Qatar · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Qatar
These are the places worth your time in Qatar, from the souq, museums and Corniche of Doha to the dunes of the Inland Sea and the forts and mangroves of the north. Classics sit beside quiet corners many visitors miss, so every kind of traveller finds something to love.
Places to Visit in Doha
Arts and Culture
- Museum of Islamic Art (Corniche)
I. M. Pei's landmark building holds fourteen centuries of Islamic art, with skyline views across the bay. - National Museum of Qatar (Corniche)
Jean Nouvel's desert rose building tells Qatar's story from the Bedouin past to the oil age. - Msheireb Museums (Msheireb Downtown)
Four restored heritage houses tell the stories of Qatar's families, slavery and the oil industry. - Katara Cultural Village (Katara)
A seaside cultural district of theatres, galleries, an amphitheatre, mosques and a public beach. - Katara Pigeon Towers (Katara)
Traditional towers that make one of Doha's favourite photo spots. - 3 2 1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum (Khalifa International Stadium)
An interactive museum of sport where kids and adults can test their skills. - Fire Station Artist in Residence (Al Bidda)
A converted fire station with rotating contemporary exhibitions and a good café. - Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art (Education City)
A focused collection of modern Arab art in a quiet corner of Education City. - Qatar National Library (Education City)
A striking open plan library by OMA with a heritage collection of rare manuscripts. - Education City Mosque (Education City)
A modern mosque on pillars with Quranic calligraphy, open to respectful visitors. - Al Shaqab (Education City)
Qatar's equestrian centre, where you can see Arabian horses and the stables on a booked visit. - Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab Mosque (Al Jamiaa)
Qatar's state mosque, with twenty eight domes and a peaceful courtyard. - Al Koot Fort (Old Doha)
A small restored fort beside Souq Waqif that recalls old Doha.
Shopping and Markets
- Souq Waqif (Old Doha)
The restored old market of spices, falcons, perfumes and lantern lit cafés is the heart of any visit. - Souq Waqif Falcon Souq (Souq Waqif)
Watch falconers buy hoods, perches and birds at the market and visit the falcon hospital next door. - Gold Souq (Souq Waqif)
Rows of glittering jewellers selling gold by weight next to the main souq. - Villaggio Mall (Aspire Zone)
A Venetian themed mall with an indoor canal and gondola rides. - Doha Festival City (Umm Salal)
A huge mall with Angry Birds World and Snow Dunes for families. - Old Doha Port (Mina District)
A colourful redeveloped port with cafés, souvenir shops and cruise views.
Things to Do
- Doha Corniche (West Bay to Old Doha)
A seven kilometre seafront promenade for evening walks, dhow views and the classic skyline photo. - Traditional dhow cruise (Corniche)
Wooden dhows leave from the Corniche for an hour on the bay, best at sunset. - Msheireb Downtown Doha (Msheireb)
A walkable, car light district of shaded lanes, cafés, galleries and the Doha Design District. - The Pearl Qatar (The Pearl)
An artificial island of marinas, Mediterranean styled Qanat Quartier and waterfront dining. - Qanat Quartier (The Pearl)
Colourful Venice style canals and squares made for an easy evening stroll. - Al Bidda Park (Corniche)
A big green park with the Expo 2023 gardens, playgrounds and running trails. - Desert Falls Water and Adventure Park (Abu Hamour)
A water park built for the heat, good for families on summer days. - Quest (Doha Oasis)
An indoor theme park with one of the world's tallest indoor roller coasters. - Desert safari from Doha (Doha)
Licensed operators run half day trips with dune driving, camel rides and the Inland Sea. - Banana Island Resort day trip (Banana Island)
A short ferry from the Corniche to a resort island for a pool and beach day.
Nature and Outdoors
- MIA Park (Corniche)
Lawns, palm shaded paths and the best sunset view of West Bay, with a weekend bazaar in the cooler months. - Katara Beach (Katara)
A tidy public beach with water sports and calm water close to the city. - Aspire Park (Aspire Zone)
Doha's biggest park, with a lake, playgrounds and running paths beside the Torch tower. - Flag Plaza (Al Bidda)
Rows of national flags and a fountain plaza, lovely in the evening.
Restaurants
- Parisa Souq Waqif (Souq Waqif)
Persian food in a dazzling mirrored dining room tucked inside the souq. - Damasca One (Souq Waqif)
A long running Syrian restaurant in the souq known for mezze and grills on a busy terrace. - Mamig (Katara)
Armenian home cooking in a smart dining room in Katara. - Porto Arabia promenade (The Pearl)
A curved marina boardwalk lined with restaurants and yacht views. - IDAM by Alain Ducasse (Museum of Islamic Art)
French Mediterranean cooking on the top floor of the museum, with bay views. - Jiwan (National Museum of Qatar)
Modern Qatari dishes on the museum's top floor, overlooking the Corniche. - Turkey Central (Al Mirqab)
A busy casual Turkish grill house loved by residents for late meals. - Nobu Doha (Four Seasons Hotel)
Japanese food in a dramatic shell shaped building on the water.
Cafés
- Shay Al Shoomoos (Souq Waqif)
A Qatari woman's breakfast café serving balaleet, regag and karak at simple tables. - Chapati and Karak (Katara)
The Katara stall that made karak tea and chapati a Doha late night habit. - MIA Café (Museum of Islamic Art)
Coffee and cake beneath the atrium's soaring window onto the bay.
Bars and Nightlife
- Mandarin Oriental Doha (Msheireb Downtown)
A polished hotel with licensed restaurants and a rooftop pool above Msheireb. - Belgian Café (InterContinental Doha)
A hotel pub that shows big matches and serves Belgian beers.
Stays
- Mandarin Oriental Doha hotel (Msheireb Downtown)
A refined base within walking distance of Souq Waqif. - Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels (Souq Waqif)
Small heritage style hotels scattered through the souq itself, ideal for first-timers. - Banyan Tree Doha (Mushaireb)
A luxurious tower with a big spa near the old town. - Sharq Village and Spa (Ras Abu Aboud)
A low rise resort built in the style of a traditional Qatari village by the sea. - Four Seasons Doha (West Bay)
A beachfront tower with a marina and some of the city's best restaurants. - Hilton Doha (West Bay)
A family friendly beachfront hotel with pools near City Center Doha.
Events
- Qatar National Day (Corniche)
Parades, fireworks and celebration on the Corniche every 18 December. - Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (Doha Exhibition and Convention Center)
A huge yearly show of jewellery and watches open to the public. - Katara Traditional Dhow Festival (Katara)
Wooden dhows, boatbuilders and pearl diving demonstrations by the beach. - Ajyal Film Festival (Katara)
A youth focused film festival with screenings and open air events each autumn.
Places to Visit in Lusail
Things to Do
- Lusail Boulevard (Lusail)
A wide pedestrian boulevard of towers, fountains and cafés, lit up at night. - Lusail Stadium tours (Lusail)
The golden bowl that hosted the 2022 World Cup final. - Lusail Winter Wonderland (Al Maha Island)
A seasonal amusement park on Al Maha Island in the cooler months. - Katara Towers (Lusail Marina)
The crescent shaped towers that are among Lusail's most striking landmarks. - Lusail Tram (Lusail)
A light tram that loops through the new city and links to the metro.
Shopping and Markets
- Place Vendôme (Lusail)
A grand Parisian styled mall with a fountain show and luxury brands. - Al Hazm (Al Markhiya)
A marble mall styled like an Italian galleria, with cafés in the arcade.
Nature and Outdoors
- Lusail Marina Promenade (Marina District)
A seafront walk with skyline views and cafés.
Restaurants
- Al Maha Island restaurants (Al Maha Island)
A cluster of glamorous waterside restaurants and beach clubs.
Stays
- Raffles Doha (Katara Towers)
Ultra luxury suites in one of the twin crescent towers. - Fairmont Doha (Katara Towers)
A grand hotel in the second crescent tower with sea views.
Events
- Qatar Grand Prix and MotoGP (Lusail International Circuit)
Formula 1 and MotoGP race weekends under floodlights at Lusail.
Places to Visit in Al Wakrah
Things to Do
- Al Wakrah Souq (Old Al Wakrah)
A quieter, seaside version of Souq Waqif with restaurants facing the beach. - Al Wakrah dhow harbour (Al Wakrah)
Fishing dhows tied up at the harbour, a lovely early morning sight.
Nature and Outdoors
- Al Wakrah Beach (Al Wakrah)
A shallow, family friendly public beach beside the souq.
Arts and Culture
- Al Janoub Stadium (Al Wakrah)
Zaha Hadid's World Cup stadium inspired by the sails of pearling dhows. - Al Wakrah old houses and mosques (Old Al Wakrah)
Restored coral stone houses and old mosques along quiet lanes.
Restaurants
- Al Wakrah fish market (Al Wakrah port)
See the morning catch landed and pick fish to have grilled nearby. - Seaside restaurants of Al Wakrah Souq (Al Wakrah Souq)
Grilled fish and Arabic food at tables facing the sea.
Stays
- Souq Al Wakra Hotel (Al Wakrah Souq)
A heritage style beachfront hotel inside the souq.
Shopping and Markets
- Barwa Village (Al Wakrah)
A low key shopping strip with inexpensive restaurants and everyday shops.
Places to Visit in Khor Al Adaid
Nature and Outdoors
- Khor Al Adaid Inland Sea (Southern Qatar)
A UNESCO recognised reserve where tall dunes roll into a sea inlet. - Singing Sand Dunes (Mesaieed)
Dunes that hum when the sand slides, an easy stop on the way south. - Inland Sea sunset viewpoint (Khor Al Adaid)
The classic spot where the sun sets over Saudi Arabia across the water.
Things to Do
- Sealine Beach (Mesaieed)
The gateway to the dunes, with camel rides and quad bikes for hire from operators. - Overnight desert camping (Inland Sea)
Licensed operators run desert camps with dinner by the water. - Camel ride at Sealine (Sealine)
Short, gentle camel rides near the beach.
Stays
- Sealine Beach Resort (Mesaieed)
A beach resort at the edge of the dunes, handy for desert trips.
Places to Visit in Al Khor
Arts and Culture
- Al Zubarah Fort (Al Zubarah)
Qatar's UNESCO site: a restored fort beside the ruins of an eighteenth century pearling town. - Jebel Al Jassasiya rock carvings (North east coast)
Hundreds of ancient carvings of boats and cups scratched into limestone. - Al Jumail abandoned village (North west coast)
A ghostly fishing village of crumbling stone houses by the sea. - Al Rakiyat Fort (North west coast)
A small restored fort standing alone in the desert. - Al Bayt Stadium (Al Khor)
The World Cup stadium built to look like a giant Bedouin tent.
Nature and Outdoors
- Purple Island (Al Khor)
Mangroves, crabs and herons on a small island reached by a causeway. - Al Thakhira mangroves (Al Thakhira)
Calm channels lined with mangroves, perfect for kayaking. - Al Khor Corniche and Park (Al Khor)
A quiet waterfront with a park and fishing dhows. - Fuwairit Beach (Fuwairit)
A wild beach where hawksbill turtles nest in spring and summer.
Places to Visit in Zekreet
Arts and Culture
- East West West East by Richard Serra (Brouq Nature Reserve)
Four steel plates stretching across the desert, a strange and beautiful sight.
Nature and Outdoors
- Film City (Brouq Nature Reserve)
A mock Arab village built in the desert, now a favourite photo stop. - Mushroom rock formations (Zekreet)
Wind carved limestone pillars on the west coast.
Places to Visit in Al Shahaniya
Arts and Culture
- Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum (Al Samriya)
An eclectic private collection of cars, carpets, coins and an entire old house.
Events
- Al Shahaniya camel racing track (Al Shahaniya)
Watch camels race with robot jockeys on winter mornings.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Souq Waqif Art Center (Souq Waqif, Doha)
Small studios where local and resident artists paint and sell their work above the souq. - Al Aker Sweets (Souq Waqif, Doha)
A beloved stop for fresh kunafa and Arabic sweets. - Al Jasra Traditional Food (Souq Waqif, Doha)
A simple spot for Qatari home dishes like machboos, harees and luqaimat. - Galeries Lafayette Doha (Katara, Doha)
Luxury shopping and a food hall inside the Katara Plaza building. - Al Mirqab Souq and Nasser bin Khaled Street (Old Doha, Doha)
Inexpensive textile, abaya and tailoring shops where residents shop. - Bandar Aden (Souq Waqif, Doha)
Yemeni mandi and fresh bread at simple shared tables in the souq. - Crystal Lounge (W Doha, Doha)
A long running late night lounge inside a licensed West Bay hotel. - Sky View (La Cigale Hotel, Doha)
A rooftop bar with views over the city in a licensed hotel. - Saraya Corniche Hotel (Corniche, Doha)
A simple hotel close to the Corniche and the souq. - Msheireb Galleria and Doha Design District (Msheireb, Doha)
Pop up exhibitions and local design studios in a calm corner of downtown. - Qatar International Food Festival (Doha, Doha)
A popular outdoor food festival with stalls from around the region. - Flat White Specialty Coffee (Al Sadd, Doha)
One of the cafés that started Doha's speciality coffee scene. - Café #999 (Katara, Doha)
A sleek café known for its Arabic coffee and pastries. - Lusail Museum site (Lusail, Lusail)
A major new Orientalist art museum under construction on the waterfront, worth checking for opening news. - Karak stands on Lusail Boulevard (Lusail, Lusail)
Simple tea stands where you can sip karak and watch the evening crowd. - Al Wakrah mangroves at low tide (Al Wakrah, Al Wakrah)
Look for wading birds along the shallows south of the souq. - Regency Sealine Camp (Sealine, Khor Al Adaid)
Glamping tents by the dunes for an overnight desert stay. - Al Bayt Stadium Hotel (Al Khor, Al Khor)
Hotel rooms built into the stadium, with views over the pitch. - Al Ghuwairiya and Al Khor towers (Al Khor, Al Khor)
Old watchtowers that once guarded the town's wells. - Al Khor Family Park (Al Khor, Al Khor)
A large park with a small zoo and play areas for children.