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Doha in a Day | Guide to a Stopover in Qatar
If you are traveling to Asia with airlines like Qatar Airways, it is very Your itinerary will likely include a stopover in Qatar. And although many people limit themselves to waiting for their next flight at the airport, the truth is that it is worth going out and with a little organization you can take advantage of it Visit Doha in one day.
In just a few hours, you can explore a modern city full of contrasts. It'll be the icing on the cake for the trip ahead. In this guide, we'll tell you all about it. What to see in Doha in one dayhow to move around and all the tips for sacarMake the most of your layover in Qatar.
How to get from Doha Airport to the center
Getting from the airport to the center of Doha is very simple and quick by taking the red metro line. Once there, to visit Doha in one day, you can combine going on foot, taking the metro, and taking Uber.
There are also many tours that pick you up at the airport and you can visit the main sights of the city in about four or five hours. But if you prefer to go on your own, keep reading because we're going to explaincarI'll explain it to you in detail. What to see in Doha in one day and what transportation we took to do it.
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What to see in Doha in 1 day
We leave you the places in the order that we visited them, spending a large part of the central hours of the day in the Villaggio shopping center because it was very hot and just We stopped in Doha on a Tuesday, the day some museums close.
Souq Waqif, the most traditional thing to see in Doha in one day
This traditional market is the most authentic and traditional heart of the cityIts adobe alleyways, decorated with fabrics, spices, lamps, and local handicrafts, transport you to the old Qatar, before it became a great city with skyscrapers.
In the souk you can stroll, buy some souvenirs, have a traditional tea or coffee and try typical Qatari food in one of the many restaurants there, such as Abo Shariha Restaurant. The gastronomy is very similar to that of Dubai and the rest of the Persian Gulf countries, you won't be short of a good hummus, falafel or mutabal.
We came to the souk in the morning and then to have dinner before returning to the airport to catch our flight to Kuala LumpurIt's ideal for taking the metro to the airport afterwards.
Don't stop doingcaryou to the souk area with falcon shops (Falcon Souq) the national bird of the country and which the emirs treat almost better than their own children, some of them They can cost tens of thousands of eurosIt's quite a sight to behold. Nearby, you'll also find an outdoor area with a camel market.
Hay several interesting museums to see in DohaTo spend the hot hours we recommend you choose one of them.
Msheireb Museum
Just around the corner from the souk (5 minutes walk), within the trendy Msheireb district, is this free museum composed of a set of four converted traditional houses. They can be visited quickly and each one has a different theme; we went into three of them. If you want to spend more time there is a free audio guide which is accessed through an App.
These are the four house museums that exist:
- Bin Jelmood House: addresses the issue of slavery in the region with a critical approach. It's one of the few museums in the Gulf that deals with this topic openly. There are quite interesting images and stories.
- Company House: shows how oil was discovered and how the first workers in this sector lived.
- Radwani House: recreates the daily life of a Qatari family in the 20th century.
- Mohammed Bin Jassim House: talks about the urban development of Doha and the Msheireb neighborhood itself.
The Msheireb Museum Open from 07:00 a.m. to 22.00:XNUMX p.m. Every day with a break from 12.30:15.00 to 12.30:XNUMX, except Fridays when it only opens from XNUMX:XNUMX.
Doha Museum of Islamic Art
Another important museum you could visit is the Islamic Art MuseumIt stands out for its modern architecture and its privileged seafront location surrounded by gardens. The building appears to float on the water and is one of Doha's cultural symbols.Inside, there is one of the world's most important collections of Islamic art, with historical pieces explained with carTVs in English.
This museum is open from 09.00:19.00 a.m. to XNUMX:XNUMX p.m. except Fridays when it opens at 13.30:XNUMX p.m. Closed WednesdaysIn this case, you have to pay an entrance fee; for adults, it costs around €12.
We didn't go because of the heat, but we think it's worth it even if you don't go in. acercarI'll see the venue.
National Museum of Qatar
The last of the museums we recommend you visit in Doha in one day is the National Museum of Qatar. Opened in 2019, what's most striking is its avant-garde architecture. The building is inspired by the shape of a desert rose, and just from the outside it is worth a quick visit.
Inside the museum, the history, culture and transformation of Qatar are explained, from its Bedouin past to the oil age and the near future of the country, all from a very personal point of view. inversiveIt is one of the best places What to see on your stopover in Doha if you are going with children.
The entrance to the museum costs about 6€ and is open from 09.00:19.00 a.m. to XNUMX:XNUMX p.m. except Fridays when it opens at 13.30:XNUMX p.m. Tuesday is closed.
We didn't go because of the heat, but we think it's worth it even if you don't go in. acercarI'll see the venue.
Villaggio Shopping Center
Villaggio is the shopping center most popular and curious thing to see in Doha due to canals with gondolas in its interior inspired by Venice and a false sky throughout the premises. We arrived by subway (gold line) to shelter from the heat and eat.
Inside this shopping center you have a wide variety of alternatives, you can take advantage of walking through its halls full of stores that simulate little houses, go to the amusement park inside called Gondolania o take advantage of eating in one of the restaurants you will find inside.
Katara Cultural Village
It is a site called "cultural village" that seeks to preserve and promote Qatari culture and artIt's a pleasant place to walk, with pretty streets and painted murals on some of them.
Some notable places you can visit:
- The Golden Mosque and Blue MosqueWe entered the blue one, they let you stay there to cover up, and entry is free.
- The open-air amphitheater, overlooking the sea, where there are sometimes free shows.
- Art galleries and exhibition centers, which change according to the season.
- Katara Beach, one of the few accessible to the public in the city center.
The easiest way to get there is with the red metro line which drops you off right at the entrance to the complex. We took the golden one at the shopping center and changed buses. When you search in Google Maps shows you everything very well..
The Pearl-Qatar, the most luxurious area to see in Doha
The Pearl is an artificial island that looks like a mini Dubai with its modern skyscrapers, marinas with yachts, luxury shops and restaurants.
At The Pearl there is two main areas that you can visit:
- Porto Arabia, a demonstration of Qatari luxury… a pleasant promenade, with views of boats and buildings.
- Qanat Quartierrecreates a Venetian-style neighborhood, with canals, bridges, and pastel-colored facades. The emirs seem to have a minor obsession with Venice, but it's undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places to see in Doha in one day.
Corniche, Doha's skyline
The best place to To end your stopover in Doha is the Corniche, which you can also reach by taking the red metro line.
The Corniche is the promenade that runs along the bay, offering views of the city skyline. It stretches 7 km along the sea, surrounded by palm trees, gardens, and benches where you can sit and enjoy the atmosphere.
El The best time to visit is at dusk or at night.When the temperatures drop, there is a slight breeze and the skyscrapers light up.
Other recommendations for stopovers in Doha in 1 day
For most travelers, No visa or prior formalities are required to visit Qatar. during a layover. You simply arrive, go through immigration, and can go out and explore the city without any problems. You just need a valid passport or with a exit ticket.
If your second flight leaves early in the morning and you want to sleep a few hours before leaving, we recommend staying in the hotels next to the airport such as VIP Hotel.
Having Internet during your stopover in Doha It is very useful, there are plans to eSims from 1 day that allow you to have unlimited internet in a super simple way.
Finally, don't forget to select travel insurance with coverage world or add Arab Emirates to the coverage countries to be protected during your stopover. We leave you a discount and a comparison between Iati and Heymondo, our favorites for short-term trips.
So far our little one Guide on what to see in Doha in 1 day, a city that is ideal for a one-day stopover on the way to other countries such as Malaysia o Indonesia.
