Find places in Qatar

Must-Haves

• 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.

Fun for Everyone

• Katara Pigeon Towers (Katara)
  Traditional towers that make one of Doha's favourite photo spots.

Must-Haves

• Souq Waqif (Old Doha)
  The restored old market of spices, falcons, perfumes and lantern lit cafés is the heart of any visit.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Souq Waqif Falcon Souq (Souq Waqif)
  Watch falconers buy hoods, perches and birds at the market and visit the falcon hospital next door.

Fun for Everyone

• 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.

Must-Haves

• Doha Corniche (West Bay to Old Doha)
  A seven kilometre seafront promenade for evening walks, dhow views and the classic skyline photo.
• The Pearl Qatar (The Pearl)
  An artificial island of marinas, Mediterranean styled Qanat Quartier and waterfront dining.

Fun for Everyone

• 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.
• Qanat Quartier (The Pearl)
  Colourful Venice style canals and squares made for an easy evening stroll.

Must-Haves

• MIA Park (Corniche)
  Lawns, palm shaded paths and the best sunset view of West Bay, with a weekend bazaar in the cooler months.

Fun for Everyone

• 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.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Parisa Souq Waqif (Souq Waqif)
  Persian food in a dazzling mirrored dining room tucked inside the souq.

Must-Haves

• 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.
• IDAM by Alain Ducasse (Museum of Islamic Art)
  French Mediterranean cooking on the top floor of the museum, with bay views.

Great for Date Night

• Porto Arabia promenade (The Pearl)
  A curved marina boardwalk lined with restaurants and yacht views.

Low Cost and Authentic

• 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.

Great for Date Night

• MIA Café (Museum of Islamic Art)
  Coffee and cake beneath the atrium's soaring window onto the bay.

Great for Date Night

• Mandarin Oriental Doha (Msheireb Downtown)
  A polished hotel with licensed restaurants and a rooftop pool above Msheireb.

Fun for Everyone

• Belgian Café (InterContinental Doha)
  A hotel pub that shows big matches and serves Belgian beers.

Must-Haves

• Mandarin Oriental Doha hotel (Msheireb Downtown)
  A refined base within walking distance of Souq Waqif.
• Sharq Village and Spa (Ras Abu Aboud)
  A low rise resort built in the style of a traditional Qatari village by the sea.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels (Souq Waqif)
  Small heritage style hotels scattered through the souq itself, ideal for first-timers.

Great for Date Night

• Banyan Tree Doha (Mushaireb)
  A luxurious tower with a big spa near the old town.
• Four Seasons Doha (West Bay)
  A beachfront tower with a marina and some of the city's best restaurants.

Must-Haves

• Qatar National Day (Corniche)
  Parades, fireworks and celebration on the Corniche every 18 December.
• Ajyal Film Festival (Katara)
  A youth focused film festival with screenings and open air events each autumn.

Fun for Everyone

• 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.

Must-Haves

• Lusail Boulevard (Lusail)
  A wide pedestrian boulevard of towers, fountains and cafés, lit up at night.

Fun for Everyone

• 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.
• Lusail Tram (Lusail)
  A light tram that loops through the new city and links to the metro.

Off the Beaten Path

• Katara Towers (Lusail Marina)
  The crescent shaped towers that are among Lusail's most striking landmarks.

Fun for Everyone

• Place Vendôme (Lusail)
  A grand Parisian styled mall with a fountain show and luxury brands.

Must-Haves

• Al Hazm (Al Markhiya)
  A marble mall styled like an Italian galleria, with cafés in the arcade.

Fun for Everyone

• Lusail Marina Promenade (Marina District)
  A seafront walk with skyline views and cafés.

Great for Date Night

• Al Maha Island restaurants (Al Maha Island)
  A cluster of glamorous waterside restaurants and beach clubs.

Great for Date Night

• Raffles Doha (Katara Towers)
  Ultra luxury suites in one of the twin crescent towers.

Must-Haves

• Fairmont Doha (Katara Towers)
  A grand hotel in the second crescent tower with sea views.

Must-Haves

• Qatar Grand Prix and MotoGP (Lusail International Circuit)
  Formula 1 and MotoGP race weekends under floodlights at Lusail.

Must-Haves

• Al Wakrah Souq (Old Al Wakrah)
  A quieter, seaside version of Souq Waqif with restaurants facing the beach.

Fun for Everyone

• Al Wakrah dhow harbour (Al Wakrah)
  Fishing dhows tied up at the harbour, a lovely early morning sight.

Fun for Everyone

• Al Wakrah Beach (Al Wakrah)
  A shallow, family friendly public beach beside the souq.

Must-Haves

• Al Janoub Stadium (Al Wakrah)
  Zaha Hadid's World Cup stadium inspired by the sails of pearling dhows.

Off the Beaten Path

• Al Wakrah old houses and mosques (Old Al Wakrah)
  Restored coral stone houses and old mosques along quiet lanes.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Al Wakrah fish market (Al Wakrah port)
  See the morning catch landed and pick fish to have grilled nearby.

Great for Date Night

• Seaside restaurants of Al Wakrah Souq (Al Wakrah Souq)
  Grilled fish and Arabic food at tables facing the sea.

Must-Haves

• Souq Al Wakra Hotel (Al Wakrah Souq)
  A heritage style beachfront hotel inside the souq.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Barwa Village (Al Wakrah)
  A low key shopping strip with inexpensive restaurants and everyday shops.

Must-Haves

• Khor Al Adaid Inland Sea (Southern Qatar)
  A UNESCO recognised reserve where tall dunes roll into a sea inlet.
• Inland Sea sunset viewpoint (Khor Al Adaid)
  The classic spot where the sun sets over Saudi Arabia across the water.

Off the Beaten Path

• Singing Sand Dunes (Mesaieed)
  Dunes that hum when the sand slides, an easy stop on the way south.

Fun for Everyone

• Sealine Beach (Mesaieed)
  The gateway to the dunes, with camel rides and quad bikes for hire from operators.
• Camel ride at Sealine (Sealine)
  Short, gentle camel rides near the beach.

Off the Beaten Path

• Overnight desert camping (Inland Sea)
  Licensed operators run desert camps with dinner by the water.

Must-Haves

• Sealine Beach Resort (Mesaieed)
  A beach resort at the edge of the dunes, handy for desert trips.

Must-Haves

• Al Zubarah Fort (Al Zubarah)
  Qatar's UNESCO site: a restored fort beside the ruins of an eighteenth century pearling town.
• 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.

Off the Beaten Path

• 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.

Off the Beaten Path

• Purple Island (Al Khor)
  Mangroves, crabs and herons on a small island reached by a causeway.
• Fuwairit Beach (Fuwairit)
  A wild beach where hawksbill turtles nest in spring and summer.

Must-Haves

• Al Thakhira mangroves (Al Thakhira)
  Calm channels lined with mangroves, perfect for kayaking.

Fun for Everyone

• Al Khor Corniche and Park (Al Khor)
  A quiet waterfront with a park and fishing dhows.