Interesting Tourist Spots to See and Top Things to Do in Kuwait City
Kuwait City is the national capital of Kuwait country. It is the political, economical and cultural center of the country as well. Tourism in Kuwait largely comes from other GCC countries owing to easy visa and transport convenience. Though, tourists from Europe, Asia and Americas can also be frequently seen here. You will see that the best places to visit in Kuwait are quite similar to those in other advanced GCC cities like Dubai, Beirut, Doha and Abu Dhabi. You will find great similarities in the types of Kuwait tourist attractions and those found in these cities. Kuwait attractions are a little short on historical marvels as you would find in European cities. But, that does not mean that the region lacks rich history. There are several archaeological sites, historical buildings and interesting museums to explore during Kuwait sightseeing. But, the city is primarily associated with modern marvels of architecture such as the Kuwait towers. These are among top Kuwait tourist places. These modern structures are most well known landmarks of the city as well as the nation.
Some of the major Kuwait points of interest include Mirror House, Scientific Center, Maritime Museum, National Museum, Grand Mosque, Palaces, Malls and Beaches. You can check out complete list of places to go in Kuwait in the section below. There is also a 2 day itinerary of popular Kuwait tourist spots after this section. Though most people limit their cultural exploration of Kuwait travel to desert safari, there are other more important spots where you can best experience the local culture. You should venture into local markets, city’s cultural centers and museums to learn and engage with Kuwait’s tradition, history and culture. Many of Kuwait City points of interest are focused on the modern era, so you would want to explore the hidden gems to fully appreciate the experience of being in this region.
Table of Contents
The Best Tourist Places to Visit in Kuwait City in 2 Days
This section outlines all the best places to visit in Kuwait. The itinerary has been picked based on their popularity as Kuwait tourist places and their proximity to one another.
Day 1
1. Mirror House
The mirror house is a work of art. There are beautiful mosaics made from mirrors and different types of glass. There are exhibits of different themes like earth, ocean, universe and so on. It is one of the interesting places in Kuwait and will require an hour of your time to explore.
2. Al Shaheed Park
This park is the largest in the city. There are several top things to do in Kuwait City which are centered around this park. The park is also the venue for 2 prominent museums which are among Kuwait attractions. Including a visit to the museums you would need 2 to 3 hours at Al Shaheed Park.
3. Kuwait Towers
These iconic buildings are on every Kuwait sightseeing itinerary. The three towers are admired as a symbol of modern Kuwait and are architectural marvels in their own right. You can keep an hour’s time to visit Kuwait towers.
4. Souq Sharq
Souq Sharq is a seaside promenade mall. It is a great place to go shopping during Kuwait travel. It used to be an open market before it became a mall, but is among popular Kuwait tourist places even now. You would need 30 minutes to an hour here, depending on how keenly you want to shop.
5. Marina Mall
The mall sits on Salmiya waterfront and is among major Kuwait points of interest for shopping. It is quite popular among the locals as a place to hang out. You can keep 20 to 30 minutes for this mall too.
6. The Scientific Center
You can explore variety of ocean life at this scientific center. It is kind of a theme park, educational institution, research institution and an entertainment venue all mixed into one. It is one of the best places to go in Kuwait with kids. You would need about 2 hours for this place.
Day 2
1. Kuwait Zoo
The zoo is home to over 1800 species of plants and animals. This zoo suffered losses of life during Iraq attacks in 1990 but was restored for the locals and for Kuwait tourism. One of the biggest attractions of the zoo are the giant vultures. You would need about an hour for the Kuwait zoo.
2. Kuwait Maritime Museum
This museum exhibits the seafaring history of the region, not just Kuwait. There are also 3 full sized wooden ships on display for you to see at this Kuwait tourist attraction. You would need about an hour at this museum.
3. Grand Mosque
This is the largest mosque in the country. The mosque is quite beautiful for the inside and is among top places to visit in Kuwait. You would need another hour to explore this mosque.
4. Kuwait National Museum
This museum tells the story of Kuwait. There are various historical, cultural and artistic exhibits to see in this museum. This is a major highlight of tourism in Kuwait. You would need 2 hours to explore this museum.
5. Souq al Mubarakiya
This is one of the oldest markets of the city and still exudes styling and feel of a traditional Arabian market. It is one of the best places to go in Kuwait to shop of local items and souvenirs. You will need 30 to 45 minutes for this market.
6. Tareq Rajab Museum
This museum has a unique collection of decorative jewelry, manuscripts, costumes, cultural items and more. It is one of the most interesting places in Kuwait. You will need about an hour to explore this museum.
7. Kuwait Beaches
There are several beaches you can explore when you visit Kuwait city. There are also a few good beaches at some distance from the city as well. As there are not many things to do in Kuwait at the beaches, you can keep an hour or two to enjoy there.
If you are planning to stay in Kuwait City for more than 2 days then you can check about below listed other things to do and see Kuwait City
Things to do in Kuwait
Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Kuwait
- Kuwait Towers
- Grand Mosque of Kuwait
- Kuwait National Museum
- Al Shaheed Park
- Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Center
- Tareq Rajab Museum of Islamic Calligraphy
- Seif Palace
- Holy Family Cathedral
- American Cultural Center
- Bait Al Othman Museum
- Bayan Palace
- Historical Vintage & Classic Cars Museum
- National Evangelical Church
- Dickson House Museum
- Naif Museum
- Maritime Museum
- Salam Palace
- Kuwait Water Towers
- Al Shamlan Mosque
- Al Shall Gate
- Remembrance Museum
- Habitat Museum
Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Kuwait
- Green Island
- Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center
- Kuwait Zoo
- Mirror House
- Sadu House
- Hawally Park
- Kuwait Entertainment City
- Ice Skating Rink
- Flow House Kuwait
- Aqua Park Kuwait
- Abraj Park
- Scientific Center
Shopping in Kuwait
- Mubarakiya Old Market
- Souq al Juma
- Sharq Marina
- Al Hamra Luxury Center
- Al Kout Mall
- Marina Mall
- Souq Sharq
- Souq al Mubaraqiya
Beaches & Island in Kuwait
- Shuwaikh Beach
- Marina Beach
- Failaka Beach
- Messilah Beach
- Marina Beach
- Egaila Beach
- Fintas Beach
- Movenpick Beach
- Mangaf Beach
Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure in Kuwait
- Hiking
- Water Sports
- Boat Cruise
- Sailing
- Desert Safari
Sightseeing in Kuwait
- Al Hamra Tower
- Liberation Tower
- Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah Causeway
- Al Rahya Tower
- Shuwaikh Island
- Baitak Tower
- Dar al Awadi Tower
- Al Hamra Tower
- Al Tijaria Tower
- Safat Square
- Mubarak al Kabeer Tower
- Beirut Commercial Center
- Wahran Park
- Al Shahed Park
Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Kuwait
- Al Mubarakiya Cafe & Restaurant
- Frankie’s
- Saket Ajeeb
- Estia Mas
- Assaha Village
- Amimoto
- Al Boom
- Dar Hamad
- Ayam Zaman
- BE Cafe
- Melenzane
- Ovo
- Veranda
- Trend Kuwait
- Caribbean Hut
- Dai Forni
- Fish Market
- Shahrayar
- Tatami
- Signor Sassi
How to Reach Kuwait?
By Air
Kuwait International Airport is located just south of the city. You can get direct flights to visit Kuwait from several countries in the Middle East. You can also get flights for Kuwait travel from Rome, Geneva, Frankfurt, New York City, Paris, Amsterdam, Istanbul, London and many more.
You can get cabs and busses from the airport to reach various places to visit in Kuwait city. City buses run every half hour, but you should make sure you are catching the right bus. The bus fare is way cheaper as compared to cab fare. You can get regular city cabs as well as luxury cars to take you to Kuwait tourist attractions from the airport. If you are staying in a Hotel, you can also ask the hotel to arrange for airport pickup. Most Hotels do accommodate airport pickup upon request.
By Road
Road routes connect Kuwait to nearby nations of Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Depending on the political situation during the time, these roads would be open or closed. It is advisable to use air travel only to reach the city. Tourism in Kuwait is largely dependent on air transport.
If you are within Kuwait, you can pick between routes 40, 51, 80, 70 and 801 for Kuwait sightseeing. You can also check out many Kuwait points of interest along these routes.
By Water
You can get ferries for Kuwait travel from Khorramsharh in Iran. There are several ports in Kuwait which dock boats running between these two cities. The journey is about 6 hours long and can be quite tiring for some people. These ferries only run on Thursdays and Sundays. Many of Kuwait tourist places, especially the tall towers can be seen from the ocean as the ferry approaches the city.
Image Reference
- Mirror House – Samira Akil Zaman / Flickr
- Al Shaheed Park – hewy / Flickr
- Kuwait Towers – Anna Pusack / Flickr
- Souq Sharq – Francisco Anzola / Flickr
- Marina Mall – almasudi / Flickr
- The Scientific Center – Cajetan Barretto / Flickr
- Kuwait Zoo – irvin calicut / Wikimedia Commons
- Kuwait Maritime Museum – Kuwaitsoccer / Wikimedia Commons
- Grand Mosque – Humoud Meshaal / Flickr
- Kuwait National Museum – Noblevmy / Wikimedia Commons
- Souq Al-Mubarakiya – me / Wikimedia Commons
- Tareq Rajab Museum –
- Kuwait Beaches – silf21 / Flickr