🕌 Doha in 48 hours: the perfect route around the capital of Qatar 🇶🇦
It is one of the fastest growing and safest cities in the world. In 2022, sports fans and the best football players on the planet gathered here to become part of the long-awaited World Cup. The former desert, whose population survived thanks to pearl fishing, has turned into a real pearl of the Persian Gulf. Did you recognize the city from the description? We have compiled a guide to Doha and tell you what this city has to offer.
Tips before your trip
- The weather in Doha depends on the season. If you are not afraid of high temperatures , book your trip for the summer. From April to October, the air outside the window heats up to +45-50°C. From November to March the situation improves and the temperature drops to +25°C.
- The national currency is the Qatari rial (1 QAR = 0.27 USD). You can exchange currency at the airport , bank or private points, where you will find the most favorable rate.
- Hotels have D and G type sockets with three-prong connectors, so make sure you have an adapter in advance.
- Head to Souq Waqif for the best souvenirs. Stop your choice on oriental lamps, carpets, dishes, sweets, coffee pots, jewelry, pearl jewelry and oil perfumes. By the way, don't forget to bargain.
- It is prohibited to import and export alcoholic beverages from the country, so do not plan a global purchase in duty free.
What food should I try?
Varak enab
Let's start with the appetizers. When you order this dish, you will see in front of you grape leaves stuffed with rice, beef and spices. Be sure to sprinkle the rolls with a slice of lemon. This light and flavorful dish can be eaten at any time of the day.
Balalit
If you want something sweet, spicy and salty at the same time for breakfast, pay attention to balalit. The first component of this dish is vermicelli, which is fried in syrup with the addition of saffron and cardamom. The second is a spicy omelette. Before serving, the two elements are combined on a plate, sprinkled with nuts and garnished with vegetables.
Mahbus
Makhbous can easily compete for the title of the most famous dish of Qatari cuisine. In Qatar, this relative of pilaf is as famous as paella in Spain, smørrebrød in Norway or pizza in Italy. Local chefs prepare machbous based on chicken and lamb, and modern versions do not exclude camel, fish or goat meat. A special aroma and texture is given by a bouquet of spices from cloves, cardamom, saffron, nutmeg, and thyme. You can try machbus in an establishment of any price category.
Umm Ali
It's time to move on to desserts. This Arabic bread pudding is made from puff pastry, dried fruits, raisins, and nuts. The mixture is poured with milk or cream and baked until golden brown. Before serving, the pudding is sprinkled with cinnamon and complemented with a cup of tea.
Mahalabia
We end the story about national cuisine on a sweet note. Mahalabiya consists of starch, which is mixed with milk, and then rose water, cinnamon and pistachios are added. The result is a dessert that closely resembles milk pudding. Order oriental coffee or tea to complement the sweetness of the treat.
How to get around the city?
Bus
Doha has an excellent bus service. The fare varies from $0.7 to $2.5 and depends on the length of the route. There is no need to pay the conductor or driver for the trip. To do this, always keep a Karwa Smartcard with you that costs $8.25 ($2.75 goes towards paying for the card and another $5.5 remains on your balance for future trips).
Metro
Unmanned trains are equipped with the latest technology and reach speeds of up to 100 km/h on the way. The cars are divided into three classes. A fare in the lowest segment costs $0.55, in the most expensive – $2.75.
Taxi
Many tourists prefer to travel around Qatar by taxi. For them, this is not a luxury, but the most affordable means of transportation. The taxi route does not depend on the weather and time of day, they are noticeable from afar thanks to their bright and eye-catching design, and their cost is not at all intimidating.
The minimum price for a trip from Tartu is from $2.75, and for each additional kilometer of travel in Doha you need to pay about $0.5.
Things to do?
Stroll along the Corniche
This is one of the most popular locations in Doha with modern luxury hotels and numerous skyscrapers. An evening walk along the embankment with a view of the high-rise buildings is a must-have vacation in Qatar. After this, make sure the nightlife in Qatar never stops.
The embankment stretches for 7.5 kilometers, and during a walk you can admire not only hotels and skyscrapers, but also the fish market, parks and squares, and the Museum of Islamic Art. By the way, a Hop-on Hop-off bus runs especially for tourists in Doha, which stops at the embankment. An excellent opportunity to take a walk here after a transport excursion.
Watch Formula 1 competitions
In 2021, Qatar hosted the Formula 1 Grand Prix for the first time, and these events will be held here regularly over the next 10 years.
The Formula 1 Grand Prix is not just a car race. This is a spectacle and an exciting battle at the Lusail Circuit, where the sound of engines and intense competition are accompanied by a vibrant show in an atmosphere of luxury. The first competition in Qatar was won by the famous Lewis Hamilton. You can see the outcome of the competition between the main racers on the planet in person during a trip to Qatar.
Experience history at Al Wajba Fort
This is the oldest fortress in Qatar, which was built in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It is located 30 minutes from Doha and is open to the public. In 1893, Ottoman forces attacked Al-Wajba, but local warriors repelled the attack and defended the territory. This fortress played an equally important role: at different periods it served as the residence of Qatari sheikhs.
Get to know the country at the National Museum of Qatar
This place is worth visiting for anyone who is interested in the history of the country or simply loves unusual buildings. In 2019, the museum opened its doors to visitors from all over the world, and the French architect Jean Nouvel worked on its design. Before becoming a museum, the building served as the residence of Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed.
What can you see in the museum? Everything you need to know about Qatar. Pay attention to clothes, household items and interiors, dishes, weapons. Walk up to the two-tiered display of deep sea creatures and be sure to stop by the crafts and check out one of the immersive galleries. As conceived by the creators, the exhibition includes photos, sounds, videos and even smells.
Spend a day at Katara Cultural Village
Take a day to explore the authentic Katara Cultural Village. Don’t think that we are suggesting that you go to a remote village and forget about civilization for a day. This is a whole cultural complex, within which there is a place of history and modernity.
The total area of Katara Cultural Village is 99 hectares, and the creators of the village tried to fill this space with multicultural diversity. Inside the complex, you can spend time in an art gallery, find hidden meanings in the works of masters, see the creations of local artisans, and look into theaters, restaurants and cultural spaces. In hot weather you can hide from the sun in the shade of the gardens.
Katara Cultural Village is the cradle of local culture, which contains the history and traditions of the local population, a source of pride and national identity.