The Top 10 Things To Do In Kuwait In 2 Days
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This blog post is to list the top 10 things to do in Kuwait within 2 days. Kuwait is not a tourist Country, at least there are far fewer fun things compared to other Middle East destinations like Dubai, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
For that, most people would just stay 2 or 3 days to visit “a new Country”. I stayed in Kuwait 2 days too during my last 2 week vacations in the GCC Countries. Below are the top 10 recommendations, and most of them can fit even a one-day itinerary.
🇰🇼🇰🇼🇰🇼 Package Tour Is Also Available GYG / Viator ✅
Kuwait Full Day Tour Is Available
Kuwait is not a tourist Country. You can cover most of the major attractions within 1 day. There are a couple of tour packages available online for around 150 USD. Although it is not cheap, the fee would be similar if you were to go alone, given that Kuwait is an expensive Country.
1. Climb The Kuwait Tower
The Kuwait Tower is the most worth-visiting icon in the whole Country. As the city’s most recognisable landmark, it has three spheres perched on slender towers overlooking the Arabian Gulf. Built in 1979, the main tower (the highest sphere) has a revolving restaurant and observation deck at 187 meters high, offering panoramic views of the coastline.
Visiting there is the best memory I had in Kuwait, the observation deck provide 360 degree view of the whole city. The tower opens daily from 9 am to 11 pm for 3 KWD (~10 USD). The scene at the observation sphere is just beyond description.
Other than the scene up there. Taking the picture of the 3 spheres from the park below was great, whether in the morning or at night. Around the tower, there is a harbour walk and a water park (though not likely you would have time to go for a 1 – 2 day itinerary).
PS: You don’t really need to “climb” the tower; you will be taking the elevator instead.
2. Visit Souq Al-Mubarakiya (Souq Al Kuwait)
Unlike other Middle East Countries like Dubai, Jordan, or Turkey, Kuwait does not have that many souqs for tourists. The Souq Al Kuwait (aka Souq Al-Mubarakiya) is the only one you need to go to in these 2 days.
It is a local market with over 100 years of history, and you could find a couple of other icons there, including the Safat Square. For tourists, a couple of restaurants are selling local snacks and karak tea. There is also an alley full of currency exchange shops in case you need (noting that you only need cash for the bus or very minimal local shops).
Other than that, most of the other shops are selling local groceries, fruits, fresh produce, toys, and even gold. Most of the shops open after 5 pm at night. I spent a couple of hours there during my last visit and could only locate 1 or 2 small souvenir shops.
3. Grand Mosque of Kuwait
For the GCC countries, there is a signature mosque in the capital city. Kuwait, of course, is no exception. Next to the Souq Al Kuwait, you will find the Grand Mosque of Kuwait.
It is an architectural marvel and one of Kuwait’s most iconic religious sites, capable of holding up to 10,000 worshippers. Built in the 1980s, its massive dome and minarets dominate the skyline, and the interior is stunning with intricate Islamic calligraphy, chandeliers, and marble floors.
The mosque is closed on Friday, and I only had a chance to take a photo outside last time. But the photos from Google reviews show that it is amazing and worth going inside.
🇰🇼🇰🇼🇰🇼 Package Tour Is Also Available GYG / Viator ✅
For Those With Limited Time
Kuwait Tower, Souq Al Kuwait and the Grand Mosque of Kuwait are the major attractions in the city centre. While taking Careem or even a bus to visit these attractions is viable, if you have a limited time. A day tour should be considered.
4. Liberation Tower (From Far)
Similar to the Kuwait Tower, the Liberation Tower is another iconic signature of Kuwait. It commemorates Kuwait’s liberation from Iraq in 1991 and serves as a telecom hub.
Unlike the Kuwait Tower, the Liberation Tower is not open to the public. So, just taking a photo from afar shall be sufficient. For example, one of the great spots is from the Safat Square, which is just next to Souq Al Kuwait.
5. Lulu Hypermarket
Compared to Souq Al Kuwait, I preferred to shop in Lulu hypermarket more during my last visit to Kuwait. Lulu hypermarket is the GCC version of Walmart that you can find in most of the places in the cities. For example, there is one just near the Safat Square, and another near the Marina Mall.
It is a grand supermarket with all the local snacks, food, and even spices. If you are looking for small packs of snacks for souvenir, this is the right place to go. I even found some instant cardamom Nestle coffee there, which I could not find in Bahrain or Oman.
6. Kuwait National Museum
After covering the most symbolic icons in the city and souvenir purchase place, the next things to do are, of course museum visit. The Kuwait National Museum is probably the only one worth visiting for tourists during 2 days.
(The Al-Qurain Martyrs Museum is another famous one, but it is 40 minutes away from the city centre, and the Careem ride would cost you over 10 USD).
The Kuwait National Museum offers a deep dive into the country’s history, from ancient Mesopotamian artefacts to modern oil-era exhibits. There are two exhibition halls in the museum during my last visit. The first one is a two-story building with Kuwait’s story in chronological order, including the news of Iraq’s 1991 invasion. The Failaka island relics on the second floor are also worth visiting, in case you can’t visit the Failaka island as I did.
Another exhibition hall is located on the opposite side of the museum’s garden. You may need to ask the staff there for the location, as the entrance is not clear. It shows the ancient life of Kuwait, but the environment is a bit scary when you are alone there at night.
There is no admission fee required. The opening hour is 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm daily, except on Sundays, per Google. There is no official site for you to check the opening time. Some visitors reported that the opening hours on Google may not be correct. But at least I did visit around 7 pm on Saturday during my last visit.
Locating the entrance is also a bit challenging. I spent around 20 minutes walking around and asking the locals in vain. In the end, I found that you need to enter a complex building from the “vintage ship” facing Arabian Gulf St. And even though I entered the complex building, the locals there claimed that the museum was closed. Lucky that I didn’t give up.
Next to the National Museum, there is a small textile museum called the Sadu house with free admission as well.
🇰🇼🇰🇼🇰🇼 Package Tour Is Also Available GYG / Viator ✅
Most One-Day Tour Covers All
Kuwait is an expensive Country with a GDP per capita of over USD 30k. While a day tour would cost you around 150 USD per person. Exploring all the main attractions alone would not be much cheaper. So you may consider saving the hassle by joining an organised tour.
7. The Avenues Mall
After the museum, the next stop is going to the largest shopping mall in Kuwait – the Avenues. The Avenues is Kuwait’s premier shopping destination, a massive complex with over 1,100 stores, cinemas, and themed districts mimicking global streets. Most of the shops are international brands like Chanel, Dior, and Starbucks. The highlights of the mall would be the different themes they have in each section, like cyber, classic European, and the Middle East, similar to the malls that you would see in Dubai.
Also, the mall has one of the largest IKEAs in the world with a great food court. Last time I had a chicken biryani for only 1 KWD. For the list of shops, you may visit the official website here.
8. Take a Local Bus “Tour.”
If you are staying in Kuwait for 2 days without going to the Failaka Island, then you could consider taking a local bus for a quick sightseeing for the city. The Route 15 bus is the best for tourists, running from Maliya through central areas like Mirqab, Embassies, and Salmiya, passing key sights.
The fare is only 0.25 KWD (250 fils), and it is only cash. Some buses are even double-decked. While the bus is nice in Kuwait, the bus stop or local customs are not. Sometimes, the bus stop is nowhere to be seen, and most of the time, the bus starts moving before you complete onboarding. But still I enjoyed my bus rides during my stay for its price and city views.
9. Walking At The Marina Beach
If you are looking for a relaxed way to soak in Kuwait’s coastal vibe, head to the Marina area for a leisurely walk combining beach, park, and mall—all in one seamless stretch.
During my last visit, I started at Marina Beach and Park, a pristine public spot with soft sands and calm Gulf waters perfect for a barefoot stroll or people-watching as families picnic and joggers pass by; it’s free and open 24/7, though mornings are best to beat the heat.
The walk ends at Marina Mall at the end of the park; it is an upscale shopping hub with brands like Zara, cinemas, and waterfront dining. I grabbed a coffee at one of the cafes overlooking the yachts. This trio is in the Salmiya district, easily accessible by bus route 15 or Careem. It is also the icon near the Ikarus Office for a boat ticket to the Failaka Island.
10. Failaka Island
The last item for you to consider is to take a day trip to Failaka Island. You can purchase the ticket at the Ikarus office near the Marina Mall before or on the departure day.
The island is probably the most exotic icon with great archaeological value in Kuwait. It is an archaeological treasure with ruins from the Bronze Age Dilmun civilisation, Hellenistic temples, and remnants from the 1990 invasion. The most symbolic icon on the island is a tank remaining from the Iraq invasion.
However, going to the island is somewhat riskier for those staying in Kuwait for 2 days or less. First, the ferry schedule is highly volatile, and you would only get to know that from the ferry company’s IG page’s story under “جدول الرحلات” (OBU SLKHAIR TRIPS SCHEDULE) at the beginning of each month.
Worse, the same day departure and return times are pretty random. Some days it would depart at 11:30 am and return at 9 pm; other days would be at 4 pm, then 5:45 pm (meaning you can’t go on that day).
What is even worse is that the online schedule may not be accurate, and you cannot be sure when you purchase the ticket at the office. And even so, the ferry may get cancelled despite good weather, you could risk missing your flight if the return trip gets cancelled.
I purchased the boat tickets on day 1 of my visit last time. But then on day 2, they just dropped me a WhatsApp in the morning to inform me of the cancellation without a refund (the cost was around 20 KWD).
🇰🇼🇰🇼🇰🇼 Failaka Island Tour Is Also Available ✅
Failaka Island Tour Is Available But…
Going to Failaka Island on your own is a lot cheaper but there is risk associated with that (mainly due to uncertainty in ferry arrangement). Viator also offers day trip to the island but it is a lot more expensive for over 300 USD than ~ 30 USD by going on your own.
A Review On Top Things To Do In Kuwait For 2 Days
So these are all the top things to do in Kuwait for 2 days. Again, Kuwait is not a tourist Country. There is not much to see there compared to other GCC Countries especially the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Most of the tourist attractions you can cover within a day via a day tour or by yourself with Careem.
Ideally, you could spend a full day on the Failaka island, but there is a risk associated with it.
🇰🇼🇰🇼🇰🇼 Package Tour Is Also Available GYG / Viator ✅
For Those Who Want A Tick On A New Country
Of all the GCC Countries I have been to, Kuwait has fewer attractions for tourists. Although it is a very safe Country, it is far from tourist-friendly. The most efficient use of annual leaves to explore the world is probably to have 1 full day there with an organised tour, then move on to the next GCC Country the next day
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much does a day in Kuwait City cost for these top 10?
Budget 20-50 KWD (65-160 USD) including transport, entries (mostly free/low), and meals. Kuwait is an expensive Country with a GDP per capita of around USD 30k.
Is Kuwait safe for solo travellers?
Yes, especially in tourist areas; use common sense at night and respect local customs.
What’s the best way to get around for these visits?
Careem or buses like route 15 for affordability; taxis are pricier but available.
Are these spots family-friendly?
Absolutely—malls, museums, and towers cater to kids, with interactive elements.
Do I need a visa for Kuwait?
Yes, for most nationalities. Although an E-visa is available, the system is crab and it just gets stuck. Visa on arrival is recommended instead.
.
How far is Failaka Island from the city?
About 20 km offshore; ferries from Marina Mall take 90 minutes.
Can I climb the Liberation Tower?
Nope.
