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Al-Hashemi Marine Museum
For proof that the Vikings made it to the Middle East, albeit only model ones, it's worth visiting this museum with its impressive collection of large, scaled-model dhows. A novel shop sells 21-piece knot boards (around KD25 ) and Gipsy Moth lanterns (around KD17 ) among other nautical souvenirs, such as barometers and sextants. You can even buy your own Nelson figurine, incomplete with one arm, at the bargain price of KD12 .
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Al-Qurain Martyrs' Museum
Located in the residential suburb of Qurain, a 20-minute taxi ride southeast of the city centre, this small museum is a memorial to a cell of young Kuwaiti patriots who tried to resist arrest in February 1991. Early in the morning, a minibus (the one that is still parked outside) drew up outside the house. When no-one answered the door, the Iraqis bombarded the house for hours with machine guns, bombs and eventually a tank.
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Aqua Park
The centrally located Aqua Park is managed by the same people who run Messilah Water Village. Call first, as it is not always open.
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Aquarium
Housed in a fine, sail-shaped building on the corniche, the mesmerising aquarium is the largest in the Middle East. A sign of contentment, perhaps, turtles perch on the back of lazy crocodiles, hedgehogs mate, prickles notwithstanding, in the adjacent eco-display, and even the aquarium's guards have taken to humming Arabic love songs. The unique intertidal display, with waves washing in at eye level, is home to shoals of black-spotted sweetlips and the ingenious mudskipper.
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Arab Fund Building
Although not strictly open to the casual caller, the impressive Arab Fund Building, with a host of exceptionally beautiful rooms, is worth the trouble of gaining access. Call first to request an appointment and explain that you wish to see the building's interior and you'll be given a guided tour by one of the employees.
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Beaches
All the way along Arabian Gulf St there are splendid beaches and there is nothing to stop a committed paddler from taking a dip in any of them, though the water tends to be on the shallow side for serious swimming and worries prevail as to the state of pollution in the water.
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Beit al-Badr
A traditional mud-built house, with heavy carved doors, Beit al-Badr was built between 1838 and 1848 and is one of the last examples of pre-oil residential architecture in the city. It is located alongside Sadu House.
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Beit Dickson
A modest, white building with blue trim, Beit Dickson was the home of former British political agent Colonel Harold Dickson and his wife Violet whose love of and contribution to Kuwait is well documented.
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Beit Lothan
The cultural centre, Beit Lothan, promotes the work of Kuwaiti and Gulf artists and craftspeople through regular exhibitions in a 1930s house that was originally the home of the country's late emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah.
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Corniche
Comprising over 10km of winding paths, parks and beaches on Arabian Gulf St (sometimes referred to locally as Gulf Rd), the corniche is marked at its southern end by the Scientific Center and at its northernmost point by the Kuwait Towers. Stop off at any one of the many beaches, restaurants or coffeehouses to watch a desert sunset, or, on hot summer evenings, enjoy being part of the throng of people flocking to the sea to catch the breeze.
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Friday Market (Souq al-Jum'a)
For a plastic pot plant, a second-hand dress, an Afghan coat or a smuggled antique from Iran, this enormous open-air, weekly market is more than a shopping extravaganza - it offers an insight into contemporary Kuwaiti culture and cross-border relations.
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Grand Mosque
Also known as Masjed Al-Kabir, and located opposite Sief Palace, the Grand Mosque was opened in 1986 and cost around KD14 million to construct. The largest of the city's 800 mosques, it boasts Kuwait's highest minaret (74m) and can accommodate up to 5000 worshippers in the main hall, with room for another 7000 in the courtyard. Prebooked tours are possible between and Saturday to Wednesday and it is respectful to dress modestly covering arms and legs.
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Green Island
For activities ranging from strolling in the gardens, swimming in a lagoon, cycling or listening to an impromptu concert, this artificial island, joined to the mainland by a pedestrian causeway, houses a 700-seat amphitheatre, restaurants, and a game park for children. On 25 February (National Day) and 26 February (Liberation Day), Green Island becomes the launching pad for firework displays.
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House of Mirrors
For a quirky art-in-action experience, visit this small museum in a residential house in the suburbs of Qadisiya. Reputedly, 77 tons of mirror and 102 tons of white cement have been used in the creation of the mirror mosaics that spangle the entire house - both inside and out.
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Indian Snack Shop
If you can find it, try a dozen mixed samosas ( KD.250 ) from the Indian snack shop at the edge of Souq Marbarakia. Approaching from the heritage section of the souq (for incense and perfumes), the shop is in the corner of a small outdoor seating area. Next to a clothing shop and around the corner from the date souq, the shop is identified by the small window in a wall of sheet metal.
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Kuwait House of National Memorial Museum
This innovative museum encapsulates the horror of the Iraqi invasion and honours the sacrifices that ordinary Kuwaiti citizens, the Kuwaiti military and the allies made in order to beat back Sadam's forces. The exhibits comprise a set of well-crafted models of the city that are illuminated in time with an audio recording in English.
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Kuwait Towers
Kuwait's most famous landmark, the Kuwait Towers, with their distinctive green 'sequins', are worth a visit for the prospect of sea and city that they afford. Designed by a Swedish architectural firm and opened in 1979, the largest of the three towers rises to a height of 187m, and house a two-level revolving observation deck, gift shop and café. The lower globe on the largest tower stores around one million gallons of water.
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Kuwait zoo
Kuwait zoo has 65 species with an emphasis on desert dwellers.
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Liberation Tower
Not to be confused with the distinctive Kuwait Towers, Liberation Tower in the city centre is the tallest building in the city, and at a height of 372m claims to be the fifth-tallest communications tower in the world. Started before the invasion, the tower took its new name when it was completed in 1993.
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Little Jungle
A smaller zoo than Kuwait Zoo, Little Jungle, is designed for smaller children, who can pat a pony, grab a goat or kiss a camel while parents puff on a sheesha (water pipe used to smoke tobacco) and think of caterpillars instead.
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Messilah Water Village
Some 20km south of the city centre, Messilah Water Village has a good range of pools, floats and slides. The water is chilled in summer and heated in winter. Between April and August the beach is reserved for women only on three days of the week. The same company manages the centrally located Aqua Park. Call first, as it is not always open.
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Musical Fountains
Located next to the ice-skating rink, this outdoor music and water display is said to have the 4th-largest set of fountains in the world.
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National Assembly Building
Close to the National Museum, the interesting white building with its distinctive canopy, the National Assembly Building , was designed by Jørn Utzon, the Danish architect who also designed the Sydney Opera House, and was completed in 1985. The two sweeping roofs were designed to evoke Bedouin tents and is befitting of the first parliament of the region.
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National Museum
Once the pride of Kuwait, this museum is still under restoration. The centrepiece of the museum, the Al-Sabah collection, was one of the most important collections of Islamic art in the world. During the Iraqi occupation, however, the exhibition halls were systematically looted, damaged or set fire to.
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Old City Gates
Al-Shaab, Al-Shamiya, Al-Jahra and Al-Maqsab are the names of Kuwait City's gates in Safat on Al-Soor St, the street that follows the line of the old city wall ( 'soor' is the Arabic word for 'wall'). Despite their ancient appearance, the wall and gates were only constructed around 1920. The wall was demolished in 1957.
