Doha is a unique and a perfect destination for a variety of travelers, offering local experiences at the main market area, or gourmet restaurants with beautiful decoration, luxury hotels, and some adventure experiences. The vibe is surprisingly relaxed and friendly, I was expecting a busier and noisier city, but it was totally the opposite.

Qatar is a rich country and you can notice the wealthy vibe everywhere you go. This time, our visit was possible thanks to the Qatar Airways layover program, I will tell you more about it later in this post.

I was usually seeing connecting flights via Doha while searching tickets to Thailand by I was never convinced enough to make a stop in my first Arabian country, not for the cultural prejudices, but mostly for the logistics and costs on doing it on few hours only.

The best time to visit Qatar is in between November to March when the weather is more fresh with temperatures ranging from 10-25ºC, it was actually surprisingly fresh and really windy when we were there in late February, but it was nice to enjoy walking outside and sitting in the little tables to drink a coffee or a tea.

I would avoid July and August, as they are the hottest months in the year with temperatures reaching up to 45ºC so it will be better to take taxis to move in-between places and staying inside with AC as much as possible so you won’t enjoy much of the terraces and the lovely walks in the Corniche.

 

How to go to Doha, Qatar

If you don’t have Doha as your main destination, it can be a very good excuse to do a long layover when you travel to/from Asia to Europe or the US.

Hamad International Airport is located only 13 kilometers from the city and reaching the most visited areas take no more than 20 minutes, we took an Uber that was about 7,50€ and we got a SIM card at the airport with 1GB for15usd that allowed us to stay connected all the time (yeah….blogger needs).

If you prefer to take a bus, the 747X leaves the airport to Al Ghanim Station in the city center every hour from 5 am to 1 am, and for QR20 (£3.60) you can get a smartcard, giving unlimited travels for 24 hours.

The famous complimentary stay with Qatar Airways

When you fly with Qatar Airways and your layover is longer than 8 hours and less than 24 hours you could be eligible to get a complimentary stay at a luxury hotel. Not all the tickets are assuring this gift, and only some fares and routes are eligible for the complimentary transit accommodation.

The ticket must be booked directly with Qatar Airways and not with any other partner, the E-ticket number must start with their code 157 and it should not be an available connection within 8 hours.

Not all tickets are eligible for this offer and having access to this complimentary stay doesn’t guarantee your entry to Doha, as this is the duty of the Qatar Immigration Authority.

There are visa agreements that allow travelers from 80 countries to get into Qatar without having to apply for a visa in advance.

These countries can stay for a total of 30 days in Qatar:

Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Georgia, Guyana, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Maldives, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, North Macedonia, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Russia, San Marino, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Suriname, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela

These countries can stay for a total of 90 days:

Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine

 

 

 

If you match the timings, they also have access to a complimentary city tour to catch the vibe of the city in a glimpse.

There are also great tours to take when you can’t match with their tours as they have a hard to match timing, plus you must be there 1 hour before it’s starting. If you prefer to go on a private tour, I can recommend you this tour where they will take you to the city directly from the airport. BOOK HERE to see the highlights of the city in a glimpse.

Where to Stay in Doha

After booking we could choose between ten different hotels, all between 4 to 5 stars at different locations in Doha!

We have chosen to stay at the Souk Waqif area as it’s where all the action is happening and there’s plenty to see and enjoy if you are only for a few hours in Doha.

You will not only find the lovely shops inside the market area but also several cafes and good restaurants in the pedestrian street, perfect if you love people watching like me.

Best hotels to stay in Doha

We have stayed the Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels, located right in the popular area of the Souq Waqif. There are a group of 7 hotels located in this area each with its own charm.

This area is great when you stay for 1 or two nights only as you can have a lot of food options and shops until late in the night and you can still go to the other areas by taxi as well as walking if the weather allows it.

Our room was big enough for a longer stay as it had two areas, one for sleeping and another as a living room, including a couch, another TV and a desk. They have complimentary water and tea inside the room and the best was one of the bests we had during this trip!

 

 

Places not to miss in Doha

The Souq Waqif

 

It was my favorite area to spend the little time we had in Doha. During the 20-hour layover, we book the hotel here.

Souk means standing market and this one is especially charming, quiet, clean and very easy going compared to other bazaars around the world.

It’s the best place in Doha to do some shopping, from fabrics and clothes, decoration items, spices, to jewelry shops, and even birds in the Falcon Market nearby, and yeah, you can buy your own falcon there!

We arrived in Doha on a Friday morning, which happens to be the quietest day in the week, for the Muslim countries is the equivalent of a Sunday for western countries and it means a lot of shops and even museums will be closed most of the day.

This area becomes fully alive after 4 pm, there’s when the shops start to open and it’s getting busy until midnight.

 

 

Doha Heritage Village

Inspired in a traditional Qatari Village, the Heritage Village is a good place to get to know more about its architecture and culture. It hosts art galleries, museums, heritage centers and a permanent demonstration of traditional occupations like pearl trading, sewing, and weaving.

Sheraton Park opened to the public on May 2016 and has since become a popular destination for family picnics, bike rides and relaxed days off.

The park, adjacent to Sheraton Grand Doha Hotel in Al Dafna, is an eight-hectare green stretch right in the heart of the city. It features an artificial pyramid-shaped hill covered in soft grass that children will enjoy climbing while parents take in breathtaking views of West Bay and the Corniche.

Museum of Islamic Art

Visiting the Museum of Islamic Art is a great opportunity to get to know more about the culture and artistic manifestations in the Islamic world. It’s one of the biggest collections of its kind including art from all the Middle East like metalworks, textiles, jewelry, manuscripts, and ceramics.

The museum is located at the side of Dhow Harbour in the Corniche area and the entry is totally free!

If you are tired you can chill out in the café or just make some good Instagram shots inside or in the exteriors.

 

The Pearl

One of the places to go and see by yourself the luxury at Doha Bay, built-in one of the areas were pearl were dived and now the home of luxury villas, yachts, and high-end restaurants and shops.

For many people, the highlight is the Venice area, where you can be in a Venice replica including bridges, canals, and colorful houses and it’s totally free.

Corniche

One of the highlights in Doha is this beautiful promenade along Doha Bay, including palm trees and flowers, and a beautiful view of the Pal Tree Island and the skyscrapers.

Be aware that cycling is not allowed, but a great place for jogging, walking or just people watching. On evenings is the best time to enjoy this area but it can be bit crowded if you want to have it for yourself only go i¿on a Friday morning.

 

 

Best Day Trip to do in Doha

Desert Safari

One of the most fun things to do if you have enough time in Doha is heading to the desert. It’s only 30 minutes away from the city and you can experience a few hours trip or event stay overnight.

For a day trip, I can recommend this tour that will bring you on a dunes rally, plus a short ride in a camel and drinking tea in the desert.

But if you want to stay overnight, the Regency Sealine Camp near the ocean is the most perfect experience to have. This glamping is having everything you need to experience the desert with all the luxury but at the same time, you will be in touch with the sand and the best view of the stars in the night.

  

 

Best packing tip for visiting Doha

Depending on the season you will only need a few items for your layover to stay in Doha. The months of summer are very hot, so a light dress or pants with a shirt should be enough, and during winter it can be fresh, around 10°C even, so a light sweater or jacket will be good.

I was wearing a light dress and it was enough during the daytime but in the night I had to wear everything I had, meaning jeans and a warm hoodie I always have for the flight.

If you go during your layover when you fly with Qatar Airways, please remember you will not be able to check out your luggage, so bring in your carry on whatever you will need not only for your flight but also for your stay in Doha.

Remember Qatar is a Muslim country and they have a dressing code, women should dress modestly (not showing legs, shoulders or cleavage) and men shouldn’t be shirtless in public.

 

Celebrations,  Festivals or special events to keep in mind when visiting Doha.

The celebrations in Qatar are often religious in nature, but also revolve around the region’s deep cultural history.

Fridays and Saturdays are the days corresponding to their weekend and shops are tending to close in the mornings.

The biggest religious festivity is Ramadan, a tradition kept in all Muslim countries of the Middle East. It lasts for about 30 days, depending the year and it’s the time when people focus on their families and spirituality. There is a daily practice of fasting and prayers and most activities, including work are stopping from noon to around 8 pm, so keep this in mind when planning your visit to Qatar during this time of the year. At night there are tents and lanterns decorating the streets that will make the city have a special charm!

Where to go to have fun in Doha

Don’t miss visiting the Corniche area on Fridays! It’s the meeting point for many people and all the boats are little party discos with loud music and people dancing on their deck.

Families and friends gather here to enjoy the view and to spend some time outdoors, at least during the season when the weather allows it, we were in February and it was even a bit chilly in the evening and night. Remember drinking alcohol is strictly prohibited in Qatar, and it’s only allowed inside hotel bars, so be aware of this during your stay.

What to Eat in Doha

This time we have chosen to eat in the Souq Waqif area, as it was also the place we were staying. For lunch, our choice was one of the only Qatari restaurants there called Al Jasra Traditional Food.

Run by the owners and with a very cozy and a family atmosphere the food was perfect to recover after a long flight. Their menu is not very big but enough to find a wide variety of Qatari dishes that will make your tummy smile for sure!

For dinner, we went to the perhaps most beautiful restaurant in the Souq Waqif, Parisa, a Persian restaurant with the most incredible decoration.

Their menu is small but perfect to get a sample of the best dishes of Iranian food. We had the watermelon salad that was delicious and some kebabs with rice, everything was really good, including the service. I recommend you make a reservation as it tends to be super full especially during dinner.

 

Who should visit Doha?

Doha is a destination for everyone. From couples or families and even for solo female travelers.  It’s a very calm and charming city and there are many fun and interesting activities to do.

The most important to keep in mind is that Qatar is a Muslim country and thus, they are strongly discouraged all the public demonstration of intimacy or affection.

 

 

Updated August 2019