Qatar - Five must do activities

The beautiful city of Doha is not short of activities to do and sights to see. If you are visiting Doha under a strict time constraint, you can only do so much in that short period of time.

So to make things easier for you, we will be sharing with you our Top 5 Must Do Activities in Doha.

1. Visit the Museum of Islamic Arts

Discover the beauty of the largest collection of islamic arts in the world, collected from three continents over the span of 1400 years, all in the Museum of Islamic Arts. In there, you will be able to find the finest collection of Persian rugs, Turkish mosaics, artworks and woodcarvings. It contains artifacts, manuscripts and precious materials that showcase the Islamic historical culture of Qatar.

Designed by world-renowned architect, I.M. Pei (architect of Louvre pyramid), the Museum of Islamic Art stands out as an architectural gem in the MIA Park of the Doha waterfront. The interior is no less spectacular as geometric patterns of the Islamic world adorns the whole interior of the museum. If you are in Doha, then visiting the Museum of Islamic Arts should definitely be a must do on your list.

2. Walk or cruise at Doha Corniche

The Corniche is a waterfront promenade that reshaped Doha's coastline in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and is easily one of the most popular locations among walkers, bikers and joggers.

One thing that you would not like to miss while you're there is to take a cruise in a traditional boat called the "Dhow", or an exclusive yacht cruise. In the evening, you can enjoy an amazing view of a beautiful sunset; and at night, you will be able to see the magnificent colours of the city's lights reflected off the calm water.

3. Go for desert adventures

One of the top places to visit while you're in Qatar is naturally the desert. You can find a few desert adventure activities while you're in Doha. One of them can be found at the Sealine Beach Resort.

While you're there, you can rent a dune buggy on the beach near the resort as well as going for dune bashing, which is a popular sport with both Qataris and expatriates. You can also find tours called the "Inland Sea" tours or the Desert Safari tours where you get to experience an exhilarating ride in a 4x4 vehicle through the sand dunes and smooth sandy mountains.

If you wish, you may also choose to go for the camel rides offered in some of the tours. You'd be surprised to know that there aren't too many opportunities to ride a camel in Qatar. So if you want to have a good photograph of yourself on a camel to show to your friends and family back at home, here's your chance.

4. Go shopping or explore the streets of Souq Waqif

If you are a shopaholic, Doha may have just the thing to satisfy your shopping needs while you're here. Explore the streets and alleyways of Souq Waqif, Falcon Souq and Gold Souq, and you'll definitely find something that you like along the way.

The Souqs (Arabic for "marketplace") have everything from beautiful traditional textiles, spices, jewelry, perfume and plenty of other souvenirs for your folks back at home.

Souq Waqif is probably one of the few places where you can enjoy street food. Your options vary from traditional Qatari cusines to snacks from the Indian subcontinent. You can also enjoy some sheesha if you're into it.

If shopping is not your thing, then exploring and admiring the beauty of the architectural buildings around the Souqs alone is an experience worth having while you're in Doha. Whatever your preference is, you'll likely find something that is to your taste in the Souqs.

5. Discover the culture and heritage of Qatar

To visit a place so rich in history and culture, it is only right to discover the true heritage of Doha while you are here. One of the places that you should visit is the Al Zubarah Fort located outside the capital city. Zubarah is a deserted town located on the north western coast of the Qatar. The forts and towers here showcase the architectural history and wealth of the ancient civilizations that once lived in Qatar.

You may also visit Katara Cultural Village. Katara was born out of a vision to position the State of Qatar as a cultural beacon of art, radiating in the Middle East through theatre, music, literature, conventions and exhibitions. Katara regularly hosts activities so that tourists and residents can indulge in cultural activities.

We have also compiled a list of Top 10 Places to Visit in Qatar if you would like to know of the other places to visit during your trip here.

Cover photo by Ahmed Naazim