There are more things to do and see in Qatar than you might imagine and so if you only have a short time here, plan your time wisely.
1 One of the first things to do in Qatar is visit the 7 km Doha Corniche for a walk and spectacular views of the Doha skyline. Make sure to go on a short dhow cruise around the bay. Nearby, take a walk around the lush green Al Bidda Park!
2 Also on the Corniche are the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) and Al Riwaq showcasing the best of Qatar’s exhibits. The MIA Park boasts expansive landscaping. Near MIA are is the Old Doha Port, which is home to a Cruise Ship Terminal, the new multi-coloured Mina District and Box Park.
3 Across the Corniche is the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ), which explores Qatar’s rich heritage and culture, and features the NMoQ Park with plants, public artworks, playgrounds, cafés and more.
4 Visit the old and traditional Souq Waqif for garments, spices, handicrafts, souvenirs, restaurants and shisha lounges. The nearby Gold Souq is your jewellery stop. Also close by is Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD), the world’s first sustainable downtown regeneration project.
5 In Al Wakra, visit Souq Al Wakra, a ‘heritage village’ with markets, shops and restaurants along the seafront. Also nearby is Al Wakra Family Beach and Ezdan Mall – Al Wakra.
6 Spend a few hours at Katara Cultural Village and admire the architecture. Nearby is The Pearl Island, an artificial island, featuring luxury shopping and dining, Mediterranean-style yacht-lined marinas, upmarket residential towers, villas and internationally renowned hotels. Also nearby is Lusail City, Qatar’s first smart and sustainable city with several tourist and local attractions.
7 Shop at Qatar’s largest malls such as Doha Festival City or Mall of Qatar. For more traditional shopping, visit local souqs. See our Shopping in Qatar page for more info!
8 Play a round of golf at Doha Golf Club or Education City Golf Club, or walk around ‘Sporty City’, Aspire Zone, which includes Aspire Park, KidZania Doha and Villaggio Mall.
9 Explore the dunes at Sealine in Mesaieed or the waters off Qatar’s coast. Go scuba diving, snorkelling, paddle boarding, or kayaking through the mangroves. You can find more activities to explore on our What To Do In Qatar page!
10 Transport yourself back in time at the numerous fortresses and ruins throughout Qatar such as Al Zubara Archaeological Site and Zekreet.
Doha Bus: HOP-ON HOP-OFF
When you start the Doha Bus day or night sightseeing tour, you will pick up a complimentary tour guide that includes a full colour route map. The bus is equipped with an audio device that operates according to the global GPS navigation system; available in English, Arabic, German, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese and Korean. A variety of tour packages are available, including Monster Bus desert safaries. Tour map and details at dohabus.com.
Doha Metro: TAP IN, TAP OUT
To move around the city easier and faster, use the now fully operational Doha Metro, a rapid transit system across Doha and also outside Doha to suburbs such as Al Wakra, Al Wajba and Lusail City. The Doha Metro currently has three lines – Red, Green and Gold – with an approximate overall length of 76 km and 37 stations.
National Cruise: See Doha From The Sea
Step aboard one of the most luxurious traditional dhows in Qatar, approved by QNTC. The company offers diverse cruise themes and voyages, providing four safe and pleasant premier touristic experiences including food, sightseeing and day cruises as well as special events and private trips. National Cruise will make sure that every second of your trip will be ‘A Moment to Remember’.
Check our website at marhaba.qa, for what to do at the weekend as well as news, reviews and more! Pick up the Marhaba Pocket Map to help you get around Qatar as efficiently as possible.
Qatar Tourism also has a comprehensive online portal on Qatar’s diverse attractions, visitqatar.qa or discoverqatar.qa.
