Kuwait
Where to stay in Kuwait City
Kuwait City is a city in Kuwait, home to about 2,989,000 people.
- Best months
- November to March
- Nearest airport
- KWI17 km · Kuwait International Airport
- Currency
- KWDKuwaiti dinar
- Time zone
- Asia/Kuwait
- Language
- Arabic
About
About Kuwait City
Kuwait City (; Arabic: مدينة الكويت, romanised: Madīnat al-Kuwayt) is the capital and largest city of Kuwait. Located at the heart of the country on the south shore of Kuwait Bay on the Persian Gulf, it is the political, cultural and economic primate city of the emirate, being home to the headquarters of most Kuwaiti corporations and the entirety of its banking system.
Kuwait City has a population of 3.4 million inhabitants in the metro area. It sits on a peninsula at the southern edge of Kuwait Bay. Its seaport is used by oil tankers, cargo ships and many pleasure craft. The main residential and business areas are Salmiya and Hawalli. The main industrial area is Shuwaikh within the Al Asimah Governorate. The main palaces are As-Seef Palace in the old part of Kuwait City where the Emir runs the daily matters of the country, and the government headquarters is in Bayan Palace, while the Emir stays in Dar Salwa.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Kuwait City
See
- Kuwait Towers
- National Museum
- Seif Palace
- National Assembly
- Grand Mosque
- War Museum
- Al Shaheed Park
- Fish Market
- Old Ships Port
- Scientific Center
- Green Island
- Dasman Beach
Do
There are quite a few things to do in Kuwait City. It is possible to have lunch or dinner in the Kuwait Towers (the three towers by the sea with water storage). It is worthwhile to take a tour of the Grand Mosque in Kuwait, just kindly ask the security guard in front of the entrance to the mosque. Across the street from the Grand Mosque is the Kuwaiti Stock Exchange, which seems to be open to the public. While in Kuwait it is also possible to smoke Shisha (Hookah) at a cafe. There are also quite a few great restaurants with Iranian, Lebanese, and Bedouin foods. To escape the intense heat, visit the Aqua Park near the Kuwait Towers.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Kuwait City to stay in
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.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Kuwait City
48 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata; the 40 best known are shown, by the number of Wikipedia editions that cover them. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| InterContinental Kuwait Downtown | 0.6 km | |
| JW Marriott Kuwait City | 1.6 km | |
| Hilton Olympia Kuwait | 2008 | 10.8 km |
| Adams Hotel | 2.0 km | |
| Al Bastaki International Hotel | 1.7 km | |
| Al Hamra Hotel Kuwait | 1.5 km | |
| Argan Al Bidaa Hotel and Resort | 12.1 km | |
| Best Western Plus Salmiya | 9.0 km | |
| Carlton Tower Hotel Kuwait | 1.6 km | |
| City Tower Hotel | 1.4 km | |
| Costa Del Sol Hotel by Arabian Link | 5.8 km | |
| Courtyard by Marriott Kuwait City | 1.1 km | |
| Crowne Plaza Kuwait Al Thuraya City | 11.6 km | |
| Dalal City Hotel | 9.7 km | |
| Four Points by Sheraton Kuwait | 2.2 km | |
| Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya | 1.5 km | |
| Grand Hotel | 11.8 km | |
| Grand Hyatt Kuwait Hyatt Hotels Corporation | 12.1 km | |
| Grand Hyatt Kuwait Residences | 17.3 km | |
| Grand Majestic Hotel Kuwait | 0.8 km | |
| Hampton by Hilton Kuwait Salmiya | 2024 | 11.9 km |
| Hilton Garden Inn Kuwait | 8.7 km | |
| Holiday Inn Kuwait | 11.5 km | |
| Holiday Inn Kuwait Al Thuraya City | 11.7 km | |
| Ibis Kuwait Salmiya | 9.9 km | |
| Inn & Go Kuwait Plaza Hotel | 1.5 km | |
| Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa Kuwait | 15.8 km | |
| Kuwait Continental Hotel | 1.7 km | |
| Laguna Hotel Suites | 9.6 km | |
| Le Jazz Hotel | 4.7 km | |
| Le Royal Express Salmiya Hotel | 10.8 km | |
| Le Royal Hotel | 2.4 km | |
| Marina Royal Hotel Suite | 9.3 km | |
| Millennium Central Kuwait Downtown | 1.6 km | |
| Millennium Hotel & Convention Centre Kuwait | 7.8 km | |
| Mövenpick Hotel & Resort Al Bida'a | 12.3 km | |
| Mövenpick Hotel Kuwait | 7.1 km | |
| Oasis Hotel | 0.1 km | |
| Plaza Athenee Hotel | 3.1 km | |
| Radisson Blu Hotel, Kuwait | 13.3 km |
All 48 hotels in Kuwait City, with their history and operators
When to go
The best time to visit Kuwait City
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Kuwait City are November to March. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 46 °C; December is the wettest, with about 26 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Kuwait City: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Kuwait International Airport (KWI), about 17 km from the city centre in a straight line; Abadan Ayatollah Jami International Airport (ABD, 113 km) and Basra International Airport (BSR, 134 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
See the main Kuwait article for the full scoop. Express bus X3 connects the airport with the city center, and runs every hour including nights. Ticket can be purchased on board, KD 1.
Getting around
If you don't have your own wheels, taxis are the most practical form of transport. Meters are universally ignored (the official fares haven't changed in years), so agree on the price before you set off. Call taxis (aka hotel taxis) are all-white with company decals on the doors, and they can be found lurking around major hotels. Usually ordered by phone, these are usually fairly nice and will take you where you want to go with a minimum of fuss, but charge steeper prices: KD 3 is the standard fare for most trips around town, while going to/from the airport is KD 5.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
KWI · Kuwait International Airport
ABD · Abadan Ayatollah Jami International Airport
BSR · Basra International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Kuwait City
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.
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.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Kuwait City: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Kuwait City?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Kuwait City are November to March. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 46 °C; December is the wettest, with about 26 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Kuwait City?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Kuwait International Airport (KWI), about 17 km from the city centre in a straight line; Abadan Ayatollah Jami International Airport (ABD, 113 km) and Basra International Airport (BSR, 134 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Kuwait City?
Kuwaiti dinar (KWD).
Nearby
Destinations near Kuwait City
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.