If you have an upcoming stopover in Doha, take it from me, you’re in for a treat.
Qatar etched its name in the history books as the first Arab nation to host a FIFA World Cup, which ushered in a wave of transformations. In the run-up to the 2022 tournament, the Gulf state introduced a raft of new hotels and infrastructure projects, such as Doha Metro.
The Qatari capital is the hub for Qatar Airways, which currently flies to more than 170 destinations around the world, including various direct links to Europe.
Arguably, Doha’s Hamad International Airport is a destination in its own right. It features plenty of spots to eat and stunning public art, including Urs Fischer’s iconic Lamp Bear. There are even free 20-minute guided wellness sessions on offer at the massive 6,000 square metre ORCHARD space to keep travellers occupied.
A stopover leg of your journey, however, makes exploring the country beyond the airport doors and turning one holiday into two, very easy.
When you arrive, even if just for a few days, Doha is a destination of iconic landmarks, culture, desert adventures and great dining.
Landmarks and attractions
With its quaint cobble-stoned streets and pastel coloured buildings, Doha’s Mina District and old port area is great for stretching your legs after a long-haul flight.
The popular Box Park features repurposed shipping containers that have been given a coating of technicolour paint and turned into shopping and food outlets that are perfect for taking that Instagrammable shot. During the winters, you can also see cruise ships docking at the Grand Terminal building.
For more waterfront views, you should head to the Doha Corniche. The seven kilometre stretch of promenade is one of the best places for views of the city’s skyline.
Here you can watch as traditional dhow vessels glide across the water, or even set sail on one, where each turn of the wooden boat reveals a new panoramic view.
Shopaholics have no shortage of high street stores and luxury labels to find souvenirs to take back home. At Place Vendôme Mall in Lusail, be sure to bring comfortable shoes to this huge retail centre which is inspired by classical French architecture. Across four floors, there are 580 high-end and mid-range stores to choose from.
Described as the “Arabian Riviera”, the Pearl Island’s Mediterranean-style and yacht-lined marina is also a scenic location for a late night stroll, where a restaurant or café is always a stone’s throw away.
While in neighbouring Gewan Island, the shopping and dining space is home to as many as 100 outlets. Its Crystal Walk also features around 180 illuminated panels embedded into the ground, studded with works of art created with crystals. Visitors can spot motifs such as caravans, desert and forest landscapes alongside a panel with a penguin colony.
In the summer, temperatures in this part of the world can also get… well, hot. But what if I told you there are outdoor spaces in Doha to explore that have air conditioning?
Gewan Island’s open-air promenade is a record holder, having earned the Guinness World Record titles for the longest outdoor air-conditioned mall and the largest outdoor interactive light canopy.
While parks such as Rawdat Al Hamama Park, Umm al Seneem Park, Al Gharrafa Park and Oxygen Park all have air conditioning placed in walkways for visitors to keep cool as they explore the greenery.
Souq Waqif and Katara: Doha’s cultural epicentres
Can you really say you’ve been to Doha if you’ve not paid Souq Waqif a visit? Nestled in the capital’s old town, the open-air market place of winding alleyways carries a centuries’ old history.
While it can be visited at any time of the day, the souq comes alive as evening falls. Here, the sounds of shoppers haggling with vendors, the smells of aromatics like saffron, zaatar and dried flowers as well as conversations held over coffee, known locally as “gahwa”, fill the air.
You can also meet some of the country’s most beloved animals. At the Falcon Souq, shopkeepers are more than happy to have tourists pose with the majestic bird perched on their arm.
Another stop to add to your Doha itinerary is the Katara Cultural Village. The waterfront destination is replete with galleries, performance spaces and architectural landmarks. Its amphitheatre blends classic Greek style with arched entrances as a nod to Islamic architectural influences. It can seat up to 5,000 spectators and has sweeping waterfront views.
Katara Cultural Village also has various public art installations, including the striking “Force of Nature II” by Italian contemporary artist, Lorenzo Quinn.
Doha is also home to an array of galleries, like Doha Fire Station, and museums, including the architectural marvel of the National Museum of Qatar. The exterior is inspired by the desert rose, while inside holds an immersive story back in time to Qatar’s history that moulded the nation’s identity and its modern achievements.
Other museums in Doha worth visiting include 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, Lawh wa Qalam: M. F. Husain Museum, and Msheireb Museums. Art Mill Museum, Lusail Museum and Qatar Auto Museum are set to be added to Doha’s portfolio in the future.
Also part of the city’s cultural landscape is the Qatar National Library. This treasure trove is filled with books and periodicals in various European languages, alongside Arabic manuscripts, maps and globes. There are even printed materials that date back to the 15th century, when printing was first introduced in Europe.
Dining in Doha
Choosing where to eat is always a struggle – simply because I’m so spoiled for choice. Doha has more than 3,000 restaurants, serving up everything from traditional Qatari and Gulf cuisine, to Latin American, African, Asian and European flavours.
For traditional bites, visit Kamachi after a stroll at the Katara Cultural Village. Its must-try menu items include balaleet, a popular local dish made with saffron and cardamon spiced vermicelli noodles, slightly sweetened and topped with a fried egg.
Another no-brainer dining destination is Souq Waqif. If you have a craving for local street food, try the karak, a sweet and spicy tea, alongside any of the varieties of “khobz regag”, a very thin and crispy flatbread, at the rustic Shay al Shamoos – established by the Souq’s first businesswoman, Shams Al-Qassabi.
When it comes to fine dining, Doha’s food scene has attracted the attention of the Michelin Guide, which debuted in the country in 2024. As many as 41 restaurants are listed in the Michelin Guide Doha, including three that earned a Michelin star and eight with a Bib Gourmand.
IDAM by Alain Ducasse is located in the city’s Museum of Islamic Art, which overlooks the Doha Corniche. The Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant serves contemporary French cuisine paired with Qatari ingredients.
Alba, which serves Italian cuisine, and Jamavar, which serves Indian cuisine, are Doha’s other one-Michelin starred establishments.
Where to stay
From luxury hotels to wallet-friendly accommodation, there are plenty of options for places to stay during a stopover.
Mandarin Oriental, Doha is a five-star property located in Msheireb, which is about a 20-minute drive from the airport. Offering 117 rooms, 41 suites and 91 apartments and villas, this luxury hotel also features two rooftop pools and a spa to unwind. This travel journalist cannot recommend the buffet breakfast at Mosaic enough, alongside the hotel’s other dining concepts, including IZU and Liang.
Doha’s luxury hotel portfolio also includes the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel, right on Corniche Street. Its distinctive pyramid shape has been a part of the Doha skyline since the early 1980s and today offers 371 rooms and suites where guests can choose between a sea or city view. Indoors, the hotel offers nine dining options, a 24-hour fitness centre and a spa. While outdoors, a pool and a 400-metre stretch of private beach awaits.
Day trips and desert adventures
About an hour and a half from Doha by road is the Inland Sea: Khor Al Adaid. Currently on the tentative list to be included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s one of Qatar’s most striking natural wonders as a landlocked lagoon surrounded by sand dunes of up to 40 metres high. It also features rocky ridges and cliffs.
Here, the water is calm and warm, making it perfect for swimming. The best time of year to visit is anywhere from November through to April, when the weather’s just right.
Stopover visitors can also venture to Al Khor, one of the oldest cities in Qatar. The sleepy city is about 45 minutes from Doha by car and is bursting with coastal charm. Visit Al Khor Towers, which date back to the early 20th-century. The cylindrical structures were first built to have watchmen defend the harbour after the discovery of a water source, once thought to possess medical properties.
My top tip for a day trip from Doha? Go kayaking through the mangroves. On my days off and on weekends, you can always find me kayaking through the mangroves and lush greenery at Al Khor’s Purple Island. The island is about an hour away from the capital and is my favourite escape away from the city (and dry land). If the season is right, you can spot flamingos and herons alongside fish and crabs.
On the west coast of Qatar, at the Brouq Nature Reserve near Zekreet, the late Richard Serra’s East-West/West-East permanent installation spans more than a kilometre and stands tall amid the desert landscape. Ras Brouq is also home to a unique area with white cliffs and geological forms like mushroom-shaped hills. Just remember to bring a cap, sunscreen and plenty of water.
Got a little longer for your Doha stopover? Swap the city skyline for the country’s desert with a stay at Regency Sealine Camp. Located an hour’s drive from the capital, on offer are tents, rooms and suites where the desert and sea are at your doorstep. Here, guests can go quad biking, dune bashing, camel riding and even enjoy a falconry show. After a day in the desert working up an appetite, guests can dine at the camp’s communal table over a selection of Arabic, Asian and international dishes.
Key info for travellers
All EU member-state passport holders, and non-EU European nationals, including travellers from the UK, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Azerbaijan and Switzerland, can benefit from visa-free travel if they have a confirmed hotel booking.
In terms of getting around Doha, visitors can rent a car, book a taxi – including Uber – or use public transport, such as the metro, Karwa bus or the country’s three tram lines from Lusail, Msheireb and Education City.
