Doha
Temperature
42°
Time
10:42 AM
Doha
Already well-known as a business travel destination, Doha, the capital of the State of Qatar, has emerged in recent years as a rapidly developing tourism destination as well. A modern country built on the deep cultural roots of its Bedouin heritage, Qatar presents visitors with a kaleidoscope of fascinating contrasts and experiences, from tranquillity of desert to lively alleys of souq, from impressive coastal fortresses to dramatic high-rise towers, deserted sandy beaches and mangrove lagoons to elegant residential districts and green parks.Find your trip
This showpiece waterfront promenade, which strentches the length of the semi-circular Doha Bay, offers spectacular vistas from the dramatic high rise towers of the central business district to bold shapes of the Museum of Islamic Art, as well as traditional wooden dhows lining the Bay. The Corniche provides a vehicle-free recreational space in the heart of the city, ideal for a jog in the cool of the morning or leisurely evening stroll.
The museum’s magnificent collection covers 14 centuries of the finest art and artefacts across the Islamic World. Housed in a dramatic IM Pei-designed building, jutting into Doha Bay at the southern end of the Corniche, it ranks internationally among the world's leading cultural landmarks.
For an authentic taste of lively traditional street life, commerce and local architecture, nothing can beat a wander through the bustling lanes of Souq Waqif, located just one block inland from the Corniche in the central Al Bidda district. Besides the fabulous range of souvenir bargains, it is a great place to relax over a coffee or meal and soak up the atmosphere.
An off-road desert safari by 4x4 is an experience not to be missed. Besides a heart-stopping ride over the precipitous dunes, safaris may include camel riding, sand boarding or driving a quad bike, followed by a moonlit Bedouin-style barbeque under the stars. Available from all major tour operators, most safaris take place in the high sand dunes lying to the south of Doha.
Cruises aboard a traditional wooden Arab dhow are another extremely popular visitor experience. Day and evening sightseeing excursions, including a meal that can be arranged through hotels and local tour operators or directly from the dhows moored along the Doha Corniche.
A purpose-built cultural and recreational district on the West Bay waterfront, Katara is ideal for a relaxing day of culture, entertainment and family fun. Its performance venues stage plays, concerts, film festivals and much more. Recreational options include a well-tended public beach with water sports, restaurants and cafes.
The Pearl is a spectacular string of man-made islands off the coast of West Bay. The main island features impressive marina esplanades, residential towers and villas. Symbolizing the ultimate elegance, the Pearl offers fine dining, Mediterranean-style yacht-lined waterfront walks, stylish cafes and an array of boutiques featuring the world's leading luxury brands.
An organized tour is ideal for visitors with limited time to spare or seeking an overview of Doha and its attractions. Local tour operators offer both standard city tours taking in all the main sights, as well as tailor-made tours catering to their clients’ special interests. The ‘hop-on, hop-off’ double-decker tours are also available and operated by Doha Bus (dohabus.com).
This showpiece waterfront promenade, which strentches the length of the semi-circular Doha Bay, offers spectacular vistas from the dramatic high rise towers of the central business district to bold shapes of the Museum of Islamic Art, as well as traditional wooden dhows lining the Bay. The Corniche provides a vehicle-free recreational space in the heart of the city, ideal for a jog in the cool of the morning or leisurely evening stroll.
The museum’s magnificent collection covers 14 centuries of the finest art and artefacts across the Islamic World. Housed in a dramatic IM Pei-designed building, jutting into Doha Bay at the southern end of the Corniche, it ranks internationally among the world's leading cultural landmarks.
In the atrium of Souq Waqif Boutique Hotel you can get a fresh taste of Italy. While the cuisine focuses on homemade pasta specials, you will also find all your favourite antipasti and pizza classics. Enjoy the lovely décor and don’t forget to finish your visit with some delicious gelati.
Al Sultan Brahim serves you the delights of sea. The restaurant is well-known for fresh fish and seafood plates like crab salad, grilled and fried fish and you can always find some new favourites among their wide selection of Lebanese dishes like mezze.
Spice Market features South East Asian cuisine by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Take out some sushi packages, stay in for bentos and don’t forget to check their website for special tasting events. Let the attentive staff guide you through an evening of Asian specials and get carried away by the flavours of the East Asia.
Caminito is a great place to taste Argentinian cuisine including, beef empanadas and budín de pan, with relaxing tango music playing in the background. Whether you are on a business meeting or having dinner with your loved one, this restaurant guarantees a classy night out.
Located 47 stories above ground level, Three Sixty serves you both vegetarian options and fine steaks including Saffron fettuccine, Tomahawk and Wagyu filet. Enjoy the breath-taking panoramic view and make sure to drop by on an evening with live piano music.
Indulge yourself into Isaan for an exciting new dinner experience with Thai food including Pad Thai and Tong yam soup. The chefs will prepare your food in an open kitchen and create dishes to your own taste. Step in on a Monday for the special curry night and relax in the casual ambiance.
Take in all the flavours of India at the Saffron Lounge. The exotic dishes including Bengali lobster masala and goan fish curry, which are creatively prepared for you and include traits of Indian fare from different parts of India. The high quality of cuisine here has been rewarded yearly since 2011.
Located in a busy area of Souq Waqif, this traditional restaurant focuses on serving Middle Eastern cuisine, with a focus on Yemeni food. Besides authentic dishes, you can enjoy your food sitting in traditional rooms on the floor. If you haven’t tried salta, fahsa, ogda or mashwi, then Bandar Aden is the ideal place to try something new.
In the atrium of Souq Waqif Boutique Hotel you can get a fresh taste of Italy. While the cuisine focuses on homemade pasta specials, you will also find all your favourite antipasti and pizza classics. Enjoy the lovely décor and don’t forget to finish your visit with some delicious gelati.
Al Sultan Brahim serves you the delights of sea. The restaurant is well-known for fresh fish and seafood plates like crab salad, grilled and fried fish and you can always find some new favourites among their wide selection of Lebanese dishes like mezze.
Souq Waqif is the place to go for Qatari and Middle Eastern souvenirs, with its array of handicrafts, spices, incense and perfumes. There are also a number of working jewellers to be seen here. Historic, but recently renovated in authentic architectural style, this vibrant bazaar also houses multiple restaurants.
Do not miss this special souq dedicated to the ancient practice of hunting with falcons, especially if you visit Doha during the falconry season (October to March). Observing owners showing off the birds and browsing through falconry paraphernalia is a memorable, one-of-a-kind experience.
This is the best place in Doha to find some very unusual and quirky things, from quite precious antiques to truly memorable souvenirs. On Fridays the market becomes a quite rowdy affair, as all kinds of sales exchanges are carried out from the backs of trucks.
Al Asmakh Mall mainly houses the retail outlets of the Landmark Group, including Home Center and Centrepoint. The 36.5 thousand square metre shopping centre also houses a children's entertainment area (Fun City) and underground parking. Visitors can even enjoy the street-side café-style seating during the cooler months of the year.
One of Doha’s newest malls, Villaggio on Al Waab Street, has its star attraction, a 500-metre long Venetian canal, completed with mini-gondolas in which customers can glide from shop to shop! The stores on either side of the canal are designed in Italian style with pastel-coloured architecture. Villaggio houses a branch of Virgin Megastore selling a vast selection of books and music, and a vast array of fashion boutiques catering mainly for the younger set.
The largest mall in all of Qatar, which is also one of the shopping and entertainment hubs in Doha. Home to international, regional and local brand stores as well as a cinema complex, ice-skating rink and bowling alley, City Center will easily keep you occupied all day long.
A recent addition to Qatar’s mall scene, Ezdan Mall, which is located in the bustling Gharafa area, brings many new global favourite stores to the country such as Aeropostale and WH Smith Books among a total of 52 branded outlets, as well as many supervised entertainment options for kids.
This luxurious artificial island is home to many upscale designer brand stores, as well as several independent designer boutiques such as The Vanity Room. The Pearl also boasts an impressive selection of dining options from all over the world with Indian, Mexican, Italian, French and American restaurants.
Souq Waqif is the place to go for Qatari and Middle Eastern souvenirs, with its array of handicrafts, spices, incense and perfumes. There are also a number of working jewellers to be seen here. Historic, but recently renovated in authentic architectural style, this vibrant bazaar also houses multiple restaurants.
Do not miss this special souq dedicated to the ancient practice of hunting with falcons, especially if you visit Doha during the falconry season (October to March). Observing owners showing off the birds and browsing through falconry paraphernalia is a memorable, one-of-a-kind experience.
Visitors from all around the world can enter Qatar either visa free, or by filling out simple online applications, depending on the passport they carry. Nationals of more than 80 countries are eligible for visa-free entry into the State of Qatar, with varying allowable lengths of stay. With a valid passport of a minimum validity of six months and a confirmed return ticket, people from the eligible countries can obtain a visa waiver upon arrival to Qatar without any prior visa arrangements.
The best months to visit Qatar are November to early April as the milder weather conditions allow for sightseeing and outdoor activities. The summer months from June to September are very hot with minimum rainfall, so these can be difficult, especially so if you're sensitive to high temperatures.
Located in the capital city of Qatar, Hamad International Airport is the international airport of Doha which hosts many airlines from around the world and provides a wide range of services like banking and currency exchange service, parents room and medical assistance. Doha’s bus network connects Hamad International Airport to various destinations across the city and all buses depart from Bus Pavilion that is located to the right of the arrivals hall.
Hiring car Many local and international car hire companies operate in Qatar. Hirer will be required for a credit card, passport copy and a valid driving licence from their home country or international permit. Bus Although buses are not widely used by tourists, the service of many buses are modern, clean and air-conditioned. Fares within the city are around QAR3 to QAR9 depending on the distance, and fares outside town are reasonably priced.
Most visitors take taxis to go around Doha. Karwa taxis are widely available and reasonably priced and their meters start at QAR 4 and run at QAR1.2 per km. To order a taxi in advance, please call +974 4458 8888.
There are no major health risks and no special inoculations required by visitors. There are many well-stocked pharmacies with English speaking staff throughout Doha city, while some open for the whole day. Wellcare Pharmacy – Park n Shop Address: Park N Shop, Doha Tel: +974 4416 0546 Wellcare Pharmacy – Safari Address: Safari Mall, Doha Tel: +974 4468 0638 Al Rawdah Pharmacy Address: Basement of Centerpoint Ml Al, Doha Tel: +974 4452 5410
Qatar post provides fast mail delivery to more than 220 countries around the world and the post offices are scattered around Doha. Al Azizya Tel: +974 4458 2193 Opening time: Sun - Thur: 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM Sat: 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Al Ghuwairiya Tel: +974 4473 1757 Opening time: Sun - Sat 12:00 AM - 12:00 AM Al kharthiyat Tel: +974 44784 026 Opening time: Sun - Thur: 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM Sat: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
The country code for Qatar is +974. Telecom providers Ooredoo and Vodafone offer pre-paid and post-paid mobile services. Wi-fi broadband hotspots are available across the country and are easily accessible at hotels and public places.
Visitors from all around the world can enter Qatar either visa free, or by filling out simple online applications, depending on the passport they carry. Nationals of more than 80 countries are eligible for visa-free entry into the State of Qatar, with varying allowable lengths of stay. With a valid passport of a minimum validity of six months and a confirmed return ticket, people from the eligible countries can obtain a visa waiver upon arrival to Qatar without any prior visa arrangements.
The best months to visit Qatar are November to early April as the milder weather conditions allow for sightseeing and outdoor activities. The summer months from June to September are very hot with minimum rainfall, so these can be difficult, especially so if you're sensitive to high temperatures.
