Cheap flights to Doha

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Why watch Doha with SniperAir

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Identity

A fast-growing Gulf capital beside a restored souq

Doha is the capital and largest city of Qatar, on the Persian Gulf coast, and its metropolitan area is home to over 80 % of the country's population: about 1.2 million people in the city proper (2020 figure) and around 2 million in the wider area. The population is overwhelmingly expatriate, with large communities from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Philippines and Bangladesh. Arabic is the official language and English is widely used, which makes the city easy to navigate on a first visit. What defines it is the contrast between a fast-growing skyline and a mud-walled traditional market: the Souq Waqif stands against the West Bay towers, and the city's signature buildings come from two Pritzker laureates, I. M. Pei for the Museum of Islamic Art and Jean Nouvel for the National Museum of Qatar.

The history is younger than most visitors expect. Al Bidda is first documented in 1681 and an 18th-century map labels it "Guttur". Doha itself was founded in the 1820s close to Al Bidda, and its name comes from the Arabic "dohat", meaning roundness, after the curved bays. Qatar was a British protectorate from 1916 to 1971, and when independence came in 1971 Doha became the capital. The University of Qatar opened in 1973 and the National Museum in 1975. In the same decade many old neighbourhoods were razed and their residents moved to suburbs such as Al Rayyan, Madinat Khalifa and Al Gharafa.

Doha is also one of the great aviation hubs. Hamad International Airport is the home of Qatar Airways, a member of oneworld, and was voted World's Best Airport by Skytrax in 2021 and 2022. That is what makes the city both a destination and a convenient stopover: the airport is about 15 km from the centre, and a metro line links the two in about 20 minutes.

Don't miss

The Corniche and the West Bay skyline

The Corniche is a 7 km crescent promenade around Doha Bay, and it offers the best views of the West Bay skyline. In the evening the traditional dhows moored along the water light up, which is the moment to walk it. The city has also reclaimed about 400 hectares and 30 km of coastline from the sea, and much of the waterfront you see today is the result of that work. Nearby, the MIA Park around the Museum of Islamic Art is open 24 hours a day, so you can reach the same stretch of waterfront at any time.

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Souq Waqif, the restored "standing market"

Souq Waqif, which means "the standing market", has origins in the late 19th or early 20th century and was renovated in 2006 with an emphasis on its original form. Today it is the lively heart of the city, with a falcon souq (which has its own falcon hospital), a gold souq, spice stalls, restaurants and shisha lounges. In the evening the terraces fill up. Not far away, Msheireb Downtown Doha is another district worth a walk, and Katara Cultural Village, between West Bay and The Pearl, is the city's hub for art, culture and cuisine, with a long beach and the twin Katara Hills.

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Two museums, two signature buildings

Museum of Islamic Art (MIA)

Designed by I. M. Pei on an artificial island off the Corniche, the MIA opened on 22 November 2008 and was open to the public from 8 December 2008. Its collection covers 14 centuries of Islamic art from three continents, from the 7th to the 20th century. Official hours are Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Saturday from 9:00 to 19:00, Thursday from 9:00 to 21:00 and Friday from 13:30 to 19:00; it is closed on Wednesday, so check the museum's website before you go.

National Museum of Qatar

The National Museum of Qatar opened on 28 March 2019. Jean Nouvel's "desert rose" design wraps around the old palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani. It is closed on Tuesday and otherwise open from 9:00 to 19:00, with later closing on Thursday (21:00) and a Friday opening from 13:30; the last entry is 45 minutes before closing. If you still have time, Mathaf (the Arab Museum of Modern Art) and the Qatar National Library are two other cultural stops.

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The Pearl-Qatar, the "Arabian Riviera"

The Pearl-Qatar is an artificial island built on about 4 million m² of reclaimed land, with Mediterranean-style marinas and luxury boutiques, which is why it is sometimes called the "Arabian Riviera". It is among the most photographed corners of modern Doha. To get there, take the Red Line to Legtaifiya station and continue on the M110 Metrolink bus; by road, it is 30 to 40 minutes from the airport. Prices in West Bay and The Pearl are on the high side, especially for hotels and dining, so it is a place to visit for the setting rather than for the bill.

Getting around

The Doha Metro, the Lusail tram and the desert

The Doha Metro opened on 8 May 2019 and runs about 76 km of driverless lines, with the Red, Green and Gold lines meeting at Msheireb Station (a Blue Line is still planned). It is cheap, and trains come every 6 to 9 minutes. Karwa buses, Metrolink feeder buses, the Lusail tram (4 lines, 25 stations) and turquoise Karwa taxis fill the gaps. Education City, home to several universities, is served by the Green Line, known as the Education Line.

A desert trip south of the city combines well with a stay in Doha. We did not verify the details of any specific desert excursion (distance, duration or operators), so check them before you book; the cooler months are the sensible time for it.

Good to know

World Cup legacy, cost of living and climate

Doha was the first city in the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula to host a FIFA World Cup, from 20 November to 18 December 2022. The legacy includes the stadiums, the Doha Metro and the Corniche promenade, and the city will also host the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup. The currency is the Qatari riyal. Hotels and dining in West Bay and The Pearl are expensive, while transport is cheap. We have no verified daily budget to quote, so plan the hotel as your main cost. Two or three days are enough for Doha itself, and winter is the ideal time.

The climate is hot desert. Summer daily highs are typically around 42 degrees in June and July, and the record is 50.4 degrees, set on 14 July 2010, the highest ever recorded in Qatar. Rain is rare, at about 75 mm a year and almost none from May to September, but humidity can be high. In summer, sightsee in the early morning or in the evening, and use the air-conditioned museums and malls in the middle of the day.

Doha's airport

The country's only airport

Hamad International Airport is the home of Qatar Airways and, in 2021 and 2022, was voted World's Best Airport by Skytrax. It sits about 15 km south-east of the city centre (other guides say 14 to 16 km), partly on reclaimed land. The Metro Red Line takes about 20 minutes from the airport to the centre, though some sources give up to 35, and a single trip is very cheap. That makes it easy to turn a layover into a day in the city.

When to go

When's the best time to visit Doha?

The best period is winter, from November to February, with 15 to 20 degrees and sunshine. From June to September the heat pushes visitors indoors, towards the museums and malls.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about flights to Doha