13 Things To Do in Doha – Qatar – The Ultimate travel Guide
I almost had to pinch myself but I’m writing this post from my QSuite, flying back to New York City on board of the A310 with Qatar Airways after two amazing days exploring Doha. I know I went a little crazy and there are probably at least two or three highlights on my instagram but there was no way I would be able to not write a blog post about this. Qatar was one of those places that blew my mind in so many ways! The food, the culture, the history, the hospitality… And I can’y begin this post without mentioning my amazing experience flying business class for the first on Qatar Airways and see what the buzz was all about and if you are curious to learn more about the famous QSuite, you can click HERE to see more photos and my full review. But today I’d like to share with you my travel guide to Doha, the things we did, places we visited and places you should visit on your next trip. So let’s get started! FOR MORE NYC TIPS DON’T FORGET TO FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM HERE AND HERE!
QSuite on Qatar Airways
Where we stayed in Doha
Where to stay in Doha? In Doha we stayed at the Mondrian Hotel, one the newest and more modern hotels in the city. I wish I had stayed at least one more day to enjoy the many amenities the hotel offers to its guests! There were some places in Doha I really wanted to visit or explore a little longer but it was a short yet amazing press trip this time and hey, now I have another reason to go back, right? The city offers different points of interest in different areas so it’s tricky to chose only one location and regardless of where you stay you might need to drive.
Location
Qatar is one of the smallest countries in the world and it is located in the Middle East. Doha, the capital, is located in the Persian gulf and the country shares its border with Saudi Arabia and The United Emirates. And for those who asked me, Qatar is also one of the safest places you will probably travel to.
Currency
The official currency is the Qatari Rial and when we visited in July 2019, U$1 was fixed at QAR 3.64 (Qatari Riyal). Credit cards are accepted pretty much everywhere but you can also exchange money at the airport or at your hotel. Some business might accept US dollars as well and there are ATM machines in many places.
Language
The official language is Arabic but dozens of others languages are spoken and pretty much everyone we met spoke English, mainly because Qatar is a very international country, Its entire population is of 2,745,193 people and only 350.000 of those are natives.
Visa
Brazilians like myself don’t need a visa if you are staying for less than 30 days. Immigration was also very smooth. You can check if you need a visa HERE!
Regulations and daily life
Yes, there are some rules and cultural behaviors that aren’t encouraged even for tourists (such as drinking on the streets and other places or wearing bikini on public beaches) so I do recommend you reading about it prior to your trip. You can learn more HERE! Work week is actually from Sunday to Thursday, so Friday and Saturday you will find more people enjoying the city. Qatari people are super nice and open to visitors while keeping their culture alive so just do a quick research if you are planning on staying there for a long period of time or wondering the city on your own.
Weather
Hot and very hot! Yes, especially between June and September the heat is intense and temperatures can rise up to 50 degrees Celsius! When I was there I experienced easily 40 degrees but we were driving most of the time and enjoying activities indoors as well. The best time to visit in during the winter months (or around October- February), which is actually when the World Cup will be held!
Photo: Visit Qatar
Things to do and places to see in Doha
Visit Pearl Qatar
The Pearl Qatar is an artificial island where you will find restaurantes, shops, elegant residential buildings and a beautiful marina. Stores like Ferrari call the Pearl home. This site was a popular location for pearl diving back when this was the biggest economy of Qatar and if you are lucky to be on the right side of the place when landing or taking off, you can see the island from above, which is pretty impressive. The highlight of the trip was driving by the little Venice, which is such a colorful and beautiful area.
Visit the many shopping malls such as The Villaggio and Galleries Lafayette
Due to the high temperatures the locals spend a lot of their time inside shopping malls. Not only for dining or shopping purposes but also attending events, parties and hanging out. One of the coolest malls is Galleries Lafayette with an outdoor and indoor AC system, so you’re cool and enjoying the outdoors at the same time. At the Villaggio Mall you can go ice skating, bowling and even ride a roller coaster. How cool is that?
Visit the Falcon Souq
Yes, falcons are very important in Qatar history and social life, you might be able to see people carrying them around but if not, head to the Falcon Souq for a real experience. You will find everything from a falcon hospital to day care and stores that sell accessories. Falcons are big business in Qatar and by visiting the museums and the Souq you will understand more.
Photo: Visit Qatar
Visit the Torch Tower
The original name is actually the Aspire Tower, a 300 meters high hotel with a 360 degrees view restaurant and a beautiful pool. The Torch Tower is the tallest building in Qatar and it is the symbol of the Asian Games, which was held in Qatar in 2006. There is also a shopping mall next to it as well as Univeristy City. I’m excited to see all the new attractions they are building for the World Cup in 2022 in Doha.
Explore Katara Cultural Village
So this was another favorite of mine. And as the name says, it is a cultural center where you will find art galleries, restaurants, an opera house, a museum, music academy and the famous blue mosque. Different events and exhibitions are held there throughout the year.
Go on a desert Safari
That’s something every local you meet you tell you to do if you are traveling in the winter months. It seems to be a lot of fun and I can’t wait to experience next time I’m in Qatar! You can learn more about it HERE!
Photo: Visit Qatar
Museum of Islamic Art
There are 4 big museums in Doha but this is probably one of the two most photographed and visited. The museum is a collection of islam artifacts from different countries such as Turkey, Syria, Iran, Egypt…Another great thing besides the beautiful pieces you will see at the museum is the gorgeous view to Doha’s skyline. The entrance fee is 50 Qatari Riyal but for 85 you can buy a special ticket to 3 of the 4 main museums. Learn more HERE!
Take a stroll on Doha Corniche
This is the place to be in the cooler months but was still worth a visit in the summer. The view is gorgeous, there are palm trees along the main boulevard and the color was of the water is breathtaking. That’s the place you will see people hanging out, running and even swimming in the winter. Also, a great place to dine with a view, we had lunch at the beautiful Al Mourjan.
Swim at the public or private beaches
Ok, Doha is worth visiting year round but it is a fact that in the winter months you will see a different and a even better version of it. With that said, yes, Doha has plenty of beaches and they are oh so beautiful. But locals advised me not go go in simply because the water is not as cold as you wish on a hot summer day, so it isnt’t as pleasant as it is in the cooler months. Bummer! But it made me wanna come back even more! One thing to keep in mind is that you are not supposed to wear bikinis at public beaches but you are free to do so in private ones.
Photo: Visit Qatar
Visit Souq Waqif
If I had to chose only one place for you to visit in Doha, this would be it. Since we were touring most of the city by car (getting off for pictures and information then getting right back in the car), I missed seeing people walking outside and enjoying the city. So the Souq Wakif was the best place to see locals socializing, dining, shopping and enjoying the day out – which is much nicer once the sun goes down. The Souq Waqif is an outdoor and indoor market where you will find everything from nuts, traditional clothes, spices and rugs to I Love Qatar T-shirts. It is also where you will be able to see camels and horses before you go in and explore the Falcon Souq.
National Museum of Qatar
This was the museum where we learned the most. We had a private tour guide show us around and explain everything about the country, from the formation of the peninsula until the discovery of oil and more. I highly recommend a tour guide, it will save you time. One of the things that impressed me the most was the architecture, the museum was inspired by and designed to resemble a desert flower – which is available for purchase at the museum gift shop by the way, for about U$20. Learn more about the museum HERE!
Photo: Visit Qatar
Dine at one of the many -impressive- restaurants
In Qatar you will find restaurants serving food from all over the world, including a Brazilian steakhouse. Most international restaurants are located inside hotels. We stayed at the Mondrian Doha and dined one night at the incredible Morimoto. But there were other restaurants and even a night club.
Morimoto Doha
My room was on the eight floor overlooking the highway and the city’s skyline. The room was spacious, modern, bright and soooo beautiful! The breakfast buffet offered western and eastern cuisines, so there was something for everyone.
Visit the 2022 World Cup Stadiums and the Legacy Pavilion
I’m writing this post in 2019, right after visiting Doha with Qatar Airways, to promote the country and its preparation for the World Cup. We were able to see 4 of the main stadiums but there will be 8 in total by 2022. One of them has the capacity for 80.000 people and that’s where the opening ceremony and ending games will take place. Meanwhile, you can visit the Legacy Pavilion to learn more about the preparations for the World Cup in Doha in 2022. You can learn more about the stadiums HERE!
Thank you Qatar Airways for inviting me! Doha impressed me in so many ways and I’m forever grateful fot the opportunity I had to learn about Qatar and to meet so many incredible people! I can’t wait to be back!
If you are planning a trip to Doha I hope this post helps you plan a perfect itinerary for a stopover in Doha in Qatar!
