Kuwait is one of the less-known countries in the Middle East! One that often gets forgotten about when it comes to travelling! Yet a beautiful country with some of the most welcoming people I’ve ever met!
Kuwait is only a small country! A country that is mainly made up of desert. However, located by the Persian Gulf, is Kuwait City, the capital. A city full of tall-raised buildings, beautiful beaches, and tranquil parks. A city full of warm-welcoming, friendly people! A city that will leave lasting memories with you!
You don’t need long when you come to Kuwait City. The city itself isn’t a big city! We spent just under 24 hours in the city as part of our layover to Dubai. I felt this was enough time to enjoy what the city had to offer!
If you are planning a trip to Kuwait City, hopefully, this guide will help you plan a great trip to the city! A trip that will leave you with full, content hearts afterward, just like it did with us!
When to Visit
Kuwait City is known to be one of the hottest cities in the world! In the summer months, temperatures can get above 40°C. In the winter months, temperatures are a lot more pleasant. Often in winter, temperatures average around 15°C to 20°C.
We visited in December, and it was about 17°C. Lovely and pleasant!
Entry Requirments
If you are a British Citizen travelling to Kuwait, you are required to get a visa to enter the country. You can either apply for it before you go online, or get one on arrival.
Just be aware, if you plan to get one on arrival, it can delay you an hour getting out of the airport like it did with us! The process was very slow and a lot of queuing!
Here is the link to applying for your visa online: https://kuwaitvisa.moi.gov.kw/
Dress Code
Kuwait is an Islamic country, so dressing modestly is important. Travelling as a woman, you aren’t expected to wear headscarves. However, out of respect, you should keep your shoulders and below your knees covered.
Getting Around
Public transport is not great in Kuwait City! There are public buses, but it’s slow to get around as the roads are very busy. You can hire a car, if you feel confident to do so. However, if you are only in the city for 24 hours, I recommend using taxis to get around.
If you book into a hotel in the centre, a lot can be explored on foot. You will just need a taxi to get to and from the airport. Some hotels have their own transport for this, as ours did.
Where to Stay
We stayed at the Ramada Encore by Wyndham Kuwait Downtown. It was perfect! Located in downtown Kuwait City, it had transport to and from the airport at a small fee, and as we landed late at night, it had a 24-hour check-in desk.
Here is the link to the hotel on Expedia: https://www.expedia.co.uk/Kuwait-City-Hotels-Ramada-Encore-By-Wyndham-Kuwait-Downtown.h19295791.Hotel-Information?referrerId=HOT.HIS.Share.Landed.Copy_Link
What To See and Do
If you only have 24 hours in Kuwait City, here are the top things I recommend you see and do:
I’ve pinned everything mentioned below onto Google Maps, including the hotel we stayed in: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kJnbLCPKcZincPcE9
Head up the Al Hamra Tower
The Al Hamra Tower is the tallest building in Kuwait, at 413 metres (1,355 ft) high. It’s free to go up, and the views over the city are incredible!
To get to the Al Hamra Tower, there are two entrances. You can come through the outside entrance, which is the main entrance, or you can get to it through the Al Hamra Shopping Mall.
Either way you choose to enter, you have to go to one of the desks. You will be asked to hand in a form of ID in loan of a swipe card. Once you get through the barriers, use the lifts at the main entrance, marked to floors 30 and 55. Not the ones down the corridor section, as these go to offices only, as we found out!
The Sky Lobby Observation Decks are on two floors. Floor 30 and floor 55. It’s worth going to both!
Bite to Eat at Al Hamra Shopping Mall
Al Hamra Shopping Mall is a beautiful Mall full of cafes and restaurants. A perfect place to go for breakfast, lunch, or tea!
Dasman Beach/Head of the Bridge
Dasman Beach is a beautiful beach beside the Persian Gulf with great city views behind! The Head of the Bridge is a little pier you can walk out on, providing good views of the iconic Kuwait Towers.
To get here from Al Harma Shopping Mall, it’s about a 20-minute walk!
Kuwait Towers
Just a short walk away from Dasman Beach is the beautiful, iconic Kuwait Towers. A landmark and symbol of modern Kuwait. The tallest of the three towers sits at 187m (613 ft), offering incredible views!
You can go up two of the spheres, at a small cost. To do so, you can purchase your ticket at the towers on the day of your visit. There’s also a little gift shop too!
Al Shaheed Park
Al Shaheed Park is a beautiful urban park that’s just a 10-minute walk from Al Hamra Shopping Mall. It’s a great place to go to relax and switch off from busy city life, yet offers great skyline views of the city!
That’s all we had time for in Kuwait City, as we head to get to the airport for our evening flight over to Dubai. However, if you have more time, or planning on staying an extra day, here are some other places to visit in the city:
- Green Island
- Souq Sharq Marina
- Sanabil Tower
- Grand Mosque of Kuwait
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Want to see our day in action? Check out our YouTube vlog: https://youtu.be/F8Kk5dGmrMs
Further Reading
Enjoyed your time in Kuwait and want to explore more of the Middle East? Why not check out some of my guides on a neighbouring country: UAE
