If you have a layover lined up in Qatar then you are in for a treat as and there are a lot of things to see and do in this beautiful country. To help you maximize your stay in this beautiful city and to experience a taste of Qatar, read our guide to find out everything you need to know
This layover plan is based on an arrival time of 9 am (Qatar standard time). If your arrival time is different, you may consider rearranging the visiting order depending on the opening hours of each location.
Disclaimer: This layover plan is based on an arrival time of 9 am (Qatar standard time). If your arrival time is different, you may consider rearranging the visiting order depending on the opening hours of each location.
Hamad International Airport (HIA) offers you a wide variety of transport options, including car rental, limousine, taxi, bus and metro services.
READ MORE: Your guide to public transportation in Qatar
Hiring a taxi: All airport taxis are operated by Mowasalat; a Qatari state-owned company. You can board a taxi at the Taxi Pavilion located at the left end of the Arrivals hall. All taxis are metered and the minimum flag down fare at the airport starts at 25 Qatari Riyal (QR) or USD 7 and QR 1.20 per kilometer between 5 am to 9 pm and QR 1.80 per km between 9 pm to 5 am. You can book Karwa taxi services in advance by calling the call center on +974 800 8294 or via the Karwa App available on Android and iOS. To know about other taxi services, click HERE.
Bus service: Doha’s bus network connects HIA to various destinations across the city, offering a convenient transport option. You can buy or top-up the Smartcard at ticket vending machines located at Arrivals, Ground Floor, Bus Pavilion at HIA. The machine only accepts Cash – QR 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 currency notes. Since it does not have a refund feature, you are advised to pay using the exact amount. There are three types of Karwa Smartcards to choose from:
- Classic Card: QR 30 (USD 8): rechargeable card for long term / future journeys.
- Limited Card: QR 10 Card (USD 3): two inner-city trips within a 24 hour period
- Unlimited Card: QR 20 Card (USD 5): unlimited trips across Qatar within a 24 hour period
Doha Metro: The Doha Metro is fully functional with all stations now open with HIA being accessible to Qatar residents and visitors through Doha Metro’s Red Line. A single journey costs QR 2 for Standard cardholders (including Family Class), while a day pass costs QR 6. A single journey costs QR 10 for Gold Club members, while a day pass costs QR 30. You can top up you reusable cards with Travel Credit, which can be purchased at ticket vending machines in all Doha Metro stations. There is also a free MetroLink service to different locations from all Doha Metro stations.
Find out the places you can go to using the Doha Metro here: https://www.iloveqatar.net/guide/transportation/places-to-visit-near-doha-metro-stations
Find out the Do's and Dont's of riding the Doha Metro here: https://www.iloveqatar.net/guide/transportation/the-dos-and-donts-of-riding-the-doha-metro
Check out the map below:
Please ensure you are carrying enough Qatari Riyals to pay for your trip as taxis and buses only accept cash payments in local currency. ATMs are located in proximity to the taxi pavilion for your convenience.
The National Museum of Qatar is one of the best-loved landmarks in the country. A visit to this museum is an all-encompassing journey, carrying you from millions of years ago to the edge of tomorrow.
The National Museum of Qatar has designed and developed a wide variety of exciting and engaging learning resources for school, family and youth audiences. Hands-on interactive gallery spaces, family trails, student activity booklets, art-trolleys, handling collections, gift shops, and outdoor playgrounds —all contribute to creating a dynamic and fun environment for young learners. To know more about this museum, click HERE!
Despite the popularity of modern air-conditioned shopping malls – and there are many superb examples in Doha - it is notable that a primarily ‘outdoor’ attraction like Souq Waqif still remains one of the most popular tourists' destinations in Doha.
The numerous alleyways and small shops offer traditional garments, spices and seasonal delicacies such as fresh dates and nuts, perfumes, ornate jewelry, clothing, handicrafts and a treasure trove of souvenir bargains. Coffee pots and embroidered pashminas are a favorite buy. You can haggle your way to get the best purchase at the lowest price.
When shopping for authentic local souvenirs pearls should be on top of your list and for the best deal in town look no further than the "Pahlwan Saad Ismail Al Jassim – The old pearl diver" shop.
Also if you like to experience the authentic tradition of Henna Art, you will spot professional henna artists at Souq Waqif who design beautiful henna art.
And the Souq is also home to dozens of restaurants offering different kinds of cuisines from Qatar or Yemen through to Syrian, Iraqi and Indian dishes. Additionally, a group of women sells home-cooked food in an open setting in the Souq to satisfy your craving for homemade Qatari food. Very affordable, their prices range from QR 5 to QR 20, and they offer traditional dishes such as Majbooj, Harees, Kousa Mahshi, Mathrooba and many more. One of the favourite dishes is freshly-made, flat crêpes. You can choose a variety of toppings.
And close to Souq Waqif, a separate building houses a treasure trove of shops known as the Gold Souk. They all offer the finest 18/22-carat gold jewelry, with rings, necklaces – anything that your heart desires.
Read more about Souq Waqif here:
Tea Time
Aljasra Traditional Qatari Food
Al Shujaa Restaurant
Bandar Aden Restaurant
Enjoy a walk along the famous Corniche, stretching as it does for a whopping 7 km - a firm favorite for walkers, health enthusiasts, and tourists alike. Cool, cosmopolitan and constantly changing, the Corniche blends urban uniqueness with seaside charm.
You’ll spot dhows tied up all along the Corniche in Doha – there are more than 500 of them. The Dhow is an integral part of Qatari culture and before the oil era, they were mainly used for pearl diving, fishing and transporting goods.
Today, to keep those traditions alive, the ancient craft still serves the people of Qatar, elegantly evoking the essence of our centuries-old maritime heritage. You can get on board a Dhow in Qatar just by paying QR 20. And if you want to reserve the entire dhow for your whole family and friends for a long island tour, you have to pay around QR 1500 to QR 2,500. You can haggle your way to get the best fare at the lowest price.
If you want to know more about some interesting facts about Dhows in Qatar, Click here HERE!
Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Mosque—more commonly known as the State Grand Mosque is the largest mosque in Qatar with 90 domes, 18 entrances. 28 large domes cover the central hall while 65 domes cover the outer quadrangle. Located at the Jubailat district of Doha, the State Grand Mosque covers a total area of 175,164 sq.m. and can hold a congregation of 30,000 people. Constructed in the first half of the 20th century, the mosque features a fascinating mix of both traditional Arabic and modern architecture. To know about Mosque visiting etiquette, click HERE.
Check here to see the most beautiful mosques in Qatar!
A stylish place to spend some cool time, Katara has art exhibitions to stimulate the most cultural mind, top-notch restaurants and bars, an open air-theatre, fairs, markets, and cozy restaurants, many of which specialize in amazing seafood. Katara’s private beach spans 1.5km, providing a relaxed beach experience or adrenaline-boosting activities. There is also a play area where your kids can enjoy a wide array of activities, games, and rides. We would humbly recommend that you visit Katara between 11 am-2 pm and 5 pm-11 pm.
The Pearl is an artificial island situated off the West Bay coast in Doha. This beautiful island is spread over about 4 million square meters. The residential development on the island has planned to cater to both national and international residents and guests alike. The island features many exciting avenues such as apartments, residential towers, villas, many shopping destinations with many luxury brands, Mediterranean-style yacht-lined marinas, and exotic beaches. It also boasts the best quality dining, with renowned restaurants, cafés, lounges, bakeries, and confectioneries. The Pearl is a delight for tourists, justifying its description as the ‘Arabian Rivera.’
Karak Mqanes
Yasmine Palace
Your visit to Qatar will not complete without a desert safari trip. With high dunes and long sand valleys, you'll never get bored of adrenaline-fuelled dune bashing in Qatar. Once in the dunes, you will simply enjoy the roller coaster rides, immerse yourself in Bedouin culture and enjoy the wide-open stunning desert views. A variety of tour operators offer dune bashing trips.
A must for all in Doha, the stunning Venetian ceiling seems to move as you walk and transport you back to an Italian masterpiece. Located on Al Waab Street, in the west end of the city, and within Aspire Zone, Villaggio is one of the most sought after destinations in Qatar. Fantastic for high-end shopping with luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Gucci, Valentino and Dolce, and Gabbana. Villagio also offers various entertainments and activities for your kids. With indie boutiques and designer destinations, you can spend a wonderful few hours with a well-deserved coffee and cake at the iconic bakeries and trendy coffee shops there.
Wok of Fame
It has a wide variety of continental dishes for the buffet.
Dunia
After a whole day of sightseeing and shopping, you deserve to take a break and there is a perfect place for you to relax while the kids let off some steam. Behind the Villagio mall and Hyatt Plaza, Aspire Park is located which is a great place to have picnics and family outdoors while overlooking the Aspire Tower (a 300-meter modern hotel, which served as a giant torch for the 15th Asian Games), especially at night. It has a lake, playgrounds, running tracks, open spaces and much more! With its three cafés, there are also plenty of opportunities to refuel.
So, what are you waiting for? What else could be better than spending your stopover in Qatar with your loved ones visiting the many breath-taking places Qatar has to offer, discovering all the stories they have to tell, and the wonderful memories they will leave you with. And if you find the article useful, don't forget to like and share this article - you know it keeps us going!
If you want to find out what is happening in Qatar before it happens, download the Qatar Events App! Available on Android and IOS and the app is completely free!
Follow us on our social media channels:
@ILQlive
@ILQlive
@ILoveQtr
ILoveQatar
You have successfully registered your account!
Please confirm your e-mail address by clicking on the URL sent to you.The e-mail usually arrives in 5-10 minutes.
How ajeeb was that!? Thanks for contributing to our community! Your post will appear after we take a quick look!
