Doha / Qatar attractions

Qatar is a small, very wealthy emirate. Qatar offers its visitors a variety of attractions ranging from historical sites to modern architectural marvels.

Dhows in front of Doha's skyline

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Sights in the capital Doha 

The capital, Doha, offers a mix of traditional Arab culture and modern lifestyle, with a variety of museums, art galleries, festivals and cultural events.

The port of Doha 

The Mina District is a newly developed picturesque neighborhood at Doha's Old Port. The district stands out through its architecture and its colorful houses. Mina District has over 50 cafes and restaurants, more than 100 shops, hotel apartments, galleries and a traditional fish market. The Mina District is a popular place for visitors to view the cruise ships opposite.

The Grand Cruise Terminal, the cruise terminal in Doha was built for the 2022 World Cup. The building is huge and completely surrounded by an arcade. The 1.174 arches arranged one above the other show traditional Arabic architecture. There are two berths for large cruise ships. Up to 12.000 passengers per day can be processed in the terminal.

In the entrance hall, interesting facts about Qatar are shown on video screens, such as the landscapes, animals and plants. The aquarium is also located in the building. The cruise passenger arrival area and the aquarium are separated by glass walls. You can look directly at the underwater world and the marine animals that live in it.

MIA - Museum of Islamic Art 

The MIA is a structural masterpiece by Ieoh Ming Pei, one of today's most important architects. A palm tree-lined driveway leads to the museum, which is elevated on Doha Bay. The MIA opened in 2008 and houses extensive collections of Islamic artworks from different eras and from around the world. There is also a library with over 21.000 works, an exclusive restaurant, a café and a stylish shop. A terrace with water fountains and seating offers impressive views of the bay and Doha skyline.

MIA Park and Flag Plaza

The large MIA Park is located between the Mina District and the Museum of Islamic Art. The park regularly hosts events including concerts, art workshops and film screenings. Sculptures and installations by well-known artists can be found throughout the park. The sculpture 7 by Richard Serra addresses the meaning of this number in Islamic culture. The approximately 24 meter high monument is made up of seven steel plates.

The flag square, which was inaugurated in October 2022, borders the park. It is intended to deepen understanding between nations. More than 100 flags represent the nations that have diplomatic relations with Qatar. There are also the flags of the United Nations, the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Doha - Flag Plaza

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Doha Corniche 

The seven-kilometer-long promenade stretches around the crescent-shaped bay of Doha, from the park of the MIA (Museum of Islamic Art) to the pyramid-shaped Sheraton Hotel. It offers wonderful views of the Doha skyline. The Corniche is suitable for walking, cycling or taking photos. The promenade is particularly impressive in the evening, when the city's buildings are colorfully illuminated.

Doha's skyline in the evening

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On the Corniche there are beautiful parks, the old dhow harbor and important buildings and monuments. Al Dafna Park and Al-Bidda Park are lush with greenery and there are sports, playgrounds and picnic areas.

In the old dhow harbor there are several traditional boats that offer trips to the Bay of Doha. The dhow harbor pier leads to the Doha Skyline View Point. The view from there of the bay and the city is overwhelming.

At the entrance to the dhow harbor stands the Pearl Monument, one of the city's attractions: an oversized open shell with a pearl inside.

Opposite, surrounded by lawns and well protected by a high fence, is the government seat of the Emir of Qatar.

Souk Waqif 

The Souq Waqif was built in the early 21st century on the site of an old trading market in a traditional style. The market, with its winding streets, cobblestones and clay buildings, is reminiscent of bygone times and is a tourist magnet. With its variety of goods, the Souk Waqif is also a center of hustle and bustle in Doha. The shops attract visitors with a wide range of goods, ranging from everyday items, textiles and gold to chickens and falcons. The Souq is a popular meeting place for Qataris, especially in the evenings, and is also an excellent place to try local cuisine.

Fanar - mosque and cultural center 

The striking spiral-shaped building is one of Doha's most famous sights. It is located on the Corniche near Souq Waqif. At Fanar Mosque, non-Muslim visitors can attend Friday prayers in English. The cultural center offers religious and social activities as well as courses on the Islamic faith or learning the Arabic language. In the evening the Fanar is elaborately illuminated and is a real eye-catcher.

Qatar National Museum 

At the southern end of the Corniche is the Qatari National Museum. The museum was designed by the French architect Jean Nouvel. His design was inspired by the crystal shapes of the desert rose. The buildings consist of 539 disks with a diameter of 14 to 87 meters. They form, among other things, walls, floors, roofs and supports. The work on the buildings took 18 years. The National Museum is considered an architectural jewel, and the construction is a masterpiece of civil engineering.

The history and cultural heritage of Qatar from prehistoric times to modern times are presented on 40.000 square meters. A tour of around 1.500 meters takes you through interconnected galleries.

A café, also with outdoor seating, offers drinks, snacks and small meals for museum visitors.

Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Mosque 

The State Mosque of Qatar opened in 2011 and is the largest mosque in the country. It sits above Doha Bay and offers beautiful views of the Arabian Gulf and the Doha skyline. The exterior of the mosque combines traditional architecture with modern design. Three libraries are located inside, special rooms for studying the Koran, and prayer and washing rooms for men and women. The mosque can accommodate up to 30.000 believers.

Guided tours are offered for visitors. Guests must dress conservatively; abayas and headscarves are mandatory for female visitors (2023). The abaya will be given on loan before entering the mosque.

Katara Cultural Village 

The Katara Cultural Village, known as Katara for short, is a cultural project initiated by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Katara was opened in 2010 and is set up like a village. On an area of ​​around 100 hectares, it is intended to promote art and cultural exchange and create a connection between Qatar's ancient heritage and modernity. Katara's attractions include an amphitheater, an opera house and an art and exhibition hall with several galleries and clubs. There is also a mosque, a falconry and luxury shops, cafes and restaurants on the Katara site. There are also many golf carts that visitors can use free of charge. The drivers are careful and friendly.

The Katara Mosque is a design by the Turkish architect Zeynep Fadilloglu. The exterior features Persian and Turkish tile and enamel work in shades of blue and gold. In terms of furnishings, the building is intended to be reminiscent of the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul. Next to the mosque are the distinctive pigeon towers, elongated structures with holes and perches for pigeons.

Doha - Katara Mosque and Pigeon Towers

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The Amphitheater covers 3.275 square meters and is built in the Greek style. The arched entrances show Islamic influences. The amphitheater can accommodate up to 5000 spectators, who can enjoy the view of the sea and the cultural village from there. 

The sculpture “The Force of Nature” by Lorenzo Quinn stands between the amphitheater and the water. The art installation depicts Mother Nature tossing the earth around in a blanket. It is intended to illustrate how powerless humanity is in the face of nature.

The Al Thuraya Planetarium offers scientific experiments for families and amateur astronomers. There are also exhibitions on astronomy and geology, as well as the role of astronomy in Qatar's history and religious traditions.

Katara Beach invites all visitors to take a walk, sit on the sand or engage in an activity of their own choosing. For example, trips on traditional dhows, stand-up paddling, parasailing or water skiing are offered.

The Pearl Qatar 

The artificial island extends over more than four million square meters. It is intended to remind us of the time of pearl diving. With its marinas, hotels and designer boutiques, it is a symbol of pure luxury. The small parks, the green squares, the Mediterranean canals and bridges are particularly attractive. We recommend visiting the island at sunset and at dusk.

Aspire Zone 

The Aspire Zone covers more than 88 hectares of ultra-modern sports facilities, a large park, the 300-meter-high Hotel The Torch Doha and the Villaggio Mall.

The sports facilities include, for example, the Khalifa Stadium, a training academy and a sports hospital. Aspire Park attracts visitors with a lake, several fountains, playgrounds, entertainment, art and dining options. Hotel The Torch offers first-class accommodation and unparalleled panoramic views of the city.

The Villaggio Mall is a shopping and entertainment center. There are shops, restaurants and cafes, an amusement park with a 4D theater, an ice rink and a 150-meter-long indoor canal on which replica Venetian gondolas ride. Almost everything can be found in this mall, from cheap to luxurious offerings. Whether Cartier, Dior, Ferragamo, H&M, Marks & Spencer, Mango, Punt Roma or Louis Vuitton, there are labels for every taste and budget.

Al Shaqab 

The modern equestrian center is located in the Al Rayyan district near the Aspire Zone. It was built in 1992 and belongs to the Qatar Foundation. In Al Shaqab, the tradition and heritage of the Arabian horse should be preserved. More than 700 horses live in the center. The equestrian program is one of the leading and most progressive of its kind in the world. It is based on the cornerstones of excellence, training and tradition.

National Library 

The Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas designed and created the Qatar National Library. The national library opened in 2017. More than a million printed books are kept on 45.000 square meters. An automatic book sorting system ensures easy access. E-books and the computer stations required for them are also available.

Doha - Qatar National Library

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There are also event areas with sophisticated technology, group and individual work rooms, a spacious children's library and much more.

The heart of the National Library is the Heritage Library. It is located under the main hall and can be viewed from the open middle of the hall. The collection includes early printed works, rare editions, valuable documents and other historical treasures, not only from the Arab cultural area.

The National Library is located in the completely rebuilt Education City. A Green Line metro station is next to the building. Two tram lines, which run through the extensive grounds at regular intervals and can be used free of charge, connect the library with the other facilities in Education City. There are a number of well-known international universities and colleges, start-up centers, technology parks and cultural institutions here.

Sights outside Doha 

Qatar is a predominantly flat country consisting mostly of desert. Along the Arabian or Persian Gulf, Qatar has a coastline with beaches, mangrove forests, a natural lagoon and occasional sand dunes. And to the northwest lies Al Zubarah, an archaeological site that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Qatar - Al Zubarah archaeological site

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Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum

The museum is located near Al Samriya, about 30 kilometers west of Doha. It was founded in 1998 and shows one of the largest private collections in the world in 15 exhibition rooms. The approximately 15.000 artifacts were collected by Sheikh Faisal over a period of 50 years. These include Islamic works of art, vehicles, coins and carpets. A complete Syrian home from Damascus was built true to the original on the site and fully furnished.

The mangroves of Al Thakira and Purple Island 

The protected mangrove forests are located a good 60 kilometers north of Doha near the port city of Al-Khor. The total area is about 10 square kilometers. Along with coral reefs and tropical rainforests, mangroves are among the most productive ecosystems on earth. All visitors are therefore required not to leave any traces. Boardwalks lead to Bin Ghannam Island, known as Purple Island, and through part of the mangroves. You can also go into the protected area with a kayak.

Chaur al-Udayd 

The natural lagoon is located about 100 kilometers south of Doha near the border with Saudi Arabia. It extends far into the interior of the country and is surrounded by high dunes. This makes them particularly scenic. And it is a paradise for fish, sea creatures and turtles, migratory water birds, cormorants, flamingos and ospreys. The best way to reach Chaur al-Udayd is with an all-terrain vehicle.

Al-Zubarah archaeological site 

The walled coastal city of Al Zubarah on the Persian Gulf was a prominent pearling and trading center in the Arabian region for a period of about fifty years in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The place was destroyed around 1810, finally abandoned in the 20th century and buried under blown sand. Al-Zubarah is located in northwest Qatar. It is 105 kilometers away from Doha.

Qatar - Al Zubarah archaeological site

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Today the archaeological site covers an area of ​​around 60 hectares with remains of houses, mosques and a market. Only a small part has been excavated so far. However, the city's layout is well preserved, offering a fascinating look at the life and architecture of this period. Al Zubarah has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013. The excavation site can be visited as part of a guided tour (free of charge in 2023). Visitors are taken to the cordoned off and secured area by shuttle bus and accompanied by a tour guide.

Al-Zubarah Fort 

The early 20th century fortress lies outside the Al-Zubarah archaeological site. Like these, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The typical Arab fortress originally served to protect the coast.

Qatar - Al Zubarah Fort

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It is well preserved and now functions as a museum after extensive restoration. The museum offers artifacts and information about the region and its history. Visitors can explore the fort and take a look at the excavations of the city of Al-Zubarah from the walls and towers.

We report about our stay in our article: Traveling on your own in Doha.

October 2024