Find places in Kuwait

Must-Haves

• Kuwait Towers (Arabian Gulf Street)
  The country's most famous landmark, with an observation sphere and sweeping views over the Gulf and the city.

Fun for Everyone

• Liberation Tower (Sharq)
  A tall telecommunications tower named for the 1991 liberation, a landmark on the city skyline.
• Green Island (Arabian Gulf Street)
  An artificial island park with walking paths and sea views, linked to the corniche by a bridge.
• Kuwait Scientific Center (Salmiya)
  An aquarium, discovery centre and big screen theatre on the waterfront, loved by families.

Great for Date Night

• Souq Sharq Marina (Sharq)
  A waterfront mall and marina where you can stroll among the yachts at sunset.

Must-Haves

• Grand Mosque (Mirqab)
  Kuwait's largest mosque, with free guided tours for visitors outside prayer times.
• Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre (Shuwaikh)
  One of the largest museum complexes in the world, with galleries on space, science, natural history and Islamic arts.
• Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Centre (Shuwaikh)
  The striking national opera house, hosting concerts, theatre and touring shows through the season.
• Al Shaheed Park (Sharq)
  A long green park with museums of habitat and remembrance, lakes and walking paths in the middle of the city.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sadu House (Arabian Gulf Street)
  A traditional house devoted to Bedouin weaving, where you can see Sadu textiles and the craft behind them.

Must-Haves

• Souq Al Mubarakiya (Mubarakiya)
  The old heart of trade in Kuwait, with lanes of dates, spices, perfume, fabrics and busy grill restaurants.
• The Avenues (Al Rai)
  One of the largest malls in the region, with themed districts, restaurants and endless shops.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Souq Al Gharabally (Mubarakiya)
  Old shops and stalls in the lanes around the main souq, good for oud, fabrics and bargaining.
• Friday Market (Al Rai)
  A huge weekend flea market full of furniture, carpets, plants and bric a brac.

Off the Beaten Path

• Fish Market at Souq Sharq (Sharq)
  A lively morning fish market where the catch of the day, including zubaidi, is sold and cleaned.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Al Mubarakiya grill restaurants (Souq Al Mubarakiya)
  Simple souq restaurants serving kebabs, grilled meats and fresh bread at outdoor tables.

Must-Haves

• Freej Sweileh (Kuwait City)
  A popular Kuwaiti chain serving machboos, mutabbaq samak and home style dishes.
• Shawarma Shuwaikh (Shuwaikh)
  A legendary local shawarma spot, busy late into the night.

Great for Date Night

• Mais Alghanim (Arabian Gulf Street)
  A long running seafront restaurant known for Lebanese grills and mezze since the 1950s.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sharq fish market restaurants (Sharq)
  Pick your fish at the market and have it cooked at a nearby restaurant.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Souq Mubarakiya tea houses (Souq Al Mubarakiya)
  Old style tea houses where men gather for sweet tea and conversation in the souq.

Off the Beaten Path

• Coffee shops of Shuwaikh Industrial (Shuwaikh)
  Hidden warehouse cafés and roasters that sum up Kuwait's love of specialty coffee.

Fun for Everyone

• Arabian Gulf Street evening drive (Arabian Gulf Street)
  Kuwait's nightlife is alcohol free, and the corniche fills with families, walkers and cafés late into the night.

Great for Date Night

• Shisha cafés on Arabian Gulf Street (Arabian Gulf Street)
  Sea facing cafés where locals linger over mocktails, shisha where permitted, and conversation.

Must-Haves

• National and Liberation Days (Kuwait City)
  Late February brings parades, fireworks and celebrations across the country.

Fun for Everyone

• Hala February (Kuwait City)
  A month of concerts, carnivals and festivities that leads up to the national holidays.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ramadan nights and Gergean (Kuwait City)
  During Ramadan the city comes alive after iftar, and children go door to door for sweets at Gergean.
• Kuwait International Book Fair (Mishref)
  An annual book fair that draws publishers and readers from across the Arab world.

Fun for Everyone

• Arabian Gulf Street corniche (Arabian Gulf Street)
  Long seaside paths for walking, cycling and watching the sunset over the bay.

Off the Beaten Path

• Jahra Pool Nature Reserve (Al Jahra)
  A protected wetland where migratory birds rest in winter and spring.

Must-Haves

• Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya (Sharq)
  A luxury tower hotel in the business district with sweeping views and strong restaurants.
• JW Marriott Hotel Kuwait City (Kuwait City)
  A dependable central hotel within reach of the souq and the business district.

Great for Date Night

• Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa (Messila)
  A beach resort with gardens, pools and a private shoreline south of the city.

Fun for Everyone

• Radisson Blu Hotel Kuwait (Salwa)
  A seaside hotel with family pools and the famous dhow on its grounds.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Sheraton Kuwait, a Luxury Collection Hotel (Kuwait City)
  A landmark hotel near the city centre that has hosted guests since the 1960s.

Must-Haves

• Marina Crescent (Salmiya)
  A seafront promenade of cafés and restaurants looking out over the marina.

Fun for Everyone

• Kuwait Scientific Center Aquarium (Salmiya)
  One of the largest aquariums in the Middle East, with sharks, rays and desert habitats.

Must-Haves

• Marina Mall (Salmiya)
  A waterfront mall joined to the crescent, with the sea right outside.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Salem Al Mubarak Street (Salmiya)
  Salmiya's busy main street of shops, perfume sellers and food outlets that stays lively late.

Fun for Everyone

• Al Kout Mall (Fahaheel)
  A waterfront mall with canals and dancing fountains.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Salmiya Indian and Filipino eateries (Salmiya)
  Small diaspora restaurants serving biryani, dosa and adobo, popular with Kuwait's expat communities.
• Kuwaiti bakeries of Salmiya (Salmiya)
  Bakeries turning out fresh flatbreads, zaatar manakish and cheese pies from morning.
• Karak and chapati stands (Salmiya)
  Quick stops for sweet karak tea and chapati wraps that keep Kuwait running.

Must-Haves

• Burger Boutique (Salmiya)
  A homegrown Kuwaiti burger chain that helped start the country's gourmet burger craze.

Fun for Everyone

• Slider Station (Salmiya)
  A playful Kuwaiti brand serving sliders and shakes, popular with families.

Great for Date Night

• Seafront cafés of Marina Crescent (Salmiya)
  Terraces where couples linger over coffee and desserts as the lights come on along the marina.

Off the Beaten Path

• Specialty roasters of Salmiya (Salmiya)
  Small independent roasters pouring carefully brewed coffee in a city obsessed with the craft.

Must-Haves

• Salmiya beach and corniche (Salmiya)
  Public sea front for walks, picnics and evening breezes.

Off the Beaten Path

• Bayt Lothan (Salmiya)
  An arts and crafts centre in an old family home, with exhibitions, workshops and a garden café.
• Tareq Rajab Museum of Islamic Calligraphy (Jabriya)
  A sister collection devoted to the art of Arabic calligraphy.

Fun for Everyone

• Salem Al Mubarak Street by night (Salmiya)
  Alcohol free nightlife at its busiest: cafés, dessert shops and families until late.

Great for Date Night

• Marina Crescent at night (Salmiya)
  Lit up waterfront terraces perfect for a long evening walk and a mocktail.

Fun for Everyone

• Ramadan iftar tents (Salmiya)
  Hotels set up iftar and suhoor tents, an inviting way for visitors to share the season.

Great for Date Night

• Hilton Kuwait Resort (Mangaf)
  A beachfront resort with chalets and pools south of the city.

Must-Haves

• Crowne Plaza Kuwait Al Thuraya City (Farwaniya)
  A large hotel complex near the airport, handy for short stays.

Fun for Everyone

• Marina Hotel Kuwait (Salmiya)
  A seafront hotel next to the marina and Marina Mall.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Ibis Kuwait Salmiya (Salmiya)
  A simple budget friendly hotel in the heart of Salmiya.

Must-Haves

• Failaka Hellenistic temple ruins (Failaka Island)
  Ruins of a temple built by Alexander the Great's successors on the Gulf island once called Ikaros.

Off the Beaten Path

• Dilmun era settlement at Tell Saad and Said (Failaka Island)
  Bronze Age remains of a Dilmun trading settlement, one of the oldest sites in Kuwait.

Off the Beaten Path

• Al Qurainiya ruins and war scarred buildings (Failaka Island)
  Bullet marked houses left from 1990 that show how the island was emptied during the occupation.

Must-Haves

• Failaka ferry from Ras Salmiya (Salmiya)
  The ferry crossing itself, a short trip across Kuwait Bay with views back to the skyline.

Fun for Everyone

• Failaka Island beaches (Failaka Island)
  Quiet sandy shores for a swim and a picnic away from the city.

Must-Haves

• Sabah Al Ahmad Sea City (Al Khiran)
  A huge waterfront development of canals and lagoons where Kuwaiti families keep weekend homes and boats.

Fun for Everyone

• Kayaking in the Khiran lagoons (Al Khiran)
  Calm saltwater channels that are ideal for paddling and spotting birds.

Fun for Everyone

• The Khiran Outlet (Al Khiran)
  An outlet mall near the southern coast with brand stores and family dining.

Must-Haves

• Al Khiran beaches (Al Khiran)
  Clear, shallow water and sandy beaches, the best swimming on the Kuwaiti coast.

Off the Beaten Path

• Kubbar Island (Off Al Khiran)
  A tiny coral island reached by boat, famous for snorkelling and diving among reef fish.
• Qaruh Island (Off Al Khiran)
  Kuwait's most distant island, with coral reefs and nesting seabirds, reached on private boat trips.
• Wafra farms (Al Wafra)
  An agricultural area near the Saudi border with farms, greenhouses and seasonal produce stalls.

Great for Date Night

• Al Khiran chalets (Al Khiran)
  Private beach chalets rented by families for weekend getaways on the southern coast.

Fun for Everyone

• Winter camping season (Southern desert)
  From November to March Kuwaiti families pitch desert camps, a tradition known as kashta.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Khiran Outlet food court (Al Khiran)
  Easy family dining on the way to the beach.

Must-Haves

• Red Fort (Al Qasr Al Ahmar) (Al Jahra)
  A mud brick fort central to the 1920 Battle of Jahra and a symbol of Kuwaiti resistance.

Must-Haves

• Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Natural Reserve (Northern Kuwait)
  Kuwait's largest nature reserve, with desert wildlife and restored native plants, by permit and booking.

Off the Beaten Path

• Jal Al Zor escarpment (Northern Kuwait)
  A desert ridge with views across Kuwait Bay, part of the national park area.
• Jahra wetland birding (Al Jahra)
  Reeds and pools that draw herons, flamingos and migrants in the cooler months.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Jahra Bedouin grills (Al Jahra)
  Simple places serving grilled lamb, rice and fresh bread in the style of desert hospitality.

Off the Beaten Path

• Mutla Ridge viewpoint (Mutla Ridge)
  The ridge known from the 1991 war, with long views across the desert.

Off the Beaten Path

• Desert spring blooms (Northern Kuwait)
  After good winter rains, the northern desert briefly turns green with wildflowers.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Roadside karak stops (Al Jahra)
  Simple stalls on the way to the desert for strong, sweet karak tea.

Must-Haves

• Al Kout Mall waterfront (Fahaheel)
  Canals, fountains and promenades make this the south's favourite evening outing.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Fahaheel Souq (Fahaheel)
  A traditional market area with fish, vegetables and household goods.

Fun for Everyone

• Mangaf shopping streets (Mangaf)
  Lively streets of shops and eateries serving the south's large expat communities.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Fahaheel seafood restaurants (Fahaheel)
  Simple restaurants grilling fresh Gulf fish such as hamour and zubaidi.

Fun for Everyone

• Indian restaurants of Fahaheel (Fahaheel)
  A strong South Asian dining scene, from Kerala meals to Hyderabadi biryani.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ahmad Al Jaber Oil and Gas Exhibition (Ahmadi)
  A free exhibition explaining how oil shaped modern Kuwait, run by Kuwait Oil Company.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ahmadi Public Park (Ahmadi)
  A large green park in the oil company town of Ahmadi, with lawns and old trees.

Fun for Everyone

• Fahaheel waterfront (Fahaheel)
  A seaside promenade where families walk and fish in the evening.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ahmadi old town (Ahmadi)
  Leafy streets and bungalows built by the oil company in the 1940s, unlike anywhere else in Kuwait.

Fun for Everyone

• Al Kout Mall cafés (Fahaheel)
  Waterfront terraces where families sit out with coffee and desserts.

Fun for Everyone

• Hilton Kuwait Resort chalets (Mangaf)
  Beach chalets and pools for families looking for a seaside break.

Fun for Everyone

• Eid celebrations (Fahaheel)
  Eid brings fireworks, family outings and busy malls across the south.