Ask most UK travellers about Kuwait and you will likely be met with a blank look, yet Kuwait City is one of the most striking, walkable and welcoming capitals in the Gulf. It rarely appears on standard Middle East itineraries, which is exactly what makes it such a compelling addition for clients who have already experienced Dubai or Doha and are looking for somewhere genuinely different.
Kuwait City: Architecture and Waterfront
The iconic Kuwait Towers, an instantly recognisable 1970s landmark, anchor a waterfront corniche that stretches for miles along the Gulf, lined with parks, cafes and family-friendly promenades. The nearby Al Hamra Tower and Kuwait’s striking National Assembly building, designed by Jørn Utzon of Sydney Opera House fame, showcase decades of ambitious Gulf architecture rarely seen by outside visitors.
Souq Al-Mubarakiya
Kuwait’s oldest market remains a genuinely working souq rather than a tourist attraction, where spice traders, tailors and gold merchants operate much as they have for generations. It is one of the best places in the Gulf for an authentic, unhurried cultural experience with a private local guide.
A Genuinely Local Experience
Because Kuwait sees relatively few Western leisure travellers, visitors tend to find an especially warm welcome and an unpolished, authentic atmosphere that has faded in more heavily touristed parts of the Gulf. Kuwaiti hospitality, coffee culture and cuisine, particularly the region’s excellent Machboos and fresh Gulf seafood, are highlights in their own right.
Best Combined With
Given its relatively short list of standalone attractions, we typically recommend Kuwait as a three or four-night addition to a longer Gulf itinerary alongside Bahrain, Qatar or the UAE, rather than a sole destination.
Getting There from the UK
Direct flights from London to Kuwait City take around seven hours, and an e-visa can be arranged online in advance for British passport holders.
Add Kuwait to Your Itinerary
Curious about weaving Kuwait into a wider Gulf journey? Speak to our team about building a bespoke, ATOL protected itinerary that includes this often-overlooked destination.