.

One of the best places to stay when in town is the nearby Residence Inn Kuwait City, which enjoys the salty breeze and rhythmic lapping waves of the Gulf waters.

Kuwait City: the waterfront

Take a stroll along Kuwait City's corniche to Sharq Marina (Photo: Getty Images)

From fishing and pearl diving to the dhows that supplied fresh drinking water to the nascent city, the open waters of the Gulf are key to Kuwait. For a modern perspective on seafaring culture, head along the Corniche to Sharq Marina, where speed boats and small yachts dock in the heart of the city alongside a modern reimagining of the traditional souq shopping centres.

Catering to leisure travellers and day-trippers on pleasure cruises, these modern ships stand in sharp contrast to the wooden dhow ships that historically plied Kuwait’s coasts – a few examples of which can be found just inland at the Maritime Museum. After admiring the display of dhows outside the museum, head inside for historical photographs depicting life in early Kuwait and artefacts of the pearl trade. Next door, the Modern Art Museum is also worth stopping in for a look at rotating exhibitions featuring artists from across the Gulf region.

A short stroll west of this cultural cluster, the huge-domed Grand Mosque – the largest in Kuwait – is another waterfront highlight. Even more impressive inside than out, it's worth taking a guided tour of the mosque to gain an appreciation of its architectural intricacy.

Kuwait City: the souqs

Visit the souqs or covered markets of Kuwait City to feel the buzz of everyday life and browse for souvenirs (Photo: Getty Images)

The traditional souq is the heart of many cities in the Gulf. Here in Kuwait City, the collection of covered markets combines the food stalls of Souq Marbarakia and the gleaming gold displays of Souq Ad Dahab Al Markazi with the perfumers and rug merchants of the Souq Al Hareem. 

With the aromas of incense and perfume in the air, and the theatrical back and forth of deal-making, a walk through the souqs is always fascinating. You might also detour to the Souk Al-Watiya – just behind the Four Points by Sheraton Kuwait – for opportunities to haggle for gold jewellery and the occasional pearl, or simply to watch others doing so. Tours focused on Kuwait City's shopping possibilities, from the souks to the shopping malls, are popular with visitors; ask your hotel concierge about them. One interesting new addition to such tours is the Assima Mall, opened in 2021 – as well as offering fantastic shopping, it boasts the world's largest chandelier and the interactive National Geographic Ultimate Explorer experience, which younger visitors will love.

For a break from retail therapy, take a moment to gaze up at the nearby Liberation Tower, a reimagination of the one originally planned as ‘Kuwait Telecommunications Tower’ – the new name was coined as a symbol of the country’s strength. Nearby, the Salhiya Mall complex, with the attached JW Marriott Hotel Kuwait City, offers further upmarket shopping opportunities.  

If you get peckish while browsing Souq Marbarakia, it's the perfect place to take a refreshments break and try some authentic local cuisine. There are lots of great places to eat here, with prime dishes to try including machboos (a spiced rice dish served with chicken or mutton) and tashreeb (meat and bean stew poured over and eaten with soaked hunks of bread). Finish off with some flavourful karak chai. This strong tea served with cinnamon, cardamom and various other spices is said to aid digestion. 

Kuwait City: the old city

Founded in 1613 as a small fishing community, Kuwait City grew in size as it grew in importance as a trade hub for ships travelling along the Gulf. In 1760, the prosperous city built its first wall to protect residents and their business interests from invasion. 

Destroyed and rebuilt twice, the most accessible remnant of the city’s 1920 walls is the Al-Jahra Gate. Now sitting close to modern developments such as The St. Regis Kuwait and Sheraton Kuwait, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Kuwait City, the fortification once guarded the end of the overland route from the Kuwaiti city of the same name.

Nearby, the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre stands as a bastion of contemporary culture, housing numerous theatres and concert halls that play host to artists from across the Gulf and the rest of the world. 

What to eat and drink in Kuwait

One unmissable dish to try when in Kuwait is machboos, a delicately spiced rice and meat dish (Photo: Getty Images)

When visiting Kuwait, be sure to try machboos, a dish of Bedouin origins made from tender cooked meat (typically mutton, though chicken can also be used) and rice. Cooked directly in the meat's broth, these principal ingredients are spiced with cloves, cinnamon, saffron, and ginger, as well as greens and split peas.

Also popular is tashreeb, from the Arabic for 'soaked', a dish in which flatbread is immersed in a stewed broth of meat and vegetables. The vegetables and sometimes spices change with what's to hand, so every recipe is different.

Top things to do in Kuwait

Dune-bashing is one of the most fun things to do in Kuwait (Photo: Getty Images)

As the sun begins to set and the heat of the day abates, the desert calls. Dune-bashing drives and camel rides can be easily arranged, though some travellers opt for self-hire 4WDs and the appeal of the open sand.

Beyond the oil pipelines and tourist camps, this is a wild desert, so take local advice on safety and stick to the southern sands if you go it alone. If you do, though, you can be sure that the experience will be incredibly rewarding – the desert's vast open sky is a reminder of the wonderful mix of modern and timeless that draws visitors to this region.

Hidden gems in Kuwait

Take to the water for an alternative perspective on Kuwait City (Photo: Getty Images)

Venture outside of Kuwait City and you’re already doing something many visitors do not. Exiting the city centre past Courtyard Kuwait City and Marriott Executive Apartments Kuwait City, head to the beachfront Salmiya neighbourhood to see the last surviving locally built dhow that predates Kuwait’s oil boom, the Fateh Al-Khayr. Families may enjoy The Scientific Center next door, with an aquarium recreating several of the region’s aquatic and marsh landscapes.

If you follow the corniche to the Ras Al Ard Marina, you can catch a ferry to Failaka Island. Sitting only 20 kilometres from the mainland, the island's appearance – all rocky beaches and sandy hills – belies its historical importance, since it was once an important outpost to maintain control of the port and surrounding sealanes. First settled more than four thousand years ago, archaeological work continues on Failaka, with regular discoveries of coinage, religious artefacts and architectural remains stretching from Sumerian to Nestorian, and everything in between. The beaches of Failaka have become a popular weekend getaway for the city’s residents and visitors.

Another offshore destination worth visiting when you're in Kuwait is Kubbar Island, which lies some 30km off the southern coastline. Surrounded by coral reefs, Kubbar offers fantastic scuba diving. Enquire at your hotel about getting to Kubbar.

Go deeper

Always remember to eat, gesture and give or receive things (including cash or cards when paying!) with the right hand – the left hand is traditionally seen as unclean in Islam.

English is commonly used in Kuwait, but try to learn at least a few words of Arabic. 'Shukran' (thank you) will come in handy, as will 'As-Salaam-Alaikum', which literally translates as 'Peace be upon you' and is used as 'hello'.

Published: January 11, 2023

Last Updated: March 31, 2023

Article Tags:  Kuwait