Are you planning your next visit to Doha? The capital city and main financial hub of Qatar is known for multiple attractions so here are the best things you can do.
Qatar is one of the richest countries in the world and Doha is its capital. It is also considered the financial hub of the country and part of the reason is its extensive tourism. And why wouldn’t it be? Doha displays beautiful and mesmerizing modern architecture It also is the home to luxurious shopping malls and high-rise buildings that are pretty hard to spot anywhere else! On top of that, the city offers an exclusive experience of fascinating culture, futuristic sky-scraping, and varying landscapes making it an even more attractive spot for tourists. If you are planning to go to Doha for your next vacation, it is guaranteed that you are going to have an interesting traveling experience.
So here is a list of 6 best things you can do to maximize your experience in Doha –
- Museum Of Islamic Art
The Museum of Islamic Art or MIA is one of the country’s most infamous museums and a tourist place. It has a wide collection of Islamic Art that extends from the 7th to the 19th century. Located on one end of the seven-kilometer-long Corniche, Doha, this can bring your travel experience to the city a memory that is hard to forest, especially if you like to admire art and architecture. The museum features an extensive and mesmerizing collection of ceramics, metalwork, jewelry, coins, textiles, glasses, and woodwork that belongs to both the royal and ordinary houses in the region. The collection also features more than 800 manuscripts from the Qur’an. The museum’s manuscript collection expands to sectors other than just religion, like science and literature. It also features one of the rarest manuscripts in the Islamic world, the Abbasid Blue Quran.
You can even buy something from the museum when you visit as it houses a gift shop. Along with it, you will also find a park and library, holding educational activities for students and families. Opened in 2008, the Museum Of Islamic Art was designed by the renowned architect I.M. Pei. When you are visiting MIA, you can also plan your visit to other places in the Corniche, including Al Bidda Park, Al Dafna Park, the National Museum of Qatar, and the Pearl Monument. While visiting, don’t worry about the food because you will find several restaurants and cafes there, specializing in tasty Arabian cuisine.
- Katara Cultural Village
Katara Cultural Village houses a community of creative and imaginative people as well as some of the best artworks in the country. It is a maze of cobblestone alleys and pathways that are reminiscent of a very traditional souq. Open 24 hours for tourists, a complete tour of this village will take around 3-4 hours for you, and a visit there is the perfect way to rejuvenate your artistic senses. The artworks that will witness there will be the most extraordinary. Part of the reason why most of the country’s artistic talents are concentrated here is with headquarters for the Visual Arts Centre, Qatar Fine Arts Society, Qatar Photographic Society, and the Music Academy, all in one place. The village also has an opera house, the home of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra. Along with the opera house, you will find an open amphitheater that can seat about 5000 people and a drama theater. Don’t worry about getting paraphernalia and souvenirs as you will find plenty of books and handicraft stalls.
But that is not all, you will also find a 1.5 km purpose-built beach inside Katara village for beach and watersports. If you are a fan of history, The Golden Masjid will probably attract you the most there as it is embellished with small gold chips, a marvelous architectural example of the Ottoman Empire. You will also find the Masjid of Katara, one of the most admirable Masjid in the country, designed by the Turkish architect ZainabFadilOglu. You will find plenty of cafes and restaurants in the areas to feast upon some of the best Arabic food.
- Souq Waqif
Positioned just beside WadiMusheireb in the Al Souq district of Doha, this is another top place that you must include in your upcoming visit to the city. This is one of the most fascinating shopping markets in the entire country where you will find handicrafts, spices, and traditional clothing, along with the perfect souvenirs. Among the amazing handcrafted items offered at Souq Waqif, you will find wooden furniture, rugs, woven textiles, glass ornaments, and custom-made essential oils. Tourists can also visit camel stables in the area or participate in the age-old sport of falconry. The variety of Arabic spices and aromatics that are sold here are renowned around the globe.
Souq Waqif is one of the few buildings that is constructed to show the style of an old Qatari village and is the oldest. The opening times of the place are Saturday – Thursday: 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM, 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM, and for Friday: 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM. It is one of the best places to go and enjoy with your family as you will get shops, cafes, and restaurants in one place. You can shop all you want and eat at the same place!
- Desert trips
A trip to a desert country is not completed until you take a desert trip to Doha! When you are in the city, taking a desert trip is a must-do. On this trip, you will find yourself in an SUV and enjoying the brilliantly dangerous yet perfectly safe car stunts. Experiencing this once in a lifetime will give you an unforgettable experience, while making you feel rich, just like the Qataris. The area of the desert trip is surrounded by huge sand dunes that will give you a view of the golden dunes around you. Watching the sunset here will be another lifelong experience of your travels that you will never forget!
- Villaggio Mall
If you think how a mall visit can be different from your hometown, then you have never traveled to the Middle East or, per se, Qatar. Villaggio Mall in Doha will give you a rich experience that you must have only heard beforehand! This is situated on Al Waab Street, which is the city’s west end. The interiors of the mall are designed in a Venetian style, instantly transporting visitors to the magical city of Venice. Villaggio is definitely one of the places that is selected for luxury, but it will also give you opportunities to get entertained. The mall offers movie theaters, restaurants, a kid-friendly Gondola theme park, along with a unique Gondola Ride.
This ride is inspired by the popular boat rides in Venice. Visitors are rowed beside a shopping center along the internal canal that is replete with gondolas. They are dropped off Via Domo, a high-end high street lined with high-end luxury brand names. On the other hand, the Gondolania theme park is housed inside the mall and has interactive activities like a go-kart track, bowling alley, laser tag, roller coaster, and a roller glider for visitors. At the same time, you can also enjoy movies at the 4D Theater or IMAX cinemas. Close to Villaggio Mall, you will find Aspire Park, which has running and walking trails, a cafe, and kid-friendly playgrounds. The Khalifa International Stadium is also nearby. The timings of visiting the mall are Sunday- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Thursday & Saturday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM and on Friday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM – 11:00 PM.
- National Museum of Qatar
Situated just 2 km from Doha, this is another place you absolutely cannot miss on your next trip to the city. The National Museum of Qatar is spread over 1.5 km and it gives Qatar’s unique history a loud voice. The museum is also a present stance of Qatari people from the earliest of times to the present day. Jean Nouvel, the award-winning architect has designed this art museum which is experiential and immersively organized into three chapters of the country. The architect got his inspiration from the desert rose crystal, usually found around the country. The museum is made up of interlocking discs, creating shades for the visitors so that they can get away from the desert heat.
Three chapters are Beginnings, Life in Qatar, and the Modern History of Qatar, where each one is presented across 11 galleries that are separate from each other. The Beginning consists of the desert and the Persian Gulf, featuring artifacts from the Bedouin culture, and tribal wars. Life in Qatar consists of the establishment of Qatar, along with the discovery of oil. And lastly, the Modern History of Qatar depicts the modern country. The museum aims to celebrate the rich culture and history of the country, creating a dialogue between Qatar and visitors from around the globe. To get there, you can take taxis or public transport that is available all around the city. There are cafes and shops where you eat and take souvenirs from. To complete the tour of the National Museum of Qatar, you would need 3-4 hours and the timings are Saturday – Thursday: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM and on Friday: 1:30 PM to 7:00 PM. The entry fee to the museum is QAR 50 for adults, with children under 16 for free.
So don’t forget to pay a visit to these 6 places, the best of the best, the next time you visit Doha. Visiting these places and gaining experiences will make your travel worth everything!
