Top places to explore in Qatar
As Qatar prepares to host the Middle East's first-ever FIFA World Cup, millions of people from around the world look forward to visiting the country. To many, it would be the first time visiting this gulf nation.
Qatar is known for its spectacular modern buildings and cultural heritage. It has plenty of attractions that are sure to make your time in Qatar a memorable one. If you are heading to Doha for a holiday and don’t have a clue about what places to visit in the exciting country, we have curated a beginner’s list of the top places to visit during your stay in Qatar.
Souq Waqif
We have a great reason why this place secures the number one spot on our list. Souq Waqif, situated in the center of the capital city Doha, where you will get the real experience of the Qatari culture, know more about the country’s past, and how they beautifully managed to align it with the strikingly modern city of Doha.
Souq Waqif meaning “standing market” in Arabic, is one of the oldest souqs in Qatar. It has low-rise buildings made up of traditional stone and covered with mud, generally only single-storied, which is a special characteristic of Qatari Architecture. The souq has characteristic alleyways with numerous shops presenting a scene of traditional street life amidst today’s modern era.
If you are looking for a place to explore, shop, and dine in great restaurants and cafes which offer traditional Qatari food as well as regional dishes and treats from Asia and North Africa, or simply sitting at one of the Shisha lounges popular with locals and expats alike to watch the hustle and bustle of the souq.
The souq has clusters of shops that specialize in a specific offering, for example, there is a traditional garments section (Thoub & Abayas), spices section, falcon souq, oud, Bakhoor & perfume souq, handicrafts center, souvenirs shops, pet area, gold souq and more. Click here for a detailed guide to Souq Waqif. The souq also features boutique hotels which prove to be the best place to stay. Souq Waqif is also accessible through the Souq Waqif Metro Station (Gold Line). Click here to watch a short clip of what the Souq is like.
Msheireb Downtown Doha
The next stop that we would like to have on your list is Msheireb Downtown Doha Msheireb Downtown Doha is a well-developed area with contemporary architecture, with gleaming white tones, a group of history museums housed in elegant, Arabic-style mansions. It is a smart city dedicated to sustainable practices including the Msheireb Tram. Eating options include global dining in high-end hotels, cafes, and restaurants.
A place of interest in Msheireb, which is one of the most culturally precious sites in Qatar, Msheireb Museums showcases the country's rich history through its four heritage houses, Bin Jelmood House, Company House, Mohammed Bin Jassim House, and Radwani House. To know more, click here to read and watch a video on Msheireb Museums.
Another place of interest is Msheireb Galleria is one of the newest shopping experiences in Qatar and boasts some very instagrammable corners. It is the latest shopping destination and offers visitors something unique. Pop-ups and other stores like EL&N London, GRAZE, Qyiorro, Kaltham’s Pavilion, The Project, Spaceship Qatar, and more await visitors at the mall. These pop-ups feature exclusive and eye-catchy interiors. Don't forget to check these out and take some Instagram-worthy photos! Besides this, you can also find a brand new Smart Msheireb Monoprix here. Msheireb Downtown Doha is also accessible through the Msheireb metro station (Green, Red & Gold Line).
Katara Cultural Village
This is one of the best places in Qatar to experience cultural diversity bound in a small village, with lots of landscape and seascape opportunities. Katara Cultural Village is located in West Bay, Doha, and recreates a small local village with Roman and Greek architecture with the touch of traditional Arab architecture. It is a destination for all interests, being a hub for a variety of cultural events, workshops, exhibitions, theater, and restaurants.
The whole village uniquely displays the culture of Qatar with narrow windy alleys with old and traditional architecture. Katara features restaurants & cafes featuring Qatari food and food from other regions of the world. You also get to experience Islamic culture through the two spectacular mosques, the beautiful Blue Mosque and the Golden mosque. You will also spot the pigeon towers beside the Blue mosque which are a cultural landmark of Katara. Located in Katara is Katara Green Hills, a refreshingly beautiful garden to enjoy, comprising dense green trees and beautifully lavender-colored walking tracks. Opposite Katara Green Hills is 21 High Street featuring Galleries Lafayette, luxury stores and cafes, world-class restaurants, and an air-conditioned outdoor street!
One of the places of interest is Katara Beach, which is a spacious public beach for visitors to stroll, sit, or engage in their choice of beach activities and watersports. If you are looking for an adventure not too far away from the city, have a visit to Katara beach which has an entry ticket of QAR 10 only. On the other side of Katara, a must-visit food drive-in, Tasty Street is situated. You can walk through the vibrant street and enjoy great food. Katara Cultural Village is also accessible through the Katara metro station (Red Line).
The Pearl, Qatar
The Pearl is an artificial, man-made island located offshore of Doha's West Bay Lagoon area. It's known as the first land in Qatar to be available for freehold ownership by foreign nationals. The name comes from the location in which the island was built, which was one of Qatar's previous major pearl diving sites.
Some of the Pearl island’s famous areas with the most population are Porto Arabia, Qanat Quartier, and Viva Bahriya. Viva Bahriya comprises stunning Moroccan-styled residential towers, the Porto Arabia towers, around the enviable turquoise beach waters.
Qanat Quartier stands out because of its scenic, colorful architecture, alleyways, and amazing restaurants and cafes. Qanat Quartier boasts a picturesque scene where Venetian charm meets Arabian chic and is Qatar’s very own little Venice where you can enjoy speed boat rides too.
Medina Centrale is the bustling heart of the island. It is a town square inspired by the charming ambiance of the Mediterranean. The precinct regularly comes alive with celebrations and events as it turns into a pedestrian-only area on winter weekends. It is home to local and international food restaurants and cafes, grocery stores, entertainment centers, and Novo Cinema, along with luxurious brand shopping stores. The island is extremely pet friendly! To know some interesting facts about the Pearl, Qatar, click here to watch our interesting video.
Lusail
Lusail, also known as Qatar’s Future City, is a planned city that will have marinas, modern residential areas, island resorts, commercial districts, luxury shopping, and leisure facilities, a golf course community, man-made islands, and several entertainment districts. Currently, Lusail City boasts a beautiful Marina area with outstanding infrastructure, attractive buildings housing amazing cafes, Crescent park, a vibrant Lusail promenade, and Place Vendôme Mall. The mall is a Parisian-inspired development reminiscent of the famous high-end shopping street in Paris, Rue de la Paix. You will find high-end shops, in-line medium-range shops, entertainment, media, and food and beverage facilities occupying all four floors of the mall.
One of the places of interest in the city is the Lusail Marina Food Arena. It is another popular food drive-in in Qatar and offers visitors a wide range of eateries and cafés, juice stalls, burger joints, and other fast food trucks. In the city, you will also spot the Marina Twin Towers which boast colorful Brick blocks design and house some of Lusail’s amazing coffee shops, click here to know more.
Lusail is also home to FIFA World Cup 2022 Stadium, the Lusail Iconic Stadium. Lusail city is accessible via Lusail Metro Station (Red Line) and within the city, there is Lusail Tram, click here to know more about transport in the city.
Souq Al Wakrah
We talked about the Souq Waqif as a major tourist hotspot of Doha, but did you know that there is another souq that mimics Souq Waqif? It is Souq Wakrah - the other Souq Waqif of Qatar. The winding mazes of the Souq Wakrah are a typical Middle Eastern delight. The souq offers a perfect quieter and tranquil spot if you’re looking to chill out and unwind. To have a look at the souq, click here to watch the video.
The outstanding part of the Souq is the long stretch of pristine sandy beach which is a source of peace. It stretches approximately 3 km along the town’s coast, with a corniche for people to walk along. On weekends, a lot of families visit this beach which has other facilities like a playground, toilets, and activities for kids. To know more about the souq, click here.
Al Wakrah began as a lovely fishing village and has now grown to become one of Qatar's largest municipalities. Its lovely beaches, traditional markets, and friendly gardens give off a calming vibe. The city has prospered as a result of modern advances, but inhabitants continue to cling to their heritage. Al Wakrah lies in the south of Qatar and is also home to FIFA World Cup 2022 Stadium, Al Janoub Stadium. Click here to explore more of this city.
Aspire Zone
Aspire Zone covers a huge area in Al Aziziyah housing ultramodern sports facilities, a sports museum, a family park, an Olympic size swimming pool, football training pitches, hotels, shopping malls, and the FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium, Khalifa International Stadium.
The major attractions of AspireZone are as follows:
Villaggio Mall: The mall stands out from all the malls in Qatar due to its interiors being Italianate-themed and mimicking the Italian city of Venice, indoors! It looks like an Italian hill town, with a 150-meter long indoor canal with gondolas(boat). The mall also has a dedicated area for top-of-the-line luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Gucci, Valentino, Fenti, and Dolce & Gabbana. The mall also houses an Olympic-sized ice rink for the public to enjoy ice skating and also a theme park with all kinds of activities and rides for kids and adults.
Aspire Park: It is one of the favorite parks here, thanks to its wideness, its lake, lush greenery, and facilities. The park, launched in 2006 for the Asian Games, is well-equipped with various facilities and activities for children and adults. It features dedicated jogging, running, and bicycle soft surface trails, children’s play areas, and large trees providing the needed shaded areas for picnicking under. The park also features a large lake with an abundance of fish and ducks making it a children’s favorite spot. To know more about activities, restaurants, and cafes in the park, click here.
Kidzania: KidZania Doha is just at the corner of Aspire Park where kids can independently choose from more than 60 real-life fun activities in a safe and secured kid-sized city. It is an edutainment area with interactive, hands-on activities best for entertaining the kids while nurturing creative and social skills – in an air-conditioned space.
3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum: Attached to the Khalifa International Stadium, the museum stands tall as a testament to Qatar’s enormous appetite and enthusiasm for the sport. It is a great place to visit even if you are not a sports fan and it is exciting for both adults and children. It engages in the most amazing ways and each section of the museum is an audiovisual treat also there is an activation zone with a lot of free games. The permanent exhibition is on the seventh floor and on the fifth floor, an aesthetically pleasing cafe, 3-2-1 Cafe awaits you. To know more, click here. Aspire Zone is accessible by Al Waab, Sport City, and Al Aziziyah Metro Station (Gold Line).
Inland Sea (Khor AlAdaid)
Some 60 km from Doha in the south-eastern corner of the country lies one of Qatar’s most impressive natural wonders, the ‘Inland Sea’ or Khor Al Adaid. The significance of the place lies in the turquoise blue water merging with fascinating golden sand together to make a beautiful scenery that is almost unbelievable to the eyes. The Inland Sea is the entrance to the Persian Gulf Sea, located on the border between Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
The best time to visit the Inland Sea is in the pleasant and cooler months in Qatar i.e November to March. Apart from enjoying the scenic Qatar attraction, you will also get to try a plethora of activities like sand sliding, camel/horse riding, desert safari, and more. The inland sea is also a natural resource that adds beauty to it. Click here to watch an interesting video about the exciting place.
Purple Island
One of the top attractions of Qatar, The Purple Island lies in Al Khor. It is a peaceful Island with abundant mangroves and beautiful scenery all around. Purple Island is located on the northeast coast of Qatar. The best part is that it is surrounded by mangroves and suitable for a family outing. You can reach there by driving to Al Khor and continuing towards Al Thakira. You won't need a 4x4 SUV for this, which makes it all the more convenient for many. This is an excellent place for easy rock climbing, Kayaking, or just enjoying the beach and the beautiful sunset. To see some amazing pictures of the place, click here.
Education City
Education City is a 12-square-kilometer campus housing multiple educational and research institutes. It is a pretty unique place and during just one short walk or Education city tram ride around, you could be visiting an Ivy League universities' public art galleries, browse one of the region’s largest libraries, witness the magnificent equestrian center where Arabian horses are trained or have a walk in the air-conditioned and beautiful Oxygen park of the city.
Let's talk about the Qatar National Library, a highlight of the Education city. The stunning architecture (externally and internally) is sure to take your breath away. Immerse yourself in the multiple resources the library offers and revel in the overall aesthetic. The place is equally exciting for adults and children. Click here, to know more.
Al Shaqab is a global equine leader passionately committed to preserving Qatar’s heritage by promoting the Arabian horse and setting the highest standards in horse welfare, breeding, equine education, and research. You can book a guided tour of the world-class equestrian facility that breeds purebred Arabian horses, and organizes local and international equestrian competitions that are second to none.
Education city golf club For those of you who are looking to engage in golf sport, Qatar Foundation’s Education City Golf Club (ECGC) presents a fantastic offering, fully-equipped with sophisticated technology and world-class facilities. It is not only a landmark for Qatar but a top-ranked golfing facility in the world! Click here to watch our video on the amazing facility.
Film City
Doha Film City at Zekreet Qatar is a complete recreation of an Arabic-style village. It is totally unique because no one actually lives there, but it is constantly maintained as if it were a thriving village in real life – which makes it the perfect setting for a ghost town!
It was first established as a location for filming Arabic TV series, and if you are a resident of Qatar or even planning a tour in the region then Doha Film City is surely a great option to explore at least once. The whole set is the size of a real village and is terrific fun to explore with your entire family. There is the main gate through which to enter the village, which is walled from all sides.
Heenat Salma Farm
Far from the city, located in Al Shahaniya municipality, Heenat Salma Farm is an oasis of tranquility. The farm currently oversees and grows over 50 different varieties of homegrown vegetables, fruits, and dairy products and soon will feature honey and meats from natural sources.
The Majlis area provides a relaxing, warm environment, perfect for a restful and wellness experience. These include a therapy room, an outdoor terrace, and a lap pool with holistic massage and meditation to balance physical and mental health. Promoting ethical action through engaging with people, we offer educational programs engaging children and adults with the arts, crafts, agriculture, architecture, and sustainable design thinking. Enjoy breakfast, dinner, an afternoon team, or a night's stay at the farm. Book your visit at +974 5096 0007 or from their Instagram account. To know more about visiting the farm, click here.
These are only a few places and experiences that will leave visitors beyond satisfied with their Qatar travel experience. To explore more activities and places of interest in Qatar, make sure to follow us.
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