Trip Planning
The TakeYourBackpack guidebooks are your all-in-one travel companion, featuring the best cities, national parks, hikes, beaches, and unique sites, along with essential tips on when to go, how to get around, exchanging money, and even local phrases to get you started — everything you need for a smooth, unforgettable backpacking adventure.
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Personal tip: I normally search on good rating for atmosphere (for meeting people) and location (for easy exploring). Cleanliness as a bonus.
Travel Essentials
Before traveling to Kuwait, consider the following vaccinations:
- **Routine vaccines**: Make sure you’re up-to-date on standard vaccines like measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, varicella (chickenpox), polio, and your yearly flu shot.
- **Hepatitis A**: Recommended for most travelers as it can be contracted through contaminated food or water.
- **Hepatitis B**: Suggested if you might have intimate contact with locals, require medical treatment, or plan on getting a tattoo or piercing.
- **Typhoid**: Consider this if you plan to stay in rural areas or eat street food.
Always consult with a healthcare provider or a travel clinic a few weeks before your trip for personalized advice.
vaccination requirementsWhen I first started traveling, I often spent part of my first day in a new country hunting for a local SIM card. While this can still be slightly cheaper, it also takes time and planning.
These days, it's much simpler to install an eSIM before leaving home. Once you arrive in Kuwait, you can activate it immediately and have mobile data from the moment you land — which is especially useful for ordering transport or navigating away from busy airports.
There are many providers nowadays, and price differences are usually small. I personally go with Airalo, as it offers excellent network coverage throughout the country and strong global coverage, so you can manage multiple countries from a single app.
Get your e-sim for KuwaitCulture & Customs
Dress modestly: Cover shoulders and knees, especially for women. In public, avoid tight or revealing clothing.
Greet with respect: Use the right hand for handshakes and present a warm smile. Men should wait for a woman to extend her hand first.
Photography: Ask for permission before taking photos of people or government buildings.
LGBTQ+ travelers: Be cautious as homosexuality is illegal; public displays of affection can lead to legal issues.
Public behavior: Avoid public displays of affection and keep voices at a moderate level.
During Ramadan: Don’t eat, drink, or smoke in public during daylight hours; it’s considered disrespectful.
Women travelers: Using a shawl or scarf can be helpful for entering mosques or more conservative areas.
Trying traditional food is always a great way to experience the culture. Here are some must-try dishes for Kuwait.
- Machboos: This is Kuwait’s national dish and a must-try for anyone visiting. It’s a fragrant rice dish similar to biryani, often made with chicken, lamb, or fish, and cooked with a mix of spices like saffron and cardamom. It’s often served with a side of spiced tomato sauce called ”deqqa.”
- Mutabbaq Samak: A staple along the Kuwaiti coastline, this dish features fish, typically zubaidi (pomfret), seasoned and cooked with rice. Its significance comes from Kuwait’s rich fishing traditions and its role as a staple dish for locals.
- Jireesh: A comforting porridge made from crushed wheat and meat, often chicken or lamb. It’s slow-cooked with spices like cardamom and cinnamon, making it a hearty dish often served during festivals and family gatherings.
- Gabout: Think dumplings Kuwaiti style. These are dough balls stuffed with minced meat and spices, cooked in a tomato-based stew. It’s a dish that showcases the blend of traditional flavors and the communal dining culture of Kuwait.
- Harees: A popular dish during Ramadan, harees is made from wheat and meat, slow-cooked to a creamy consistency. Its simplicity and hearty nature make it a beloved dish during the holy month.
Most locals in Kuwait drink bottled or filtered water as the tap water, while treated, may not be up to everyone’s taste standards. For tourists, it’s safer to stick to bottled or filtered water to avoid any stomach upset. Bottled water is widely available and reasonably priced, so it’s a convenient option.
The main language in Kuwait is
Arabic. Backpacking is way more rewarding if you know a bit of the local language, so I'd suggest brushing up on the basics just in case your Arabic skills have become a bit rusty.
Want to understand locals better?The complete Travel Guide for Kuwait includes 52 essential words and phrases — greetings, thank-yous, ordering food, transport, numbers, and common local expressions you'll actually hear.
Get your local basic phrases 👉
Get the Travel Guide - is widely spoken in Kuwait, making it relatively easy for travelers to navigate the country. As a former British protectorate, English has a significant presence in both business and everyday life. Many Kuwaitis, especially in urban areas, are proficient in English, and it is commonly used in government, education, and media.
In hotels, restaurants, and shops, staff typically speak English, and menus and signs are often available in both Arabic and English. While older generations may have varying levels of English proficiency, younger Kuwaitis tend to be more fluent, as English is taught in schools from an early age.
Despite this, it is always appreciated when travelers make an effort to learn a few basic Arabic phrases, as it can enhance interactions with locals and show respect for the culture. Overall, English serves as a useful lingua franca in Kuwait, facilitating communication for tourists and expatriates alike.
Money & Payments
The local currency of Kuwait is KWD (د.ك).
ATMs: Kuwait is pretty modern when it comes to banking, so you’ll find ATMs in most urban areas, especially around shopping centers and malls. They’re usually reliable, but always good to have a backup plan in case one is out of service.
Cash: The Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD) is the local currency, and it’s wise to have some on hand for small purchases, street food, and tips. You don’t need to carry a huge amount, but having a little cash is useful. Most places in the city accept cards, but smaller establishments might not.
Currency: Stick to the local Dinar when you can. While major hotels and some stores might take USD or Euros, you usually won’t get a great rate. Better to exchange a small amount at the airport or a local exchange bureau when you arrive.
Card Acceptance: Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in Kuwait, especially in the cities. Visa and Mastercard are your best bets; Amex might not be as widely taken, so have alternatives.
Exchanging Money: Exchange bureaus and banks offer competitive rates. You’ll find them in malls and around the city. Avoid airport exchanges if possible because rates are generally lower. If you have to exchange at the airport, only do a small amount to get you started.
In Kuwait, tipping isn’t mandatory but appreciated. In restaurants, leaving around 10% of the bill as a tip is common if the service is good. Tipping taxi drivers and hotel staff is also appreciated but not expected, so rounding up the fare or giving a small amount is sufficient.
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Best Backpacking
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Over the years, I've learned the importance of packing minimally. It's so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you're headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.