Qatar Tourism Travel Comprehensive Guide 2023 | TBO Academy

Since hosting the biggest football event in 2022, the FIFA World Cup Qatar tourism has been on the radar of every traveler, drawing attention with its rich cultural history, world class art, scrumptious food scenes, spectacular natural wonders, luxury shopping, and extravagant wellness.

With our Qatar travel guide dive straight into the vibrant traditions and explore the futuristic visions.

Best Time to Visit Qatar

A peninsula that juts out on the Arabian Gulf, the country has two main seasons the hot and whiny summers and mild, pleasant winters.

Winter Season: Winter season is an ideally wonderful time to feel more in Qatar. The mild sunny weather allows you to explore Qatar famous places on foot, you can also go camping under the stars, golfing or just relax at a café under clear blue skies.

The average temperature in Qatar during winters ranges from 15 °C to 20 °C, making it the time of the year to enjoy beautiful parks, and sights like souq waqif, Doha Street food, street art, and many more.

Summer Season: The hot summer season begins in June and ends in September. It’s advised to wear loose, and decent clothing made from breathable fabrics. Plan your day considering the late mornings and afternoon to beat the heat.

Note: According to the Qatar travel statistics the country witnessed a significant influx of international tourists, with the country warmly welcoming over two million visitors.

How to Reach Qatar?

Strategically located between East and West, Qatar is on average 6-7 hours away from many countries around the world. Qatar Airways connects over 150 overseas destinations to Doha, and more than 50 airlines are available to fly you here.

Qatar Culture

The country is a treasure trove of culture and tradition like you’ll never experience anywhere else in the world. With more than 80 breathtaking works of public art, majestic buildings that reach into the sky and across distances, and expansive museums that blend the past and present.

Here’s a list of places of visit to Qatar’s culture:

National Museum of History is one the must visit places to experience Qatar’s culture and engage all your senses while the museum recites the past, present and future of the country.

Timings:

• Saturday - Thursday: 9.00 am–7.00 pm
• Friday: 1.30 - 7.00 pm

Entrance Fee:

• Adult Resident of Qatar: Free
• Children (Age 16 and under): Free
• One Pass Holder: Free
• Student Resident of Qatar: Free
• Adult Non-resident of Qatar: QAR 50
• Student Non-resident of Qatar: QAR 25

Location: Museum Park St, Doha, Qatar

The Museum of Islamic Art's magnificent collection of manuscripts includes everything from pages from the Timurid Baysunghur Qur'an, the longest Qur'an in the world, to the renowned Abbasid Blue Qur'an, which is regarded as one of the best and rarest manuscripts in the Islamic world.

Timings:

• Saturday - Thursday: 9.00 am–7.00 pm
• Friday: 1.30 - 7.00 pm

Entrance Fee:

• Adult Resident of Qatar: Free
• Children (Age 16 and under): Free
• One Pass Holder: Free
• Student Resident of Qatar: Free
• Adult Non-resident of Qatar: QAR 50
• Student Non-resident of Qatar: QAR 25

Location: Doha, Qatar

Qatar National Library is one of the other sights to visit to dive deep into books while the history intrepid in you trying to know it all about the culture of Qatar.

Timings:

• Saturday - Thursday: 8.00 am –8.00 pm
• Friday: 4.00 –8.00 pm

Entrance Fee: Free of Cost

Location: District of Freedom, Education City, Al Luqta St, Doha, Qatar

The French Olive

Now don’t miss Qatar Famous Places

Pearl Qatar: The man-made island located near prestigious West Bay District famous for its charming cafes, restaurant, one-of-a-kind marina, and luxe boutiques.

The Pearl is home to several water sports organizations that specialize in planning fun events for you. Popular ones are Blue Pearl Experience and Ronautica.

• Harvest
• Evergreen Organics
• Flatwhite
• Junko Sushi & Japanese dining
• Yasmine Palace

are few cafes and restaurants that you can sit chill and have a scrumptious meal.

Location: The Pearl, Doha, The Oyster Building

• How to get there?

Visitors can book a taxi from anywhere in Qatar to the Pearl using Uber or they use Karwa or Careem instead.

If seeking an economical option, you can take a metro. The nearest metro station to the Pearl is Legtaifiya (Red line) and from there you can hop on a M110 Metrolink bus.

Souq Waqif

Souq Waqif feels like something out of Disney's Aladdin, only set against a dramatically modern skyline. We highly recommend a visit to this famous place in Qatar is the place to buy souvenirs that everyone will want. There are a variety of dining options to satisfy the hunger after a long day of shopping.

Look for Pahlwan (Strong Man); Saad Ismail Al Jassim, a former bodybuilder, police officer, football player, and present raconteur, owns the store. Probably the last living pearl diver from the heyday of pearling is  88-year-old. Go in for a string of white, grey or pink pearls and get a story.

Souq Waqif can be reached by car or taxi. In case you are wondering whether parking is available or not, let us tell you yes, underground parking is available. Visitors can also use the metro to reach the souq. Take the Gold Line that starts at Ras Bu Aboud and simply get off at Souq Waqif station.

Katara Cultural Village

Qatar offers a dynamic blend of heritage and modernism with staggering array of cultural institutions, including museums, galleries, and public art. Katara, which is spelt in the archaic way, is a self-described cultural hamlet tucked between the West Bay banking district's sparkling skyscrapers and the Pearl neighborhood's half-moon buildings.

• Things to do in Katara Cultural Village:

• Visit Katara Mosque
• Visit Gold Mosque
• Explore 21 High Street
• Participate in Beach Activities
• Indulge in Local Cuisines
• Iconic arts and murals

• How to get there?

Visitors can hire a cab or taxi or choose to drive to the village. Metro and bus are also feasible options.

Doha Quest: Quest is the newest addition, and first theme park ever is built on 32,000 square metres of land by Qatar tourism. The novel indoor destination is designed to cater to visitors of all ages. It offers a variety of experiences that are unmatched in Doha, including adrenaline-heavy thrill rides, media-controlled simulators, virtual reality experiences, miniature thrill rides for younger visitors, and family-friendly attractions.

• 30+ unique rides & attractions
• World’s tallest indoor roller coaster
• World’s tallest indoor drop tower
• Immersive indoor park experience
• Experiences for people of all ages

• How to get there?

Visitors can choose to drive, hail a cab, or ride all the way in a metro.

Wait! What? There’s more!

• Education City
• Ceremonial Court and the Ceremonial Green Spine
• Dahl Al Misfir
• Aspire Zone Foundation
• Khor Al Adaid Beach
• Qanat Quartier
• Msheireb Downtown Doha
• Imam Abdul Wahhab Mosque

Things to do in Qatar to Escape the Ordinary

Qatar tourism loves to spoil its visitors with a range of activities from markets, sports, desert safaris and more.

Experience Snow in Desert: Visit Snow Dunes theme park for this unique experience. There’s actual snow and an ice-skating rink and the temperature goes down to – 4 degrees Celsius. You can rent a snowsuit and slide 50 m down at a speed of 50 kmph. Location: Umm Salal Muhammed, Doha, Qatar

Timings:

• Friday: 1.00 pm - 12.00 am
• Saturday - Thursday: 10.00 am - 10.00 pm

Chase the Angry Birds

You don't have to be a video game fan to be part of Angry Birds World, but if you are, you'll have the time of your life. After the daily live shows, you can meet up with angry Red, Chuck or Stella. The stomach-churning Drop Tower and the kid-friendly Bouncing Blues attraction also have indoor rides. Outside, get wet on the Raft Battle boats or scream your lungs out as the Super Slingshot sends you 60 metres into the air.

Location: Doha Festival City, Al Shamal Rd, Doha, Qatar

Timings:

• INDOOR

• Saturday – Wednesday 10:00am to 10:00pm
• Thursday 10:00am to 12:00am
• Friday 1:00pm to 12:00am

• OUTDOOR

• Saturday to Wednesday 6:00pm to 10:00pm
• Thursday & Friday 6:00pm to 12:00am

Visit the Giant Pandas: Suhail, a male panda who is four years old, and Thuraya, a female panda who is three years old, moved into the first panda house in the Middle East last year. The house has 464 trees and 2814 bamboo plants, as well as perfectly controlled humidity and air conditioning. The two are from China and are here to promote conservation, but they appear to be lounging around a lot. One of the best things to do in Qatar is to observe them from large windows.

• Location: Umm Smaira, Qatar
• Timings: Sunday – Saturday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

One can also consider the list of things to do in Qatar to have best experiences:

• Play on the Pearl
• Conquer the worlds highest indoor rides
• Slide down an icon
• Go big on your grid
• Become a pilot for a day
• Visit the family-friendly beach club

and the list of things to do in Qatar never comes to an end.

Qatar stands as a captivating destination that seamlessly blends its rich cultural heritage with modern marvels, offering travelers a unique and unforgettable experience. This nation is a veritable treasure mine of various attractions, from the sparkling towers of Doha's contemporary cityscape to the peaceful serenity of its desert landscapes.

Every tourist to Qatar leaves with a lasting impression, whether they are exploring the humming souqs, enjoying the mouthwatering native food, or experiencing the kindness of the people. May this travel book be your dependable travel companion as you set out on your adventure to this enchanted place, helping you to discover Qatar's secrets and delights and enabling you to make priceless memories that will last a lifetime. Pack your luggage and travel to Qatar to experience its beauty; it promises to enchant your heart and soul in various ways.

Q1. How many days do you need to see Qatar?

A1. With three days to spend in the capital of Qatar, you'll have plenty of time to stroll around the vibrant souks, check out the top-notch museums, venture into the desert for some sun and sand, and spend some time exploring North Qatar's cultural and natural beauties. How to make the most of your three days in Doha is provided below.

Q2. Is Doha, Qatar safe for female travelers?

A2. The largest user-contributed collection of information about cities and nations worldwide, Numbeo, has placed Doha as the "second safest city" in the world. Doha came in second for its low crime rate and safety in Numbeo's Crime Index by City 2022 survey, which encompassed 459 cities.

Q3. How to dress in Doha?