Getting around · Doha · Qatar
Getting around Doha
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Spetsnaz 1991, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
The Doha Metro's three lines — Red, Green and Gold — connect the airport, Msheireb, Souq Waqif, West Bay, Education City and Lusail, and free feeder buses and trams fill some gaps. Taxis and ride-hailing apps cover everything else; distances are too long and summers too hot for much walking between districts. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Metro
- Airports
- DOH
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Doha Metro Travel Card
Ways to get around
Metro
Driverless trains run on the Red, Green and Gold lines with clean, air-conditioned stations. Standard class is inexpensive, and a Gold Club carriage costs more for extra space. Msheireb is the interchange for all three lines.
Buy a rechargeable Travel Card at any station rather than single tickets if you will ride several times.
Tram
The Lusail Tram links Lusail's marina, boulevard and Place Vendôme mall; a free tram loops around Msheireb Downtown; and the Education City tram connects the campus buildings, library and Mathaf.
Bus
Free Metrolink feeder buses connect many metro stations with surrounding neighbourhoods, and Mowasalat (Karwa) runs public bus routes across the city.
Taxi
Karwa taxis are metered and can be booked by app or found at ranks at malls, hotels and the airport. Fares are moderate, and most drivers accept cards.
Ride-hailing
Uber and Careem both operate in Doha and are popular for areas the metro does not reach, such as The Pearl and Katara.
Walking
The Corniche, Souq Waqif, Msheireb and Katara are pleasant on foot from November to March; outside those months, limit walking to early morning and evening.
Car
Roads are wide and fast, and a rental car is useful for Zubarah, Al Khor and the north. The dunes and the Inland Sea require a 4x4 with an experienced driver, so join a tour instead.
Speed cameras are common and fines are high; stick to the limits.
Tickets and passes
Doha Metro Travel Card
A rechargeable card for the metro and Lusail Tram, sold at station machines and counters; a day-pass option suits heavy sightseeing days.
From the airport
Hamad International Airport (DOH) is about 12 km from Souq Waqif. The Red Line metro runs from the terminal to Msheireb in about 20 minutes and on to West Bay and Lusail, and taxis take about 20–25 minutes to downtown. The airport is also the hub for many long transit connections, so short stopovers are easy.
Do you need a car?
No. The metro, taxis and ride-hailing apps cover the city. Rent a car only to explore the north (Zubarah, Al Khor) at your own pace; for the desert and Inland Sea, take a guided 4x4 tour.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Khor Al Adaid (Inland Sea) | About 1.5 hours each way by 4x4 | Guided 4x4 desert tour from Doha |
| Zubarah | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Car or organised tour |
| Al Wakrah | About 25 minutes by Red Line metro or car | Red Line metro or taxi |
| Al Thakhira mangroves | About 1 hour by car | Car or kayak tour |
| Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum | About 30–40 minutes by car | Car or taxi |
| Zekreet and East-West/West-East | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | 4x4 recommended for the final desert tracks |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Doha?
No. The metro, taxis and ride-hailing apps cover the city. Rent a car only to explore the north (Zubarah, Al Khor) at your own pace; for the desert and Inland Sea, take a guided 4x4 tour.
+How do you get from the airport to Doha?
Hamad International Airport (DOH) is about 12 km from Souq Waqif. The Red Line metro runs from the terminal to Msheireb in about 20 minutes and on to West Bay and Lusail, and taxis take about 20–25 minutes to downtown. The airport is also the hub for many long transit connections, so short stopovers are easy.
+What is the best way to get around Doha?
Metro: Driverless trains run on the Red, Green and Gold lines with clean, air-conditioned stations. Standard class is inexpensive, and a Gold Club carriage costs more for extra space. Msheireb is the interchange for all three lines.