In steeped-in-tradition Qatar, you can learn about the ancient pursuit of falconry, watch camels race across the desert, and admire traditional dhows bobbing on the water. But the country is developing rapidly, with the capital Doha, a world-class city in the making, thanks to its spectacular modern skyline, peerless Museum of Islamic Art, a nuanced and expansive traditional souq, and burgeoning arts and culinary scenes. On any given day, you could sample a portfolio of sophisticated restaurants and then watch the sunset over dunes that seem to spring from a fairy tale.
We took a comfortable metro from our great parking location to a local cultural hub focused on contemporary art and design – Katara Cultural Village. The ticket for a single ride is promoted at a price of 2 QAR, but you can’t buy it, so the only available is a day pass for 6...
Our second museum today was opened in March 2019. French architect Jean Nouvel’s sprawling desert-rose-inspired structure is spectacular (🎟️ 50 QAR). It houses 1.5km of galleries organized into three ‘chapters’: Beginnings, Life in Qatar, and Building the Nation...
It took us a few hours to explore the world’s most extensive collection of Islamic art, drawn from three continents. This fabulous museum (🎟️ 50 QAR) is so rich in treasure that it rewards short, intense visits. Rising from its purpose-built island and set in an extensive landscape...
We didn’t plan it, but it happened; we spent a week in Qatar’s capital, Doha. It is located on the east coast of the Qatar Peninsula in the Persian Gulf. More than two-fifths of Qatar’s population lives within the city’s limits. Situated on a shallow bay indented...
We made a short stop at Al Wakrah’s enormous and enchanting souq. It is a maze of alleyways and courtyards, full of renovated clay structures, traditional architecture, a mosque, and stables. Some shops sell everything from honey, spices, and dates to perfumes and souvenirs...
We wanted to explore the Inland Sea, also known as the Khor Al Adaid, located on the border between Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Due to low precipitation and high temperatures, the seawater is saltier than the water in the adjacent bay. Over time, a unique ecosystem has formed in Khor al...
Our first stop was at Sealine Beach, one of Qatar’s most popular public beaches, where the towering dunes of southern Qatar begin. Sealine Beach sits at the end of the east road, around an hour’s drive south of Doha, past Qatar’s petroleum refineries and natural gas...