If you're transiting through Qatar and have several hours to spare, you might want to drop by and check out Doha, the hyper-modern capital city of Qatar. Here, you will not only find skyscrapers and concrete walls, but also open areas with rich heritage and awesome museums, waiting for you to explore.
Within this article, we will explore all the tourist attractions Doha has to offer, from the rich heritage of Souq Waqif to the awesome National Museum and Museum of Islamic Art. All of these attractions are reachable via the Metro, allowing you to visit everything straight from the airport, all in one day. Without further ado, here are the 10 best things to do in Doha, Qatar for solo travelers:
- Doha Things to Do Itinerary Map
- Where to Stay in Doha?
-
10 Best Things to Do in Doha, Qatar
- Explore Souq Waqif
- Check out the Falcon Market
- Drop By Doha Fort
- Be Amazed By the Museum of Islamic Art
- Learn More About Qatar's Rich History at the National Museum of Qatar
- Stroll Along Doha Corniche
- Check Out the View from Doha Skyline Viewpoint
- Walk Around Msheireb Downtown
- Explore Katara Cultural Village
- Go Dune Bashing Around the Desert
- More Doha Activities
- How to Get Around Doha?
- How to Get from Doha Airport to the City Center and vice versa?
- What to Pack for Qatar?
- Further Reading for the Gulf Countries
Doha Things to Do Itinerary Map
10 Best Things to Do in Doha, Qatar
1. Explore Souq Waqif
One of the most photogenic places in Qatar that I recommend you visit first is Souq Waqif, an old bustling souq that has been converted into a tourist attraction with renovated traditional houses, lined with cafes, restaurants, and souvenir shops that you can enjoy.
Upon entering the area, you will find yourself on a long, straight walking path lined with some truly beautiful heritage buildings. Right on the horizon, you will be greeted by the colossal minaret of a nearby mosque that towers over everything. Now, that's how you make a first impression!
If you are looking for a place to have breakfast or lunch here along the walking path, you will find plenty of cafes and restaurants you can check out. Most of them have outdoor seating areas, where you can enjoy a cup of coffee and immerse yourself in the lively surroundings of the souq.
- Ramada Encore Doha by Wyndham (Budget)
- Fraser Suites Doha (Mid-Range) 👍 Top Pick
- Park Hyatt Doha (High-End)
- Qatar Gold Dune Safari, Dune Bashing,Camel Ride,Sand Boarding,Inland Sea Desert (4 hours) 🏅 Top Pick
- Doha : Private Half Day Desert Safari | Camel Riding | Falcons | Sand Surfing (4 to 5 hours)
- Doha Private Half Day Desert Safari All inclusive package (4 hours)
The souq itself is actually inside the buildings surrounding the area, and you will be surprised to see how sprawling it actually is the moment you see it. Walking around the souq feels like you are walking in a maze, with winding streets and narrow paths crisscrossing their way all over the place.
The souq also feels surprisingly authentic, with many shops not only selling tourist souvenirs but also offering a variety of local products, from spices to construction tools. You will see locals shopping around here as well, which is a good sign that this place is not a tourist trap it may seem to be.
You can spend more than an hour and just barely scratch the surface of what the souq has to offer. I spent almost half a day exploring this place alone.
There is so much more to see here, so be sure to spare a few hours just for this souq alone. The souq is open from 7 AM to 10 PM every day, and there is no entrance fee.
Where to Stay in Doha?
2. Check out the Falcon Market
Located on the northern side of Souq Waqif, you will find the awesome Falcon Market with various falcon establishments that you don't usually see every day, from a local shop selling falcons to a unique falcon hospital - a place you can only see here.
The people at the Falcon Market are also extremely friendly, and they will let you into their falcon store. You can take as many photos as you like, free of charge.
You will also find quite a handful of falcons outside in front of the store, where you can take pictures of them up close. It is a pretty unique experience, and I think this is the first time I have ever visited a falcon market before.
If you're in Doha and exploring Souq Waqif, make sure to head north and visit the Falcon Market. The shops here are open from 7 AM to 2 PM every day, so be sure not to be here too late in the day.
3. Drop By Doha Fort
Right next to Souq Waqif, you will find Doha Fort, also known as Al Koot Fort, which was originally built by the Ottomans in the 19th century as a police station.
After the Ottomans abandoned it, a Sheikh who ruled Qatar in the mid-20th century decided to rebuild it as a defensive fortification to protect the Souq from thieves. Nowadays, it has been converted into a small museum housing Qatari traditional handicrafts, products, and old photos depicting the daily life of the people who have lived here throughout history.
Currently, the fort is under renovation, so you might not be able to get inside. Nevertheless, it is still worth swinging by to see the fort's striking exterior up close. I'll keep you posted when the place is finally open to visitors.
Tours & Tickets You Might Like
If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips:
4. Be Amazed By the Museum of Islamic Art
The Museum of Islamic Art is one of my favorite museums in Doha, with its awesome rotating exhibitions that delve deep into my favorite topic about Islam: the incredible Islamic Art.
Why is it my favorite museum? First and foremost, the museum is located photogenically along the coast of Qatar, with an incredible view over the water and the West Bay.
Secondly, the museum is housed in this incredible minimalist cubic structure that seamlessly blends traditional Islamic elements and modern design principles. Just seeing the museum from the outside is already an attraction in itself.
Finally, the content of the museum is extremely interesting to me, with many sections of the museum dedicated to the unique art styles of the Islamic world, from Iran to Indonesia, all spread out across its four floors.
The exhibitions here also highlight aspects of Islamic Art that aren't often emphasized in the media, such as the colorful fashion world of Islam, which dates back to the Achaemenid Empire. The displays showcase vibrant attires that are rarely associated with Islam nowadays, which is a shame, really.
If you are like me and find the perfection of Islamic art intriguing, be sure to drop by and check out the Museum of Islamic Art. It should take you about 2 hours to walk around the museum, so be sure to spare enough time for it.
The museum is open from 9 AM to 7 PM every day except on Fridays when it is open from 1:30 PM to 7 PM. The entrance ticket is 50 QAR (14 USD) per person.
5. Learn More About Qatar's Rich History at the National Museum of Qatar
Another of my favorite museums is the National Museum of Qatar, a great place to visit for those who want to learn more about the rich history of Qatar and its place in the world since its founding. You will be surprised at how much history this little country has.
One of the first things that will catch your attention the moment you walk up to the museum is its unique and dynamic architecture. The museum's distinctive structure, with interlocking disks resembling a desert rose, a crystal formation found in this region, pays homage to the country's unique geological heritage.
The structure is painted in a minimal eggshell white color with a slight yellow tint, blending seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. The protruding disks that make up its exterior also interact harmoniously with the harsh Arabian sun.
In the evening, the shadows cast by the sun create a beautiful contrast between the building and the sky, providing a ton of opportunities to capture some truly incredible photos. I spent an hour taking photos of the museum's exterior alone, so be sure to plan your visit for the evening.
Once inside, you will discover several galleries and exhibitions showcasing a diverse range of artifacts, multimedia displays, and interactive installations that will take you through the history of Qatar, from the prehistoric period to the modern oil-fueled economy you see today.
The museum is pretty big with a one-direction, not-so-obvious path you have to follow to get through. It should take you about an hour or two to complete the whole museum, so be sure to spare some time for it.
The museum is open from 9 AM to 7 PM every day except on Sundays, when it is open from 1:30 PM to 7 PM. The entrance fee is 50 QAR (15 USD), but the museum courtyard, where you can appreciate the architecture up close, is free to enter.
6. Stroll Along Doha Corniche
Doha is blessed with a beautiful coastline with crystal clear water, and you can really appreciate it by going for a stroll around Doha Corniche, a beautiful paved promenade that runs along the entire 7-km coastline of Doha.
Along the corniche, you will find many cool attractions you can visit from the Museum of Islamic Art to the Way to the World Cup, the new World Cup monument erected for the World Cup that Qatar hosted in 2022.
You can walk all the way from Doha city center to West Bay, where all the cool skyscrapers are, as long as you are there during the wintertime. Just don't attempt to walk from the Museum of Islamic Art to the National Museum along the Corniche, as I did, because there is no road crossing for miles. I ended up having to walk for hours just to cross the road to get to the National Museum. Thank God I was here in winter!
7. Check Out the View from Doha Skyline Viewpoint
Along the Corniche, you will also discover several awesome viewpoints where you can see all the incredible skyscrapers of West Bay across the water. One of the best viewpoints along Doha Corniche is the Doha Skyline Viewpoint, located just across the harbor from the Museum of Islamic Art.
From this viewpoint, you will get a clear view of the Doha skyline without any obstructions, which makes it a perfect photo spot for selfies with the hyper-modern skyscrapers Doha is known for.
The best time to visit is during the golden and blue hours in the evening, especially during sunset when the orange sky turns purple, and the artificial lights glisten in the water, illuminating the skyline.
8. Walk Around Msheireb Downtown
Not too far from Souq Waqif, you will also find Msheireb Downtown, which has replaced the old heritage buildings of the souq with hyper-modern skyscrapers featuring restaurants and cafes that you can enjoy. The place provides a perfect image of Doha, with a striking contrast between the old and the new.
There are all kinds of attractions in Msheireb Downtown that you can check out, from World's Cinema Exhibition to high-end restaurants and cafes like Trapani and Rusk Artisanal Bakery where you can splurge.
The area is especially lively at night, so if you are looking for a place to hang out after sundown, be sure to drop by and check out Msheireb Downtown.
9. Explore Katara Cultural Village
Katara Cultural Village is a massive waterfront cultural village located in the northern part of Doha. It features a colossal amphitheater resembling the Colosseum in Rome, an array of galleries, shops, and restaurants, and even a quaint beach for you to enjoy.
The village is extremely lively in the evening, with many local events often held here after sunset. I was there during the Asian Cup semi-final match between Iran and Qatar, and the place lit up with locals coming out in droves, enjoying the football match from makeshift projector screens that were set up around the village.
There were parades, music, and street performances happening all over, and people from all walks of life came here to cheer for Qatar and Iran during the football match. It was incredible and definitely not something I would expect from a country like Qatar. Dubai, sure, but Qatar? It definitely took me by surprise, not gonna lie.
If you are looking for a place to hang out at night in Qatar, Katara Cultural Village is definitely a great choice. Although it is a little further from the rest of the tourist attractions in Doha, you should be able to easily reach the cultural village via the metro. The journey should take you about 20 minutes between the city center and Katara and cost around 2 QAR per trip.
The area is pretty big, but some of the highlights you shouldn't miss are the amphitheater, Katara Mosque, the Pigeon Tower, the Golden Masjid, and Katara Beach. Be sure to spare about 1 - 2 hours here if you wish to see all of this.
Katara Cultural Village is open 24/7, but the shops are generally open from 8 AM to 2 AM every day, and there is no entrance fee. The place is best visited in the evening when it is the liveliest, so be sure to plan your visit carefully.
10. Go Dune Bashing Around the Desert
If you have a day to spare in Doha, you might want to get out of the city and explore the desert with a Qatar Gold Dune Safari Tour where they will take you out into the desert, crash through the golden sands with a 4x4 vehicle, and glide down the sands on a sandboard.
The tour leaves twice a day, at 8:30 AM for a morning ride and again at 1:30 PM for an evening ride. The tour should last about 4 hours, and they will pick you up from your hotel in Doha. It's definitely a great half-day activity if you want to get out of the city and discover the landscape of Qatar.
Be sure to reserve the tour beforehand as it can get booked out quite fast. You can book the tour here. I highly recommend doing the tour if you are visiting Qatar during the winter months. It will be way too hot and humid to enjoy the outdoors if you are there in the summer.
How to Get Around Doha?
The best way to get around Doha is to use its metro system. You can travel from the airport straight to the city center for only 2 QAR per journey, regardless of the distance, which is remarkably affordable for a Gulf country.
To use the metro, all you have to do is get the Travel Card from the ticket vending machine located in every metro station in the city. The travel card should cost about 10 QAR, and you can use it approximately 5 times, which should be more than enough for this itinerary.
There are three metro lines in Doha, but we will mostly rely on the Red line, which takes you straight from the airport all the way to Katara Cultural Village, and a bit of the Yellow line to travel between the museums we will be visiting.
Note: Keep in mind that on Fridays, the metro station opens at 2 PM instead of 6 AM like on other days. Therefore, do not rely on it to get to the airport if you have a morning flight on Fridays. Just use Uber instead.
If you want to explore Qatar further, you can also rent a car and drive yourself or go on one of the many organized tours that will take you into the desert and explore the other tourist attractions outside of Doha.
How to Get from Doha Airport to the City Center and vice versa?
Getting from Doha Airport to the city center is pretty straightforward. You can take the Red Line metro straight from the airport to the city center. It should cost about 3 QAR per journey with a single ticket or 2 QAR if you choose to buy the Travel Card, which I recommend.
What to Pack for Qatar?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Doha, Qatar:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Swim Suits: A swim trunk is a must-pack item if you are planning to visit Doha, Qatar in the summer, just in case there is a body of water you can jump in.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for the Gulf Countries
I have plenty of articles to help you further with your trip planning for the Gulf Countries. Here are a selection of articles that you might find useful:
- Have a few days to spare and wondering what you can do in Dubai? Here are the 15 Best Things to Do in Dubai.
- Looking for a complete backpacking itinerary to Dubai and the UAE? Here is a 7 Days Backpacking Dubai Itinerary.
- Looking for day trips to make from Dubai? Here are the 6 Best Day Trips to Make from Dubai.
- Wondering what there's to do in Bahrain? Check out: 10 Best Things to Do in Bahrain.
- Planning to visit the Expo 2020 Dubai event soon? Here are the 15 Most Beautiful Pavilions to Visit at Expo 2020 Dubai you shouldn't miss.
- Looking to explore more? How about dropping by the United Arab Emirates Travel Guide, Saudi Arabia, or Qatar?
- Looking for more travel guides for the Middle East? You can find more on my Middle East Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides, visit my Destinations page.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.