Qatar recently took a page out of Iceland’s tourism recipe book. They created a free 72 hour stopover visa for most nationals. Then they made things even easier and made it super fast to apply online. This basically means that, if you have an onward ticket, and stay less than 72 hours, you can explore this beautiful country!
One of the highlights of the area around Doha is the seemingly endless, ever-changing sand dunes. Many companies offer a popular ‘dune bashing tour’ of the area, often including a stop at the inland sea, a natural border between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Sometimes you may get the opportunity to ride a camel several metres, but they’re mostly sad-looking animals covered in flies, and depending on your desire to support questionable animal treatment companies, you may want to forgo this tourist attraction
View of The Pearl from Dhow Harbour
Birds for sale at the Old Souk
Museum of Islamic Art
Dune Bashing
Inland Sea – looking out to Saudi Arabia
Depending on the company, dune bashing can be a bit of a wild ride, but you can always go for a ‘gentler ride’. Seeing the shifting, massive sandhills and the inland sea is something not to be missed. These types of dunes can only be seen in Qatar, and in Namibia. Take the chance if you get it!
In the city of Doha, there is a wide array of activities and sights to see. Public transport is minimal, but uber is a fairly inexpensive alternative to taxis, and you can be sure that you aren’t overpaying. While some activities are walking distance apart from each other, the city is quite spread out and to walk from the Pearl to the old Souk is about 15 kilometres.
Unless you have a strong desire for high end shopping and checking out the idyllic apartment complexes of the rich and famous, the Pearl is actually quite boring to meander around. It is much more beautiful as a view, with probably the best view being from the harbour (check out the pearl monument as well, while you’re there).
Qatars national drink appears to be Karak tea, a sweet, milky concoction that is actually, quite delicious (definitely not your grandmothers earl grey blend…). Grab a cup at Bandar’s take out cafe at the dhow harbour while you take in the view.
Many sights can be seen within walking distance from the harbour, including the Islamic museum, and also the brand new state museum (opening in 2018).
The old souk traditional market is a ten minute walk south, there is a beautiful boardwalk beside the water, and there are a number of stunning mosques nearby. Be conscientious about the time you visit, and the door that you enter in, as there are often separate men’s and women’s entrances.
Farther away, about 15 minutes drive, is the beautiful Katara Cultural Centre and Village. At the entrance, tuktuks and drivers are able to provide free tours around the village, definitely better than getting lost in the narrow streets in the heat of the day. The village is home to several beautiful smaller mosques, one of the best seafood restaurants (L’wzaar) in the city, a stunning marble amphitheatre, beautiful public beaches, and many shops selling local food, drink, and traditional art and handicrafts. There is also a music school for students to come and learn traditional musical instruments.
Gold Mosque in the Katara Cultural Centre
Marble Amphitheatre
Unfortunately, I was there only on a day trip, but Qatar by night is supposed to be beautifully lit, and there are many overnight tours to camps in the desert.
I was unsure what to expect in terms of the level of English, safety as a solo female traveler, and whether or not I would be the only tourist around, but I was pleasantly surprised on every account.
Nearly everyone I came into contact with spoke excellent English, and went out of their way to welcome me to the country. At two separate activities (a museum, and an exhibit at the pearl), I was allowed to come in, even though they were closed (one on that day, one was opening shortly), when they heard that I was only in town for the day. I wasn’t allowed to pay for anything (with the exception of an uber ride) throughout the day (in the morning on my tour, my guide insisted on paying for lunch and our tea break, even though neither were covered by the cost of the tour), and after, I tried to pay for my own tea in the market, and it was pressed into my hand and the shop worker insisted that it was free of charge.
While I carried around a scarf with me and covered my head in the mosques I entered, I never felt out of place in the streets in my capris and t-shirt. There were tourists who were more covered, and many that were less. Doha appears to be quickly developing itself as a cosmopolitan city, and good, or bad, is welcoming all the things that come with it.
If you are in the area and looking for a desert excursion, or other local tour, I would highly recommend Falcon tours. (I did not receive any compensation for this tour – they are a fantastic company and well-worth checking out).
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