Hello everyone,
After the Egypt trip I mentioned before, this time I’d like to share our experiences from our Qatar – Bahrain – Kuwait trip. I’ll try to cover everything that comes to mind, and I hope this will be helpful for anyone considering a similar journey.
As mentioned in my previous post, these are purely personal experiences and opinions. I hope you end up having an even better and more enjoyable trip than we did.
Our itinerary was as follows: Qatar (3 days), Bahrain (2 days), and Kuwait (3 days), making a total of 8 days.
All three countries use UK-type power sockets, so EU plugs don’t fit. Be sure to bring an adapter.
Throughout the trip, we didn’t encounter any disrespectful or negative behavior. Even when we accidentally left our belongings behind in a few places, nothing was stolen. Overall, we felt safe and comfortable everywhere.
While planning the trip, we were advised—especially for Kuwait, due to Sharia law—to carry a marriage certificate. However, none of the hotels or border controls ever asked for it.
Dress codes are mainly enforced at mosques. Other than that, the only restriction we encountered was in Bahrain’s nightlife area Block 338, where men are not allowed into nightclubs wearing shorts.
For transportation, we mostly used Uber in Qatar and Bahrain. Since Uber doesn’t operate in Kuwait, we used Careem instead. Public transportation can be cheaper, but Google Maps isn’t always accurate with routes and schedules, so it’s best to double-check.
Since Friday and Saturday are official holidays, public areas can be more crowded, and some museums or mosques may be closed on certain days or hours. Google Maps was generally reliable regarding opening times.
Our personal ranking of the countries:
Qatar > Kuwait > Bahrain
We spent around $2000 total for two people on this trip.
I would have liked to share more photos, but Reddit allows a maximum of 20 images per post. I’ve indicated in the text which photos correspond to which locations.
1) Qatar
We explored the local market area Souq Waqif, which we found to be the most beautiful souq compared to Bahrain and Kuwait. It’s especially lively and vibrant at night. The local food spots there are definitely worth trying. The souq area also has a camel pen and horse stables, but personally I enjoyed visiting the Falcon Hospital more.
One of the museums you can visit is the National Museum of Qatar (photo 1) The entrance fee is normally 50 QAR, but since half of the museum is currently closed, they charge 25 QAR. Because of this, the visit may be shorter than expected. Near the museum, there’s a very nice park and playground for children, making it a good stop for families. The building itself is designed to resemble a desert rose, and even seeing it from the outside is a special experience (I actually bought a small desert rose decoration for my home afterward).
The Museum of Islamic Art (photo 2) consists of three floors, and my favorite exhibits were on the third floor. Many visitors mainly come to take sunset photos from the outdoor area on the left side after entering with a ticket, which gets very crowded. However, if you walk to the right side of the building without buying a ticket, you can access a free outdoor area with almost the same view, but in a much calmer environment. If you only want scenic photos, this is a great alternative. (photo 3)
Right next to the museum is MIA Park, a crescent-shaped green park. Locals often come here on weekends to exercise, picnic, or spend time with their children. With restrooms and drinking water available, it’s an excellent place to relax during the day.
Mina District and Box Park (photos 4-8) are must-see daytime spots, offering colorful houses, street art, painted walls, container-style buildings, and beautiful seaside views—perfect for photography.
In the evening, walking along the waterfront at Corniche after sunset is very enjoyable, especially while watching the skyline light up across the water.
In the northern part of the city, you can visit Katara Cultural Village (photos 9-11), along with SNAN Food Hall, the Golden Mosque, Katara Mosque, the gift-box-shaped building, The Force of Nature sculpture, and the 1001 Nights staircase mural. This area is very quiet in the mornings, so visiting in the evening can be more enjoyable due to lighting and activity. That said, daytime visits are also great for architecture, street photography, and seaside views.
Similarly, The Pearl Island, Qanat Quartier (Mini Venice), Crystal Walk, and the Lusail Fountain / Crescent Building areas are ideal for marina walks and street exploration. If you enjoy amusement parks, you can also spend time at Lusail Winter Wonderland.
If you enjoy visiting malls, Villaggio Mall is a very unique experience. Instead of a traditional mall design, the ceiling resembles a bright blue sky, which can make you lose track of time. Another option is Vendome Mall, which has a more luxurious, palace-like atmosphere and a wider variety of stores.
If you have time, I recommend visiting Minaretein Mosque, which stands out due to its unusual minaret design and spacious garden. You can also briefly check out the Qatar National Library next door, but it’s not really worth visiting solely for the library itself.
If you haven’t done a desert safari (photos 12-13) in another country—especially in the UAE—I highly recommend doing one here at the Inland Sea, where the desert meets the sea. It’s a thrilling, fun, and visually stunning experience. We chose a tour starting at 3 PM to catch the sunset, and the sky views were incredible. We booked via GetYourGuide and were lucky to have a very experienced and entertaining driver. Although the tour includes optional extras like falcon photos, camel rides, and ATV rides, our driver also offered a private safari including camel riding for around 400–500 QAR.
If you’re interested, here’s his contact: Karim: +974 6600 0408.
Food recommendations:
• Tea Time (Souq Waqif): Chicken tikka wrap and avocado juice are must-tries.
• Al Aker Sweets: Excellent kataifi dessert.
• Parisa (photo 14): Highly recommended for dinner. On Fridays and Saturdays, a special dish called Kaseh Kebab is prepared by Chef Ali Reza (for two people). We also ordered Zeytoon Parvardeh (olive & pomegranate mezze) and Persian bread. Reservation is required.
WhatsApp: +974 3338 2589
After your meal, ask to see the VIP room at the back—it’s absolutely worth it.
Additional tip:
If you have extra time before leaving Qatar, Hamad International Airport itself is worth exploring. Inside the airport, there is a beautiful indoor greenery garden along with impressive animal sculptures. (photo 15) It’s a very relaxing environment, and you can comfortably wait for your flight while enjoying the scenery.
2) Bahrain
Places worth visiting include Tree of Life, Al Fateh Grand Mosque, the UNESCO-listed Pearling Path, Qal’at Bu Mahir, Bahrain National Museum, Beit Al Quran, and Bahrain Fort.
Personally, I believe Bahrain is only worth visiting if you plan additional activities, such as pearl diving with full equipment, driving experiences at the Formula 1 circuit, or attending concerts. Otherwise, the tourist attractions alone don’t justify a separate trip, in my opinion.
Haji’s Traditional Café is often recommended and very affordable. It’s worth trying for the experience, but it didn’t really suit my taste.
Near Bahrain Fort, there’s a sunset horse-riding activity (around 7–8 BHD), but the environment didn’t feel suitable for horseback riding to us (Brothers Stable).
The Pearling Path (photo 16) includes several stops explaining the lives of people who once worked in the pearl industry. We were told that in December the area becomes more lively with markets and lights. However, during our visit, the surroundings felt somewhat industrial, with ongoing construction in places, which made the walk feel a bit strange.
You can also spend some pleasant time walking along the marina at Bahrain Financial Harbour, which offers a nice waterfront atmosphere and is suitable for a relaxed stroll. (Photo 17)
Overall, if you combine Formula 1 events, the nearby zoo and water park, and a pearl-diving activity, Bahrain can be a great experience. Otherwise, we personally regretted including it in our trip.
3) Kuwait
Even if you obtain your Kuwait e-visa in advance, you still need to queue at the airport for facial and fingerprint scanning, which usually takes 20–30 minutes. If you arrive without a printed copy of your e-visa, the waiting time can extend to 1–1.5 hours.
The Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre consists of six different museums covering topics such as space and galaxies, the human body, Islamic science and fine arts, transportation technology and robotics, ecosystems (photo 18), and Earth sciences. It’s very interactive and educational, making it especially enjoyable for families with children.
If you have time, you can walk along the coastline from Green Island (currently closed) toward the Kuwait Towers. This route offers both walking and cycling paths and is popular in the evenings, with cafés along the way.
At Al Shaheed Park, we were asked to leave the northern section because it closes at 12 PM (noon). However, on the southern side (Second Phase), people were still walking, jogging, and spending time at cafés, and that area remained open.
If you have the chance to cook, you can buy fresh seafood at Souq Sharq Fish Market. The shrimp and fish were especially delicious. Unfortunately, the main Souq Sharq building was closed, which was a bit disappointing, but the adjacent fish market was still open and functional.
The Grand Mosque of Kuwait (photo 19)is an absolute must-see. Visitors are welcomed through Gate 7, where tea, coffee, and dates are offered before being guided inside. The harmony of navy blue and gold inside the mosque is stunning.
Although the Kuwait Opera House looks impressive from the outside, visitors are not allowed inside unless there is an active event. You can only take photos from the nearby park area. (photo 20)
While walking around the souq area, you’ll also spot the Liberation Tower.
When we landed in Kuwait, we couldn’t take taxis outside the terminal or book Careem, as taxis from outside are not allowed to pick up passengers at the airport. The airport has its own taxis, but we couldn’t locate them easily (English is not widely spoken). We ended up using public buses.
Currently, X3 and X5 buses are not operating. Instead:
• 21A: Airport → City
• 13: City → Airport
Bus fare: 0.25 KWD per person
Even if you’re not planning to shop, I highly recommend visiting The Avenues Mall just to walk around. Its design is impressive—we spent almost an entire day there and didn’t get bored at all.