Kuwait City: Best Things to Do
SIGHTSEEING
Kuwait City is also known for its Islamic attractions including the Grand Mosque which is a place for thousands of Muslims. Other attractions that tourists can visit are Al-Mubarakiya Souk, a traditional Arab market, and The Avenues, the upscale shopping mall. On the other district of the city, Salmiya has a small beautiful public beach which is also a place of Scientific Center, an aquarium and a museum of traditional sailboats. Another must-visit is Failaka Island, a place of remaining of the Mesopotamian era.
Al-Mubarakiya Souq
The Avenues
DOWNTOWN
Kuwait City is more like a modern city in the Middle East with many skyscrapers. The downtown is dominated with modern architecture such as Kuwait Towers, Grand Mosque, Tareq Rajab Museum of Islamic Art, and Mirror House. The city is also featured with a green park, Al Shaheed Park. It is a green space that contains a lake, botanical garden, palm trees, restaurants, and two museums.
Kuwait Towers
Tareq Rajem Museum
Grand Mosque
Al Shaheed Park
SHOPPING
Souq Al Mubarakeya is one of the oldest traditional markets (souqs) and also the center of trade of oil. Visitors can spend hours strolling around and find reasonable bargains such as real Arab antiques, perfumes, traditional costumes, and Persian silk carpets. Another place to visit to go shopping is The Avenue Mall. It is the largest shopping mall in Kuwait and even the second largest mall in the Middle East. This mall features more than 800 stores and a variety of items.
Al-Mubarakiya Souq
The Avenues
FOOD & DRINK
Kuwait’s national dish is Macboosh. It is a savory rice-based traditional Kuwaiti. This food is very popular in Kuwait and can be found easily in the nearby restaurants. There’s also Quozi, stuffed lamb served on spiced rice. Quozi is served by stuffing the whole lamb with rice, spices, nuts, vegetable, and it is cooked slowly in oven.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
The best time to visit Kuwait City is from November to April.
HOTEL
Kuwait hotels range from mid-range to high end and it has limited budget options. Most visitors chose to stay near the Salmiya area or the Central area of Sharq. Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa is known as an upscale and luxurious hotel. It is located only one minute from the beach in Messilah district. Arinza Tower is another stunning hotel facing the beach in Kuwait City. It has a strategic location and near shopping areas and restaurants.
Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa
Apartments Arinza (Arinza Tower)
RESTAURANT
Al Boom is one of the most unique restaurants in Kuwait City. It is designed and set on the huge Mohammedi II ship. The huge ship used is built in Kozhikode, India, in 1979. They serve a variety of seafood with a comfortable atmosphere. Mais Alghanim is a specialty of Middle Eastern cooking since 1953. Besides the foods served Middle Eastern, the design is also classic Middle Eastern.
Al Boom Steak & Seafood Restaurant
Mais Alghanim Restaurant
CAFE
In Kuwait City, the visitors can also find a contemporary French café named Baker & Spice. They serve organic and also fresh local produce. Café Bateel is one of the best cafés in Kuwait City with its typical dates sourced from Alghat. They also served Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine.
Baker & Spice
Café Bateel
BAR AND NIGHTLIFE
There are no formal nightclubs in Kuwait but some hotels and restaurants offer live performances. However, Sky Lounge can be one of the lists, which is a rooftop and it is kept very low. TCHE TCHE Café is also one of the night cafés and they serve smoking shisha and football watching.
Sky Lounge
TCHE TCHE Cafe
INTERESTING PLACE
There are many interesting places in Kuwait to visit. Tareq Rajeb Museum is a basement-villa and a house of ethnographic arts in it. There are also musical instruments shown on glass cabinet. There’s also Mirror House, a bizarre art created by eccentric Italian-Kuwaiti artist Lidia Al Qattan.
Tareq Rajem Museum
Mirror House
INSTAGRAMMABLE SPOT
Finding a good spot for photography in Kuwait is easy. Souq Al Mubarakeya, the Arab traditional market with a unique atmosphere will make your pictures interesting. Another option is Kuwait Towers, where you can take pictures from the skyscraper building with the city landscape from above.
Kuwait Towers
Al-Mubarakiya Souq
