Things to do in Al Wakrah Old Souq

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Opened in 2014, Al Wakrah Old Souq, more commonly known as Souq Wakrah, is one of the destinations in the south of Qatar. The seaside traditional market is a nod to Al Wakrah's heritage as a fishing village. While Souq Waqif is more popular, Al Wakrah Old Souq is still worth checking out especially if you love less crowded places. Here are some of the things you can do when you visit Souq Wakrah!

Note: Effective May 28, 2021, Phase 1 of the gradual lifting of COVID-19 restrictions states that:

Traditional markets (souqs) are allowed to operate with a maximum of 30% capacity and children under 12 years old are not allowed to enter.
All restaurants and cafes operate at 30% capacity outdoors only.
Restaurants and cafes registered with the Qatar Clean Program can operate indoors at a maximum capacity of 30% for vaccinated customers only.
Gatherings in public areas, such as parks, corniche, and beaches are limited to family members from the same household only, or to a maximum of 5 people.
Playgrounds and gym equipment remain closed.
Mosques remain open for daily prayers and Friday prayers. Toilets and ablution areas will remain closed. Children under 12 years old are not allowed.

Wander around the alleyways

al wakrah old souq alleyways Qatar — Image credit: Shutterstock

Reminiscent of a traditional Arabian village and market, part of Souq Al Wakrah's charms is its winding alleyways which lead to the beach and corniche. Walk around the alleyways and courtyards and check out what hidden gems you can find. These passageways are popular with photographers and photography enthusiasts in Qatar.

Try the different cuisines at Souq Al Wakrah

al wakrah old souq restaurants Qatar — Check out the restaurants at Souq Wakrah's seaside

There are restaurants situated along the seaside, facing the parking lot, and the Grills section behind the meat & vegetables market. The cuisine you can find is varied although seafood is the most popular fare here. For grilled seafood, try Danat Al Bahar BBQ Fish, try Yemeni cuisine at Al Fanar restaurant facing the beach, have Italian food at Mercato Antico, cool down with ice cream from Gharissa, or gobble down diner food at Bennigan's facing the spacious parking area.

Check out more restaurants here:

Explore different shops and buy local

meat vegetables fruits market al wakrah old souq Qatar — One of the markets you can check out at Al Wakrah Old Souq

While the number of shops seems to be dwindling over the years, there are still markets and shops that you can check out. Out of the 10 zones of Al Wakrah Old Souq, 5 of them have dedicated markets/sections for different products such as dates, nuts, fish, cheese, flowers, sweets, women's accessories, perfume, gold, souvenirs, meat, vegetables, fruits, spice, handicrafts, utensils, swords, carpet, birds and animals, wood, and marine equipment.

Abu Manaratain Mosque

While there are a few mosques situated in Al Wakrah Old Souq, there's one you shouldn't miss out on. Abu Manaratain Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in the municipality, is located within the Old Souq. The mosque only has one minaret even though 'Manaratain' means two minarets, according to AFAR.

Al Wakrah Old Souq Family Beach

Dotted with old dhow boats along the sand, the Souq Al Wakrah Family Beach requires swimmers to adhere to proper swimwear. Not allowed on the beach are pets, smoking, fire, barbeque, camping, photography, and swimming is not allowed after sunset.

Not a fan of swimming? There are plenty of seats along the beach where you can just sit down and people watch or stare at the horizon.

Go for a run or bike along the promenade

al wakrah old souq promenade Qatar — You can jog, run or bike at the other end of the promenade

In front of the playground* located at the other end of Al Wakrah Old Souq is a promenade where you can freely bike and walk without people getting in your way.

*Note: The playground is still currently closed as per COVID-19 restrictions.

Pearl roundabout

One of the famous old roundabouts, the Pearl monument has since been relocated between Al Wakrah Old Souq and the Al Wakrah port after the upgrading works of the Al Wakrah main road. If you're walking along the seaside part of the souq, you surely won't miss this towering icon - a landmark of Al Wakrah city.

How to get to Al Wakrah Old Souq

al wakrah old souq qatar — Sit and relax at one of the many seats facing the sea at Al Wakrah Old Souq.

Location: Al Wakrah Old Souq
By private car: From Souq Waqif, it's easy to get to Al Wakrah Old Souq via Al Matar street and Al Wakrah Main Road. Travel time is around 26 to 30 minutes approximately.
By Doha Metro: You can reach Al Wakrah by taking Doha Metro Red Line South and getting off at Al Wakrah station. However, there's currently no Metrolink or Metroexpress that can take you right to Al Wakrah Old Souq.
By bus: According to the Mowasalat Bus routes, there is no bus that stops directly at Al Wakrah Old Souq. But you can take Bus Route 129 and take a taxi to the souq after getting off at the last stop.