In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Qatar
Doha
الدوحة
Doha is a museum-in-the-morning, souq-after-17:00 city: from May to September do only indoor things, and remember that alcohol is served only in licensed hotels.
Doha is compact, air-conditioned and easy, but the rules and the weather are strict. The trips that go wrong land at midnight with a hotel that has no desk, walk the Corniche at noon in June, or arrive in Ramadan expecting daytime restaurants. Four clusters cover a first visit; a stopover of 2–3 nights is enough.
- Country
- Qatar
- Local name
- الدوحة
- Best months
- Jan · Feb · Mar · Nov · Dec
- Time zone
- Asia/Qatar
- Stay
- 1 days: Museum of Islamic Art + Souq Waqif in the evening
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- QAR
- Money
- Cards work almost everywhere; carry some riyals for souq stalls, small cafeterias and tips. The riyal (QAR) is pegged to the US dollar at about 3.64.
- Daily spend
- Budget QAR 150–300 excl. bed · Mid QAR 300–700 excl. bed · High QAR 700+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Ooredoo and Vodafone Qatar tourist SIMs at Hamad airport; passport needed.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 999 · Non-emergency police check locally
- Plugs
- 230 V; UK-style three-pin sockets (type G).
- Tipping
- Not required but appreciated; round up taxis and leave 5–10% for good service if it is not already added (10–12% service is common).
- Water
- Tap water is treated; most people drink bottled water.
- Toilets
- Malls, museums, hotels and mosques; carry tissue.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Karak tea, cafeteria | QAR 1–4 |
| Shawarma or a cafeteria meal | QAR 8–25 |
| Machboos or mandi at a restaurant | QAR 30–70 |
| Sit-down restaurant meal, per person | QAR 80–180 |
| Specialty coffee | QAR 18–30 |
| Bottled water | QAR 1–3 |
| Metro single ride (standard class) | about QAR 2 (check) |
| Taxi across the centre | QAR 15–40 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- Hamad International Airport (DOH)
- DOH to Msheireb: one taxi or ride-hail car, 30–50 minutes; the Doha Metro also runs from the airport to Msheireb by day, but it is the daytime plan, not the midnight plan.
By rail and road
| Station | Serves | To the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Hamad International Airport (DOH) | International flights; the only commercial airport for the city | Metro or taxi 30–50 min |
| Abu Samra land border (Saudi Arabia) | Cars and coaches from Saudi Arabia | About 1 h by road |
| Hotel and operator pick-ups | Al Zubarah, Khor Al Adaid, Zekreet and desert tours | Already there |
Typical fares
- Hamad airport → Msheireb, taxi or app car
- QAR 40–80, 30–50 min
- Hamad airport → Msheireb by metro
- about QAR 2–10 by day, 30–45 min (check)
- Short taxi across the centre
- QAR 15–40
Show 8 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Eat, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk inside a cluster in the cool hours, use the metro for the centre and the airport by day, and take a taxi or app car between clusters and after dark.
| How | Fare | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | Inside Souq Waqif, Msheireb, the Corniche and Katara in cool hours |
| Doha Metro (Red, Green and Gold lines) | about QAR 2 standard (check) | Airport, Msheireb, Souq Waqif area and West Bay; check which station is nearest your stop |
| Karwa taxi | Metered, QAR 15–40 across the centre | Between clusters, bags, night |
| Uber or Careem | Shown in the app before you ride | Late night, fixed fare, easy pick-up |
| Hire car | QAR 100–200 a day plus fuel | Day trips to the north-west |
| Tram at Lusail and Education City | check | Only if your hotel is there |
Fares are estimates; check before you ride.
- Passes
- No pass. Short rides in the centre are cheap; insist on the meter or the app fare.
- Late at night
- The metro closes overnight and opens late on Fridays; taxis and ride-hailing run all night.
See and do
01Museum of Islamic Artمتحف الفن الإسلامي
The best museum in the Gulf and a fine building on the water.
Hours: best Opening · Price: check · Time: 1.5–2 h · 25.2953, 51.5390
02Souq Waqifسوق واقف
The evening centre of the city and the easiest first night.
Hours: best After 17:00 · Price: Free · Time: 1.5–2 hHours: best After 5:00 PM · Price: Free · Time: 1.5–2 h · 25.2867, 51.5332
03National Museum of Qatarمتحف قطر الوطني
A large, well-made story of the land and the people.
Hours: best Late morning · Price: about QAR 50 (check) · Time: 2 h · 25.2925, 51.5405
04Msheireb Museumsمتاحف مشيرب
Four heritage houses with the oil, trade and slavery story.
Hours: best Afternoon · Price: check · Time: 2–3 h · 25.2866, 51.5273
05Corniche at sunsetكورنيش الدوحة
The skyline, the dhows and cool air off the bay.
Hours: best Sunset, Oct–Apr · Price: Free · Time: 45–60 min · 25.2925, 51.5305
06Katara Cultural Villageالحي الثقافي كتارا
Amphitheatre, mosques and a beach in a landscaped setting.
Hours: best Morning or evening · Price: Free · Time: 1.5–2 h · 25.3603, 51.5262
07The Pearl marina dinnerاللؤلؤة قطر
A polished waterfront evening with a breeze.
Hours: best Dinner · Price: QAR 100–250 meal · Time: 2 h · 25.3705, 51.5513
08Dhow ride
The skyline from the water, short and easy.
Hours: best Late afternoon · Price: QAR 30–100 (check) · Time: 30–60 min
09Desert safari
The dunes and the inland sea inlet.
Hours: best Afternoon, winter · Price: QAR 250–600 (check) · Time: Half day
10Al Zubarah Fort
The one UNESCO site in the country; a pearling town in ruins.
Hours: best Morning, winter · Price: Entry check · Time: Half day trip
Hours and prices are desk estimates (checked 2026-09); anything marked (check) is not confirmed. Coordinates open in any map app.
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Al Zubarah Fort and archaeological site | Car about 1 h 15 min north-west | Half a day |
| Khor Al Adaid (Inland Sea) desert safari | 4x4 with a licensed operator, about 1 h 30 min south | Half a day to a full day |
| Zekreet and Richard Serra's East-West/West-East | Car about 1 h 15 min west | Half a day |
| Al Thakira mangroves (Purple Island) | Car about 1 h north | Half a day |
| Al Wakrah | Car or metro and taxi, about 25 min south | Half a day |
Eat
| Where | What · area | Price | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karak and cafeteria counters, Msheireb and old Doha | Karak tea with paratha or a sandwich · Msheireb and old Doha | QAR 5–20 | Budget |
| Shawarma and falafel counters | Shawarma wrap · Souq Waqif edges and Msheireb | QAR 8–15 | Budget |
| South Asian cafeterias | Biryani, dal and paratha plates · Msheireb, Al Mansoura, Najma (check) | QAR 10–25 (check) | Budget |
| Machboos and mandi houses, Souq Waqif | Machboos or mandi (spiced rice with meat) · Souq Waqif | QAR 40–80 | Mid-range |
| Shay Al Shomous | Tea and karak in the souq · Souq Waqif | QAR 5–20 | Mid-range |
| Lebanese mezze and grills, Katara | Mezze and grills · Katara | QAR 60–120 | Mid-range |
| Parisa Souq Waqif | Persian grills and kebabs in a decorated hall · Souq Waqif | QAR 100–200 | Higher-end |
| Marina dinner, Porto Arabia | Waterfront dinner on Porto Arabia · The Pearl | QAR 100–250 | Higher-end |
| Hotel restaurants and rooftop dining | Set menus and tasting menus · West Bay and hotels | QAR 200–500 (check) | Higher-end |
Per person, one dish or one meal, 2026 estimate. Addresses and hours change: check the day before. Alcohol is served only in licensed hotel venues.
Sleep
| Band | Price a night | Where | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | QAR 200–350 | Old Doha and Al Mansoura guesthouses and budget hotels | Budget hotels and small guesthouses |
| mid | QAR 350–700 | Msheireb, Souq Waqif and Corniche 4-star hotels | 4-star business and boutique hotels |
| high | QAR 700–2,000+ | The Pearl, West Bay and Msheireb luxury hotels | 5-star and resort hotels |
Per room per night in QAR, 2026 estimate; hotel taxes and service charges may be added (check).
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / peace be upon you | As-salamu alaykum (reply: wa alaykum as-salam)as-sa-LAA-mu a-LAY-kum |
| Hello (casual) | Marhabamar-HA-ba |
| Thank you | ShukranSHOOK-ran |
| You're welcome | AfwanAF-wan |
| How much is this? | Kam hatha?kam HA-tha |
| No, thank you | La, shukranla SHOOK-ran |
| Stop here, please | Wagif hena, min fadlakWA-gif HE-na min FAD-lak |
| The bill, please | Al-hisab, min fadlakal-hi-SAB min FAD-lak |
| Help! | Musa'ada!moo-SAA-ada |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Dress: Cover shoulders and knees in public places, malls and the souq. Loose clothes are fine for both sexes; swimwear only at the beach and hotel pool.
- Greetings: Say 'as-salamu alaykum' (peace be upon you). Wait for a woman to offer a hand before you offer yours; a hand on the heart is always polite.
- Right hand: Eat, pass and receive with the right hand; do not point the sole of your foot at anyone.
- Photography: Ask before photographing anyone, especially women and families. Never photograph government buildings, military sites or airports.
- Ramadan: During daylight in Ramadan, do not eat, drink or smoke in public. Many restaurants close until sunset, then stay open late.
- Mosques: Enter only where visitors are welcome, outside prayer times, with covered shoulders and knees; women cover their hair where signs ask. Remove shoes.
- Public behaviour: No public displays of affection, no swearing or rude gestures, no loud arguments; the law treats these as offences.
- Alcohol and drugs: Alcohol only in licensed hotel venues; drugs of any kind carry severe sentences, including some medicines that are legal elsewhere.
Red lines
- No alcohol outside licensed hotels and restaurants; drunkenness in public is an offence.
- Dress modestly in public: shoulders and knees covered.
- No public displays of affection; do not photograph people without permission or government buildings.
Scams and watch-outs
- Taxi drivers who refuse the meter and name a flat fare; use the Karwa app or Uber.
- Souq shopkeepers who quote a very high first price; compare shops and walk on.
- Commission agents at Souq Waqif or Katara who push a desert or dhow trip; check the licence and inclusions.
- Unlicensed 'tour guides' at attractions who ask for a fee after a short walk; agree a price first or use a licensed guide.
One and two days
1 day
A stopover between flights. Skip: Katara, The Pearl and the desert: each needs its own half day or evening.
- 08:308:30 AMMuseum of Islamic Art
- 12:3012:30 PMLunch in Souq Waqif
- 14:002:00 PMRest at the hotel or in a mall
- 17:305:30 PMSouq Waqif lanes and the Falcon Souq
- 20:008:00 PMDinner in the souq
2 days
The usual Doha stay. Skip: The National Museum of Qatar and the desert; add a third day.
Day 1 — museums and the souq
- 08:308:30 AMMuseum of Islamic Art
- 11:3011:30 AMCorniche and MIA Park
- 17:305:30 PMSouq Waqif
Day 2 — Msheireb and Katara
- 09:009:00 AMMsheireb Museums
- 11:3011:30 AMKatara Cultural Village
- 19:007:00 PMDinner at The Pearl marina
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Visit Qatar: www.visitqatar.com/
- Hamad International Airport: dohahamadairport.com/
- Wikivoyage — Doha: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Doha
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Dohaالدوحة
Min fadlak, khudni ila hadha al-anwan
Please take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Take me to
- متحف الفن الإسلاميMuseum of Islamic Art
- سوق واقفSouq Waqif
- متحف قطر الوطنيNational Museum of Qatar
- متاحف مشيربMsheireb Museums
- كورنيش الدوحةDoha Corniche promenade
- الحي الثقافي كتاراKatara Cultural Village
- Police, fire, ambulance999
- Non-emergency policecheck locally
Most embassies are in West Bay and the diplomatic area; write your own embassy's 24-hour line below.
Show a map pin or the building and zone number; drivers work from landmarks and pins more than house numbers.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/doha). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.