On our recent trip to Iceland, we covered few other countries on route to Iceland and Qatar was one of them. Specifically, we spent a day in Doha on our way back from Copenhagen and this is a guide on what all we did during those 24 hours we spent in Doha.

Currency

Qatar uses Qatari Riyal as its currency (QAR) which equals roughly 23 INR per QAR (as of Nov 2024). We withdrew some money from the ATM at the airport before entering Doha city.

Visa

Qatar visa is one of the easier visas to get for Indians. You can either get it pre-approved before landing in Doha, or you can also try for on arrival visas (if certain conditions are met). Because of the number of different ways to get the visa, it can get a bit confusing at times. For up to date information on visa process for Qatar, visit this site. In general, pre authorized visa comes in the form of Tourist Visa types A1 or A3. A1 can be applied by any Indian passport holder, costing 100 QAR. Whereas A3 is for Indians who have valid visas from some countries like Schengen Area, US, NZ etc, still costing the same 100 QAR. The approvals for both of these happen over an app and approval comes in an Electronic form (email).

The on arrival visa or visa free entries involves booking atleast 2 nights stay through a dedicated website called Discover Qatar. Even though we were staying for just about 24 hours in Doha, we ended up booking 2 nights of stay through this website, just because the process asked for 2 nights here atleast. But the good thing is the stays are highly subsidized and usually consist of a select set of good 4 and 5 star hotels. If you are taking this route, just make sure to drop by at the “Discover Qatar” counter just before the immigration lines and get a printout with seal from them of your stay which you might have to show during your interaction with the Visa officer. We ended up getting a stamping for 1 month stay.

Best time to visit

The ideal time to visit Doha is during the months of December to February when the temperatures are moderate and tolerable at 25 degrees. During late October when we went to Doha, temperatures during the day hovered around 38 degrees which was not ideal, but still manageable.

Transportation

The recently built metro system in Doha consists of 3 lines – Red, Green and Golden connecting various parts of the city. Each journey on the metro costs 2 QAR and you will find the carriages fairly empty compared to other cities. The primary aim of the metro was to ferry people in huge numbers between different stadiums during the 2022 World Cup. Post that, it seems not many use the metro system. We took the metro from the airport to the city center, but ended up taking the taxi for the return journey to the airport. Metros can be quite convenient if your destination is well connected to the metro line. You can also consider purchasing a day pass if you plan to use the metro extensively while in Doha.

Taxis are very affordable, easy to book on apps like Uber and hassle free. In the extreme weather conditions like Doha, walking even a short distance during the day in the hot sun can be a challenge in itself. We ended up using Uber extensively during our short stay in Doha, even for distances as short as less as 1 km. The costs ranged from as little as 8 QAR (short distance) to around 40 QAR (airport)

First impressions

It was 5:30 in the evening when we came out of the airport and the sun had already set and felt very dark (more like 7 pm). Even though we took the metro to the city, taxis are the most preferred choice since it isn’t too expensive and saves you the long walk from the airport terminal to the metro station at the airport.

On exiting the metro station near our hotel, we got the first glimpse of the city dazzling at night. The effort they put in recently to facelift and beautify the whole city due to Qatar 2022 Football World Cup was quite visible. The streets were clean and hardly any pedestrian on the road. The temperatures had also dropped in the night and no doubt, nights are the best time to enjoy the city. We stayed at Pullman in West Bay area of Doha and the location was quite good with Doha Sands beach being fairly close by.

What we did

Souq Waqif

Souq Waqif is the oldest market place in Qatar and offers a glimpse into authentic middle eastern culture and history. The main promenade is filled with restaurants and cafes while the actual shops are tucked away in those smaller alleys. In these alleys, you will find a lot of gold shops, antiques, lanterns, clothes and traditional wear, food and incense. Don’t forget to bring some cash as you shop in these markets and don’t forget to haggle for best prices.

We went to the market just after dinner and spent about an hour visiting multiple shops looking for some souvenirs and things unique to the country.

Doha Corniche

This scenic 4 mile stretch of promenade overlooking the water front boasts stunning views of West Bay. One of its end starts from very close to the Souq Waqif markets and we spent some time strolling along the promenade looking at the stunning skyline of the city. If you have more time, you can also consider going on one of those boat cruises starting from here (Dhow cruises).

Doha Sands Beach

We visited this beach the following morning which was located on the West Bay of the central Doha, a short walk from our hotel. This beach is access controlled with prices starting from 50 QAR per person for access to a sunbed with other amenities like cold water bottle, a beach tower, internet access etc included in the pricing. The beach is very clean with fine golden sand and offers stunning views of the sky scrapers of the city. The entry ticket was included in the Discover Qatar booking we made for the hotel stay in Doha.

The Gate Mall

Doha has tons of malls on offer but we visited the one that was closest to our hotel – The Gate Mall. It was fairly good with good dining options as well. Other popular malls include Villaggio Mall, City Center Doha Mall, Mall of Qatar etc. If you have more time in Doha, you can consider paying these a visit.

Other things to consider if you have more time in Doha

Pearl Qatar

This luxurious man made island located towards the West Bay Lagoon showcases the architectural profess of the country. It has something to offer for everyone from boutique shops to high end restaurants, from leisurely strolls along picturesque marinas to various exhibitions & live performances.

National Museum of Qatar

Located at one of the ends of Doha Corniche, this museum offers glimpse into rich history and culture of Qatar. It uses contemporary techniques to exhibit/represent millions of years of Qatar’s history and is unusually shaped like a desert rose.

Katara Cultural Village

This village offers wide range of attractions that includes a planetarium, museums and a couple of mosques. There is also a big Amphitheatre hosting traditional Arabic performances from time to time. It also has a beach area offering a chance to explore the Doha beach and its golden sand.

Aspire Tower

Located in the popular Aspire park, this 1000 feet tall tower is also known as the Torch Doha. This landmark building offers panoramic views of the city skyline.

Museum of Islamic art

On display is the artistry and skill of works made for princess, caliphs, emperors etc. of the middle east and is a mix of colorful ceramics, glass, jewelry, metalwork and textiles.

Sand Dunes Adventure

You can also get outside the city to participate in some dune bashing to truly enjoy Qatar’s best – its vast desert. Explore the beauty of a roller coaster drive across the wide desert as you glide around the sandy terrain of Doha.