Things to do · Doha · Qatar
16 best things to do in Doha
16 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Spetsnaz 1991, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
The essential sights in Doha are Museum of Islamic Art, National Museum of Qatar and Souq Waqif. Of the 16 picks below, 10 are free, 6 work on a rainy day and 5 suit children. Allow about 3 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Museum of Islamic Art
- Free sights
- 10
- Good on a rainy day
- Museum of Islamic Art
- Time to see the highlights
- 3 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Museum of Islamic Art | Corniche | 2–3 hours | Low cost |
| National Museum of Qatar | Corniche | 2–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Souq Waqif | Souq Waqif and Old Doha | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Falcon Souq | Souq Waqif and Old Doha | 30 minutes | Free |
| Doha Corniche | Corniche | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Dhow cruise on Doha Bay | Corniche | 30 minutes to 2 hours | Low cost |
| Katara Cultural Village | Katara | 2–3 hours | Free |
| The Pearl and Qanat Quartier | The Pearl | 2 hours | Free |
| Msheireb Museums | Msheireb Downtown | 2–3 hours | Low cost |
| Qatar National Library | Education City | 1 hour | Free |
| Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art | Education City | 1–1.5 hours | Low cost |
| 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum | Aspire Zone | 2 hours | Mid-priced |
| Aspire Park | Aspire Zone | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Old Doha Port | Corniche | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Lusail Boulevard | Lusail | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Msheireb Downtown walk | Msheireb Downtown | 1 hour | Free |
The 16 best things to do
Museum · Corniche
1.Museum of Islamic Art
I. M. Pei designed this geometric limestone museum, opened in 2008, on its own promontory off the Corniche. Inside, a soaring atrium leads to galleries of manuscripts, ceramics, metalwork, textiles and jewellery spanning more than a thousand years from Spain to Central Asia. The surrounding MIA Park has lawns, cafés and Richard Serra's steel sculpture '7'.
Walk out along MIA Park in the late afternoon for the classic view of the West Bay skyline across the water.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Views
Museum · Corniche
2.National Museum of Qatar
Jean Nouvel's museum, opened in 2019, is built from interlocking discs inspired by the desert rose crystal and wraps around the restored early 20th-century palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani. Its immersive galleries move from Qatar's geology and Bedouin life to pearl diving and the oil era, with large-scale film projections.
Allow time for the restored Old Palace in the central courtyard, which many visitors miss.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Market · Souq Waqif and Old Doha
3.Souq Waqif
A restored market on the site of Doha's old trading souq, with mud-rendered walls, wooden beams and lanes selling spices, dates, perfume, textiles and handicrafts. Restaurants and shisha cafés fill the main walkway at night, and the adjoining Gold Souq and animal and bird markets are a short walk away.
Come after sunset, when the souq is at its liveliest, and eat at one of the grill restaurants on the main lane.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- After dark
Market · Souq Waqif and Old Doha
4.Falcon Souq
On the edge of Souq Waqif, shops sell hooded falcons, leather gloves, hoods and training gear to Qatari falconers, and birds perch on stands inside. A specialist falcon hospital is next door. It is one of the most authentic glimpses of a living Gulf tradition.
Ask politely before photographing the birds or their owners; most shopkeepers are happy to talk about falconry.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Kids
- History
Waterfront · Corniche
5.Doha Corniche
A 7-kilometre crescent promenade around Doha Bay links the Museum of Islamic Art with West Bay, with palm-lined paths, lawns, playgrounds and views of moored dhows. Families, runners and cyclists fill it from late afternoon in the cooler months, and the skyline is lit up after dark.
Walk the stretch from MIA Park to the Sheraton Park in the early evening, then take the Red Line back from West Bay.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
- Kids
- After dark
Experience · Corniche
6.Dhow cruise on Doha Bay
Traditional wooden dhows moored along the Corniche take passengers out into Doha Bay for short trips with views of the West Bay towers and the Museum of Islamic Art. Longer evening cruises add dinner on board, and the skyline is most impressive after dark.
Agree the length of the trip and the price before boarding shared dhows on the Corniche.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes to 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Kids
- Views
- After dark
Neighbourhood · Katara
7.Katara Cultural Village
A seafront cultural district between West Bay and The Pearl with a Greek-style amphitheatre, galleries, a mosque covered in blue and turquoise tiles, a gold-tiled mosque, traditional pigeon towers and restaurants. Katara Beach has calm water and water sports for a fee.
Visit in the late afternoon to see the tiled mosque in daylight, then eat at the waterfront restaurants as the sun sets.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Art
- Couples
- Photo spot
Waterfront · The Pearl
8.The Pearl and Qanat Quartier
The artificial island of The Pearl has Porto Arabia's marina promenade lined with cafés and luxury boutiques and Qanat Quartier, a Venice-inspired quarter of pastel houses, canals and footbridges. It is a pleasant place for an evening walk and waterfront dinner.
Head to Qanat Quartier around golden hour, when the pastel façades photograph best.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Food
Museum · Msheireb Downtown
1.Msheireb Museums
Four restored heritage houses in Msheireb tell Qatar's modern story: Bin Jelmood House on the history of slavery in the Indian Ocean world, Company House on the first oil workers, Mohammed Bin Jassim House on the district's rebuilding and Radwani House on family life before oil.
Start with Bin Jelmood House, the most moving of the four, and allow about 30–45 minutes for each house.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Architecture · Education City
2.Qatar National Library
Rem Koolhaas's OMA designed this library as a single vast hall with terraced white shelving folding up from the floor. A sunken Heritage Library holds rare manuscripts, maps and early printed books about the Arab world. Visitors can walk through freely.
Combine it with a ride on the Education City tram and a visit to Mathaf nearby.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Photo spot
Gallery · Education City
3.Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art
Housed in a converted school in Education City, Mathaf holds one of the largest collections of modern and contemporary Arab art, with rotating exhibitions drawn from works by artists across the Arab world from the late 19th century onwards.
Check what exhibitions are on before you go; the museum changes its displays regularly.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Aspire Zone
4.3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum
Next to Khalifa International Stadium, this museum opened in 2022 covers the history of sport from ancient times to the modern Olympics and Qatar's own athletes. Interactive zones let visitors test their speed, balance and reactions, which makes it a strong pick for children.
Leave time for the interactive Sports Zone at the end, where children can try different sports.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Park · Aspire Zone
5.Aspire Park
Doha's largest park has a lake with ducks, shaded lawns, playgrounds and jogging paths, with the Torch Doha tower and Khalifa International Stadium as a backdrop. Families picnic here on winter weekends.
Visit from late afternoon in the cooler months, when local families gather around the lake.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
Waterfront · Corniche
6.Old Doha Port
The redeveloped port next to the Museum of Islamic Art has a Mina District of brightly painted low-rise buildings with cafés, small shops and seafood restaurants, plus the cruise terminal and marina. It is a relaxed spot for a coffee and a walk by the water.
Walk here from MIA Park and stay for dinner at one of the seafood restaurants.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Photo spot
- Food
- Couples
Street · Lusail
7.Lusail Boulevard
A wide promenade lined with towers, fountains and cafés running through the new city of Lusail, often used for festivals and celebrations. The Place Vendôme mall, with its canal and evening fountain show, and the Lusail Stadium are nearby.
Ride the Lusail Tram between the boulevard, the marina and the mall instead of walking in the heat.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Shopping
- Architecture
Neighbourhood · Msheireb Downtown
8.Msheireb Downtown walk
Msheireb's shaded streets are designed to stay cooler than the surrounding city, with narrow lanes, courtyards and pale stone façades reinterpreting traditional Qatari architecture. A free tram loops the district, linking Barahat Msheireb square, cafés and the heritage houses.
Use the free tram to get your bearings, then explore on foot from Barahat Msheireb.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | Museum of Islamic Art, National Museum of Qatar, Katara Cultural Village and Msheireb Museums |
| History | National Museum of Qatar, Falcon Souq, Msheireb Museums and 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum |
| Views | Museum of Islamic Art, Doha Corniche and Dhow cruise on Doha Bay |
| Outdoors and nature | Doha Corniche and Aspire Park |
| Food and markets | Souq Waqif, Falcon Souq, The Pearl and Qanat Quartier and Old Doha Port |
| After dark | Souq Waqif, Doha Corniche, Dhow cruise on Doha Bay and Lusail Boulevard |
| With children | Falcon Souq, Doha Corniche, Dhow cruise on Doha Bay and 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum |
| On a rainy day | Museum of Islamic Art, National Museum of Qatar, Msheireb Museums and Qatar National Library |
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Doha?
Museum of Islamic Art. I.
+What can you do for free in Doha?
Souq Waqif, Falcon Souq, Doha Corniche, Katara Cultural Village and The Pearl and Qanat Quartier. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Doha when it rains?
Head indoors to Museum of Islamic Art, National Museum of Qatar, Msheireb Museums and Qatar National Library.
+What is there to do in Doha at night?
Souq Waqif, Doha Corniche, Dhow cruise on Doha Bay and Lusail Boulevard are best after dark.