Kuwait City

Buy

Several high-end malls in Kuwait City, with the Marina Mall being one of the largest. However, prices are quite expensive especially compared with other places in the region - most name brand products will cost 2-5 times what they would cost in the west.

Modern shopping centers: Souq Sharq (Kuwait City) and Marina Mall (Salmiya) are both on the coastal Gulf Road and offer excellent shopping. Another shopping centre is "Al-Kout" (Fahaheel) it has several beautiful coffee shops and many other outlets. "Araya Mall" (Sharq) and Al-Salhiya Mall (Sharq) offers high-price designer brands. The Avenues is a newer mall and is one of the largest in Kuwait. Traditional markets: A famous destination is the Souk Al Mubarakiya in the heart of downtown. Middle Eastern and Oriental items abound as well as a gold and jewellery market. Souk Al-Juma'a is a Friday market with very low-priced mass-produced goods and second-hand stuff. The Mahameed markets in Behbahani complex have similar selection and pricing as well. A more Oriental atmosphere can be found on the other side of town also in a mall called Souk Al-Watiya or Al-Watiya Complex, located beside the Sheraton Hotel and 4 Point Sheraton. This place is also called the Adidas Building by local Filipinos. Situated close to churches the whole area can look like a mini India Town and Filipino Town during Friday and Sunday. Many restaurants also serving either fast food or oriental traditional foods. This is also a good place to buy any gold o…

Eat

French: Le Relais de l'Entrecote (Avenues Mall, Al-Fanar Mall, Salmiya) - The traditional steak frites, based on the original Parisian restaurant in Porte Malliot; Paul (Marina Mall, Salmiya and others) - The patisserie which serves pretty authentic pastries/baguettes and some decent entrees.

Italian: Viaggio Restaurant located in the first floor of the Crowne Plaza Hotel has probably one of the best authentic Italian food in town. Lorenzo, next to Salhiya Complex (in Sharg), and Ricardo, which is in the Sheraton are considered among the best Italian restaurants in Kuwait. Pomodoro which is in Sharg next to the church also serves good Italian food. Nino's, on the Gulf Road, is also good, but is more of a casual restaurant.Gelato Italiano, at Sharg area Ahmed AlJaber st., Gaz Tower, , one of the first in Kuwait since 2001, very popular, and offers a large selection of Italian ice creams.

Indian: Mugal Mahal (sharg), Bukhara (Sheraton hotel), Silk and Spice (Al Kout Mall, Fahaheel), Asha's (Marina crescent). The Spice Club (360 Mall), is a popular spot in the new mall, and is acclaimed for its North Indian delicacies and varied menu, hence an attraction to regular foodies year round - highly recommended.

Lebanese: Villa Fayrouz (Sha'ab), Mejana (Al Kout Mall, Fahahel), Mais Al-Ghanim (Gulf Road), Tarboosh (Sheraton Hotel), Burj Al Hamam.

Persian: Shahrayar (Sheraton Hotel), Shabestan (Crowne Plaza Hotel), Baba Taher (Sharq)

Kuwaiti: AL-Marsa which is in the Ritz Hotel on t…

Sleep

Western chains are prevalent in Kuwait, with the JW Marriott and Sheraton as the largest five-star hotels in the downtown business district. The Courtyard by Marriott and Four Points by Sheraton are also present, along with two luxury Le Méridien properties. A Crowne Plaza is located near Kuwait International Airport; there are also two Holiday Inn properties, one in the shopping district of Salmiya and the other located in downtown Kuwait City. Additional resort hotels, such as the Hilton and Kempinski, are located on the coast.

The only hostel operating in Kuwait as of 2023 is Aladdin hostel on Amman St (Salmiya) near the city center in a lively neighborhood with generous and hospitable hosts.

Stay safe

Kuwait City is relatively safe. Crime rates are low and the neighboring civil conflict in Iraq has not spilled over into Kuwait. The same is not true of some of the suburbs where it can be unsafe for single females to walk alone. Cars will pull up demanding that western women get in and they can be very threatening.

Be very careful crossing streets: Kuwaiti drivers are reckless. There are no pedestrian lights, pedestrian crossings are virtually ignored.

Respect

Kuwait is a mostly Muslim country so wear respectable clothing during your travels. That said, "respectful" is a relative term. Kuwaiti malls are full of young Kuwaitis in shorts, tight clothing, etc. Along with Dubai, this is one of the few places in the region it is easy to get away with wearing shorts if one wants to. thumb|A Kuwaiti man walking along in traditional Arabic dress Do not say anything that might be perceived as an insult to Islam, the Kuwaiti government, or national pride. Drug trafficking, murder, and rape are punishable by death. It is also important to note that swearing publicly at someone, or gesturing obscenely, is grounds for arrest and steep fines or immediate deportation.

Go next

Everyone who has spent more than a few months in Kuwait quickly realizes that they have seen and done everything that can be seen and done here. Exploring the Gulf region becomes a relatively low-cost diversion whatever an adventurer's tastes may be: rock climbing, snow skiing, scuba diving, fishing, drinking, dancing or whatever. You'll definitely want to leave Kuwait if you seek to avoid boredom.