Countless times I have landed in Qatar Airways in Doha and have always said that I have to look at such a city with such an impressive airport! On our trip to Australia, I finally managed to spend two days in the capital of Qatar. Since I only had 2 days to explore the city, I was afraid that it would be too short to get a feel for the city and the people. But I was wrong!
If you’re not sure what to do in the magical city in the Middle East, take a look at what we’ve done in 48 hours.
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Where to stay
It was not so easy to make the right choice at the luxurious Doha hotel deal, but we chose the Sheraton Grand Doha!
Why?
It is one of the few hotels that also has a beach. If we are already in a warm country, we always want to spend some time on the water and of course in the sun! Also, from the beach you have direct views of Doha’s skyline and if that’s not enough, you can visit the Nusr-ET restaurant on the hotel grounds.
We did not make it locally, but I have seen many impressive moments from the Nusr-ET restaurants on Instagram. We had dinner in the restaurant “La Veranda” on the seafront overlooking the skyline. The Shearaton Grand Doha is a great place to relax before heading on the next trip! The central location is ideal for exploring the city and spending little time in the car.
The Sheraton Grand Doha won me directly when the airport shuttle had Wi-Fi. I also liked the modern equipment of the gym with sea view !
What to do
Visit the Museum of Islamic Art
The Museum of Islamic Art is an absolute must in Doha. It represents Islamic art from three continents and over 1,400 years. The building itself is also beautiful, with a downstairs café and a gorgeous upstairs gourmet restaurant with spectacular views of the Doha skyline.
Visit Katara Cultural Village
Opened in 2010, Katara Cultural Village is not only a beautiful place, but also offers various workshops, exhibitions and celebrations throughout the year. Katara Masjid is one of the most beautiful masjids in Qatar and you should definitely see them! Also the way to the Katara Cultural Village is the exciting development of the city of Doha.
Visit the famous Souq Waqif
We visited the Souq Waqif during the day, I can not recommend that to you!
Visit him in the evening when not only the tourists are there, but also the locals. In many shops you can see spices and crafts and, of course, take home as a gift.
Shopping
An absolute shopping highlight is the Venetian-style Mall. As in Venice, you can take the ferries through the mall. At shops you will not miss a big name here!
Things to know
- In the summer months it can be up to 50 degrees. In November it is between 25 degrees and 30 degrees. We found it very pleasant!
- Qatar is a Muslim country. Especially as a woman you should always try to cover his shoulders and knees. This makes you feel safer and avoids unpleasant situations.
- During Ramadan in Doha you can not eat in public places from sunrise to sunset.
- No alcohol may be brought into the country. Alcohol on the spot is not necessarily cheap.
- In Doha there are taxis but also UBER, which you can order via the app.
- Doha is also preparing to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022, for which the country will build 12 eco-friendly stadiums, some of which can accommodate up to 80,000 people.
- If you’re flying with Qatar Airways, you can enjoy a 5-star Doha hotel stay for only $ 23 offered by Qatar Airways and the Qatar Tourism Authority as part of their Qatar stopover program. This applies to both economy and business class tickets. Find out more here: Experience Qatar during your stopover.
So do not forget to check Qatar Airways on your next long-haul flight to see if you can make a quick stopover in Doha.