Kuwait City from the Kuwait Towers, KuwaitPhoto: Zairon, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Kuwait
Kuwait, made simple: souqs, sea air and the warmest Gulf hospitality
Kuwait is the Gulf without the crowds: the blue spheres of Kuwait Towers over the Arabian Gulf, the old lanes of Souq Al Mubarakiya, a Grand Mosque that welcomes visitors, world class museums of Islamic art and an island of Greek ruins a ferry ride away. It is a country of family evenings, long seafront walks and generous tables. This guide explains the rest so you arrive confident.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyEntry rules, seasons, dress codes and money, answered
- LandingThe airport, taxis, SIM cards and your first evening, explained
- Your days in KuwaitSouqs, museums, the corniche and the islands, planned with care
- Home againDeparture tips and onward routes across the Gulf and beyond
Where to go, eat and stay
- Plain answersClear, honest guidance on the questions first-timers actually ask.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain money, taxis, tours and costs so nothing catches you off guard.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Kuwait should feel like discovery, not worry. We answer the questions about entry, dress, the strict alcohol ban, heat, money and getting around before they start, so you arrive confident and ready to find your Bliss.
Visiting family who work in Kuwait, stopping over on a Kuwait Airways flight, travelling for business or simply curious about the quieter side of the Gulf? This guide was written with you in mind.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels easy.
- Choose your KuwaitKuwait City, seaside Salmiya, Failaka Island, the southern coast at Al Khiran or the desert edge at Al Jahra: start with the destinations that fit you.
- Sort the essentialsEntry rules, travel advice, money and local customs, checked against official sources.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for food, culture, malls, beaches and stays across the country.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to fit the city, the coast and the islands into a realistic plan.
Everything your Kuwait trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Kuwait City, Salmiya, Failaka Island, Al Khiran and Al Jahra, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred restaurants, cafés, museums, souqs, beaches and stays, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Kuwait International Airport and stays across the country.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Food, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The classic Kuwait trip
Towers, souqs, museums and the sea
Most visits combine a morning at the Grand Mosque and Souq Al Mubarakiya, an afternoon in the museums of the Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre and Tareq Rajab, a sunset at Kuwait Towers and an evening on the Salmiya seafront. Add a day trip to Failaka Island or the southern coast, and three or four days covers the highlights.
- Kuwait Towers and the Arabian Gulf Street corniche
- The Grand Mosque and Souq Al Mubarakiya
- Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad and Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem cultural centres
- Failaka Island by ferry, with its Hellenistic temple ruins
Start with the destinations
See how the city, the coast and the islands fit together.
Kuwait destinationsPlan with confidence
Your route, without the worry
Kuwait rewards a little preparation: coming in the cooler months, knowing the weekend is Friday and Saturday, planning around Ramadan and the national holidays in late February, and understanding that alcohol is banned outright. Our free planner helps you shape it.
- Realistic travel times across the country
- Ramadan, holidays and events to plan around
- Where to base yourself
Where to go in Kuwait
From the towers and souqs of Kuwait City and the seafront cafés of Salmiya to the ruins of Failaka Island, the lagoons of Al Khiran and the Red Fort at Al Jahra.
Capital Governorate
Kuwait City
Blue tiled towers over the Gulf, an old souq full of dates and spice, and some of the finest museums in the region.
Read the guidePhoto: Zairon, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Hawalli Governorate
Salmiya
Kuwait's liveliest seafront, with a marina promenade, a huge aquarium and streets that stay busy until late.
Read the guidePhoto: Steve & Jem Copley Camera location29° 20′ 47.51″ N, 48° 04′ 50.12″ E View this, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Kuwait Bay
Failaka Island
A quiet island with Greek temple ruins, Bronze Age remains and haunting reminders of the 1990 occupation.
Read the guidePhoto: Kishore R Sudarsan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ahmadi Governorate
Al Khiran
The clearest water in Kuwait, a maze of lagoons and boat trips to coral islands.
Read the guidePhoto: Abdelhamid80, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Jahra Governorate
Al Jahra
A historic mud brick fort, a birdwatching wetland and the gateway to Kuwait's open northern desert.
Read the guidePhoto: Di7ane, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is Kuwait safe to visit?
Kuwait has low levels of everyday crime and most visits pass without trouble. Regional tensions can change the picture quickly, and the northern border areas carry extra advice, so read your government's current travel advice before you go and keep checking it during your trip.
What is the capital of Kuwait?
Kuwait City, on the southern shore of Kuwait Bay. Kuwait International Airport is about a half hour drive south of the centre in normal traffic.
Do I need a visa for Kuwait?
It depends on your passport. Some nationalities can get an eVisa or a visa on arrival, while others must apply in advance through a sponsor or embassy. Check the official Kuwait eVisa portal of the Ministry of Interior before you book.
Can I drink alcohol in Kuwait?
No. Alcohol is illegal in Kuwait for everyone, including visitors, and hotels do not serve it. Do not try to bring any in: bags are checked on arrival and the penalties are serious.
How many days do I need in Kuwait?
Two days covers Kuwait City and Salmiya. Three to four days lets you add Failaka Island, the southern coast or a desert evening near Al Jahra at a relaxed pace.
Can BlissPoint Travel book my trip?
We are a free travel guide, not a travel agent, and we have no team in Kuwait. Use the free trip planner to shape your route, and the contact page if you have a question about this guide.
Ready to find your Bliss in Kuwait?
Tell us your dates and interests and use the free trip planner to shape a Kuwait trip that fits you.