Doha, Qatar 2025 — Things to Do, Hotels, How to Get

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Souq Waqif

culture

Traditional market with spices, crafts, and restaurants.

The Pearl

local

Artificial island with luxury residences, marina, and dining.

Corniche

views

7km waterfront promenade with skyline views.

Msheireb Downtown

culture

Modern sustainable district with museums and heritage.

West Bay

local

Business district with skyscrapers and City Centre Mall.

Katara Cultural Village

culture

Cultural district with amphitheatre, galleries, and beach.

Doha

Doha — A City That Surprises

Doha is a capital that defies stereotypes. Just half a century ago, this was a modest fishing village. Today, it's one of the world's most modern and ambitious cities. Futuristic skyscrapers reflect in the Persian Gulf waters, while just minutes away, a traditional Arab market seems frozen in time.

If Dubai is flashy luxury and tourist chaos, Doha is its more refined, calmer sister. Less pomp, more authentic culture. Quieter, cleaner, and somehow... cozier. World-class museums with free admission, perfect infrastructure built for the 2022 World Cup, and that ...

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faq.subtitle Doha

Russians don't need visa - up to 90 days free. Stamp in passport on arrival. Need passport valid 6+ months and return ticket.

Metro Red Line - 2 QAR, 20-30 minutes, station right in airport. Karwa/Uber taxi - 50-80 QAR, 15-25 minutes. Important: Careem no longer operates in Qatar!

Only at bars and restaurants in 4-5 star hotels. Age 21+. Public drinking prohibited (fines up to 3000 QAR). Not sold in shops. QDC for residents only. Beer glass ~50-80 QAR.

Better to cover shoulders and knees. Malls are relaxed. Souq Waqif more modest. Bikinis only at hotel beaches. Katara Beach has strict dress code - elbows and knees covered!

November-March ideal, 20-25°C. Summer (June-August) brutal: 40-50°C, impossible to walk. December peak season + National Day December 18 with festivals.

Ooredoo Visitor SIM at airport: Go (75 QAR, 6 GB, 7 days), Plus (100 QAR, 10 GB, 14 days). Vodafone cheaper (~35 QAR). Passport required for registration.

3 lines (Red, Green, Gold). Sat-Thu 5:00-1:00, Fri 9:00-1:00. Card 20 QAR, day pass 6 QAR, single ride 2 QAR. Gold Class and women's carriages available. Qatar Rail app.

Morning: Museum of Islamic Art (free) + MIA Park. Day: Souq Waqif (market, restaurants, falcons). Evening: Corniche (7km promenade) or The Pearl. All connected by metro!

Hotels from $14/night for 12+ hour layovers. Free hotel (STPC) with transfer and meals for 8-24 hour layovers. Book at discoverqatar.qa.

To Inland Sea (Khor Al Adaid) - 60km from Doha, Saudi border, UNESCO site. Dune bashing, camels, sandboarding. Half-day from 300 QAR. Best November-March.

Hotel beaches ($50-150/day, bikinis ok). Katara Beach paid (~25-50 QAR), strict dress code - no bikinis! The Pearl - beach clubs. Sealine Beach - wild beach (4x4 needed).

Souq Waqif - atmospheric, many cafes, 10-12 min to airport. West Bay - skyscrapers, business. The Pearl - luxury, yachts. Lusail - new city, modern. Msheireb - cultural center.

Travel Tips

Useful tips for visiting Doha

Museum of Islamic Art is masterpiece - free entry, I.M. Pei building stunning. Best Islamic art collection globally. Go afternoon for light, stay for sunset park views.

Souq Waqif best in evening - go after 17:00 when cooler, shops open, restaurants lively. Try Qatari dishes at Al Shurfa. Falcon souq unique. Bargaining expected!

Doha Metro incredible value - 2 QAR anywhere! Clean, fast, air-conditioned. Connects airport, Souq Waqif, West Bay, Msheireb. Download Qatar Rail app.

Desert safari essential Doha experience - Inland Sea (Khor Al Adaid) UNESCO site. Book half-day tour ~300-500 QAR. Go morning or sunset for best light and temperature.

The Pearl-Qatar - free walks around marina with yachts, restaurants expensive but views stunning. Porto Arabia especially beautiful in evening. Qatar's answer to Dubai.

Airport tour for transit passengers - 3 hours, ~$26. Bus with guide to main attractions. Better than going alone in the heat!

Weather

Average temperature by month

Now

14°

91%1 м/с

Today

23°14°

Tomorrow

26°16°

Thu

22°15°

Fri

19°12°

Sat

17°11°

Sun

18°10°

Mon

19°11°

22°

13°Jan

23°

14°Feb

27°

17°Mar

33°

21°Apr

39°

26°May

42°

28°Jun

42°

30°Jul

41°

30°Aug

39°

27°Sep

35°

24°Oct

29°

19°Nov

24°

15°Dec

Water temperature

21°

20°

21°

24°

28°

31°

33°

34°

32°

29°

26°

23°

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location.transport.metro

2 QR~0.55 $

Qatar Rail

3 линии (Red, Green, Gold). Сб-Чт 5:00-1:00, Пт 9:00-1:00. Карта 20 QAR. Безлимит на день 6 QAR.

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3 QR~0.82 $

Qatar Rail

Metrolink — бесплатные шаттлы до метро. Обычные автобусы 3-5 QAR.

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8 QR~2.2 $

Uber, Karwa

Uber работает отлично. Karwa — официальное такси. Careem НЕ работает!

location.transport.title	location.transport.price	location.transport.app	location.transport.note
location.transport.metro	2 QR ~0.55 $	Qatar Rail	3 линии (Red, Green, Gold). Сб-Чт 5:00-1:00, Пт 9:00-1:00. Карта 20 QAR. Безлимит на день 6 QAR.
location.transport.bus	3 QR ~0.82 $	Qatar Rail	Metrolink — бесплатные шаттлы до метро. Обычные автобусы 3-5 QAR.
location.transport.taxi	8 QR ~2.2 $	Uber, Karwa	Uber работает отлично. Karwa — официальное такси. Careem НЕ работает!

Prices

Cost of food, accommodation and services

Cafes & Restaurants

Lunch

30 ر.ق

~30.0 $

Restaurant dinner

296 ر.ق

~296 $

Breakfast

19 ر.ق

~19.0 $

Street Food

Local dish

11 ر.ق

~11.0 $

Drinks

Coffee

19 ر.ق

~19.0 $

Beer in bar

56 ر.ق

~56.0 $

Fast Food

Big Mac

19 ر.ق

~19.0 $

Groceries

Water 1.5L

2 ر.ق

~2.0 $

Weekly groceries

296 ر.ق

~296 $

Prices are approximate and may vary by season and area.

Accommodation

Hotels and rental prices

Hostel dorm

93 ر.ق / night

~93.0 $

Hotel 2★

148 ر.ق / night

~148 $

Hotel 3★

222 ر.ق / night

~222 $

Hotel 4★

370 ر.ق / night

~370 $

Hotel 5★

741 ر.ق / night

~741 $

Prices are approximate. Book in advance during high season.

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VisaMastercardAmerican Express

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widespread

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Apple PayGoogle PaySamsung Pay

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Cards widely accepted. Riyal (QAR) pegged to USD. Contactless everywhere. Cash useful for souks, small shops. Modern Gulf state infrastructure.

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Qatari Riyal (QAR) pegged to USD. Ultra-modern Gulf capital! Banks: Qatar National Bank (QNB), Commercial Bank of Qatar, Doha Bank - ATMs widespread. Cards everywhere - malls, hotels, restaurants. Souq Waqif traditional market prefers cash. Post-World Cup 2022 infrastructure excellent. Metro/buses use Karwa card - top up at stations. Expensive city. Very safe, organized Gulf state!

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15%

10-15% in restaurants if no service charge. Hotel staff 10-20 QAR. Taxi - round up or app tip.

Safety

High safety level

Tourist area with low crime rate

Doha is extremely safe - one of world's safest cities! Crime almost non-existent. Walking safe anytime. World Cup 2022 infrastructure excellent. Strict laws (alcohol, dress code, PDA) but tourists respected. Heat is main concern - summer brutal. LGBTQ travelers should be discreet (illegal).