Discover Doha, Qatar in a day
The city of Doha, Qatar is full of rich Islamic history merged with an up and coming developing city. There is plenty to see and explore in Doha from feasting on middle eastern food, exploring the history at one of the museums, or just wandering the Souq for some shopping. Doha will be the first middle eastern country to be hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022. I have outlined a few spots to visit while spending a day in Doha, Qatar.
Doha Corniche
Price: Free
Location/Address: Corniche Promenade Trail, Doha, Qatar (click here to locate on Google Maps)
Corniche actually translates from French and means “road on a ledge”. The Doha Corniche is a path along the waterfront the runs for just over 4 miles. This is a popular attraction for both locals and tourist and boasts some amazing views of the Doha Skyline. The Corniche starts near the Museum of Islamic Art and runs all the way to the Sheraton which is the pyramid looking structure seen on the Doha Skyline which was the original building making up the skyline prior to the skyscrapers that we know today. So if you are looking for a place to walk, run or stroll while experiencing some of the amazing views of Doha the Corniche is the perfect stop to explore and take it all in. I have linked the iconic Pearl Monument that represents the history of pearl trade in the area as a starting point, when you see this statue you know you are on the Corniche!
Souq Waqif
Price: Free (although I’m sure you’ll want to buy some food, drink and or souvenirs)
Location/Address: Souq Waqif, Al Jasra, Doha, Qatar (click here to locate on Google Maps)
Hours: Hours may vary by shops as well as during the month of Ramadan, 8am-12noon and 4pm-10pm
Souq Waqif translates from Arabic to “standing market”. This market has been around for over a hundred years and is an attraction for both locals and tourists. You can find all types of souvenirs, fabric/clothing, spices and even animals. The Souq is home to many different restaurants and cafes, many of which also serve shisha. There is plenty to see as you wind through the different alleyways discovering all this Souq as to offer. Some restaurants are open in the morning (8am-12noon) as well as throughout the day although the Souq is closed from noon to 4pm daily. The best time to come is in the evening (4pm-10pm) as that is not only when it cooler out but also when most of the shops and restaurants are open.
Souq Waqif
Museum of Islamic Art
Price: Adult: 50 QR/person Child (0-16): Free Student (with valid student ID): 25 QR/person
Location/Address: (click here to locate on Google Maps)
Hours: Saturday-Thursday: 9am-7pm and Friday: 1.30pm-7pm, Hours may vary during the month of Ramadan
The Museum of Islamic Art is a gorgeous building with beautiful park grounds surrounding it located right off the corniche and overlooking the Doha Bay. The architecture of this building was done by famous architect I.M. Pei who was brought out of retirement to work on this project. He spent 6 months traveling around the Middle East to get inspired and draw upon the Islamic culture to incorporate into his design and details of the building.
This museum contains various artifacts which represent the Islamic culture and art spanning over 1,400 years. The collections include, textiles, ceramics, metal works and glass to name a few. The pieces at this museum originate from many different countries where Islamic influence is found ranging from, Spain, Central Asia, Iraq, Iran, India, and Turkey along with many other countries.
Museum of Islamic Art
National Museum of Qatar
Price: Adult: 50 QR/person, Child (0-16): Free, Student (with valid student ID): 25 QR/person
Location/Address: Museum Park St, Doha, Qatar (click here to locate on Google Maps)
Hours: Saturday-Thursday: 9am-7pm and Friday: 1.30pm-7pm, During the month of Ramadan the museum will be open 7 days a week from 8.00pm – 12 midnight
This museum opened in March 2019 (with over 130,000 visitors in it’s first month) and was constructed in place of the original Qatar National Museum. This gorgeous buildings architecture was inspired by the desert rose crystal and designed by famous French architect Jean Nouvel. This museum celebrates Qatar’s culture, heritage, and future for it’s people. The museum filled with exhibitions put together chronologically starting from the natural history of the desert and Persian Gulf, artifacts from the tribal wars, the development and formation of the Qatari state all the way through the discovery of oil and present day. This was one of our favorite spots with so much to learn about the Qatari culture and history. In our book this is a definite must see if visiting the area.
National Museum of Qatar
Doha Skyline
Price: Free
Location/Address: Along the Corniche Trail or one of the various view points (click here to locate on Google Maps)
The Doha skyline is impossible to miss while walking along the Corniche Trail. It’s impressive buildings tower above the Doha Bay offering a jaw dropping futuristic looking skyline. A majority of the buildings that make up the Doha skyline were built all within the last 10 years. The skyline started with the pyramid shaped building of the Sheraton hotel which sits on the East end of the skyline. While the view during the day is very impressive the whole experience changes as the sun goes down. I would recommend viewing this from the park which sits near the Museum of Islamic Art which I have tagged in Google Maps above for you. For another experience you can walk along the Corniche and catch a Dhow boat and cruise the bay for some additional great views of the Doha skyline.
Skyline by day
Skyline by night
Have any favorite spots that I missed? Please share in the comments so others can check them out and I have another reason to go back to Doha!
Fa Sehetuk,
-Jessica