How To Spend Three Days In Doha, Qatar

Doha, the capital of the State of Qatar, was recently in the spotlight thanks to hosting the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East. We went twice for games then, and while we got a feel for the city while on our way to the two games we attended, there are better situations than a global event with hundreds of thousands attending to explore a city. After returning to much less crowded circumstances, here are our recommendations for this once-sleepy dwelling better known as a pearl diving enclave. Here are our suggestions for three days in Doha.

Day 1 – Three Days in Doha

Museum of Islamic Art

The Museum of Islamic Art houses a comprehensive collection of examples of art expressions throughout the Islamic Empire and Islamic civilizations

. The museum includes tapestries from multiple dynastic periods, early copies of the Qur’an, mosaics, wooden carvings, sculptures, and jewelry. The museum is split into floors, each covering a different historical era. As you make your way up, you move through the timeline and see further examples of Islamic Art from other parts of the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe. 

One of the levels was closed when we visited, so we didn’t get to see it, but we got a suitable retrospective and saw most of the museum. Expect to be there for at least an hour. 

The museum shop is worth a visit, as it has beautiful clothing, home decor, jewelry, and art pieces in Islamic styles. It’s priced reasonably priced for a museum shop. There is a cafe with an expansive view of the Doha skyline. We could not try it, as it was closed during Ramadan., 

The Museum of Islamic Art could be a stop as you explore the Doha Corniche. If you are a GCC resident, bring your resident card, and you can get in for free! GCC countries are Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman. This is a great way to beat the heat if you’re spending three days in Doha!

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Souq Waqif

From the museum, it’s about a 15-minute walk to Souq Waqif, an extensive marketplace area traditionally used by the nomadic Bedouin traders that were more common to the site at other times. If you’re spending any amount of time in Doha, you’ll need to stop by here. As such we have absolutely included Souq Waqif in our guide for three days in Doha!

Here are some of the items you can find in the many shops around Souq Waqif: 

• Gold
• Birds, including falcons. Falconry is HUGE in the GCC countries. There are shows and competitions throughout the year. 
• Art pieces, including paintings, sculptures, and pottery
• Clothing
• Carpets and tapestries

There is also a pearl shop in the Souq owned by a former pearl diver, where you can learn more about the once-bustling pearl diving and trade that happened in this part of the Arabian peninsula in the olden days. 

Remember that Souq Waqif shuts down between noon and 4 pm, but it is a popular hangout spot after sunset. Unlike other shopping districts in other countries, this one feels like part of the city, and people who live in Doha go there. 

You can split your time at the Souq between shopping and dining or return at different times, as the vibes are decidedly different. During the day, you mostly see people shopping. At night, the cafes’ outdoor tables bustle with groups discussing coffee, tea, or shisha.

Wherever you go to eat or have a coffee, get an outside table if possible (this is why going at night is better since it would not be possible to sit outside in the hotter months); the people-watching is better. 

Our eating recommendation at Souq Waqif is Damasca One, a Syrian restaurant with an extensive menu including breakfast, appetizers, mains, and desserts. You can also smoke shisha here. The restaurant is two stories and sits over 400 people. The restaurant’s decorations include pictures of old Damascus (from the late Ottoman days and French mandate days in the early 20th century.

But the restaurant’s highlight is the food: fresh, traditional flavors from the region made in an uncomplicated way, where taste and preparation are the most important. Main course portions are generous, so keep that in mind when ordering if you’re alone or with a small group. 

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Day 2 – Three Days in Doha

Katara Cultural Village and Hills Park Doha

Katara Cultural Village mainly focuses on art and cultural venues, including a theater, art galleries, a mosque, and a planetarium. The Village also has restaurants and shopping, including Galleries Lafayette, the French-based luxury department store. It also gives access to Katara Beach, where you can book gondola rides, kayaks, catamaran rides, and other water experiences. For three days in Doha, this is a great way to spend a few hours, especially if you have children!

One of the best surprises of visiting Katara Village was running into North and South Hills Park (we were explicitly in South Hills), one of the greenest spaces we have seen as of yet in the Middle East. With its paved pathways for walking or jogging, the park is a lush respite from the more arid landscape that is more typical of the desert. It’s a lovely space to walk, get broader views of Katara Village and Beach, or for kids to play. Or to stand in plush grass. 

Day 3 – Three Days in Doha

Msheireb Downtown Doha and City Center Doha

This new area of town focused on sustainable design includes museums, street art, shops, and the largest Metro station in Doha, among other exciting sights. We got great gelato at Gelato Divino and had a refreshing break from the city heat in the Living Room at the Park Hyatt. For three days in Doha, it’s definitely worth strolling around this area!

The area also has a free tram to move around; however, it is very walkable. The central square, housed between the Mandarin Oriental buildings, has a cooling system and retractable roof that makes it ideal for taking a break from the heat during the day if you’re in Doha in the warmest months. When we visited during the Eid break, it was buzzing with people in outdoor cafe seats, kids’ activities, and people out and about. Msheireb also has four museums showcasing the history of Qatar in more detail. 

For some shopping, we recommend City Center Doha and Gate Mall. They are around the corner and offer a variety of shopping options. We didn’t go to Gate Mall, but we know it has some higher-end stores. We ate Noodle House and Shake Shack at City Center. 

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Dining highlight: COYA

We finally managed to try COYA, a Peruvian and Japanese-inspired restaurant with permanent locations in cities like London, Paris, Dubai, Riyadh (where we tried and failed to secure reservations last spring), Monte Carlo, and Mykonos.

COYA is located at the W Doha, where we happened to be staying. Highly recommend the West Bay area and the W for excellent service and amenities, as well as the freshest breakfast spread in a hotel in a while. We visited as a belated anniversary dinner and ordered the following dishes: 

• Beef cheek empanadas – spectacular. Perfectly cooked, both filling and dough. 
• Tuna (atun chifa) ceviche
• Tiger prawn tequeños
• Beef ribs
• Nikkei rice (AMAZING!) 
• Grilled asparagus
• Orange and lime churros with chocolate sauce
• Lime cheesecake

Our desserts were upgraded to the dessert tray with some extra fruit, sorbet, and a Happy Anniversary message complete with smoke effects right to our table. You can see the dessert presentation in a reel on our Instagram (@nomadicgregors). It was incredibly calm, and all the desserts were delicious. We didn’t get to try piscos or other cocktails as it was still Ramadan, and the restaurant was not serving alcohol. 

I guess that means we have to go back…

Other interesting pointers about Doha

• Uber works perfectly well and is very affordable.
• The Doha Metro will take you to most places you want to go. We didn’t take it this time, but we tried it during the World Cup (before which it has not had any test runs!), and it worked perfectly. 
• Cafe culture is authentic! Like other Middle Eastern countries, people go out in groups and sit at cafes to chat over coffee, tea, or shisha. It’s also more common here to see more women out and about in restaurant groups. That was interesting, but Doha has a much more diverse population. 
• We saw very few Starbucks! They are ubiquitous in Saudi Arabia, so it’s, to an extent, refreshing not to see them as much. The only one we saw was at City Center Doha. 
• LOADS of food options! More Asian eateries than we’ve seen in eastern Saudi Arabia, and a wider variety of even Middle Eastern food. It was fantastic to see. 

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Final thoughts

Doha is an excellent destination for us where we are located. It’s more cosmopolitan than our current location, so it’s an accessible city fix. We’re excited to explore the culinary scene in Doha in more detail. We want to explore Georgian, Azeri, and Turkish restaurants in Souq Waqif and Asian restaurants in Mshereib. So, while Doha is not as versatile as Abu Dhabi or as glamorous as Dubai, it stands on its own and has a lot to offer. 

You can also check out our other three-day guides for more adventures!

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