Kuwait City is a bustling metropolis of high-rise office buildings, luxury hotels, wide boulevards and well-tended parks and gardens. Its seaport is used by oil tankers, cargo ships and many pleasure craft. Its most dominant landmarks are the Kuwait Towers, the Liberation Tower, and the Grand Mosque.

 

Kuwait City is easily accessed by plane, bus, car or by boast. The most practical form of transfortation within the city is by taxi.

 

There are quite a few things to do in Kuwait City. It's 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 crucial to smoke Shisha (Hookah/Hubbly Bubbly) at a cafe in Kuwait. There are also quite a few great restaurants with Iranian, Lebanese, and Arab foods.

 

 

 

The Kuwait Aqua Park, as seen from the Kuwait Towers

To escape the intense heat of the Middle East, visit the Aqua Park near the Kuwait Towers. It's KWD3.50 to get in and offers a variety of modern rides and pools.

To escape the intense heat of the Middle East, visit the Aqua Park near the Kuwait Towers. It's KWD3.50 to get in and offers a variety of modern rides and pools.

One can also walk along many of the well-kept sidewalks that line the coast of Kuwait. At dusk, it's ideal to sit on a bench across from the Sharq Mall and watch the sun set on the Arabian Sea. Buy yourself a cheap sack of nuts or bagful of olives from the souq in the fish market and relax.

Fitness fanatics and the health conscious have several options to get engaged with exclusive fitness centres in and around Kuwait City. Some of the best health clubs and gyms are attached to hotels like the Palms, SAS Radisson, Hilton etc. There are also stand alone spas and fitness centres. Elysium, Flex, Spa time and Ayurmana are a few of the highly top fitness centers in Kuwait. Ayurmana also has a highly rated Exclusive Yoga Studio for women.

 

Kuwait City is one of the safest places in the Middle East. Crime rates are low and the neighbouring civil conflict in Iraq has not spilled over into Kuwait. The same is not true of some of the suburbs where it can be very 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 lack of pedestrian lights especially outside Kuwait City, pedestrian crossings are virtually ignored.

 

The best way for anyone to cope with living in Kuwait, particularly if coming here without family, is to make plenty of friends. The newcomer will find that friendships among members of the expatriate community are formed more quickly than back home. There are plenty of social activities to get involved with, especially sport (cricket, rugby, sailing, squash, tennis, horse riding, darts, to name a few). Also available are theatre groups, ramblers, choirs, and business associations (in conjunction with various of the Western embassies here). Christian churches are also well represented.

An essential first step is to register with your home country's embassy, under the warden system, so that the Consular staff know you have arrived and where you live in Kuwait. Also, it is sensible to register with a decent doctor and a dentist. Your embassy can help with this.

The sale of alcohol is illegal in Kuwait. However, the consumption,possession and making of alcohol for private use is also illegal, you may get fined for this. Many inhabitants, both Kuwaiti and expatriate, maintain well stocked bars at home. Home brewing is a thriving hobby. There are legal penalties against public drunkenness and driving under the influence. Pork and pig products are not allowed in Kuwait.