Doha, the capital of Qatar, is a seaside city which combines tradition and modernity. Its many towers and large highways with expensive cars coexist with the old architecture and respect to traditional values. Although no fascinating ancient temples or the best tropical beach can be found here, I liked the ambience of this safe and clean city which is full of expatriates coming from different countries. Of course the experience of each person varies greatly and this article presents the experience of a person that visits Qatar on holidays and cannot deal with matters that would require further investigation. The visitor of Doha will have the chance to explore modern museums, traditional neighbourhoods, the Corniche, and many restaurants that sometimes serve good quality food. I particularly enjoyed the latter, since I am fond of Arabic cuisine. Although Doha can be extremely hot during summer, I would say that you can visit it anytime. After all, I went to the desert in July and I survived! Although Doha is a very safe place where you can easily find a reliable taxi, some people may decide that they prefer to book their transfer from the airport in advance.
Where to stay in Doha
Staying close to Souq Waqif is a good idea for the people who want to be in walking distance of some major sights and are fond of traditional neighbourhoods. On the other hand, travellers who prefer a more luxurious and expensive lifestyle could choose to stay on the Pearl, an artificial island with an area of nearly four square kilometres. However. take into consideration that Doha is mainly made for cars and eventually you will have to use a taxi in order to explore the city. Hence, it may be better to book a hotel or apartment that meets your needs regardless of its exact location. After all, the city is not that big.
What to visit in Doha
1) Souq Waqif
Souq Waqif is the old market of Doha where spices, traditional clothes, perfumes, jewellery, and food are sold. There are also a lot of restaurants, cafes, and shops that sell pets, including a lot of birds and even falcons. Singers and dancers, both males and females, can be seen perfoming on stages wearing traditional garments. Some men are proudly carrying their swords while dancing. Souq Waqif is visited by many people and there is usually a festive atmosphere.
2) Museum of Islamic Art
The Museum of Islamic Art is a modern and elegant museum in Doha Corniche. It’s an impressive five-storey building with artifacts from Qatar, Iran, Irak, Turkey, Egypt, India and other countries. There was also a special exhibition about Syria when I visited the museum. Statues, paintings, manuscripts, jars, weapons, and armours can be found in the Museum of Islamic Art. Although the artifacts displayed are not the most impressive I have ever seen, I think that a visit to this museum is an absolutely great idea, because it presents the culture of different countries efficiently.
4) Doha Corniche
The Doha Corniche is a 7 km long promenade where a lot of important celebrations take place. It’s a very popular place for tourists and residents of the city. The Museum of Islamic Art is located on its one end, and consequently you can visit both of them on the same day.
4) National Museum of Qatar
The National Museum of Qatar is a new elegant museum inspired by the desert rose crystal, which is found in Qatar. The building itself is fascinating, but I particurarly liked Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani’s old Palace, which is included in the National Museum of Qatar. Archaeological objects, weapons, pottery, textiles ,traditional garments, jewelry, and books are housed in the museum. Similarly to the Museum of Islamic Art, the artifacts displayed in this museum are not the most impressive I have ever seen. Nevertheless, the overall experience of visiting the National Museum of Qatar was extremely interesting, since its modern displays present Qatar’s cultural heritage in an engaging way.
5) Desert safari
From Doha it’s very easy and actually recommended to book a desert safari, since it is a wonderful experience. The one I booked started with camel riding and drinking hot tea, having two choices, white or black tea. The actual driving through the desert and sometimes close to the ocean after the driver deflated the wheels was really engaging. Going up and down while driving on the sand dunes and at the same time admiring a beautiful scenery makes you feel like a child in the fun park!
