If you have a Doha stopover during your flight to Europe or else, we have some fantastic ideas for spending one day in Doha and getting the best of it.
Doha is the capital city of one of the world’s wealthiest and most developed countries, Qatar. With rich Islamic architecture, impressive skyscrapers, splendid deserts, and history, this city has something you can only enjoy in this part of the world.
Not only these, but the city also features Islamic art museums, oriental cuisine, promenades, shopping sprees, and desert safaris. Even if you have a night stopover, we have some exclusive activities for you to enjoy visiting Doha.
Below we have given the 20 best activities to choose and ways to spend one day in Doha.
1. The Museum of Islamic Art in Doha
The museum of Islamic art is an iconic landmark of the capital city. It’s the huge courtyard. Featured with Islamic architecture and splendid historical characteristics, this museum is a must-visit.
The museum has the most significant Islamic architectural collections in the whole world. It is a five-story building with a central courtyard and an educational wing. The enormous 45-meter windows on the north offer a peek of the west bay.
The ground floor offers you a visit to the gallery, formerly a Majlis. Once you get to the second floor, you will see the most incredible artifacts. The Blue Qur’an, the Cavour Vase, the Varanasi necklace, and the Ramayana manuscript for Hamida Banu Begum.
The history of the Qur’an, the Muslim community, Islamic education, and the spread of Islam to both Eastern and Western regions are the subjects of subsequent galleries. This museum is the best of qatar museum.
Notable pieces include an early Hijazi Qur’an fragment, the sitara of the Holy Ka’ba, a Moroccan arch, a copy of al-dissertation Sufi’s on the fixed stars, an Abbasid blue and white bowl, a Seljuq stucco panel, a Doha Hind, and a Spanish ceiling that dates from after Islam fell out of favor. The Museum of Islamic art is the day’s highlight if you plan to spend a day in Doha.
2. National Museum of Qatar. Best place to visit while spending one day in Doha
The national museum of Qatar is another historical gem you want to take advantage of on your trip to spend one day in Doha. This is a uniquely constructed 53,000 square-meter building, formed by connecting various peculiarly designed discs.
The discs were explicitly designed to provide shade in the rough climates of the Qatari Peninsula. The museum is dedicated to the history of Qatar; its architecture awakens the desert silence and eternal peace in Qatar.
The museum features a 213-seat theatre, classrooms, a research center, a bookstore, a coffee shop, a rooftop restaurant, an outdoor park featuring a botanical garden, a sculpture garden, an artificial lake, a children’s playground, and other facilities.
The inspiration for the design came from the intricate rosette shapes of sand roses, which grow naturally in the desert as gypsum crystallizes from evaporation.
Doha Bay, the museum’s gardens, and the House are all visible from the expansive windows. 11 exhibit halls showcase Qatar’s rich cultural, political, social, and natural heritage. Also included in the complex is the Royal Palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani, a historical tower from the 20th century that has been meticulously renovated.
3. Old Dhow Harbour
If you are a nature enthusiast and love to admire the craftsmanship, your next stop should be the Dhow harbor- the pride of Al Wakrah. This spot is the pearl trading center of Qatar, with rich cultural facilities.
Al Wakrah is just a drive of 10 minutes from Doha and provides you with the perfect watching spot for Dhows. Dhows are traditional sailing boats made by connecting hardwood planks and require 15-30 sailors to function.
Although taking a dhow cruise is often regarded as among the top activities in Al Wakra, the vast majority of shows are powered by engines. Dhows serve a variety of purposes, including transporting visitors and catching fish.
They make for a striking image against the backdrop of distant skyscrapers. You’ll reach the West and East Mound Skyline Viewpoints if you keep heading north.
4. The Doha Corniche. One day in Doha Itinerary
Doha Corniche is a 7 km waterfront promenade along Doha bay. The Corniche offers you a peek into the splendid coastlines of Qatar. The location is filled with famous feature spots of Doha and acts as a magnet for the locals and tourists.
Guarded by the Museum of Islamic art on the south and Sheraton hotel on the north, the boulevard offers auspicious restaurants, parks, culturally significant places, and amazing views of Qatari life. This promenade should be noticed while spending your layover or one day in Doha.
It’s a beautiful walkway along the water’s edge. The Corniche is a crescent-shaped boardwalk encircling Doha Bay that boasts stunning vistas of the city’s modern skyline and serves as the focal point for many important events, including the National Day parade and the National Sports Day.
While strolling around the bay at night, you may see the Corniche illuminated by the lights of the dhows, or you can take a boat trip and take in the sights of the beautiful city.
5. Visit Souq Waqif
Souq waqif, in Qatar’s most significant and oldest trading market, is a hotspot for visitors who want a dip into Qatar’s traditional and cultural perspective. The spot teems with traditional shops, eateries, streets, and alleys.
Souq waqif feels like a postdated location against the backdrop of the modern architecture of Qatar. The great activities to do and enjoy at souq waqif include:
- Falconry (Watch and touch the majestic falcons)
- Buy some Prestigious real gold jewels at the Gold souq
- Explore the wonderful art shops
- Enjoy watching the Arabian camels and horses
- Witness the Arabian street life and performances
You can find even more shops if you venture off the main street and into the maze of side streets. It’s a beautiful representation of Qatari culture and one of the most exciting sights visitors can see. Everything in Doha is essential and has something to offer you, but if you’re watching for a taste of the real Qatar and a fun night out, head to Souq Waqif.
6. Aerial tours. Perfect way to spend one day in Doha
Plan to spend one hour exploring Doha from the air. With clouds accompanying you in this exclusive one-hour journey, this moment can be unforgettable. The aerial tours include riding an Archer plane or a gyrocopter.
It allows you to explore the mangroves, deserts, and culturally significant places of Qatar in just an hour. These aerial tours are more picturesque and a hack to save some hours if you are on a layover and planning to spend one day or a few hours in Doha.
These aerial tours are safe, and the captain will guide you before the tour starts. One of the best tour companies in Qatar offers aerial tours, which you can Book here.
7. Katara Cultural Village. Blue Mosque In Qatar
If you want to experience the culture, art, and cuisine of atar all in one place, your next visit should be to the Katara cultural village. It is a self-styled cultural village of Qatar that offers you traditional architecture, mosques, thrill, art, and theatre.
The blue Mosque of katara takes design cues from Istanbul’s Dolmabahçe Palace. At the same time, its minaret, dome, and prayer niche (mihrab) are all reminiscent of other well-known mosques in the Muslim world. It was designed by Zeynep Fadilloglu, from Turkey, widely regarded as the first female architect to focus solely on mosques.
The Gold Mosque is Katara’s second splendid Mosque. A side of it is tiled in gold, making it shine in the sun as it faces the amphitheater.
The classical Greek-style arena, which covers an area of 3,275 square meters, shows Islamic elements, especially in its arched entrances. With enough for 5,000 spectators, it provides breathtaking panoramas of the ocean and the surrounding cultural hamlet.
8. Spend time in Dune Bashing while spending one day in Doha
With all the reckless abandon and adrenaline of a video game but with natural sand flying in your face, dune bashing entails driving dune buggies or luxury SUVs in Doha, Qatar, on gigantic, moving mounds of sand.
After about half an hour’s driving from Doha, you’ll arrive at a truly one-of-a-kind location, where dunes three to four stories high almost reach the azure waters surrounding Qatar. You’ll hear the rumble and see the dust fly as a dune buggy, without a windshield but with goggles on the driver and passenger airbags, speeds up the dune.
Your sense of adventure will be amplified by a day spent dune bashing in the majestic dunes of the Qatar desert.
9. Al Zubarah Fort
Al Zubarah Fort is the archaeological UNESCO world heritage site of Qatar. Adjacent to this town is a 20th-century fort; Al Zubarah fort is the highlight and the most prominent spot of this town.
The walls of this fort are 1 meter wide and protect against invaders and the hot sun. There are palaces for living in, mosques, courtyard homes, huts for fishermen, streets, two sets of defensive walls, a harbor, a canal, and a cemetery at this significant location.
The fort has been transformed into a museum, and people can visit this museum to get a peek at the historic pearl artifacts. Key archaeological artifacts are being preserved and displayed in an Al Zubarah Visitor Centre that will tell the tale of coastal and long-distance trade, pearling, ordinary living, and critical historical events.
10. Pearl Qatar. Visit doha on your day trip
People willing to see the thriving community and recreation should visit pearl Qatar on their plan to spend one day in Doha, Qatar. It is an artificial island at the west bay of Doha. It covers an area of 13.9 square km.
Luxury shopping at high-end designer stores and showrooms complement the area’s yacht-lined marinas, residential towers, villas, and hotels in a traditional Mediterranean style. The Pearl’s sophisticated allure has earned nicknames like “Arabian Riviera,” Consequently, it is a popular destination for tourists.
The vibrant atmosphere of Pearl Island draws visitors from all over the planet to come and experience the exciting nightlife of Qatar, browse the high-end designer labels, and relax in the lap of luxury.
11. Doha skyline. The Middle East Charm
Doha skyline has been the magnetic point for visitors and tourists worldwide. With gigantic, perfectly designed, and constructed modern skyscrapers, Doha takes you to the skyline and offers you unique and incredible views of the Skies.
Doha was initially a little town dedicated to cultivating pearls, with no tall buildings to mar the horizon. The 1990s marked the beginning of a period of rapid transformation that left the skyline mostly unrecognizable from even a decade ago.
When Qatar began funding research and development into natural gas technologies, the country saw a dramatic rise in business and economic activity.
Doha’s skyline has changed dramatically with the addition of 47 new towers and numerous hotels. Doha Tower, Tornado Tower, Palm Tower, and Al Bidda Tower are just some of the buildings in Qatar that each have a fascinating history.
The Palm Tower, a prominent Doha landmark, was designed to evoke the region’s signature palm trees. The Al Bidda Tower is constructed in a spiral pattern, with a triangular base rounded in its center.
The Tornado Tower stands out as a singular landmark in the cityscape. The tower has received accolades for its innovative design due to its tornado-like appearance.
12. Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum
Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani’s collection is on display at the museum bearing his name, which was founded to preserve and investigate the rich cultural history of Islam.
It opened in 1998 and is comprised of three structures housed in a fort constructed of native stone in Al Samaria. The Sheikh Faisal Museum is housed in a historic fort at Al Samriya Farm on the outskirts of the city, and it houses a vast collection of rare and priceless antiquities from all seven continents.
Objects as diverse as those from the Jurassic period, early Islamic times, and contemporary times can be found here. The museum creates exhibits and educational activities to inform the public further and show off its extensive collection to visitors worldwide.
A historic Syrian house relocated here from Damascus and faithfully reproduced may be seen at the museum. There are pieces from Sheikh Faisal’s home on display in two model residences in Qatar. It’s a treasure trove of the founder’s unique interests and tastes culled from a lifetime of experience.
13. Al Koot Fort
Al Koot Fort, also known as Doha Fort, stands in the middle of the city of Doha in Qatar. It was established on an incline near the dry waterbed of Wadi Musheireb. In the past, Bedouins and townspeople would meet at this waterbed to exchange various things, most notably animals.
The center of Al-Koot fort is a square courtyard protected by high walls on all sides. There is a circular tower in three corners and a rectangular building in the other. Right now, it’s a construction zone for the upcoming Souq Waqif development.
Because of the high volume of inmates who frequented the mosque, the design had to be adjusted so that guard could keep a close eye on them even as they worshipped.
Mecca’s’mehrab remains oriented toward the ‘Kaaba’ despite the absence of a physical tower. The museum fort houses various artworks and artifacts, such as paintings of craft workers, oil paintings, historical photographs, and gypsum and wooden ornaments used in fishing.
14. Grand Mosque
Imam Abdul Wahhab, popularly known as the Qatar State Grand Mosque, was inaugurated in 2011. Its clean geometry and elegant arches are striking despite being typical of Islamic architecture.
The Imam Abdul Wahhab Mosque, located in a prestigious area of Doha and visible from far away, is the most magnificent and impressive in all of Qatar. The Grand Mosque’s sandstone exterior maintains historic design elements that speak to Qatar’s illustrious past.
The sandstone mosque is the largest in the country, and its succession of arches and domes affords it stunning vistas of the Doha cityscape. The mosque’s mihrab and prayer hall are topped by two of the 93 crowns that make up the structure.
The mosque is lit up at night with carefully placed lighting to accentuate further the architectural masterpiece that is Qatar’s most well-known mosque.
15. Katara Beach at the Katara Cultural Village
Doha residents are rapidly adopting the beach lifestyle, with water sports and lounging on the warm sand. Doha, Qatar, is home to some of the world’s best beaches, and as a result, it receives a steady stream of visitors year-round.
Katara Beach, part of Doha’s famous Katara Village, is visited by hundreds of thousands yearly. Parasailing, waterskiing, and speed boat rides are just a few exciting options at Katara Beach.
Katara Beach is about 1.5 kilometers long and is where you may rent a sea pedal boat that can fit up to four people, a kayak, or a canoe. There is a sizable play area just for them when the kids need a break from swimming, splashing, and sandcastle-building.
16. Al-Thakira Mangroves Forest
If you’re looking for a vast and ancient forest in Qatar, look no further than al-Thakhira Mangrove Forest. Migratory birds, such as herons and flamingos, are drawn to the area because of its thriving habitat. Throughout the year, you can see a wide variety of fish and crustaceans.
You may drive to Al Thakira Mangrove Forest in under ten minutes from Al Khor. You’ll need to take an off-road journey of around 1.2 miles (four kilometers) on hard-packed sand and salt flats.
You may also take a kayaking trip along the coast and into inlets at high tide. The latter choice lets one see the little mangrove islands off the coast.
One of Qatar’s natural wonders can be discovered by kayaking through a mangrove forest. Your adventure through the mangroves begins with a safety briefing at the Al Thakira camp.
17. Sealine Beach Doha, Qatar
Regarding resorts in Qatar, the Sealine Beach Resort stands out as one of the most distinctive. One of the most enchanted places where land meets water is a beach with manicured lawns home to various plants, trees, and shrubs. Travelers can go Quad biking across the dunes of the nation.
Activities on the coast and in the desert are conveniently located and are overseen by a friendly, knowledgeable staff. Dune bashing is a popular way for visitors to Qatar to experience the country’s deserts and areas near the coast.
The most beautifully painted camels may be found near the end of the seaside road for a reasonable price. Go camel riding among the dunes and soak in the spectacular sunset sights on the horizon.
Murwab Resort is a haven of comfort, leisure, and luxury and one of the top resorts in Qatar. Away from the hustle and bustle of city life, Sealine Beach Resort features 58 lavish villas beautifully built and outfitted with all the latest conveniences.
18. Visit the Msheireb Downtown Doha
Msheireb Downtown Doha is a place with tonnes of activities, excellent shopping alternatives, and fantastic meals. Labeled by some as the hottest neighborhood in Doha, it’s the most remarkable, thanks to the central square’s ingenious cooling system.
A work of beauty in its own right, Msheireb is the city’s most extensive metro station. Msheireb Urban, located in Doha, Qatar, is the world’s first sustainable downtown regeneration project.
Spanning over 100 structures with residential properties and retail and cultural activities, the beautiful Barahat or courtyard stands at the heart of Msheireb Downtown.
While Qatar’s legacy influences modern, the structure of Msheireb – its symmetry, clarity, space, lighting, layering, and reaction to the country’s environment. Visit the M7, Msheireb Mosque, Braham Msheireb Town Square, and others to enjoy your visit to downtown Doha.
19. Al Hazm Shopping Mall. One of the best shopping malls on visiting Doha
Shopping at Doha’s Al Hazm Mall The Italianate architecture and central promenade make this a popular place for locals and visitors. This lavish complex celebrates both the enduring elegance of Italy and the warm hospitality of Arabia through its art, culture, and cuisine.
The library at the Al Hazm Cultural Center is spacious. It has comfortable reading areas where visitors can settle in with a book from the center’s extensive collection of English and Arabic literary classics, art books, and historical documents.
The owner went to great lengths, importing materials from India’s Rajasthan region, including marble and stone from Tuscany and Palestine.
20. Banana Island
On a crescent-shaped island with its marina and reefs, you’ll find the Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara, where every comfort has been thought of.
Guests of all ages can enjoy the resort’s world-class amenities, which include a lagoon pool, a shallow pool for children, a surf pool with instructors, a game room, a 20-seat movie theatre, a golf course, tennis courts, and a fitness center—all in an alcohol-free setting. The ideal place for a bunch of tired ladies to spend a day away from Doha and unwind in style.
After a long day of adventure, unwind at the spa with a facial treatment, Thai massage, Turkish hammam, sauna, or jacuzzi. Take advantage of the private island’s many spa facilities and unwind while gazing over the ocean.
Final Words
You should be okay with how you will spend such a more extended layover in Doha when you have such quick options to visit. We recommend you book an organized tour for your specified location.
This will save your hustle for riding buses and buying passes. We at Experience Qatar offer the best tour options to visit multiple spots in the city when you are planning to spend a day in Doha Qatar.
