Best places to visit in Kuwait

Kuwait is located in the Middle East, on the north-western shore of the Arabian Gulf. For a long time it was known mainly as a harbour for pearl divers and trading dhows, and today it is an attraction for Arabian nomads and modern travellers alike, where you can experience a cool sea breeze in the evening after a day in the desert. Kuwait is well known for its tall towers, huge shopping malls, modern architecture and quiet cultural escapes. It also holds a number of research institutes and one of the most active theatre scenes in the Gulf. Read further to know about the best places in Kuwait.

Kuwait Towers

Kuwait Towers is one of the most famous landmarks in the country. It is located in the Sharq District, right on the waterfront, and was built in 1979. The complex consists of three concrete columns: two of them carry blue-green spheres covered with more than forty thousand enamel discs, and the tallest of them reaches one hundred and eighty-seven metres.

These towers won the Aga Khan Award for their beautiful architecture. The spheres are not decorative only — inside them there are huge tanks where millions of gallons of water can be stored, so the towers are a working part of the city water supply. A huge crowd gathers in the evening because they look wonderful when they are illuminated against the Gulf. There is an observation deck and a restaurant in the main tower, which is the best place to take a photograph of the skyline at sunset.

The Scientific Centre

The Scientific Centre is a huge building on the shoreline which reflects Islamic art and culture in its design. Prestigious research members are associated with it, and they help in organising a variety of educational programmes for schools and families. The IMAX cinema, the Discovery Place and the Aquarium are the main attractions in this centre.

In the Discovery Place visitors have an experience of educational games and interactive exhibits, and they can explore animals from the Gulf waters in the aquarium, which holds a large collection of marine life. This is the best place to visit with children, especially during the hottest hours of the day, when the streets outside are uncomfortable.

Musical Fountain and Green Island

Musical Fountain is a garden and waterfront plaza which consists of around two hundred and twenty fountains. Water jets are lit and synchronised with music in the evening, and the show is one of the largest of its kind in the region. Green Island is an artificial island covered with greens and shrubs of all colours, connected to the corniche by a bridge. It consists of an amphitheatre which can accommodate up to seven hundred persons, and it can be a delightful spot for children. They can enjoy roaming in the Kids Castle as it has endless corridors, play games in the channel room and also enjoy small waterfalls.

Entertainment City and Kuwait Zoo

Entertainment City is located about twenty kilometres away from central Kuwait. Children and adults can have a great day by visiting various parks inside it, such as International World, Future World and Arab World, each of them themed around a different region. Kuwait Zoo is another important place to visit. The zoo consists of different animals and bird species gathered from all over the world and is set in large, shaded enclosures.

Failaka Island

Failaka Island is the most famous island in Kuwait, a short ferry ride from the mainland. The island is well known for its cultural landmarks of different ages — from the temples and settlement remains of the Dilmun civilisation to fortifications and civilian houses left empty after 1990. Golf carts and bicycles are the usual way to move around. Failaka is the one place in Kuwait where you can clearly feel how much history sits underneath the modern city.