Doha – Qatar´s instantly developing capital and one of the most popular stopovers on the way from Europe to Asia. It was difficult for me to believe that there’s a place where it’s cheaper to fill up your car than to eat at McDonald’s. However, once I landed in Doha, little by little, it all started to make sense… Check the top places not to miss during your stopover in Doha!
24hr Stopover in Doha was enough to be completely blown away with how fast this country was turned from a desert into such a modern city. World Cup 2022 has speeded up its expanding infrastructure even more. Despite the famous diplomatic crisis, which involved severing ties with UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Bahrain, Doha finds new partners and bursts with new projects&plans. On my next visit, Qatar will for sure flash me with some new architectural wonders.
Doha is much more than you could ever expect from the big-name stopover destination.
24hr Stopover in Doha: Top things to do
Museum of Islamic Art
From the impressive palm-lined entrance to the modern design inside of the building, the Museum of Islamic Art is your perfect starting point in the exploration of Doha’s culture. The museum offers various collections of Islamic art located on multiple floors. It has one of thebiggest collections of Islamic artifacts in the whole world! There is also a library and a restaurant inside the museum so that everyone can have a good time here. But what makes this place even more amazing is the free admission, who doesn’t like that?
The Pearl Monument
You might know that Qatar’s main revenue comes from oil and natural gas. But did you know that the pearl industry was Qatar’s main business in the past? This monument commemorates the history of Qatar while offering exceptional views over the Doha Bay.
Also Read: Epic Weekend in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Souq Waqif bazaar
Souq Waqif is the heart of Doha. As the heat and sun go down, this place comes alive. You can find everything in this spectacular bazaar: rugs, souvenirs, clothes, lamps, art, food, etc. This is a good way to learn more about local culture. Moreover, there are a lot of restaurants and shops, where you can indulge yourself into local cuisine. It’s an absolute must experience while in Qatar.
Doha Corniche
The Doha Corniche is a pretty waterfront promenade with different parks and a lot of palm trees. I visited Doha in February, when it wasn’t too hot and I was able to walk along the Doha Corniche. However, if you’re in Doha during the hotter months, it might not be the best idea to walk under the burning sun. I’d rather suggest you have a beautiful sunset stroll along the waterfront.
Also Read: Istanbul Layover – One Day in the City
Keep in mind that Doha is not quite a pedestrian-friendly city. For most places you want to visit, you’d need to take a taxi (public transportation is currently almost non-existent). I mean, why would the richest country in the world need public transportation, duh. The Doha Corniche is one of the few places in the city where you can have a nice walk once you’re tired of taxis.
The Pearl Qatar
If you want to see what can be done once you have a lot of money, then you should visit The Pearl Qatar. It’s a man-made island with lots of luxury boutiques, elite residential buildings, and international restaurants. Everything here just screams “money”. I really liked how some areas on this fancy island replicate famous European landmarks. Suddenly, you feel like you’re in Italy, the next moment you’re in Spain. It’s just incredible!
All in all, whether you have a 24hr stopover in Doha or the longer/shorter one – it is always a great idea!
Learning about a new culture, diving into a world of oil money – it might be shocking and overwhelming, at times. Nevertheless, it’s just a completely different way of life from the one we used to in the States or Europe. Qatar is the richest country in the world and they lose no time. Hope to explore more on my next visit.
If you’re looking for more travel tips and itineraries to plan your trip to Qatar or Doha – check my Pinterest board Middle East.
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It looks amazing there!
Jennifer
Effortlessly Sophisticated
What a beautiful place! I am very interested in islamic art and culture, and this really seems a place I must visit. Thank you so much for sharing!
Lindifique
I have been to Doha only at the airport, this amazing post truly inspiring. Thank you for sharing, cannot wait for the next awesome post.
xxx
http://www.richmomlife.com
Qatar looks like a super cool place. Can’t wait to visit it someday!
https://lifewithmins.blogspot.com
This looks like a great place to have a long layover in! The pearl monument is really cool and I love all the architecture. Thank you for sharing these recommendations and I love all the photos too!
x Kara | http://karascloset.net
Doha looks amazing! I’d love to visit some day. I’d also like to visit Dubai, I was only there for a few hours on a flight stopover and I felt bad for not being able to stay and visit.
Amazing pictures. Such a beautiful place.
Adi xx | http://www.fancycorrectitude.com
It’s so cool you got to have a 24hr layover at Qatar and then explore the place! The Pearl Monument is definitely quite the view! Thanks for sharing!
Eena ☼ cabin twenty-four
Doha would be a great place for a stopover. I’d love to go shopping at a bazaar.
I’d love to see that in person one day. I find Qatar and places like it in the Middle East to be so fascinating. The architecture and the sheer size and scope of what they do over there is amazing.
If you’re going to have a layover, that’s the place to do it! What a gorgeous city. I love the combination of old and new there. Really neat vibe.
Wow! I haven’t been in Doha, Qatar yet. It looks so exciting! I want to see Doha Corniche.
Qatar is 100% on my TO TRAVEL TO LIST – but thank you for this post because you’ve enabled me to postpone that trip for at least another few months, haha!
Doha, Qatar sounds like a great place to visit someday. You would probably find me at Souq Waqif since I’ll be busy buying and looking at all those interesting and cool stuff.
I really did not know Qatar had a big business with pearls before. It’s interesting to see the history of it though.
Oh my goodness, this place looks beautiful! Although I’ve never been to Qatar before myself, I would love to make my way over in the near future. Thanks for sharing all of this! 🙂
I’ve never been to Doha Qatar as of yet. I am hoping to go to Dubai next year if everything works out to plan. Would love a stopover in Doha!
Qatar is such a gorgeous city. I have always wanted to travel there. So much to do and see!
It’s my dream to go to Qatar! It looks so luxurious and over-the-top. I’d love to explore it myself.
The only time I’ve ever heard about Qatar is in 90 Day Fiance. It looks like a beautiful place to visit.
It is remarkable to think about how an area of tremendous desertification can be turned into a world class travel spot. I duff my hat to the creative geniuses behind its development.