Private Kuwait Half-Day City and Desert Tour with Licensed Guide

Kuwait Towers

The Kuwait Towers are the best-known landmark of the country and the first stop of this Kuwait City tour. Opened in 1979 on the seafront of Kuwait City, the three slender towers rise above the corniche, the tallest reaching 187 metres. Their spheres are covered with thousands of blue and green steel discs that shimmer in the sun, and the main sphere houses a viewing level with wide views over the city and the sea.

You spend about 30 minutes here for photos from the waterfront and the story behind the design, which combines modern architecture with the shape of traditional Islamic forms. Going up to the viewing level is possible for an extra fee, paid on the spot, so tell your guide if you would like to include it. The towers look their best in the late afternoon and when they are lit up after dark.

The fish market on the waterfront

Kuwait has always lived from the sea, and the fish market on the waterfront is one of the liveliest places to feel it. In the wholesale section, fishmongers lay out the catch of local boats on long counters, from hamour and zubaidi, the most prized fish in Kuwaiti cooking, to shrimp, crabs and many species from local waters.

During a stop of about 20 minutes you walk through the hall with your guide, take photos and learn how fishing and pearl diving shaped Kuwait before the discovery of oil. Mornings are the busiest time, when restaurants and families come to buy fresh fish. The market sits on the seafront, so the stop is easily combined with views of the harbour and the traditional dhows moored nearby.

Kuwait National Museum and the Grand Mosque

The Kuwait National Museum, opened in 1983, tells the story of the country from the ancient settlements of Failaka Island to the days of pearl divers, sea traders and desert life. It was badly damaged during the 1990 invasion and has since been restored. With your guide you spend about 45 minutes walking through the galleries and the exhibits that showcase Kuwait's heritage.

The route also includes a short visit to the Grand Mosque, the largest mosque in Kuwait, opened in 1986 and known for its elegant dome, fine calligraphy and vast prayer hall. Visits take place outside prayer times, and modest clothing is required: women cover their hair, arms and legs, and men wear long trousers. Your guide explains the architecture and the role of the mosque in daily life.

City viewpoint and the desert

Between the main sights, your guide includes a stop at a viewpoint for photos of the city skyline and a scenic drive through quieter, lesser-known parts of Kuwait. Because this is a private tour, you can ask to linger at places you like or skip those that interest you less, and the guide adjusts the plan to your timing.

Then the tour heads out of the city to a secret spot in the desert for a short off-road adventure across the sand. It is a glimpse of the open landscapes that cover most of the country, a contrast to the glass towers of the capital, and a favourite photo stop for many guests. In the cooler months, from November to March, the light and temperature in the desert are especially pleasant.

Mubarakiya Old Market

The tour ends at Mubarakiya Old Market, one of the oldest souqs in Kuwait, dating back to the days before oil. Its covered lanes and open squares are full of shops selling dates, spices, honey, nuts, perfumes, traditional clothing and handicrafts, and it remains a meeting place for Kuwaitis of every generation.

You spend about an hour here, enough to shop, sit for tea and taste local food at one of the traditional restaurants, where dishes such as machboos rice with meat or fish and freshly grilled kebabs are served. In Kuwait halal food is the norm everywhere, so you can choose freely. Food and shopping are at your own expense. Afterwards your guide drives you back to your hotel or to the airport for your onward flight.