QA
Doha
Futuristic skyline, dhow-lined corniche and a grand old souq
Futuristic skyline, dhow-lined corniche and a grand old souq
Doha’s restored old market is a warren of mud-rendered lanes selling spices, textiles, falcons and handicrafts, lined with cafes and shisha spots that buzz late into the evening.
💡 Come after sunset when it is cooler and at its liveliest.
I.M. Pei’s masterpiece stands on its own island, its geometric limestone form housing one of the world’s great collections of Islamic art, with a soaring atrium and stunning skyline views.
💡 Time your visit for late afternoon, then watch sunset from the park.
A sweeping seven-kilometre waterfront promenade curves around Doha Bay, perfect for a walk or bike ride with the West Bay towers on one side and traditional dhows on the water.
💡 Take a traditional dhow cruise at dusk for the best skyline photos.
This purpose-built cultural district gathers an amphitheatre, galleries, mosques with gleaming tilework, and a beach, hosting festivals and some of the city’s best restaurants.
💡 Visit the golden mosque and the pigeon towers for photos.
An artificial island of marinas, Mediterranean-style piazzas and luxury boutiques, The Pearl is where Doha comes to stroll, dine and admire the yachts and pastel Qanat Quartier canals.
💡 Head to Qanat Quartier for its colourful Venice-inspired lanes.
Doha’s food scene spans traditional and global. Try machboos, the spiced Qatari rice-and-meat dish, grilled hammour fish and warm luqaimat dumplings drizzled with date syrup. Souq Waqif is the place for Levantine and Iranian mezze under the stars, while Katara and The Pearl deliver high-end dining from every continent. Finish with cardamom-spiced Arabic coffee and dates.
Explore the Museum of Islamic Art and its park, walk the Corniche, then dive into Souq Waqif for dinner, shisha and people-watching after dark.
Spend the morning at Katara Cultural Village, then head to The Pearl for lunch, boutique browsing and a stroll through the Qanat Quartier canals.
Take a 4×4 tour to the Khor Al Adaid inland sea for dune bashing, camel rides and a desert sunset before returning to the city.
Doha’s driverless Metro is fast, cheap and spotless, linking the airport, West Bay, Souq Waqif and Msheireb.
Cover shoulders and knees in public and at religious sites; Qatar is conservative despite its glitz.
June to September is brutally hot; November to March is ideal for sightseeing and the desert.
Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but keep some riyals for the souq and taxis.
Official Doha Metro app with maps, lines and journey planning.
Free
Skyline-and-souq Doha, futuristic Lusail, old-town Al Wakrah, mangrove-lined Al Khor and the desert Inland Sea of Khor Al Adaid — five faces of Qatar.