Things to do in and around Doha

Who this is for

Anyone in Qatar looking for ideas for a free afternoon, a weekend or a day out of the city, whether visiting or living here. It covers public places and landmarks; it does not review or rank restaurants, hotels or tour companies.

Before you start

• A way to get around: the Doha Metro covers many city sites, while day trips outside Doha usually need a car or taxi.
• Clothes that cover the shoulders and knees, which Visit Qatar recommends for public places.
• Water, sun protection and a charged phone, especially for outdoor walks and trips to the desert or coast.
• For the Inland Sea or the mangroves: a four-wheel-drive vehicle, or a booking with a tour company.

Steps

1. Start at the Corniche and the bay

   The Corniche is a curved promenade of about 7 km around Doha Bay, with views of the West Bay towers. People walk, cycle and take boat rides here, and traditional wooden dhows wait along the water for short trips or evening cruises. The Museum of Islamic Art and its park sit on the same waterfront, and Al Bidda Park, with free entry, playgrounds and running and cycling tracks, is close by. Nearest metro: Corniche station or Al Bidda station.

2. Walk through Souq Waqif and Msheireb

   Souq Waqif stands on the site of Doha's old trading market. Its lanes hold shops for spices, gold, pearls and crafts, art galleries, a falcon souq and many cafes and restaurants that stay open late. Next door, Msheireb Downtown Doha is a newer district whose design draws on Qatari building traditions; it includes the Msheireb Museums in four heritage houses, and a free tram loops around it. Metro: Souq Waqif station (Gold Line) or Msheireb station, where the Red, Green and Gold lines meet.

3. Spend an evening at Katara, The Pearl or Lusail

   Katara Cultural Village lies between West Bay and The Pearl, with an amphitheatre, galleries, a planetarium, mosques, restaurants and a public beach; metro: Katara station (Red Line). The Pearl is a man-made island with marinas, canals, shops and restaurants in areas such as Porto Arabia and Qanat Quartier; Visit Qatar points to Legtaifiya station (Red Line) and then the M110 Metrolink bus. Lusail Boulevard is the main street of downtown Lusail, lined with places to eat and shop and lit up for shows in winter; it is served by the Lusail Tram, which connects to the metro at Lusail and Legtaifiya stations.

4. Relax in Aspire Park

   Aspire Park is one of the largest green spaces in Doha, with lawns, play areas, a running track, outdoor exercise equipment, cafes and a lake. Entry is free and Visit Qatar lists it as open 24 hours. Metro: Al Aziziyah station (Gold Line), followed by a walk of about 15 minutes.

5. Day trip north: Al Khor and Al Thakira mangroves

   Al Khor is an old coastal town about 60 km north of Doha, roughly 45 minutes by car. It has a corniche with fishing dhows, old watchtowers, a park and zoo, and a small museum. Without a car, you can take the metro to Lusail station and then a bus towards Al Khor. About 17 km north-east of Al Khor are the Al Thakira mangroves, one of the oldest and largest mangrove forests in Qatar and a nature reserve since 2006. Tour companies run kayak and paddleboard trips through the channels, and Visit Qatar suggests an off-road vehicle to reach the forest itself.

6. Day trip north-west: Al Zubarah

   Al Zubarah, about 100 km north-west of Doha, is the remains of an 18th and 19th century pearling and trading town, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013. Its fort is the best-known landmark. You reach it by car or taxi. Entry is ticketed, and Qatar Museums lists opening hours of 9am to 5pm Saturday to Thursday and 12:30pm to 5pm on Friday. A shuttle links the fort and the old town area.

7. Day trip south: the Inland Sea (Khor Al Adaid)

   Khor Al Adaid, also called the Inland Sea, is in the south-east near the Saudi border, about 80 km from Doha. Here the sea reaches deep into the desert between high sand dunes. It is a protected nature reserve and is on UNESCO's Tentative List. There are no paved roads, so the area is reached only by four-wheel drive; many people go on a desert safari with a tour company.

8. Put together a day or a weekend

   One simple plan: on day one, walk the Corniche in the morning, visit the waterfront museums, then spend the evening in Souq Waqif and Msheireb, which are one metro stop apart on the Gold Line. On day two, choose one trip out of Doha, north to Al Khor, the mangroves or Al Zubarah, or south to the Inland Sea, and return in time for an evening at Katara, The Pearl or Lusail Boulevard. Check the Qatar Calendar on Visit Qatar for events happening during your dates.

Good to know

• Doha Metro has three lines, Red, Green and Gold, which all meet at Msheireb station. The Lusail Tram links to the metro at Lusail and Legtaifiya, and the Msheireb Tram is free.
• Visit Qatar notes that the metro pauses on Friday mornings for Friday prayers, so check service times before you set out.
• Many outdoor events and the evening shows on Lusail Boulevard take place in the cooler winter months.
• Al Thakira and Khor Al Adaid are protected natural areas. Stay on marked tracks, take your rubbish with you and follow any signs on site.
• Dogs on a leash are welcome in Al Bidda Park, according to Visit Qatar.
• Tour companies, dhow operators and restaurants mentioned in passing are private businesses. This guide does not recommend any of them.