Things to do in Doha
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Doha
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Winter is best by a distance, with 19 to 25C days and everything outdoors working.
Spring is good but warming fast, with May needing early and sunset discipline outdoors.
Summer is worst for a first trip, with extreme heat and humidity but luxury hotel bargains.
Autumn shoulder sweet spot as heat breaks, evenings turn pleasant and prices stay below winter peak.
What's on
- Qatar National Day 18 Dec
Corniche parades, fireworks and air shows.
- Qatar Masters typically in Feb
Golf tournament in Doha's winter sports calendar.
- Qatar Open typically in Feb
Tennis in Doha's winter sports calendar.
- Qatar International Food Festival typically in March
Outdoor food festival that has typically fallen in the cooler window.
Worth the trip for
Best things to do in Doha
Souq Waqif
Rebuilt traditional market with spice, gold and falcon lanes that becomes Doha's living room after dark.
Museum of Islamic Art
I. M. Pei island museum holding 1,400 years of Islamic art, with the best atrium view across to West Bay.
National Museum of Qatar
Desert rose building around a restored palace that tells Qatar's story from pearl diving to oil.
Msheireb Museums
Four heritage houses in a walkable smart city quarter, including an honest account of slavery history.
Katara Cultural Village
Cultural district with amphitheatre, mosques and galleries between West Bay and The Pearl.
Doha Corniche
Seven kilometre bayfront walk from MIA to West Bay, best from sunset when the towers light up.
Mina District - Old Doha Port
Pastel port lanes, a handsome fish market and a free aquarium at the Grand Cruise Terminal.
Sunset dhow cruise
Traditional dhow cruise where West Bay, MIA and the souq read completely differently from the water.
Where to stay in Doha
Msheireb / Souq Waqif
first trip, all-round base
The only truly walkable base, with the souq, MIA and the Corniche on foot and the Metro nearby.
West Bay
business, towers and beach hotels
Big brand towers and the Corniche north end, sleek by Metro or car but thin on street life.
The Pearl-Qatar
resort and apartment stays, evening dining
Marina boardwalks and canals, lovely at night but a taxi hop from sights and with almost no budget stock.
Lusail
new, big and event-led stays
Boulevard, Place Vendome and Katara Towers 15 to 20 minutes north, best for events not first sightseeing.
Katara / West Bay Lagoon
quiet luxury resorts
Beach, space and calm between West Bay and The Pearl, with a car needed for everything.
Think twice about
- Industrial Area / far Al Rayyan / Abu Hamour
Worker and industrial districts with cheap hotels, no Metro walkability, no sights and no evening life.
- Najma / Al Mansoura / Old Airport as a first-trip default
Older, denser and cheaper and safe, but congested with patchy pavements and a taxi ride to every sight.
- Lusail as a first-trip sightseeing base without a car
Pleasant but a commute, so sleeping there turns Doha sightseeing into day trips.
- Al Wakrah as a first-trip sightseeing base without a car
Its souq and beach are a lovely half day, but sleeping there turns Doha into day trips.
Best restaurants in Doha
IDAM by Alain Ducasse
Alain Ducasse tasting menus with Qatari touches atop MIA, with the skyline across the water.
Jamavar Doha
Refined Indian fine dining in Lusail, one of only two-star restaurants in Doha.
Nobu Doha
The world's largest Nobu, a sculptural waterfront building serving Japanese Peruvian signatures.
Morimoto Doha
Iron Chef Morimoto's dramatic dining room with a sushi counter and wagyu in the Mondrian.
Jiwan
Modern Qatari sharing dishes by Alain Ducasse's team, the essential local cuisine booking.
Argan
Moroccan tagines and couscous in a calm room inside Souq Waqif, a great-value pick.
Saasna
Contemporary Qatari home dishes refined for a dining room, steps from Souq Waqif.
Isaan
Bangkok style Thai from three live cooking stations, a great-value locals use for celebrations.
Outdoor things to do in Doha
Khor Al Adaid
Desert safari over big dunes to a tidal inlet where desert meets sea on the Saudi border.
Purple Island
Kayak calm mangrove channels to Purple Island, spotting herons, egrets, crabs and jumping fish.
Education City Golf Club
Olazabal complex with an 18 hole championship course plus floodlit par 3 and 6 hole options.
Doha Golf Club
Peter Harradine championship course that hosts the Qatar Masters, with lakes and limestone outcrops.
Al Zubarah Fort
Qatar's only UNESCO site, an 18th century pearl trading town and fort on the north west coast.
East-West/West-East
Four giant Serra steel plates in empty desert near limestone mesas, Film City and an ostrich reserve.
Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara
Resort island by catamaran with private beach, pools and a surf pool for Doha's polished beach day.
Aspire Park
Doha's biggest green space with a lake and running tracks, the normal place for an early morning run.
Best hotels in Doha
Mandarin Oriental, Doha
Msheireb flagship on Barahat square with indoor and outdoor pools and Liang restaurant.
Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels by Tivoli
Eight restored heritage houses scattered inside the souq, so you sleep in the market itself.
Park Hyatt Doha
Smart mid tier in Msheireb, walkable to the souq and Metro and priced below the flagships.
Al Najada Doha Hotel by Tivoli
Central Tivoli hotel popular for Souq Waqif access, with full hardware at mid tier prices.
Kingsgate Hotel Doha
Clean business budget hotel a 10 minute walk from the souq, where the location does the work.
Four Seasons Hotel Doha
West Bay grande dame with a private beach, five pools and Nobu on site.
W Doha
Design led West Bay tower that is the sweet spot when a beach resort is not the point.
Pullman Doha West Bay
Newer value West Bay tower with a good location and pools, below the luxury beach resorts.
Is Doha expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | QAR 394 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | QAR 890 a person |
| Splurge | QAR 1,683 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Khor Al Adaid: a few days ahead
- Purple Island: a few days ahead
- Education City Golf Club: a few days ahead
- Doha Golf Club: a few days ahead
- Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara: a few days ahead
- IDAM by Alain Ducasse: weeks ahead
- Jamavar Doha: a few days ahead
- Nobu Doha: weeks ahead
- Book IDAM, Nobu, Jamavar, Morimoto and Jiwan dinner days ahead, a week or more for weekends.
- Book desert safaris and kayaking 2 to 4 days ahead in season, and golf and Banana Island before you fly in peak season.
Is Doha safe?
- Crime against visitors is rare and night walking in central areas is normal, including for solo women.
- Dress modestly in public, keep swimwear for beaches and pools, and use licensed venues only for alcohol.
- Do not photograph military or government sites or people without permission, and drones need permits.
- In May to September plan outdoors before 9am and after 5pm and carry water even for short walks.
- Check your government's current travel advice before you go.
Doha travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- The Pearl is an evening stroll and dinner, not a half day sight, and is hot and quiet at noon.
- Bargain politely for souq souvenirs and treat antique claims sceptically.
- Private desert safaris at hotel desks can cost 3 to 4 times shared tour prices for the same dunes.
- A West Bay sea view does not mean beach access, so confirm a private beach in writing if swimming matters.
Getting around Doha: public transport and more
- Doha Metro links the airport, Msheireb, West Bay, Katara, Education City and Lusail cheaply.
- Use Uber or Karwa taxis between districts and do not plan to walk between districts.
- Walk within Souq Waqif, Msheireb, Katara, The Pearl and Mina, and take Metro or taxi between them.
Who Doha suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Good |
| Bachelor parties | OK |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | OK |
Make Doha your trip
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