Eyeing up a trip to Doha for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup? Here’s our edit of what to do when you’re not watching the footie.
1. Dune Bashing and Camel Riding in the Desert
It’s not all about the city in Qatar – there’s plenty of adventure waiting for you out in the desert. Camel riding is great and the camels are well-looked after by locals who have reared camels for generations. Horse riding is another fun option for animal lovers.
For petrol heads, it’s got to be a dune bashing adventure. Rent 4×4 quad bikes if you want to tackle the dunes yourself, or pay for a driver to take you out in a comfortable, air-conditioned Toyota Land Cruiser if you want to leave the driving to an expert. If you go on a desert tour with an expert guide, they’ll take you to the Inland Sea, which is spectacularly peaceful.
2. Visit 3-2-1 Qatar Olympics and Sports Museum
This new museum opened at the end of March 2022 and celebrates world sport. This excellent new museum is a must see for any sports fan – it covers everything from horse riding to football, athletics to F1. There are large collections of original artefacts, including a gallery dedicated to a gleaming collection of Olympic torches, dating back to the 1920s.
The downstairs activation zone is amazing – get yourself a 3-2-1 Tag and try out all of the interactive games. Every time you play a game it gets saved onto your profile and then you can download a personal profile based on your scores.
3. Explore Souq Waqif
Souq Waqif is a characterful market district that has been rebuilt in the Msheireb Old Town to capture the original style of a Qatari market.
It’s still busy with locals today, shopping for all manner of things, from food and spices, to fabrics and even live falcons. Falcons can cost over QAR100,000, so not the cheapest souvenir but definitely a memorable gift for someone at home!
4. Discover Local History at the National Museum of Qatar
Qatar has an impressive selection of museums and the National Museum is a must-see, for the architecture if nothing else.
The building has been designed in the form of a desert rose, a naturally occurring crystal-like structure that grows under the hot desert sand, and looks like a rose, with lots of petals.
Inside, the permanent galleries tell the story of Qatar’s history and development, and temporary exhibitions change with the season, more for the locals’ benefit than tourists probably.
5. Enjoy Watersports in The Pearl
The Pearl is a fancy shmancy area where lots of expats live. The place feels like it is dripping in money. The Ritz-Carlton and other luxury hotels can be found here, and are a nice lunch option for a special occasion.
Head out in a kayak or paddleboard and enjoy frollicking about on the calm waters, just keep an eye out for pesky boats nipping in and out of the marina – they’re the only waves you’ll have to tackle in this tranquil, cocooned zone.
6. Ride the longest indoor roller coaster at Doha Quest
Situated behind the Banyan Tree Doha hotel, Doha Quest is Qatar’s first indoor theme park with the longest indoor roller coaster in the world.
There are also fun water parks to visit out of the main city.
7. Chill out on the Beach
Qatar is the only place in the world where the desert directly meets the sea. Technically that might make Qatar the largest beach in the world…?
Al Wakra, a traditional fishing village, has a lovely 4km beach and the reconstructed village mimics what it would have looked like 200 years ago. Sandcastles and time travel – what more could you want?
Not all beaches are free though, because a lot of the coastline is managed by independent hotels. Sealine Beach Resort is a lovely out-of-town destination to spend a day. There’s a great buffet lunch served in a bedouin tent, and private cabanas are a touch of luxury and a safe place to leave your stuff when you pop into the sea for a swim. The resort is open to visitors from 8am – 5pm (QAR 300 per adult – quite pricey). The resort has 58 villas if you want to stay here.
8. Eat Dinner in the Revolving Three Sixty restaurant
OK, we could have picked almost anywhere to eat because the food in Qatar is great, but Three Sixty stands out from the crowd as the only revolving restaurant in Doha, with a great view looking over the entire city.
Three Sixty is in a building called The Torch, which towers over Qatar’s national stadium – one of the stadiums that will be hosting World Cup matches this winter.
We can’t be sure, but you may be able to see the Khalifa International Stadium pitch from your table, but remember the restaurant revolves so you’ll only catch snippets of the action below!
9. Take a Dhow Boat Cruise
Dhow Boats are the original wooden vessels that Qatari men would take out to sea for months on end, whilst hunting for pearls. This dangerous occupation cost many Qataris their lives, and did little to lift the population out of poverty, especially with the introduction of cultured pearls in the West.
Today it’s possible to enjoy a relaxed cruise around the bay in one of these historic wooden boats that have a slight resemblance to a mini pirate ship. Take it easy on the top deck, with a cold drink. Pick a sunset cruise for the best experience.
10. Chill Out in Katara Cultural Village
Katara Cultural Village is a hub of art, music, theatre and photography. The zone was created in 2010 and centres around a magnificent amphitheatre. Climb the Katara Hills (man made mounds, using excavated earth from Doha’s major building projects) for a beautiful view across the bay, capturing Msheireb (the Old Town) and West Bay (glass skyscrapers) in one magnificent landscape.
Bring an umbrella if you plan to get too close to Pigeon Towers… The towers, close to the Blue Mosque (Katara Masjid), can house up to 14,000 birds. Now that’s a lot of sh*t.
The two mosques in Katara are both particularly attractive. The Blue Mosque, designed by female Turkish architect, Zeynep Fadillioglu, captures the essence of Istanbul. Whereas the Golden Masjid is reflective of the Ottoman tradition, it’s gold-tiled walls glimmer in the hot sun.