“15 BEST Places to Visit in Doha, the beaming jewel of Qatar, is a multicultural metropolis and home to most of the population and the wider expatriate communities. Shopping options are plentiful in the many shopping malls that influence the city and the Corniche, an area of stunning architecture and magnificent harbor views. The many cultural establishments in Doha, such as the state-of-the-art Education City and the priceless National Museum, will be something to admire.”
Souq Waqif
That is what Qatar is, a mix of new and old. No trip to Doha can be complete without visiting Souq Waqif for some amazing shopping and dining. Once again, you will have the opportunity to visit gardens, spice and gold souqs, and falcon souqs where you can create memorable moments in the city. Lose yourself in the traditional architecture style and marvel at the magnificent art galleries that highlight the history of Qatar. Shop for amazing spices, perfumes, embroideries, etc.; entry to the souks is free. Just be sure to verify the opening and closing hours before your visit for the best experience.
Doha Corniche
Another splendid destination in Qatar is the Doha Corniche, which also provides stunning views. Corniche Park and promenade are perfect for cyclists, joggers, and walkers to unwind and soak up. Doha Corniche is the perfect place to take in the breathtaking skyline of the city at dawn, or if you are lucky enough to visit the city, you might be able to feel the energy of the Nordee on the ground. Eye-catching view of The Museum of Islamic Art with newly opened promenade from the 7 km long waterfront — which opens 24/7 from The Museum of Islamic Art to The Sheraton Doha Resort & Convention Hotel.
Aspire Park
Located in Doha, Doha Sports City or Aspire Park is the perfect place to spend an evening or winter day. It features all sorts of sports facilities, a jogging and walking path, an outside gym, a pool, a skateboarding pool, and even a lake! Need an additional reason to enjoy lunch at the top of the Aspire Tower, aka The Torch?
Measuring a breathtaking 300 meters tall, The Torch Tower is currently the tallest building in Qatar. The park is open from 8 am to 12 am, and the best thing is, there are no entry fees! In addition, a few minutes’ walk from this park is perhaps one of the most beautiful malls in Qatar, The Villaggio, with plenty of snacking and shopping choices.
Museum Of Islamic Art
One of Doha’s coolest attractions is the Museum of Islamic Art. This museum is the largest collection of Islamic art in the world, designed by famous architect I.M. Pei. This is 1400 years or 14 centuries, three continents, three continents of paintings and paintings are collected in the museum. Visitors will be struck by the museum’s mesmerizing geometric arrangements. Visitors are also treated to the MIA Park, IDAM restaurant for some delicious Qatari food, and café. The museum is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., so you have plenty of time to fully enjoy its treasures.
Qatar National Museum
Considered an architectural masterpiece, the Qatar National Museum is another must-see for history lovers. The magnificent design, inspired by the desert rose crystal and resembling a natural flower, is known as the museum that highlights the past, heritage, and future aspirations of Qatar and the Qatari people.
In addition to representing the pride and tradition of the Qatari people, it offers a space for international guests to come together to discuss how Qatar has rapidly transformed and modernized. General admission fees are around INR 1000 for adults, INR 500 for students, and children below 16 are free. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., so there is plenty of time to discover its treasures.
Katara Cultural Village
Visiting the Katara Cultural Village is one of the things to do in Qatar or Doha that you cannot miss. A beautiful serenity full of art and culture is tucked away on the eastern coast, nestled between the West Bay and Pearl. Best of all, admission is free to explore Katara and watch captivating cultural performances at its outdoor amphitheater, opera house, multipurpose cinema, conference hall, beach, and souq.
As for the Katara Cultural Village, it is open 24 hours a day, inviting visitors to experience the traditional essence and contemporary pulse of Qatar at any hour of the day. It also hosts the Doha Film Festival and other cinematic events. They are something that you can get lost in, from early morning to late night, truly something to be enjoyed.
The Pearl is one of the 15 BEST Places to Visit in Doha
The Pearl manmade island is stunning and will take your breath away for sure. This stunning island is a dream of Instagram, yet it also mixes luxury living with fantastic shops and entertainment — and that great community feel against beautiful backdrops.
Spread over 10 different districts, The Qanat Quartier and Medina Centrale either send visitors back to the picturesque charm of Venice and the Mediterranean through charming pastel-colored low-rise buildings and a maze of intricate canals and pedestrian-friendly squares and a huge number of boutiques and outlets, guaranteeing an unprecedented shopping experience. I assure you your next social media posts will be flooded with beautiful pictures from this beautiful destination. You can visit the Pearl from 10 AM to 10 PM, which is free of charge for entry.
Al Shahaniya Camel Racetrack
Camel racing is a very popular sport in Qatar, so much that a TV channel is dedicated solely to camel races inside and outside Qatar. You can enjoy a visit to the Al-Shahaniya race track, about an hour’s drive outside of Doha. Whether or not there is a race starting, visitors can watch the camels being led to the course for training between 9:30 am and 5:30 pm.
This experience involves visiting the camel racetrack, where you can view these well-groomed and valuable animals up close—with some even worth up to one million Qatari Riyals. And as if this isn’t already incredible, did you know that people are riding little robots on camels to help them supervise and train them? Travel to Al Shahaniya to see this grand view.
Inland Sea
Qatar’s other highlight is the Inland Sea or Khor Al Adaid at the southern tip of the country, bordering Saudi Arabia. What will make this place truly special, you might ask? It is a rare treat where pure white sand desert meets deep blue sea. In addition, this region features a unique ecosystem, inhabited by sea turtles, ospreys, cormorants, flamingos, desert foxes, and the national animal of Qatar, the Oryx. Adventurous spirits can get there with a high-octane 4X4 drive into the desert, providing a chance to make the most of the dunes on the way.
3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum
3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum is one of the most unique sports museums the world has to offer. Using storytelling in a long-form format, 3-2-1 explores how sports have changed over the years and how Qatar’s love for it has.
Inside the museum, visitors will discover a trove of interactive exhibits, incredible artifacts, and dedicated activity zones that will appeal to a broad spectrum of people. 3-2-1 investigates the value and positive impact of sports and searches for the foundations, evolution, and socio-cultural importance of the phenomenon, not only in Qatar but also beyond its borders.
In its ambition to be the global center for sports heritage and knowledge, 3-2-1 also actively encourages and enables academic research. As one of the proud members of the Olympic Museum Network—which currently includes 22 Olympic museums spanning the globe—3-2-1 is dedicated to honoring the legacy and history of sports.
Qanat Quartier
The colorful and picturesque canals of Qatar’s Qanat Quartier neighborhood look like something out of a Disney movie—as well as the city of Venice. Candy-colored buildings and elegant bridges make this a charming city for Instagram shots. Stroll along the wide avenues and explore the neighborhood’s boutiques and cafés. Do check out the musical staircase, grab a cup of coffee here, and take in panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf from the beachfront promenade. Qanat Quartier very much adds a Mediterranean flavor to Doha.
Msheireb Downtown Doha
Msheireb Downtown Doha consists of more than 100 buildings comprising a mix of commercial and residential properties, alongside a variety of retail and cultural offerings. Barahat, the glamorous courtyard, is one of its memorable features. Moreover, there is an array of niche retail outlets, outdoor bistros, and other entertainment venues.
Within these well-designed spaces, Qatar Academy Msheireb caters to the educational needs of the community, alongside a choice of four exquisite hotels: Mandarin Oriental Doha, Al Wadi Hotel MGallery, Park Hyatt Hotel, and Boutique Hotel, which cater to their accommodation needs. The four heritage houses at Msheireb Downtown Doha, also part of the Msheireb Properties development, pay tribute to Qatar’s history with the Msheireb Museums.
While modern, the architecture of Msheireb is inspired by Qatar’s heritage and contains proportion, simplicity, spaciousness, natural light, layering, and a design that responds well to the country’s climate. The overall ambition of the project from a macro perspective is to confront the dominant energy-contentious development currently seen in Doha. In addition, Msheireb Downtown Doha will host the Doha Design District — a vibrant, cultural workspace designed to support both local and international designers.
Doha Quest
Qatar’s first theme park, Quest, is located inside Doha Oasis Mall, Msheireb. Covering more than 32,000 sqm, this unique indoor entertainment venue serves visitors of all ages. Nowhere does this like Quest, with over 30 rides and attractions combined into a truly unique experience you cannot experience anywhere else in Doha. It features an exciting combination of adrenaline-inducing rides, media-based simulators, virtual reality, children’s rides, and family-oriented rides.
Way through Oryxville exhibits the splendid Arabian traditions and offers visitors a glimpse of the history. Contrastingly, City of Imagination gives guests an exhilarating adrenaline rush through rides that involve being shot up and dropped, for example, diving guests into the present. The Gravity dimension also has a futuristic take on rides, such as Spike’s Astro Tower and Gravity Swing, which spins riders in weightless directions.
Education City Doha
Education City in Doha, on October 13, 2003. It has since evolved into a hub for eight international branch universities and research institutes, including Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, Georgetown University in Qatar, Northwestern University in Qatar, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, HEC Paris, and Hamad Bin Khalifa University.
The district is also home to 13 schools comprising Qatar Foundation’s Pre-University Education network, Qatar National Library, Education City Stadium (one of the venues for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™), Qur’anic Botanic Garden, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, numerous art exhibitions and installations such as Seeroo fi al ardh, Oxygen Park, Green Spine and Ceremonial Court, Minaretein (Education City Mosque), Al Shaqab, Qatar National Convention Centre, and the Education City Golf Club.
Walking or taking the tram through Education City, you can admire its broad green spaces and one of the region’s largest libraries with more than a million books.
Dahl Al Misfir
Located in the west of Doha and at the center of the peninsula, Dahl Al Misfir is a unique natural wonder in Qatar. This magnificent cavern, diving 40 meters deep, is the biggest and deepest walking cave in the nation. Composed mostly of fibrous gypsum, it sometimes gives off a soft, otherworldly glow.
Dahl Al Misfir originated during the mid-Pleistocene Era, around 325,000–500,000 years ago. The area has a mesmerizing phosphorescent glow, courtesy of the gypsum deposits engulfing part of the peninsular’s heart. The deposits also create a special geological phenomenon known as a desert rose, where naturally occurring gypsum crystals form clusters that resemble the flower.
Though there is no fee for admission, the site is behind a fence. Matsumoto says visitors should wear suitable clothing; the temperature drops as you go deeper into the cave. Try to avoid certain areas if you have weak feet, as the cave is rocky, so wear suitable hiking footwear.
Dahl Al Misfir also is a destination for birdwatchers; if you’re lucky, you may see nightjars, wagtails, bee-eaters, Eurasian hoopoes, and others. Many of them stop in Qatar on their way to Africa during the winter months, and some of them decide to remain in the region.
