Things to Do in Doha: Best Attractions & Honest Tips

What to Expect

We only knew Doha’s airport — we’d had to stop over there several times on our way to Asia.

On our return flight from Bangkok to Frankfurt, we finally wanted to see what the city had to offer beyond the terminal.

In this guide, we’re taking you along on a trip to Doha and showing you the best things to do, top attractions, and the most photogenic spots in the city.

In our opinion, Doha works best as a longer stopover of one to two days.

If you’re figuring out where to stay in Doha, check out our dedicated hotel guide:

Where to Stay in Doha — Our Hotel Recommendations

Is Doha Worth It?

Honestly? Doha isn’t necessarily a must-see. Much like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, it’s almost entirely a purpose-built city.

Compared to the highlights in Dubai, Doha has significantly less to offer.

That said, if you want to break up a long flight to Southeast Asia or beyond, you can easily fill one to two days here. There are a handful of genuinely worthwhile places to visit — and we’ll walk you through exactly which ones deserve your time.

Things to Do in Doha

Doha is a seriously impressive city. Right in the middle of the desert, a metropolis was quite literally built from scratch.

In West Bay — the area where that stunning skyline stands today — the very first building wasn’t even constructed until 1979.

Everything in Doha is especially beautiful, especially large, and especially striking. It’s just that almost nothing here is especially old, and sustainability is probably a topic best left unmentioned.

Museum of Islamic Art

A museum of Islamic art? Honestly, that didn’t exactly sound exciting to us at first.

But the Museum of Islamic Art totally surprised us. From the outside alone, it’s an absolute feast for the eyes and a fantastic photo subject.

Star architect I.M. Pei spent half a year traveling through the Arab world for inspiration for his final masterpiece, letting those experiences flow into the building’s design.

Inside, you’ll find works of art, jewelry, vases, and much more spanning over 1,000 years of Islamic history. Even if museums aren’t really your thing, a visit is absolutely worth your time.

Outside, you also get a seriously beautiful panorama of the skyline.

Katara Cultural Village

Katara Cultural Village is the next reminder that Doha operates on a completely different scale from the rest of the world.

It’s a 100-hectare arts and cultural center designed to both preserve Qatari traditions and provide space for other cultures from around the world.

Looking at Katara, it’s hard to believe that everything here is brand new.

The large amphitheater, the ornate mosque, and the traditional structures were all built in recent years and symbolize Qatar’s cultural heritage.

Katara also regularly hosts exhibitions, concerts, and theatrical performances.

A stroll through the lanes of this cultural village is really worthwhile — and it’s a great spot for photography too.

Doha Skyline and West Bay

West Bay is Doha’s business district and home to most of the city’s hotels.

Unlike Dubai, the goal here isn’t about building the tallest structures. Instead, architects try to outdo each other with extraordinary shapes and conjure the most striking buildings into the skyline.

The best vantage point over West Bay is from the opposite bank, near the Museum of Islamic Art. From there, you get the perfect overlook of the skyline — and that ideal postcard shot.

The Pearl

As if we hadn’t already seen enough superlatives. Qatar always takes it one step further.

The Pearl is an artificial island. Where just a few years ago there was nothing but water, land was reclaimed across an area equivalent to 400 soccer fields, creating living space for more than 30,000 people.

The Qanat Quartier neighborhood on The Pearl was built as a replica of Venice. The entire neighborhood consists of pastel-colored buildings, narrow canals with gondolas, and pedestrian-friendly piazzas full of cafés and boutiques. If it weren’t so clean and a little sterile, you could genuinely feel like you’d landed in Italy.

Apart from Little Venice, The Pearl is primarily a residential area and not particularly interesting for tourists. If you have a bit more time, a detour is still worth it.

Souq Waqif

Right at the very end of our stopover, we actually discovered something old: Souq Waqif has been Qatar’s central market for more than 100 years and is one of the few places where you can genuinely run into locals. After all, only about 15 percent of Qatar’s two million residents are actually Qatari nationals.

Even though Souq Waqif has been around for quite a few years, the market is of course beautifully maintained. Compared to the big markets in Egypt, Morocco, or Istanbul, things are extremely laid-back here.

That means you can stroll through the lanes at a completely relaxed pace — the vendors here are really very low-key.

Particularly fascinating is the falcon market at Souq Waqif. These proud hunting birds often cost five or even six-figure sums and are treated by their owners like family.

Desert Tour and Dune Bashing

Qatar isn’t just Doha. Well, actually it kind of is. There are a few smaller towns scattered around, and beyond that — a whole lot of sand.

A trip into the desert is therefore part of a complete visit to Qatar. In a four-wheel-drive jeep, you’ll go up and down the dunes all the way to the border with Saudi Arabia.

It’s a total blast to barrel up the dunes and slide down the other side — but it’s definitely not for anyone with a weak stomach.

If you tend to get carsick, a desert tour is not for you.

Book the half-day desert tour

How Much Time Do You Need in Doha?

Doha isn’t particularly large. One full day is enough to hit the most important attractions.

We’d recommend two days, though.

That way you can take your time — especially at the Museum of Islamic Art and Souq Waqif, where you could easily spend several hours each.

If you also want to head out of the city for a desert tour, add an extra day.

If you have a longer layover of more than six hours, Qatar Airways offers a free shuttle service into the city center.

That way you can at least get a quick taste of Doha and a first impression of what the city is all about.

Essential Travel Tips for Doha

Here are a few practical tips to make the most of your time in Doha.

• Getting There: Qatar Airways flies direct from several major European cities. We always search for the best price using the flight search engine Skyscanner.
• Hotel Tip: We stayed at the wonderful JW Marriott Marquis in West Bay and can highly recommend it.
• Money in Doha: In Doha you pay with Qatari Riyals. 4 QAR is roughly 1 euro.
• Best Time to Visit: Summers get extremely hot (up to 55°C / 131°F!). From November through April the weather is most pleasant.