What to Do in Doha Qatar in 48 Hours

What to Do in Doha Qatar in 48 Hours

After traveling a bit through the Middle East at the end of last year I realized how much I’m dying to go back. One place I didn’t go but wished I had is Doha Qatar. For some reason, I didn’t even know it existed until my friend went after I left the Middle East. So, when I met Danielle Goffi who had just been, I had to have her share her tips on what to do in Doha!

Welcome to the Traveling Spud, Danielle!

Danielle Goffi
Bonjour! Ciao! Hola! Hello!

I am Danielle Goffi! As you can see, I WISH I knew a different language and when I travel, I try to learn at least a “hello” so I can be respectful of the culture. With upcoming travels to France and Italy at the end of summer, I’m currently brushing up on some French and Italian!

I am a very proud Chicagoan who currently resides in London with my husband. Since living in London, we’ve been able to travel to so many wonderful places and meet some amazing people. And though I believe education is incredibly important {after all, I am a secondary English teacher!}, traveling opens our eyes and teaches us more lessons than a textbook ever could, which is why I have such a passion for traveling and seeing the world.
 
Though I am a teacher by day, I am the creative mind of an online athleisure boutique, PDA, by night. Not only am I passionate about travel, but I am also a yogi, a foodie {especially when it comes to trying local cuisines!}, a reader, a shopper, and a reality TV junkie.

Here’s What to Do With 48 Hours in Doha Qatar!

What to Do in Doha Qatar in 48 HoursMy husband and I have lived in London, England, for the last 2.5 years; we committed to this adventure mainly because we wanted to travel. Coming from Chicago, I would’ve never thought I’d be able to actually experience my dream trips and bucket list vacations I enthusiastically would pin on Pinterest. After all of the countries and cities we’ve visited, Doha, Qatar, will likely be the most memorable. It was a country I knew absolutely nothing about, and therefore, I was intimidated and yet jumping-out-my-seat excited.

Once I landed, I realized that there was nothing to fear about pushing myself out of my comfort zone. In fact, I had everything to gain by doing so. Upon landing, I was in absolute awe of the city. And at the end of the trip, I walked away with not just an appreciation of Qatar, but its people, its culture, its traditions, and more importantly, just a greater understanding of humankind.

So, I urge you to visit Doha, to explore, to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Because when we wonder about others and when we wander to unfamiliar regions, we learn so much more about the world, ourselves, and what we want from life.

If I’ve persuaded you {wink-wink, nudge-nudge}, below is what to do in Doha, Qatar for a fabulous, whirlwind trip in Doha, Qatar.

Day 1

10am-1pm

Walk the Corniche:

The Corniche is Doha’s waterfront, where you can admire its modern buildings and understand the city’s desire to expand. The horseshoe shaped path is slightly over half a mile and has spectacular views of the city’s shiny, new buildings, some of which aren’t even fully finished!

Here, you will find western hotels, like the Sheraton, and restaurants, so you can have a leisurely breakfast. Afterward, walk along to the end, where you can soak in the Qatari sun at Al Thakhira Beach.
Walk the Corniche

2-8 PM

Take a Desert Safari:

The half-day desert safari is a unique experience and definitely at the top of my list of what to do in Doha. The tour includes a private car ride to the Qatari desert, where you can go on a camel ride, see views of Saudi Arabia across the Persian Gulf, and go dune bashing.

For dune bashing, the driver of your car will ride the sand dunes, going up and down the steep sand mounds like a roller coaster. It’s exciting and oh-so-exhilarating for those thrill-seekers!
 
While the desert safari can take place in the morning, I highly recommend the night tour, as you can chase the magnificent sunset.
Desert Safari | What to Do in Doha Qatar in 48 HoursWhat to Do in Doha
 

9 PM -Bedtime

Shop and Eat at the Souq Waqif:

The market has a lively and energetic atmosphere. Here, you can shop in the narrow passages of the labyrinth, where you can buy anything from pets, rugs, clothing, food, tea, spices, tools, etc.

You can even hold a REAL falcon if you ask ever-so-politely, which was my husband’s dream come true!
 
And once you’re ready to relax, enjoy dinner and a shisha at one of the many restaurants.
Souq Waqif Doha
Souq Waqif Doha
 

Day 2

11am-2pm

Visit Katara Village:
After sleeping off a bit of jet lag, visit Doha’s cultural village, where you can likely spend the whole day, as it contains The Opera House, an Amphitheater, two regal and sparkling mosques {no joke, one actually looks like it has gold glitter paint on the entire façade of the beautiful building!}, and idyllic gardens.
 
Not only does it proudly showcase Qatar’s culture and traditions, but it also has many restaurants with pristine outdoor spaces where you can socialize, eat, and enjoy some of their delicious mint tea.

Katara Village Doha

3-6PM

Learn About Islamic Art at the Museum of Islamic Art:
The architecture alone will attract you to this museum. It contains 5-stories of artwork such as manuscripts, jewelry, textiles, coins, glass, paintings, etc. Therefore, this museum is considered the primary museum of Islamic art in the world.
Museum of Islamic Art

7-10PM

Cruise Around in a Dhow:
Take a dinner cruise in a Dhow {rhymes with cow} where you can enjoy a barbequed meal and enjoy views of the city’s glittering skyline.
 
What I absolutely love about this tour is the stark contrast between it and the desert safari. It displays everything Doha has to offer: land, sea, and skyscrapers.
 dinner cruise in a Dhow

11PM- Bedtime

Enjoy the Souq Waqif: 
Lastly, I would sit with other Qataris at a restaurant in the Souq. Most restaurants close at midnight, while others even stay open 24-hours! Doha has such a bustling nightlife! On the final day of your trip, it’s worth blending in with the locals and enjoying dessert and a shisha.
While many of these areas and attractions are walkable once you get there, but walking to and from each thing isn’t always easy. Many streets are under construction or on a large, busy road, and they are currently building their public transportation system. Therefore, I highly recommend using the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus to get from place to place or use Uber. Use my promo code to get $10 off your first ride.

Thanks, for the tips on what to do in Doha, Danielle! I hope we all get to explore Doha, Qatar at some point. 🙂

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