On the way back from my Central Asia adventures, I had the opportunity to make a pit stop in Kuwait and to spend a couple of days exploring the highlights of its capital. Kuwait is one of the smallest countries in the Middle East, sandwiched by Iraq to the north, Saudi Arabia to the south, and the Persian Gulf to its East. My first memory of hearing about Kuwait was when Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi forces invaded in 1991, so it was an interesting experience to finally visit this place that was once the center of global attention in the early 90s.

I made the mistake of visiting the region in July though, and was treated to the absurdly hot summer of Kuwait City. I have never experienced heat like that before, with the temperature regularly crossing 50C / 120F even before noon! It was also one of the least walkable cities I have visited – having a vehicle is a requirement due to the scorching heat and regular dust storms. Ride share app Careem was my best friend for the 2 days I was in the city, even for what should have been short 10-15 min walks between locations. Below were the highlights of my short trip, most of which involved trying to dart between air conditioned attractions.

Random Trivia: the Kuwaiti Dinar is the strongest currency in the world, with 1 KWD worth $3.26 USD. The currency is so strong they even have quarter Dinar paper notes!

Head up the Kuwait Towers for atmospheric views of the city

The Kuwait towers are a collection of three futuristic towers that are located at the tip of the peninsula waterfront in the city. The towers were inaugurated in March 1979 and have since become the most recognizable symbol of Kuwaiti modernity. They are essentially water towers that were built to be more aesthetically pleasing, but also feature significant nods to the region’s Islamic heritage. Two of the towers look like sharp needles piercing multicolored spheres – meant to symbolize the tips of minarets and mosque domes. The spheres are also covered with blue, green and grey steel discs – a tribute to the ubiquitous glazed tiles that have adorned mosques for centuries. The higher sphere on the main tower features a revolving observation deck, which I visited for some amazing panoramic views of the city.

Be wowed by the grandeur of the Grand Mosque

The Grand Mosque in the center of the capital is the largest place of worship in Kuwait, and its massive hall can hold up to 10,000 worshippers when at capacity. It is even open to non-muslim visitors, with guided tours provided on most days. When I visited the guides and attendants were super welcoming, with complimentary snacks and refreshments provided even before we started. The interior of the main prayer hall is a stunning piece of architecture, with decorations inspired by designs from all over the Islamic world. The massive center columns branch out at the top of the ceiling into fanned creations that resemble flower petals and leaves, while the walls are covered with intricate geometric tilework. The massive dome features a beautiful symmetric calligraphic design highlighting the 99 names of Allah. I easily spent an hour in the beauty and peaceful silence of the mosque, a much needed escape from the hustle and bustle of the city just outside its walls.

Practice your haggling skills at Souk al Mubarakiyah

To get a glimpse into Kuwait’s past before the petro dollars rolled in, I headed to the markets at Souk Al Mubarakiyah. With a history stretching back over 200 years, the Souk still holds on the traditional marketplace culture of the region. I spent a few hours walking around the many market halls taking in the sights, sounds and aromas of the Souk. There were stalls for everything here – from dates, fruits, and fish, to entire sections devoted to just perfume and gold. Having visited many similar souks and markets before, what struck me about Souk al Mubarakiyah was that the vendors were some of the most chilled out bazaar proprietors I have encountered. They weren’t pushy at all and their attitude seemed to be “Please come in if you like. Or not. No pressure, up to you.”

Cool down in the greenery of Al Shaheed park

Al Shaheed park is a green oasis right in the center of the city with grassy lawns, lush gardens and walking paths. It also offers great views of the towering skyscrapers that dot the Kuwait city skyline. I found some much needed respite from the blazing sun here under the greenery cover and shade of the park. The walking path even had mist machines operating in full swing to cool down the early morning walkers and joggers, since the heat was already inching rapidly up to 34C / 94F even as early as 5:30am.

Take in the empty beaches and marinas

Since the city is situated by Kuwait bay in the Persian Gulf, there is no shortage of sandy beaches and marinas along the coastline. Although it was way too hot to visit the beaches or marinas in the daytime – I was still able to get some great views of of the azure waters from atop the Kuwait tower observation deck.

Learn about Islamic Calligraphy at the Tareq Rajab Museum

At first blush a museum dedicated to calligraphy did not seem like an appealing attraction. But what I initially thought would be a quick air conditioned escape from the heat outside quickly turned into an absorbed deep dive into the rich history of calligraphy and Islamic art. The Tareq Rajan museum of Islamic Calligraphy is a family owned museum exhibiting thousands of items from the Rajab’s private collection that they have amassed over 50+ years. Some of the main attractions were copies of Qurans dating back to the early centuries of Islam, as well as other manuscripts, pottery and sculptures. They also had multiple pieces of the Kiswa – the large cloths and banners that cover the Kaaba in Mecca – made by embroidering prayers and verses from the Quran using gold and silver thread onto black cloth.

Savor local Kuwaiti cuisine at Dar Hamad

Of the various places I dined at in Kuwait City – nothing came close to the ambience, presentation, service, and most importantly the food, that I savored at Dar Hamad restaurant. From the welcoming platter of candied dates with cheese drizzled in spicy sauce, to the main entree of traditional Kuwaiti Chicken Machbous, and even the piping hot Arabic mint tea – Dar Hamad delivered a delectable dining experience. Highly recommend if you are ever in Kuwait City and in search for elevated Kuwaiti cuisine.