Recently, Qatar has become an increasingly popular final destination for travelers who used to fly to other countries via the local airport. Doha, the capital of a small Arab country on the Persian Peninsula, is one of the fastest growing and developing cities on the planet.
Small but mighty Qatar has further strengthened its position on the Persian Peninsula in recent decades. Even its capital, Doha, easily competes with the glittering metropolises of neighboring countries, such as Abu-Dhabi and Dubai. Luxurious restaurants, sky-high buildings and glittering hotels made Qatar interesting even for more sophisticated guests, which ensured a real boom in tourism in the country. In addition, the World Cup in football will help promote Qatar in one way or another. Doha is the center of action, and due to serious investments, the capital has recently become much more than just a transit destination, from where travelers traveled onward to Asia, Africa or Australia.
When to Doha?
The best time to visit Doha is between December and February when the average temperature ranges between 21°C and 26°C. The weather is more pleasant than in the summer heat, so it is much more comfortable to travel and see around the city.
Photo: Unsplash/Abuli MunavaryWhat should I see in Doha?
It is one of the most recent acquisitions of the city National Museum of Qatar, the building for which they spent as much as 434 million dollars is the work of the Pritzker Prize winner Jean Nouvel. It is a true artistic creation that offers insight into the country's heritage and history in an innovative way. Also on display is the oldest artifact found in Qatar - a 400-million-year-old fossilized fish.
Instead of boring posters, visitors can enjoy a multimedia narrative through which knowledge about the nation's heritage is conveyed. The museum stimulates all your senses, from taste, type, as well as smell. The museum takes visitors through a wide variety of periods and uncovers the veil of Qatari culture, from the Bedouins and their relationship to the landscape to pearl harvesting, which was once Qatar's primary activity.
Photo: Unsplash/Lucca BelliboniIt also touches on the discovery of natural gas and oil, which changed life in Qatar forever, and with this kind of travel guide you will better understand the country and the culture as such. Museum of Islamic Art on the other hand, it is a good title for an insight into the history of the Middle East. Designed by IM Pei, the five-story building houses some of the rarest objects of the Islamic world, from 7th-century Ottoman manuscripts to 16th-century textiles.
It also contains exhibits that focus on the life of women in Iran and the 19th century, a topic that is still relevant today. You can also choose a guided tour of the museum attractions, which will take you one or two hours. And for a modern take on Middle Eastern art, visit Mathaf, the Arab Museum of Modern Art. Here you will find more provocative works by contemporary artists, and the permanent collection includes as many as 9,000 paintings, sculptures, installations and films and is considered the largest collection of its kind.
Photo: Unsplash/Rowen SmithFire Station is a place of contemporary art in a former fire station, renovated by the Qatari architect Ibrahim Al-Jaida. The building retains its original facade, but its interior has been expanded to include a series of artist studios and woodworking workshops. Enough museums? Souq Waqif a mecca for shopping lovers. It is a real rarity in the sea of designer boutiques, such as are abundant in Doha. Souq or the market recalls the time when the Bedouins traded spices, pearls and food, but today it gives you a touch of Qatari culture that you can take home with souvenirs.
From the beautiful pearls that once powered Qatar's economy to Arabian incense and spices. In the evenings, shisha bars open here, and lively music can be heard. The most modern side of the market is the Gold Souq, home to as many as 50 shops selling gold jewelry and boasting museum-like examples of traditional Qatari jewelry.
Photo: Unsplash/Darshan GajaraHow to explore Doha?
It wasn't until 2019 that Doha opened its first metro stations, and until then, the possibilities of moving around the city were quite limited. With the FIFA World Cup, all seven scheduled routes were opened, and a standard day ticket costs about QAR 6. Since the underground system is still not as extensive as you would like, you will be forced to rely on taxis as well. Tourists rarely use the bus service in Doha.
How much is a plane ticket to Doha?
With Turkish Airlines or Qatar Airlines, you can fly from Zagreb or Venice to Doha from 400 euros. You can search for flight tickets according to your vacation date HERE.
Photo: Unsplash/Masarath AlkhailiCovid-19 restrictions in Qatar
Even before the start of the World Cup in Qatar, the authorities lifted all restrictions in connection with the new coronavirus. Check all current information about Covid-19 restrictions HERE.
Accommodation in Doha
Al Najada Doha Hotel by Tivoli
Located approximately 800 meters from Souq Waqif, Al Najada Hotel Doha by Tivoli offers guests an outdoor pool and luxuriously furnished rooms. A buffet breakfast is available every morning at the property. You can also visit the hotel's restaurant, which is famous for its international cuisine.
Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels - Tivoli
Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels - Tivoli is located in the heart of the historic Souq Waqif market, just 15 minutes from Doha International Airport. It is housed in 9 historic buildings boasting sophisticated furnishings and architecture, and genuine Qatari hospitality leaves a very special mark. As many as 8 restaurants are located within the hotel, where they prepare eclectic dishes, and you can also relax in the spa based on traditional Arabic treatments.
