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Qatar · November

Doha

Souqs, sea breezes and museums by the world’s great architects.
November is when Doha opens up — warm days, pleasant evenings and the outdoor season beginning along the Corniche. A short flight from Kuwait makes it an easy long weekend.
Currency
Qatari riyal (QAR)
Language
Arabic; English widely used
Airport
Hamad International (DOH), metro to centre
Getting around
Doha Metro, ride-hailing apps
Contents
01
4 places

Neighbourhoods

Doha is spread out; the metro links most areas worth visiting.
01
Souq Waqif
Neighbourhood · Old Doha
Restored lanes of spices, textiles and falcon shops, liveliest in the evening.
02
Msheireb Downtown
Neighbourhood · Centre
A new, walkable quarter built on Qatari courtyard principles, with heritage house museums.
03
West Bay & Corniche
Neighbourhood · Waterfront
The skyline district along a 7-km waterfront promenade.
04
Katara & The Pearl
Neighbourhood · North
A cultural village with an amphitheatre, beach and galleries, next to the island marinas.
02
4 places

See

World-class museums, all within a short ride.
01
Museum of Islamic Art
Museum · Corniche
I.M. Pei’s geometric limestone museum on its own island, with 14 centuries of Islamic art.
02
National Museum of Qatar
Museum · Corniche
Jean Nouvel’s interlocking discs inspired by the desert rose, telling Qatar’s story.
03
Falcon Souq
Heritage · Souq Waqif
Watch falcons being traded and tended, with a falcon hospital nearby.
04
Katara Mosques
Architecture · Katara
The gold-tiled mosque and the blue-and-gold mosque are among Doha’s most photographed buildings.
03
4 places

Eat

Levantine, Persian and Yemeni flavours alongside Qatari classics.
01
Damasca One
Syrian · Souq Waqif
A favourite for grills and mezze, with tables in the souq lanes.
02
Parisa
Persian · Souq Waqif
A mirrored, jewel-box dining room serving Persian classics.
03
Bandar Aden
Yemeni · Souq Waqif
Mandi and fahsa in a busy, no-frills setting.
04
Karak & chapati
Street snack · Across the city
Sweet spiced tea with a folded chapati — Doha’s everyday ritual.
04
3 places

Architecture & Design

One of the densest collections of contemporary architecture in the region.
01
Qatar National Library
Architecture · Education City
OMA’s vast, light-filled reading landscape, with books on tiered terraces.
02
3-2-1 Qatar Olympic & Sports Museum
Museum · Khalifa Stadium
A sports museum in a striking building beside Khalifa International Stadium.
03
Education City Mosque
Architecture · Education City
Two minarets rise from a mosque that seems to float on water.
05
3 places

Day Trips

Desert, dunes and the country’s UNESCO site.
01
Khor Al Adaid
Day trip · ~1.5 hrs south
The Inland Sea, where dunes meet the water. Go with a licensed 4x4 tour.
02
Al Zubarah
Day trip · ~1.5 hrs north-west
A UNESCO-listed fort and the remains of an 18th-century pearling town.
03
Purple Island
Day trip · Al Khor
Kayak or walk among the mangroves north of the city.
06
Notes

Practical

Small things that make the trip easier.
01
Dress modestly in souqs, malls and museums; shoulders and knees covered.
02
Many shops in the souq close for midday prayers, especially on Fridays.
03
The metro is clean and inexpensive; buy a travel card at any station.
04
Evenings can be breezy by the water — bring a light layer.
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