Salam Alaikum!
State of Qatar, a country located in the Middle East on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula with a population of just over 3 million people. Arabic is the official language of Qatar, with Qatari Arabic or Gulf Arabic being the local dialect. Doha is the capital city and is home to most of the country's population.
Getting to Doha
It is about 6h30min flight between London and Doha. There are direct flights operated by Qatar Airways and British Airways. Hamad International Airport is the only international airport in Qatar and it is the best airport that I have been to so far. You can reach Doha from the airport by using the metro, which is a great option as it only costs 2QAR. (£0.45/$0.55) Alternatively there is Uber available or taxis.
Accommodation
Wherever you prefer to stay at the hotel or have more space and rather to have a whole apartment the options are there for you. You can stay at the Airbnb at the pearl island or in one of many hotels available throughout the city. There are hotel brands such as Marriott, Hilton, Four Seasons, Kempinski and many more as you would find anywhere else in the world. Personally I have stayed at the Central Inn Souq Waqif hotel, which is perfectly located, under ten minutes walk from Souq Waqif, the metro station is five minutes walk from the hotel. The hotel was great value for money, staff were great and were always happy to help.
What to see & do
I absolutely fell in love with the Middle East, being in Israel and the UAE, Qatar definitively met my high expectations! there is so much to do and see, not only in Doha itself but in the whole country.
If you like to find out about the culture and history, then Museum of Islamic Arts and the National Museum of Qatar is a must on your itinerary. Stay in Doha would not be complete without a visit to Souq Waqif, which is a market place located in central Doha. You can buy pretty much everything there and the atmosphere is amazing. There is also many different restaurants and shisha lounges.
Katara cultural village. Easily accessible by metro, it is a perfect place to experience culture, art and cuisine. Visit the Katara Mosque Designed by Turkey’s Zeynep Fadilloglu, who is believed to be the first female architect to specialize in mosques. Next to the mosque, you can see the unmistakable pigeon towers – oblong structures with holes and perches for pigeons. The second mosque in Katara is the Gold Mosque, although a lot smaller, it is definitely worth a look at!
Head over to the amphitheater which is a Greek style amphitheater, that reflects Islamic influences, particularly in its arched entrances. There are great views over the sea from there.
There are many different restaurants, including tasty street which is heaven for food lovers. From delicious burgers and sandwiches to pastries and sweets, from coffee and karak to juices and smoothies, you name it and Tasty Street has it all. If you want to experience the great culinary adventure of tasty street, then please note that it opens at 3pm.
The Pearl Island - It is a man made island offering high end shopping and dining as well as some of Doha's best hotel options. You can reach the island by taking the metro to Legtaifiya station and then hop on a free bus that will take you to the island. The island is so prestigious that even its bus stops are air-conditioned. When on the island, make sure to visit the Qanat Quartier district where you will transport yourself into Middle Eastern Venice! wonder around the colorful buildings and enjoy a coffee by the canals.
The Corniche is one of Doha's most iconic attractions. It is a seven kilometer promenade overlooking the waterfront. There are parks, restaurants and kids playgrounds along the corniche. Make sure to see the pearl monument and take a dhow boat ride. They are very lively in the evenings, if you prefer to do it at quieter time then do it during the day. I have paid 100QAR for a private dhow boat ride and I think it is very good price.
Shopping
If you are looking for some more retail therapy other than Souq Waqif, then head over to the Villaggio mall. Once again very easy to get to by the metro. The Al Aziziyah metro station is just outside the mall. You will find all very well known international brands there, will be able to get something to eat and even can do some ice skating. Looks like the Qataris rally like Italy as the mall looks like Venice again and you can even take a gondola ride through the canal in the mall.
Another shopping mall in Doha is the Mall of Qatar, Served by the metro station Al Riffa, the mall offers plenty of shopping, dining and entertainment options such as Kidzmondo which is an international educational-entertainment park for kids ages 2 to 14 and the Aviator Lounge where you can experience a unique flying simulation inside the Boeing 737-800 replica.
Food
Doha is a food paradise on earth. You will find all sorts of cuisines available, from Qatari and Middle Eastern to Italian. When in Qatar you need to try some local cuisine. I have tried the majboos in a restaurant called Bayt Sharq. I cannot recommend the place enough. It is more than just your standard restaurant and the food is delicious.
The Artist Cafe in the Pearl Island is where I have been offered a coffee with a mix of soy, almond and oat milk mixed together for the first time in my life!
Layali Al Qahira which is an Egyptian restaurant in Souq Waqif is where I had a chance to try one of the best chicken shawarma evr.
Outside of Doha
Head over to Lusail and see the Qatara Towers. Enjoy the walk along the beach front where you can grab a coffee or something to eat. You can easily reach Lusail waterfront by taking the metro and the tram.
Qatar is a perfect place for a desert safari. It is also one of the must dos when visiting the country. You can book many different safari packages, such as sunrise or sunset safari. You will be able to enjoy spectacular views over the Qatari desert while you are dune bashing on sand dunes over 50 meters high. You will also experience camel riding, sand boarding and can choose options to dine at the desert. It is truly amazing experience that I recommend everyone does at least once in their life.
Camel racing at Shahaniya camel race track. Domestic and international tournaments take place every Friday, from October to February, with major events such as HH the Emir’s Main Race held in March and April. Camel racing is so popular in the country that there is a TV channel dedicated to the transmission o races. If you happen to be in Qatar when there are no races, you can still visit the track in the mornings and see the camels training. A visit to Al Shahaniya offers a unique opportunity to admire some of the most expensive camels in the world.