Travel Guide: Kuwait – All You Need to Know

There are so many places waiting to be discovered in this world. Not everyone is a traveler, but we can always dream, right? Why not consider visiting a Middle Eastern country for a change, say, Kuwait?

Most people dream of visiting Switzerland, Japan, and other popular tourist destinations.

For one, there are more than 630,000 visitors in Switzerland last January of this year. Last year of July, it even reached a peak of 1.2 million visitors. Meanwhile, in Japan, there were about 2.5 million visitors in Japan as of December 2019.

Basic facts about Kuwait

Kuwait is officially known as the State of Kuwait. It is located in Western Asia, bordering Saudi Arabia (south), Iraq (west), and the Persian Gulf (north). As of 2019, there are about 4.2 million people in the country, in which expatriates eat about 70 percent of the total population.

Kuwait is a small country, measuring about 17,818 square kilometers. For comparative purposes, it is almost the same size as New Jersey in the US and the country of Israel. You can travel across Kuwait by land: about 170 km going from East to West, and 200 km going from North to South.

The rich history of this Middle-Eastern country started around the 3rd century BC. Greeks were said to settle in present-day during that time. Several empires followed suit and settled in the country. Kuwait became an independent country in 1961 and prospered into the country it is today.

Kuwait has a traditional culture in terms of “old school” educational values and respect for elders. Kuwaitis are naturally friendly and fond of arts and music. More than their rich history and culture, they also offers tourist spots that you should not miss.

Kuwait awaits you

Most people think that there’s always war in the Middle East where Kuwait is located. While it can be true, Kuwait is relatively peaceful and safe unlike its neighbor, Iraq.

Not that we are to downplay Iraq, but we are talking about the public’s safety in general. There are also travel bans going on in Iraq, but that’s a story for another day.

Here are some places you should check out when you visit Kuwait:

Kuwait City

Kuwait City is the capital of Kuwait located along the shores of the Persian Gulf. It boasts of modern infrastructures showing off its country’s financial capabilities and has gone from a simple fishing hub to a lively and luxurious country that is known of today.

There are the Kuwait Towers where you can have a 360-degree view of the entire city. You can also visit the following tourist spots in Kuwait City:

Another tourist spot to visit is the Liberation Tower. It got its name after the successful liberation from the Iraqi invasion back in 1990. The tower, aside from being a national monument, also houses an observation deck and a restaurant.

Kuwait City also boasts of both traditional and modern buildings – the best of both worlds. Visit the market at Souk Al-Mubarakiya and mingle with the friendly locals. There are also lots of shopping malls if you want to spend money on yourself (or for your family back in your country).

If you are a Greek history junkie, you can visit Failaka Island. It is located in the Persian Gulf and about an hour-long ride from the mainland. There, you will see traces of Greek colonization including forts and temples.

Camel Farms

Your Middle East trip would not be complete without seeing camels. They are friendly and cute, and you can get up close and personal in camel farms. You can even feed and take a ride with them.

There are a lot of camel farms in Kuwait. Camels are the “horses” of the Middle East. But if you want to see the best of all camel farms, visit Al Kabd which is about 45 km from the city.

The Kuwaiti Desert

The Middle East is often associated with desert and oil. Kuwait is rich in both. You can find assigned gas pipelines across the entire desert. It sure will be scorching hot out there, but at least you get first-hand desert experience.

Jahra

Jahra is a small town about 32 km away from the city, and the country’s agricultural capital. You can find the Red Fort in this town, a landmark known for its clay construction and reddish tinge. Other tourist spots you can visit in Jahra include the following:

Jahra oasis
Sulail Al Jahra Mall
Katsav Obaid Anzi Mosque
Masjed Albassam Mosque

You can book and rent a car and explore the hidden beauty of this small country. This is because public transportation in Kuwait is scarce, so renting a car is a good choice for tourists like you. Make sure to keep your distance from those who seem to be practicing stunts down the road.

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