Interesting Things to do in Kuwait City, Kuwait
An Overview of Kuwait
Kuwait is a small country with tucked into the corner of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula. The small nation is nestled between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Historically, the settlement has been protected by the deserts surrounding it, which is one of the driest and least-hospitable terrains on Earth. For centuries, Kuwait has been a vital crossroads settlement, once serving as a gate to ancient Mesopotamia. With the advent of oil as a lucrative commodity, the nation has earned enormous wealth.
Kuwait gained international recognition during its struggles against the Iraq invasion, which heralded the start of the Gulf War. The nation was occupied by Iraqi forces in the early 1990s due to political, social and economic frictions. The Gulf War ended with a total withdraw of Iraqi forces. In the subsequent decades, Kuwait has undergone massive infrastructure improvements, continued producing oil, developed their financial sector and built up a small but advanced national profile.
Visitor who enjoy Kuwait now can see ancient market districts, a deep culinary tradition, large cargo ships drifting out at sea, unique modern architecture, rows of skyscrapers, stunning mosques, numerous museums and preserved historical sites. The nation is notoriously safe to explore, moderately expensive and filled with examples of warm, accommodating Arabian cultural hospitality.
Advice When Visiting Kuwait
It’s vital that travelers stay on recommended routes when exploring Kuwait. Certain parts of the country, most especially northern beaches, have never been de-mined. As a result, there are pockets of unexploded ordinance left over from the Gulf Conflict. With that being said, major highways, popular beaches and nearby islands are perfectly safe.
Due to the sensitivity and recent history of Iraqi and Kuwait’s Gulf War, traveling to the northern boarder of Kuwait can only been done with special authorization. Photographs of government buildings, military bases, restricted areas and oil fields are illegal.
Travelers arriving to Kuwait should handle their Visa in advance, even if a traveler’s native country allows for Visa on Arrival. This saves substantial time when arriving at Kuwait’s International Airport.
Kuwait has an excellent, well-established bus-based transportation system but no expansive rail system throughout the country. Bear in mind that the bus system operates on a loose time schedule, so it’s possible to wait fifteen minutes or so at an appointed bus stop.
Many visitors choose to rent cars to get around Kuwait. Alternatively, Kuwait’s reliable and cheap taxi service is tapped into ride sharing apps. The most popular of these apps is the Careem Ride Sharing Service.
The weather in Kuwait is harsh due to its desert biosphere. Staying near the Kuwait Bay causes a marked increase in humidity. Sunscreen, umbrellas and hats are all wise.
Kuwait’s local police force and safety patrols takes the safety of the nation serious. Travelers should keep their passports, visas and other relevant papers with them at all time. Stops aren’t frequent, but they’re a fairly regular part of life in Kuwait City.
Kuwait is a Middle Eastern nation with strong Islamic roots. As such, dressing modestly is important.
Kuwait is a tiny country. It’s possible to visit most of the major attractions within two or three days. However, Kuwait is also a major culinary destination for traditional Arabian foods. Sampling the full range of meals in the nation takes considerably more time.
Interesting Things to do in Kuwait City
House of Mirrors
The House of Mirrors is easy to spot. This white brick building is decorated in a fascinating array of mirrors showing stars, butterflies, calligraphy, planets and more. The interior is even more unique, with hundreds of reflective surfaces covering hallways, ceilings, rooms and furniture. Note that the House of Mirrors is a private residence and tours must be booked online in advance.
Failaka Island
This is Kuwait’s most famous island, located roughly 20 kilometers of the Kuwaiti mainland. This island has an ancient history with artifacts, tools and ruins dating back to 3000 BCE, indicating Kuwait was once a part of the Mesopotamian civilization. However, the island in the modern era only has a single city called Zoor (or Zawr). This settlement was almost completely abandoned during the Gulf War, after which Iraqi forces used the island for target practice. While the island was liberated, much of the damage remains. There are ruined tanks and other pieces of military equipment. Many ruins are riddled with bullet hulls from bored soldiers. Natural overgrowth is plentiful. For those interested in learning about the island, there are three major methods for visiting. Tours, while somewhat expensive, offer trips to the island. These can be booked online. Alternatively, there is a morning ferry service called KPTC Failaka Ferry. However, the timetables are a little difficult to discern and are somewhat flexible. Finally, visitors can use boating apps such as the “Waves online yachts booking” app.
Kuwait Water Towers
Located inside Kuwait City, these striped, mushroom-shaped water towers are iconic features of the Kuwait water distribution system. This water system, hooked up to distillation plants, allows an expansive pipe network to operate throughout the city.
Tareq Rajab Museum of Islamic Calligraphy
This astonishingly elegant museum hosts the private collection of Tareq Sayed Rajad, a Kuwaiti national with a passion for art, history, archaeology and, of course, calligraphy. The museum is filled with some of the world’s most stunning examples of Islamic and Arabic Calligraphy. This includes tapestries, relics, historical artifacts, stylized Qurans, unique pieces of furniture, tiles, jewlery and much more. The museum’s vast collection was largely saved during heroic efforts to protect artifacts during the Iraqi invasion of 1991. While not all items were rescued, many priceless artifacts were saved, eventually contributing to this Islamic Calligraphy museum.
The Kuwait Towers
Overlooking the sea, these iconic symbols of Kuwait City contains a massive internal viewing sphere with rotates 360° every half hour. Visitors can overlook the nearby city skyline or Kuwait Bay at intervals. There’s a small entrance fee to visit to the tops of the towers.
Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre
This is a vast 18-hectare museum complex hosting various aspects of science, history, arts and more. The museum grounds consist of six main components; The Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Space Museum, Arabic Islamic Science Museum, Fine Arts Centre and the external spaces known as the Public Realm.
Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre
This is a multidisciplinary public space used to showcase various art forms. The unique architecture is interesting in its own right, and visitors can also enjoy shows at the opera house located within.
Historical Vintage and Classic Cars Museum
Neat, clean, well-organized and free to enter, this museum is loaded with historical limousines, classic sports cars and wonderfully restored vehicles. The museum is an excellent place to visit and hosts a small outdoor driving area for visiting children.
Bait Al Othman Museum
This museum is dedicated to unique and compelling bits of Kuwaiti culture and history. It’s an excellent place to learn about the region’s history. While the museum looks rather tiny from the outside, the interior is packed with exhibits. It takes roughly 2 or 3 hours to properly explore.
Green Island
While not exceptional, this tiny peninsula is a nice place to relax near the gulf. There are water views, narrow beaches, low key parks and trails for cyclists and walkers. The space is easily identifiable thanks to its blocky observational tower.
Al Shaheed Park
This park is part of Kuwait’s large green belt project. The park is home to some of Kuwait’s best outdoor artworks, including abstract sculptures, sculpted garden spaces, palm tree basins, green hills and a field filled with the rustic Kuwaiti Desert Life Sculptures. The park is also home to various museums including the Kuwait Habitat Museum, the The Martyr Monument and the Memorial Museum. Several quaint cafés also dot the park, which connects underground to the nearby Al Shaheed Park Phase II. The park is surrounded by shrubbery and tall iron fencing on most sides, so it’s only truly accessible through an entryway on the west side of the park or by using some of the pedestrian bridges arcing in from other points in the city.
Assima Mall
This is a massive, popular shopping complex filled with stores, trendy food stops, interesting modern artworks and excellent restaurants. The space is known for a large, unique sculpture in the central shopping space of the mall and it remains a great place to escape Kuwait’s midday heat.
Safat Square
Safat Square is the major historical commercial square in Kuwait City. The square is home to numerous shops, a small park area, unique architecture, several fountains, a sunken seating area and underground pedestrian walkways that allow access to other parts of the city. The square doubles as the de facto entrance to Mubarakiya Old Market.
Mubarakiya Old Market
Considered one of the largest institutional attractions in Kuwait, Mubarakiya Old Market is a popular historic and traditional shopping areas in Kuwait. Serving as a centerpiece for commerce and entertainment for over 200 years, this sprawling network of buildings, covered shopping zones and stores takes hours to full explore. There are restaurants, jewlery districts, novelty shops, popular event plazas and countless historical sites throughout this area. The entire market is the heart of Block 4 of Kuwait City.
The Grand Mosque of Kuwait
One of the largest mosques on Earth, this building is a large, historically vital piece of Kuwait’s culture and spiritual-religious background.
Kuwait National Museum
This free-entry museum is a unique place to visit when learning about Kuwait’s national heritage and culture. The museum operates with a combination of archeological and heritage exhibits.
Bayan Botanical Garden
While Kuwait is far greener than many other nations on the Arabian Peninsula, Bayan Botanical Garden is worthy of a visit. This large greenhouse is home to many of the unique and beautiful native plants found in Kuwait.
Souk Sharq
This unique mall is located on the shores of Kuwait City, right next to its large Marina space. The shopping center is home to numerous stores and borders boating areas. Visitors can enjoy nearby coastal walking paths, views of the bay and excellent air-conditioning in the midst of Kuwait’s summer heat.
Al-Qurain Martyrs Museum
This compelling museum is home to various artifacts and exhibits dedicated to the events and history regarding the Gulf War. The museum is stocked with authentic bombed vehicles and semi-ruined buildings.
Kuwait Maritime Museum
While much of Kuwait’s modern history owes its wealth to oil discovery, the region historically obtained wealth as a major shipping nexus. The Maritime Museum pays homage to the seafaring heritage of Kuwait with examples of dhows, boons and other pearl collection vessels. The musuem is largely outdoor and full of restored wooden sailing ships.
Tareq Rajab Museum
While the Tareq Rajab Calligraphy Museum focuses heavily on the art and history of Islamic Calligraphy, the Tareq Rajab Museum is a private collection with a much broader array of subjects. The museum depicts various aspects of Islamic civilization from ancient eras to modern times. This museum showcases and especially prominent display of Silver Folk jewelry, with around 12,000 pieces.
Harbor Walk – Sunset Point
This is a humble walking path following a portion of Kuwait’s coast. The walkway faces northwest, making it an excellent place to relax and enjoy Kuwait’s legendary desert-and-bay sunsets.
Desert Safari Tours
Kuwait offers numerous seasonal safari options, usually popular in the cooler months between October and March. These tours include food and transportation out into the desert. Visitors can see Kuwait’s famous oil fields, enjoy dune bashing and camel rides. The tours also specialize in showcasing traditional Kuwaiti dinners and teas alongside historical folklore. Some tours offer overnight camping under desert stars in Bedouin (a traditional Arabian Peninsula desert tribe) tents.
Kobar Island
Kuwait has an expansive coastline reaching into a series of magical underwater reefs and sandbars. Visitors can go snorkeling and scuba diving at Kobar Island to view the native reefs and marine wildlife of Kuwait.
Sadu House
This isn’t a typical museum. Located inside a historical Kuwaiti structure near the National Museum, this museum is dedicated to the ancient Bedouin Tribe. The tribe is famed for it’s longstanding life alongside the harsh region’s climate, their legendary weaving techniques and unique folklore.
Kazmah Desert
This large desert area is known for its diverse arid views and access to adventure sports. Visitors can try activities such as sand gliding, dirt racing, camel tours and quad biking. While solo travel is possible with a guide, most opt to book tours. These tours are generally only available from November to March and require a lot of extra water to avoid overheating.
Boubyan Island and Warbah Island
These beautiful islands are found in the deep waters of the Persian Gulf. The islands, despite being nearby one another, are different biospheres, each with their own charms. The islands are especially famous for those interested in birdwatching. Both are home to a diverse range of bird species, including unique migratory and water birds, found throughout the year. Boubyan Island is best for spotting marine wildlife such as dolphins and sharks. Warbah is considered far more tranquil with hiking trails and quiet docking areas.
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