DohaTravel Guide

On the West Bay shore, the five-star Grand Hyatt offers a choice of hotel rooms or suites or luxury villas, several swimming pools and access to one of the biggest private beaches in the city. As for dining options, you’ll be delighted by the Thai, Italian, and Middle Eastern restaurants!

Offering a combination of high-end luxury and traditional Qatari charm is The Mandarin Oriental in downtown Msheireb, in the heart of the city. It’s tasteful, modern and features a rooftop swimming pool. If you’re a foodie, you’ll love the fine-dining options from Cantonese to Mediterranean, plus an entire lounge dedicated to gelato!

The Mondrian Doha, also in West Bay, is among the Top 12 hotels in Doha, according to Condé Nast Traveller readers. Art and fantasy combine, resulting in interior design that’s opulent and utterly unique. And let’s not even get started on the magnificent spa…

Got a three-star budget? The Hampton by Hilton Doha Old Town has got you covered. Bright and cheery with stunning views over the bay, there’s free Wi-Fi, a business centre and breakfast thrown in. Plus, you’ll be staying opposite The National Museum of Qatar and within walking distance of restaurants and shops.

The Aspire Zone is a top lifestyle and sports destination stretching across 2.5 km2 in the Baaya district of Al Rayyan. Here you’ll find parks, running and walking tracks, restaurants, children's playgrounds, and the high-end Villaggio Mall. This complex is also home to a massive indoor sports stadium, the Aspire Dome and the 300-metre-high Aspire Tower or The Torch Doha – a five-star hotel visible from almost anywhere in Doha.

To get acquainted with Qatari culture and customs, there’s no better spot than the Katara Cultural Village. It showcases art by local and international artists, spectacular Qatari architecture, the beautiful Katara Gardens planted with species from all over the world. It’s also the location of the only opera house in Qatar.

Afterwards, stroll down the Corniche promenade along Doha Bay and discover relaxing green spaces, cafés and spectacular skylines. With dhows (wooden boats) departing from the Corniche, book a sunset cruise as the perfect way to end your sightseeing day!

This is not your typical 4x4 tour through the desert. Not even close. ‘Dune bashing’ is a favourite weekend pastime in these parts and one for adrenaline junkies. Tour operators take you in their luxury 4x4s to the dunes around Doha, where you’ll fly across the sand at top speed. This is followed by a sundowner of traditional tea in the desert (although some may wish for something stronger after this!). Among these tour operators are those who also offer camel rides through the desert, where you can travel across the sands with these magnificent creatures the way it has been done for centuries.

Art lovers will be in their element at the Museum of Islamic Art, which houses the world’s largest collection. Here you can marvel at Islamic artistic expression in various media spanning some 1,400 years, but make sure your shoulders and knees are covered to gain entry to this five-storey treasure trove. It’s situated on the Doha waterfront, in the MIA Park.

The park is also where the sculpture called “7” by celebrated American artist Richard Serra reaches towards the sky and faces the sea. This minimalistic work is particularly breathtaking when seen in the light of sunrise and sunset. The number 7 is considered spiritual and significant to the Qatari and Islamic cultures.

The art of falconry is intertwined with Qatari history and culture. Introduced by the nomadic Bedouin people as a form of hunting, today it’s a modern competitive sport, with some birds costing the same as a pedigree racehorse! Visit the Falcon Souq at Souq Waqif market to encounter these magnificent raptors up close. For a more unusual experience, book a safari tour into the desert to visit falcon-training camps.

If you have a rental car, set off on a day trip to Al Khor, about a 45-minute drive out of Doha, depending on traffic and your route. Once a humble, secluded fishing and trading village, it has grown into one of the biggest cities in Qatar while maintaining a fascinating blend of old and new. Visit the Al Khor Towers where sentinels once stood watch over the Persian Gulf, keeping the community safe from pirates, then pop into the Al Khor Museum to find out more about its history and the various archaeological digs in the area. For a family-friendly outing, head to Al Khor Park, one of the oldest wildlife parks in Doha and home to the biggest zoo in the country.

We suggest booking ahead for the fabulous brunches at the St Regis Doha or The Four Seasons Doha, which is famed for its rooftop restaurant, Nobu. Spectacular views are dished up together with world-class cuisine and top-notch service.

A visit to Doha should really include a meal at the spectacular Three-Sixty restaurant, the revolving restaurant at the top of the Aspire Tower. The panoramic views over the city are incredible, as is the Mediterranean menu.

Boho Social, as the name suggests, is a quirky but gorgeous Bohemian-chic restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea. Experience hookah culture with their shisha and coffee evenings, and there’s also some fine mixology happening – non-alcoholic, of course. Find Boho Social at the top of the Katara Beach Club, a wellness and spa centre on Katara Beach.

For an authentic Qatari dining experience and hospitality, head to Shay Al Shoomos in the Souq Waqif market situated downtown. It’s known as one of the best laid-back local restaurants in Doha.

Doha also has a wonderful street-food scene, and while its many markets offer a large variety of street food in one place, you can also find these delicious nibbles being sold from food trucks and carts, little hole-in-the-wall shops or on the roadside. And what’s on this menu? Well, shawarmas, chapati flatbreads, falafel, local-style pancakes and more!

The oldest souq is the Souq Waqif. This major tourist attraction is situated in the heart of the city, on the banks of a dry riverbed called Wadi Musheireb, and the original spot where Bedouins used to trade centuries ago. Walking through the old sections with mud walls and narrow twisting alleys is a delightful journey back in time. Agarwood incense (Oud) and perfumes are sold alongside lanterns, woven baskets, wooden crafts, souvenirs, material and so much more, while hamalis (porters) march up and down with wheelbarrows full of customers’ purchases.

This huge market features open-air and covered stalls, shops and eateries, and many souqs within the souq, such as the Spice Souq (or spice market) with its displays of jute bags piled high with all kinds of colourful and fragrant spices. There’s also the Gold Souq selling high-quality gold and jewellery (you can even have customised items made), the Camel Souq (where you can see these “ships of the desert” up close) and the Falcon Souq we mentioned earlier.

In downtown Doha, you’ll find the Msheireb Galleria, a mall with over 100 shops on four levels, including a cinema, supermarket and an entertainment centre for kids. Qatari brands are showcased here, like Qiyorro, Qatar’s first conscious beauty range, and the modern clothing brand The Project, with designs inspired by Qatari youth culture. Pop-up shops showcase up-and-coming Qatari designers alongside graffiti art.

Want to shop with the moneyed of the Middle East? Then head to Pearl Island, an artificial island that’s all about five-star hotels, superyachts, and high-end restaurants. The shopping experience here is like no other in Doha, with a selection of top boutiques, speciality stores and flagship showrooms.

The easiest and most efficient way to avoid traffic and get to where you want to go is the Doha metro. It connects all the major areas, and also makes its way to the airport on the north-south red line and east-west gold and blue lines. Check times and top up your card with the Qatar Rail App – download it on your smartphone. The Doha metro system also has two bus networks, the metro link and the metro express, which you can use for free when using the metro.

Often used by locals, the bus service connects Hamad International Airport to most of the city, beaches and sites beyond. The state-run, air-conditioned Mowasalat Karwa offers dozens of routes covering all the main neighbourhoods and is best accessed and navigated with the Karwa Bus app. Make sure you have your Smartcard with you as bus drivers don’t sell tickets and might charge you an additional fee. You can opt for limited journeys (two trips within 24 hours) or the ‘unlimited’ option.

To get from the international airport to the city, you can also use the turquoise Karwa taxis, but draw Qatari cash beforehand, as they won’t accept international currencies. Otherwise, there’s Uber, which can make trips less stressful since you can pay using your credit card on the app.

Just 90km from the city is the limestone escarpment of Zekreet Beach, a popular spot for weekend campers. It’s also popular with people who prefer unspoilt, undeveloped beaches, as there are very few hotels. Instead, you’ll find shallow waters, limestone coves and remnants of a small 18th century fort and madabes – rooms where dates were pressed to harvest juice.

Among Doha’s most picturesque beaches is Katara Beach, with its 1.5km shoreline and separate ‘family only’ and ‘men only’ beaches. It’s in the Katara Cultural Village area, where you’ll also find plenty of cafés, fast-food outlets and a children’s playground.

About 80km from Doha, Fuwairit Beach is a popular destination with locals, families and travellers alike. Circled by cliffs and with pristine white sand and calm, shallow, turquoise waters, it’s a great beach for swimming, snorkelling and picnicking. Fuwairit Beach is also known for kitesurfing and gorgeous sunsets over the Persian Gulf.

Sealine Beach, located in the south, is dotted with the cabanas of the Sealine Beach Resort, Qatar’s first leisure destination. Many locals come here for the weekend, but you can still find a quiet spot to picnic, fish or enjoy water sports.

To experience something unique, drive to the Inland Sea from Doha in about an hour or opt for a day trip with one of the tour operators. This incredible body of water between Qatar and Saudi Arabia is in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Khor Al-Adaid Nature Reserve. The sea is surrounded by dunes and is home to a variety of marine animals, such as dolphins, sharks and turtles. Migratory birds fly from here to Saudi Arabia.