City guides
Doha
Doha is a compact, modern Gulf capital built around a curved seafront, with world-class museums, a rebuilt old souq and new districts of towers and marinas. It is very safe, clean and easy with a metro, but hot for much of the year and fairly expensive.
Good for
- Families
- Museums
- Short stopovers
- Older travellers
- Malls and dining
A good length: 3 days
Spend mornings in air-conditioned museums and malls, and save the souq, corniche and Katara for the cooler evenings.
Best months
November, December, January, February, March
Per person per day
- Budget
- US$80
- Mid-range
- US$170
- Comfort
- US$400
Per person per day, sharing a double room: bed, three meals in simple to mid-range places, metro and a few taxi rides. Museum tickets and desert trips are extra.
Where to stay and spend time
Souq Waqif and Msheireb
Stay or visitThe old heart of Doha: the souq, the Museum of Islamic Art and the corniche are all close, and Msheireb station is the hub of the metro. Boutique hotels sit inside the souq.
For: First-timers, older travellers, families
Watch out: The souq is crowded and noisy on Thursday and Friday nights.
Open in mapWest Bay
Good baseThe skyline of glass towers with big hotels, a beach club or two and the north end of the corniche. Red Line metro stations are close.
For: Business travellers, mid-range and upscale
Watch out: Wide roads and few shops at street level; you move by metro or taxi.
Open in mapThe Pearl
Stay or visitAn artificial island of marinas, serviced apartments and promenades, with the colourful Qanat Quartier canals. Quiet and pleasant for evening walks.
For: Families, couples, longer stays
Watch out: No metro; restaurants are pricey.
Open in mapLusail
Stay or visitThe new city north of Doha with Lusail Boulevard, the big stadium, Place Vendome mall and a marina. Reached by metro and a tram.
For: Families, shoppers, football fans
Watch out: Some parts still feel empty in daytime.
Open in mapKatara
Worth a visitA cultural village of theatres, galleries, a beach, a mosque with blue tiles and many restaurants. Best in the evening.
For: Families, culture lovers
Open in mapAl Sadd and Bin Mahmoud
Good baseResidential areas with cheaper hotel apartments, supermarkets and everyday restaurants, on the Gold and Green metro lines.
For: Budget travellers, families on a budget
Watch out: Nothing to see in the area itself.
Open in mapDoha Corniche
Worth a visitA 7 km seafront path between the souq and West Bay with views of the skyline and wooden dhows offering short boat rides.
For: Everyone, especially walkers
Watch out: No shade; go at sunset or after dark.
Open in map
Places worth your time
- Museums
Museum of Islamic Art
Corniche · 2 to 3 hours
A striking building by the sea with carpets, ceramics and manuscripts, including many Persian pieces. Visitors from abroad pay about 50 QAR (2026); children under 16 enter free.
- ParksFree
MIA Park
Corniche · 1 to 2 hours
Lawns, playgrounds and cafes beside the museum, with the best view of the West Bay skyline across the water. Lovely for a picnic at sunset.
- MarketsFree
Souq Waqif
Souq Waqif · 2 to 3 hours
Mud-walled lanes of spices, perfumes, sweets, textiles and restaurants. Most shops close in the early afternoon and reopen around 4 pm; the evening is the best time.
- MarketsFree
Falcon Souq
Souq Waqif · 30 minutes
A small market at the edge of Souq Waqif where falcons sit on perches waiting for buyers. Children love it; ask before taking photos.
- Museums
National Museum of Qatar
Corniche (south) · 2 hours
A building shaped like a desert rose with films and rooms on the land, the sea and pearl diving. Visitors from abroad pay an entry fee; closed on Tuesdays and open only from early afternoon on Fridays. Plenty of walking inside.
- Views
Dhow ride on the corniche
Corniche · 30 to 60 minutes
Traditional wooden boats leave from the corniche piers for short trips around the bay. Agree the price per boat before boarding, and go at sunset.
- SightsFree
Msheireb Downtown
Msheireb · 1 to 2 hours
A rebuilt, walkable quarter next to the souq with shaded streets, cafes, a free tram loop and four small heritage house museums.
- SightsFree
Katara Cultural Village
Katara · 2 hours
An amphitheatre, pigeon towers, a tiled mosque, a public beach and many restaurants. Check the events calendar for concerts and festivals.
- ViewsFree
Qanat Quartier, The Pearl
The Pearl · 1 to 2 hours
Pastel buildings, canals and little bridges made for photos, with cafes along the water. Go by taxi in the late afternoon.
- ShoppingFree
Lusail Boulevard and Place Vendome
Lusail · 2 to 3 hours
A grand avenue with fountains and towers, and nearby one of the largest malls in Qatar with a dancing fountain show in the evening.
- With children
3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum
Aspire Zone · 2 hours
Interactive galleries on sport history with games to try, next to Khalifa Stadium. Good for children and teenagers.
- ParksFree
Aspire Park
Aspire Zone · 1 to 2 hours
The largest green park in Doha with a lake, ducks, walking paths and playgrounds, next to Villaggio Mall. Busy with families on winter evenings.
- Day trips
Inland Sea (Khor Al Adaid) desert trip
South of Qatar · Half day
A 4x4 tour over high dunes to a bay where the desert meets the sea, with camel photos and a picnic. Book with a licensed operator; the dune driving is rough for older people and those with back problems.
- Day tripsFree
Al Thakira Mangroves
North of Doha · Half day
Calm green mangrove channels about 45 minutes north of Doha, with flamingos in winter. Paddle a rented kayak at high tide or just walk the shore.
Getting around
From the airport
Doha Metro Red Lineabout 25 min
The station is inside the arrivals building of Hamad airport. Buy a travel card from the machine (cash accepted) and ride to Msheireb or West Bay. Check that the train goes to the city, not Al Wakra.
about 2 QAR a trip plus 10 QAR for the card (2026)
Karwa airport taxiabout 25 min
Turquoise taxis wait at the official taxi area at the left end of arrivals. They use the meter, start at about 25 QAR from the airport, and take cards or cash.
about 40 to 70 QAR to the souq or West Bay (2026)
Uber and other ride appsabout 25 min
Pickups are only from a marked area in the multi-storey car park: leave arrivals through Gate 3 and follow the signs. You need mobile data and a working card in the app.
price shown in the app, often close to the taxi (2026)
In the city
Doha Metro
Three clean, cold lines (Red, Gold, Green) with a flat fare of about 2 QAR and a daily cap of about 6 QAR (2026). Each train has a family section. Trains run from about 5 am to 1 am, and from 9 am on Fridays.
Metrolink feeder buses
Free buses from metro stations into nearby neighbourhoods; tap your metro card when boarding.
Karwa taxis and apps
Metered taxis from the street or the Karwa app, about 10 QAR minimum in the city. Uber also works in Doha.
Trams in Msheireb and Lusail
A free tram circles Msheireb, and a tram line links the Lusail districts with the metro.
Taxis and ride apps
Karwa taxis use the meter and accept cash and cards; ask the driver to start it if he forgets. In the Karwa app you see the price first. Uber works, with pickup spots at malls and the airport car park. Trips to The Pearl or Lusail cost more because of distance.
On foot
Doha is built for cars, but the souq, Msheireb, MIA Park and the corniche form one walkable stretch. From May to October walking outside in the day is exhausting; use the metro and air-conditioned malls.
Food
Halal food: Almost all food in Qatar is halal. Pork is sold only in a separate licensed shop, and alcohol only in some hotels, so ordinary restaurants are safe to eat in.
Persian food and community: Souq Waqif has several Persian restaurants with kebab, rice and stews. Many Qatari families have Iranian roots and Persian is heard among older shopkeepers in the souq.
- Try machboos (spiced rice with meat), karak tea and regag bread at the souq.
- Mall food courts are cheaper than restaurants and good for families.
- Indian and Arab cafeterias in Al Sadd and Bin Mahmoud are the budget choice.
- In Ramadan, do not eat or drink in public in the daytime; most restaurants open at sunset.
Money and phone
Cash: Bring US dollars or euros. The Qatari riyal is fixed to the dollar (about 3.64 QAR to 1 USD). Exchange shops around Souq Waqif and in the big malls give better rates than the airport.
Cards: Iranian cards do not work. Cash covers taxis, the metro machines and the souq. Ride apps and online museum tickets need a card, so a prepaid international card or a relative's foreign card helps.
SIM and internet: Ooredoo sells visitor SIMs at kiosks in the airport arrivals hall, and both Ooredoo and Vodafone Qatar sell them in their shops in the malls. You need your passport. Visitor packs cost about 65 to 100 QAR for one to two weeks (2026).
What travellers say
Advice that travellers from many countries repeat, chosen for Iranian visitors.
- Come between November and March; summer is extremely hot and humid.
- Doha is a great stopover: the metro from the airport makes even a long layover worth it if your passport allows entry.
- Friday mornings are quiet: many shops open only after Friday prayers, and the metro starts at 9 am.
- Dress modestly in malls and public places, with shoulders and knees covered.
- Do the souq and the corniche at night, when families come out and the heat breaks.
- Taxis are cheaper than in Europe, but long trips to Lusail or The Pearl add up.
- Do not photograph local women or people without asking.
- Museums are excellent but spread out; plan one area per half day.
For Iranian travellers
- Flights between Iran and the Gulf were disrupted during 2026. Confirm your flight with the airline close to departure, and see the visa page on this site before booking.
- Bring enough cash in dollars or euros for the whole stay; you cannot withdraw money with an Iranian card.
- The Iranian embassy is in the diplomatic area near West Bay.
- Persian restaurants and Persian-speaking traders in Souq Waqif make the city feel familiar for older relatives.
- Doha costs more than Muscat or Istanbul; budget carefully for taxis and meals.
- Large sums of cash must be declared at customs on arrival.
Stay safe
- Doha is one of the safest cities in the world; street crime is very rare.
- The real risks are heat stroke and dehydration; drink water and avoid midday sun.
- Laws on public behaviour are strict: no public arguments, rude gestures or photos of people without permission.
- In times of regional tension, follow official Qatari announcements and your airline's messages.
- Emergency number: 999 (police, ambulance, fire).
Checked 7 November 2026