Itineraries for Your Trip to Doha
3 Days in Doha for First Timers
Thanks to its convenient location as an international transit point, Doha is experiencing growing interest from travelers who want to explore the Middle East. That’s how I was introduced to the capital of Qatar, first connecting through its airport a few times, before taking the leap and booking myself three days in Doha.
When I arrived, I had no clue what to do in Doha for first-time visitors. Quite frankly, I wasted more of my time there than I would have liked due to poor planning and inadequate research. Which is why I know how valuable an informed 3-day Doha itinerary for first timers can be, and why reading this can only help your visit.
Stay hydrated, cover up, and wear light clothing if sightseeing in the day.
If you only have time for one thing, make it the Museum of Islamic Art.
Use your first morning and a private city tour to start ticking off some of the best things to do in Doha for first-timers. Explore the glamorous riviera feel of the Pearl-Qatar and the eclectic collection of attractions and landmarks around the Katara Cultural Village
Escape the sun at one of Doha’s premier museums, two of the best being the National Museum of Qatar and the Museum of Islamic Art. Once the day cools off, take a scenic cruise aboard a traditional dhow to admire dusk views of the Doha Corniche and West Bay skyline.
If it’s your first time in Doha, you won’t have seen the rest of Qatar either, something easily remedied with a desert safari. See views of the gleaming Inland Sea from Khor Al Adaid Beach, jostle over dunes in a 4WD, and experience other outdoor activities like sandboarding and camel riding.
Take it easy for the rest of the day, shopping at the over-the-top Villaggio Mall or the more traditional stalls inside and outside the Souq Waqif, before sitting down to a Qatari meal at a local restaurant.
The benefit of allowing three days in Doha for first-timers is that you have more time to explore beyond its downtown area. Explore Qatari culture in its many different forms with visits to attractions on the city’s outskirts, from the Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art to the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum. You can even watch a popular national sport of camel racing at the Al Shahaniya Racetrack nearby.
Continue your roaming with a sightseeing tour to see Qatar’s often overlooked north. Visit Purple Island among unexpected mangrove greenery and the UNESCO-listed Al Zubarah Fort.
