is Doha a great place to visit on a layover in Qatar, or, is it perhaps the best Middle East travel destination for a getaway?
if you are looking for stunning beaches, incredible scenic views or take luxury Glamping in the desert to a whole other level, Qatar is an extremely safe, beautiful, and unique travel destination. Doha is definitely on my recommended travel list. This travel guide is not sponsored and is based completely on my personal travel experiences to Qatar.
I find Doha to be a stunning and culturally fascinating gateway destination, however, Qatar does have its quirks. Read on to see what I’ve learned by travelling to Qatar over the last few years!
What fascinates me about Qatar
I’ve travelled regularly to Doha — Qatar’s capital city — for business and leisure since 2016 and have personally seen the country completely transform into an extraordinary travel destination in a very short time.
It has been amazing witnessing the expansive development of Doha. With its incredible man-made Pearl Islands and the birth of an entirely new city — Lusail, Qatar with a population of 200,000 people — spring from the desert sands in merely a few years.
Explore the best places to see in Qatar from my list of favourite places to see, what to eat, where to explore and what to avoid to get the most out of your trip to Qatar to experience the best of the country’s unique beauty, and vibrantly colourful Middle Eastern culture.
What is Qatar known for?
The country of Qatar and its futuristic-looking capital city of Doha have made a remarkable transformation into a world-class tourist destination since being awarded the 2022 World Cup.
Qatar is well known for hosting the 2022 World Cup of Football (and its surrounding controversies), luxurious beaches, Arabian Horses, Falconry, and wonderful Arabian hospitality and culture. All of this unravels spectacularly in this tiny gulf nation with an unbelievable view of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Sea.
Qatar is a tiny oil-rich nation along the Persian Gulf of less than three million people of which only 300,000 are native Qataris. Once famous for its abundant pearl trade, Qatar gained enormous wealth in the 1970s and further gained international notoriety for hosting the extravagantly expensive 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Interesting Fact: in Qatar, the weekend runs Friday through Saturday, with Sunday being the first workday of the week. Friday is an important day of worship and is considered the most holy day of the week. You will find business and work hours differ on Fridays.
Travelling to Doha Qatar’s Energetic Capital City
Doha, the country’s capital of 2.3 million residents, is home to the award-winning Hamad International Airport (DOH). The luxurious airport has become one of the most popular airports in the Middle East with the meteoric rise of its flag carrier Qatar Airways which operates out of its home base at Doha’s Hamad International Airport.
Doha is a beautiful city to visit and particularly shines in the evening with its modern skylines and well-lit architectural masterpieces like the Spiral Mosque, its Souq Waqif market and the stunning Museum of Islamic Art. The country has many extraordinary beaches, vibrant modern architecture, and a much more tolerant culture than many other Middle Eastern states.
Is Qatar safe for leisure and Business travel?
Is it safe to travel to Qatar – especially for women or solo travellers? Yes, Qatar is known to be one of the safest countries to travel to for most visitors. Doha in particular is very safe. Violent crime in the country is extremely rare.
Do watch for credit card fraud and other forms of petty theft, like any other tourist destination. Keep personal belongings, passport and travel documents secure in your hotel safe, or on your person at all times. Source: State Department of the The United States of America.
International advisories do warn of ‘potential, persistent threats’ of possible terrorism throughout the Arabian Peninsula, so do keep your guard up at large sporting events, gatherings and demonstrations of any kind – even if they are peaceful.
Frequently asked: can my girlfriend/boyfriend of the opposite sex stay in the same hotel room as me? Major hotel chains won’t ask for marriage certificates for non-Qataris, so it won’t be a problem. Just ensure to avoid public displays of affection.
What is the downside of Qatar travel?
For some Western visitors one downside of touring Qatar may be that as a Muslim country, although progressive, there is still a very conservative attitude towards many behaviours that Westerners may take for granted.
Public affection, drinking alcohol in public, and dressing ‘immodestly’ are not permitted and are strictly enforced. As well, acts of promiscuity, adultery and homosexuality may be punishable by very severe penalties.
Good to know: Drinking Alcohol in Qatar is only permitted in venues within International hotels and attire on public beaches must maintain a level of modesty that aligns with local values.
Getting around Doha and Lasal
Doha has an amazing new metro system built for the World Cup. This is now one of the best ways to get around. Uber is also very efficient and affordable in Qatar. Uber has always been my preferred mode of travel when in Doha. In fact, Doha was where I took my very first Uber ride! Also, taxis are another reliable alternative as they have been historically cheap compared to European or North American taxi fares.
What to see in Qatar
For such a tiny country, there is a lot to see in Qatar. If you are making a short stay, I’d recommend you try one of the Qatar Airlines ‘Transit tours’ offered for a very modest fee. They are high quality and provide a guided tour of some of the must-see sites in and around Doha.
The Doha skyline is very stunning and is best seen from across the bay, near the Souq. I have not found too much to see in the city centre core aside from hotels and the City Centre Doha Mall.
Here are some must-sees just outside of the centre:
1. Katara Cultural Village
I love to make time to visit the Katara Cultural Village whenever I am in Doha. A massive complex that features some of Doha’s best dining, shopping and cultural options set among faux ancient architecture, centred around a giant amphitheatre in a picturesque setting on the beach.
Katara Cultural Village features a broad selection of great restaurants, cafes and stands along the beach. The area also contains a high-end shopping mall with, unbelievably, outside air conditioning! Various other cultural attractions like schools for film, music and the arts are all featured there.
The Cultural Village is laid out like an ancient city with small passageways leading through ancient streets. I find it a stunning place to enjoy dinner and simply people-watch.
Make sure to check out the Golden Masjig – a gorgeous Ottoman-style building covered in real chips of gold.
Katara is best seen at dusk to take in the stunning lighting of the village and beautiful downtown Doha views
Eat at Katara Cultural Village: two of my favourite restaurants along the seaside promenade are the highly-rated L’wzaar Seafood Market and Wahaj Restaurant.
2. Doha’s Markets Purchasing Gold and Pearls in Doha’s Souq
The city’s century-old market site – Doha’s Souq Waqif Market – is a great way to spend an afternoon or evening layover in Doha. The area is a massive cultural and entertainment site with market stalls and an abundance of great eateries. You could consider this the public square of Doha.
Flanked by the stunning Spiral Mosque, the site has been rebuilt from the ground up after being raised by fire. The site maintains the flair (no pun intended!) of the traditional market that once stood on the grounds.
I love the market’s array of colours, smells and the vast variety of items including Insense and Oud wood perfumes for sale. If you are in the market for one, you can even buy a real, live Falcon at the Falcon Souq. I kid you not!
Within the square sits the Gold Souq, the city’s gold market with over 50 vendors selling gold, pearls, silver and platinum jewelry items.
Good to Know: Qatar is a great location to save a few dollars on luxury purchases like watches and gold as it is a tax-free country.
3. Doha’s spectacular Corniche
The Doha Corniche, a seven-kilometre waterfront promenade made of paved bricks rewards with spectacular views of the city and sea. An essential part of your visit, the Corniche is where you will find the traditional Qatari ‘Dhow‘ boats with their spectacular lites on the water at night.
I always find this makes an incredible walk in the morning or evening, just make sure to stay out of the scorching afternoon sun.
Doha’s Corniche starts at the city centre in the West Bay Area at the pyramid-shaped Sheraton hotel in ‘Sheraton Park’ (far right above).
The wide paved promenade extends for seven kilometres south along the crescent-shaped bay. Along the way, there are multiple parks and points of interest like Al Dafna Park. The Corniche extends past the Souq Waqif (Doha’s traditional market) to the spectacular-looking Museum of Islamic Art. The all-new National Museum of Qatar sits at the very south end.
Conclusion
For me, Doha offers a glimpse into a fascinating foreign culture, while maintaining a level of comfort and security I am used to as a Westerner. Is Doha the Best Middle East Travel Destination? I think it is a top contender, and easily seen with its incredibly convenient Hamad International Airport, recently voted the best airport in the world.
Qatar is very multicultural due to its enormous expatriate population which gives the country a very different dynamic. The country is certainly not for everyone as it remains highly restrictive for some populations, but it is worth a stopover if you are flying through Doha on Qatar Airways or other carriers through Hamad International Airport.
Let us know in the comments below your thoughts or experiences with this unique country!