Capital Governorate is the heart of Kuwait: the Gulf Road with Kuwait Towers, Souq Al-Mubarakiya, the Grand Mosque, Sadu House, the National Museum and Al Shaheed Park all sit within a short ride of each other in and around Kuwait City.
Local currency: Kuwaiti dinar (KWD).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Capital.
- Mid-range
- ~KWD 80 (~$260) per day
- Luxury
- ~KWD 180+ (~$585+) per day
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- True hostels are scarce in Kuwait; a simple room in a budget hotel is about KWD 15-25 (~$48.75-81.25) a night
- Budget
- KWD 18-30 (~$58.50-97.50) a night for a 3-star such as ibis Sharq in Sharq or Qibla
- Midrange
- KWD 35-70 (~$113.75-227.50) a night for a 4-star in Sharq or Qibla
- Luxury
- KWD 100-200 (~$325-650) a night for a five-star such as the Four Seasons or JW Marriott on Al Shuhada Street
Food
- Street
- KWD 0.5-1.5 (~$1.63-4.88) for a shawarma, falafel sandwich or fresh bread with cheese
- Local
- KWD 2-4 (~$6.50-13.00) for a main course at a cafeteria-style Kuwaiti or Indian restaurant
- Midrange
- KWD 6-12 (~$19.50-39.00) per person at a sit-down restaurant in Sharq or Mubarakiya
- Fine
- KWD 25-45 (~$81.25-146.25) per person at a hotel fine-dining restaurant
Transport
- Bus
- About KWD 0.250 (~$0.81) per trip on a Kuwait Public Transport Company bus (reported flat fare; confirm on the bus)
- Taxi
- KWD 1.5-3 (~$4.88-9.75) for a typical ride inside Kuwait City by Careem, Uber or meter
- Airport
- KWD 5-8 (~$16.25-26.00) by taxi or ride-hail from Kuwait International Airport to Sharq or Qibla
- Daytrip
- Failaka Island ferries are outside the Capital Governorate; fares vary by operator and season
Activities
- Kuwait Towers
- About KWD 3 (~$9.75) per adult for the viewing deck (reported; entry waived for restaurant diners)
- Grand Mosque
- Free; modest dress required and covered hair for women
- Souq Al Mubarakiya
- Free to walk; bargaining is normal for dates, spices and textiles
- Al Shaheed Park
- Park entry reported free; Phase III attractions charge separately
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Capital costs end-to-end.
3 Day traveller
~KWD 90-140 (~$292.50-455.00) per person on a budget (excluding flights)
7 Day traveller
~KWD 200-320 (~$650-1,040) per person on a budget (excluding flights)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Use Careem or Uber, which show the fare before booking, instead of unmetered street taxis.
Eat at Mubarakiya restaurants such as Al Shamam and Freej Suwaileh for meals under KWD 5 (~$16.25).
Visit the free sights: Grand Mosque, Souq Al-Mubarakiya, Gulf Road corniche and Al Shaheed Park gardens.
Summer hotel rates (June-September) are lower than winter rates, but heat limits outdoor sightseeing.
Skip the Kuwait Towers deck ticket by booking dinner in the sphere restaurant, where the entry fee is reported to be waived.
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Souq Al-Mubarakiya
Grand Mosque
Gulf Road corniche and Sharq Marina
Al Shaheed Park gardens