One quick thing to note about Kuwait is that the work week is Sunday through Thursday with Friday and Saturday being the weekend. Friday is a holy day which means a lot of things are closed on that day or don’t open til later in the afternoon.
Visas and Hotels
Please check the visa requirements before you make arrangements to come to Kuwait. It’s definitely not as easy as Dubai or Istanbul to get into. You may need to apply online or get sponsored before coming. There are a select few countries who may get a visa on arrival now so check the government websites or communicate with the hotel before you come. Do know that most hotels also require couples to show a marriage certificate before being allowed to stay together. You may end up having to book two rooms if you are unmarried. Some westerners have reported that they didn’t get asked but it’s good to be prepared. We recommend staying in the downtown Kuwait City area as most things to do are near there (see below for more details on what to do). I think there is only one hostel in all of Kuwait so don’t expect to find a cheap stay. There are major chains of hotels like Grand Hyatt, Residence Inn and Ibis, and local hotels like Alhamra and Adams Hotel. There are also resorts on the beachfront like Hilton, Jumeirah, Hyatt Regency, and Radisson Blu. These are not all inclusive resorts but they have beach access and pools. Typically these resorts are less strict on swimwear restrictions.
Getting to Kuwait – Kuwait International Airport
The country is bordered by Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Gulf. There are land borders you can cross but most people fly. Luckily there is only one airport in Kuwait so flying in is the easiest. However, the terminals in the airport are not connected. Terminal 1 has most of the amenities like cell phone stores, money exchange and banks, a few restaurants, and taxis. Terminal 5 is the budget carrier terminal like Jazeera Airways and Terminal 4 is the Kuwait Airways specific terminal which is very nice but the farthest from the rest. Due to the lack of ability to get from terminal to terminal easily, be very specific when you tell whoever is picking you up where to go. Be warned that ride share apps like Careem are not allowed to pick you up at the airport terminals. Pro tip: Local Kuwaiti taxis are waiting outside each terminal and their prices are listed in the car so no haggling. Most taxis prefer to be paid in cash (Kuwaiti dinar) so make sure to get some KWD out at the airport (see tips on currency below). If you aren’t going to pull cash out, ask if they take electronic payment as some will.
Driving
Driving in Kuwait may be your best bet as parking is free in most places and gas is so cheap. With the lack of sidewalks (I mean almost no sidewalks except for a few places downtown) and the lack of a decent public transportation system (there is a limited bus system but they don’t always stop at every stop making it inconvenient to plan around), a car may be the easiest way to get around. There are a few rental car spots at the airport. While the roads are well marked and it’s decently easy to drive here, here are a few things you need to be aware of before you decide to drive. One major thing we noticed is that no one uses a blinker, ever. This means you need to be ready at all times for someone to come into your lane. This can happen in one of two ways: they either slowly drift into your lane and expect you to slow down to not hit them or they completely cut you off so quickly as they dash towards an exit ramp or the lane they want to be in. Either way, always be alert. Also be warned that the exits are much farther away from the destination than you think. Sometimes you need to get off the highway a few exits before to drive the service road til your turn. It can be confusing at first.
Currency
Speaking of currency, the Kuwaiti Dinar is one of the strongest in the world which means 1 KWD is currently about 3.25 USD. There are smaller bills called fils with a ¼ KD (250 fils) and ½ KD (500 fils). There are also coins in denominations of 100, 50, 20 and 10 fils. While you may need cash for things like a taxi ride at the airport, you almost never need cash after that. All the stores including the small convenience stores take Apple Pay or Google Pay as electronic payments. You can connect your debit or credit cards up to your phone or tap to pay with the physical card. So if you are only staying a day or two, I’d recommend not pulling cash out.
Cellphone
I’d recommend a data plan for Google Maps if you are driving or to get a taxi if you are using rideshare like Careem. Their biggest carrier is Zain and there is a store in the airport in Terminal 1. Airlo app does have an e-Sim you can purchase before you go as well.
What to Wear
While Kuwait is one of the more strict Arab countries, women are not forced to wear abayas or cover their hair here. We’d recommend sticking to longer pants or skirts, full t-shirts that cover the shoulders. You will not get in trouble for wearing shorts or tank tops but no one does so you’ll stick out in a bad way. Men are allowed to wear shorts though. We’ve seen women running or working out in shorts, but it’s rare. Do know that even when it’s hot outside, all indoor spaces are majorly air conditioned which means that we carry long sleeves and sweaters with us to the malls or restaurants even in the hottest weather.
Food
If you’ve had Arabic food in other countries, you’ll feel the food here is very similar. The national dish is chicken majboos (chicken over rice). The chicken is so tender, the grilled onions and raisins in the yellow rice are so scrumptious. I will say that this dish tends to be on the softer side as intense spices are not the normal here. Everything is served with pita bread, greens, raw onion and lemons on the side. You’ll find delicious options like mixed grill, kebabs, stuffed grape leaves, hummus, and shawarma.
Being a Muslim country, there are a few restrictions on food and drink. The country doesn’t allow pork or pork products anywhere. Also alcohol in any form is prohibited even in things like red wine vinegar for cooking or vanilla for baking. Do note that since Kuwait isn’t able to grow a lot of its own produce, everything has to be shipped in and prices on food can be higher than expected. Grocery store prices on basic staples like cauliflower, strawberries or celery can be shocking. However restaurant prices tend to be lower than other GCC countries.
One thing Kuwait loves is restaurants. You can get a wide variety of types of food and it’s delicious. For Kuwaiti food, we recommend Freej Swaeleh (with multiple locations) and Beit Dickson in Salmiya. For an Arab breakfast platter where you can also enjoy some shisha, we recommend Alshorfah, Misk or Em Zalfa all in Salmiya. There are many burger places like Black Paprika and Chuck’s. (Remember that the bacon here is all beef bacon.) There is even some great American barbecue like Smoke Me Barbecue and Oak and Smoke.
What To Do in Kuwait
The best things to do are centered in and around Kuwait City downtown area which is why we recommend staying in the area. Mubarakiya Old Market is best experienced at night when the city comes alive. This market is mainly for everyday living but it’s fun to walk around. We recommend you stop at a date vendor and try some dates from the region but be warned as you might fall in love with them. There are many restaurants and coffee/dessert shops here for you to grab a bite to eat and people watch. If you are looking for oud or perfumes, there are many stores selling them. The Mubarakiya area is notoriously difficult to park at as so many people come here so you may either have to pay for parking (one of the few places) or park farther away and walk in.
Just across the street is the Grand Mosque. This place is incredible and so beautiful both inside and out. You can visit for free Sunday thru Thursday from 9:00-11:00 am and 4:00-6:00 pm. They provide free guided tours as well that provide all the history and details. The tour even takes you into some of the welcoming rooms where dignitaries are welcomed through a different entrance. Definitely recommend you make a stop here as it’s such a part of the history, culture and way of life in Kuwait. Women do need to be completely covered but they provide an abaya free of charge to wear during your visit. Also before you enter the mosque, you will have to take your shoes off.
If you need a break from the dusty, desert city, head over to Al Shaheed Park. Kuwait doesn’t have a lot of green spaces but this park has done an outstanding job in creating a green space with walking trails, coffee shops, a museum, flower gardens, an old town diorama, and lots of sculptures. It’s honestly amazing. If you are there during the heat of summer, they have cooling misters spraying water on passerbyers.
A classic symbol of Kuwait is the Kuwait Towers. Located right on the coast, these towers provide a viewpoint of the city that rotates 360 degrees every 30 mins. You are able to go up with either a ticket for just the viewing platform or you can purchase the buffet at the restaurant Horizons, and get the same view with either brunch or dinner. You can walk a little bit of the coast near the Kuwait Towers which is a nice way to experience the city. While there are some bike and walking paths on the coast, it isn’t continuous so we’d recommend you drive over to Marina Crescent in Salmiya to keep walking on the path. This stretch between Marina Mall and The Scientific Center is our favorite walking path in the area with beautiful views of the coastline and downtown buildings and one of the cuter paths. If you are interested in museums, the Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre is very nicely laid out with 6 different exhibits in 6 beautiful buildings. From the rainforest and aquarium to Islamic history to modern inventions, it’s a great place to beat the heat and learn!
Speaking of beating the heat, Kuwaitis are experts at malls. Now hear me out, these are not normal malls. These are beautiful cities in giant temperature controlled buildings. The Avenues Mall is so big it will take you hours to walk around. With different sections like the Souq, the Gardens, the tech area, the luxury stores, the area that looks like a European street, a palm tree lined shopping lane and so many restaurants! With foreign options like Cheesecake Factory, IHOP, and Texas Roadhouse or local favorites like Bebabel, Leila Min Lebnen, and Cafe Bazza, you will find something amazing to eat! If you’ve had your fill of luxury shopping and want to find the local second hand market, head over to the Friday Market. While it’s open other days of the week, they tend to be quieter and less vendors. Friday and Saturday this place is hopping. It’s all second hand goods. There is a small antique area if you want a fun souvenir but mainly it’s clothes, shoes, household goods, bikes, small electronics, workout equipment, you name it. It’s fun to meander around even if you don’t plan to buy anything. Bring cash for these purchases though as the vendors are open air and aren’t dealing with electronic payments.
Depending on the time of year, you can take a boat over to Failaka Island. Originally a strategic location for trading, archaeologists have found evidence of Alexander the Great and the ancient Mesopotamians inhabiting the island. Prior to the invasion in the 1990’s there was a population of almost 2,000 people who lived here with schools and daily life. These days, you can find bombed out buildings alongside newly created beaches with water sports available. This makes for a perfect day trip.
If you see a very long bridge you are more than welcome to drive the 30 minutes, 39 kilometers across the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway. Unfortunately right now it ends in the desert where there isn’t much to do on that side. Many Kuwaitis have winter camps set up in the desert on that side but it’s not very spectacular to see. It’s mainly just plots of sand and tents. There are no restaurants on the other side of the bridge so I’d advise you either bring food with you or plan to make the trip back to eat in the city.
All in all, Kuwait is a small country. If you want to check it off your list, it’s easy to get to from the other GCC countries, but don’t expect the same level of excitement or activities for tourists as Dubai or Oman. While we’ve enjoyed our time living here, it all depends on what you are looking for in a vacation before you book your trip!
