Doha at a glance
Doha is the capital of Qatar. Arabic is the national language, and English is widely spoken. The city lies on the coast, with a 7 km crescent-shaped waterfront promenade, the Corniche, and a historic market at Souq Waqif. Further out are Katara, The Pearl-Qatar and Lusail. The Inland Sea, a desert and lagoon landscape, lies in the south-east and needs a 4x4.
Hamad International Airport is linked to the city by the Red Line of the Doha Metro, and a taxi pavilion sits at the left end of the arrivals hall. The currency is the Qatari riyal (QAR), pegged at 3.64 QAR to the US dollar. Prices on this site are listed as shown in 2026 and can change.
What this guide covers
This is an independent guide for visitors to Doha and Qatar. It covers the large museums, Souq Waqif and the Falcon Souq, the Corniche, Katara, The Pearl and Lusail, desert safaris to the Inland Sea, stopovers and layovers, the airport, the metro, the weather and where to stay. Every page gives opening times and prices with the year they apply to.
The site is not run by Visit Qatar, Qatar Museums, Qatar Airways, Hamad International Airport or any tour operator. For official notices, use the websites of those organisations.
Our picks: Doha tours
A guided city tour, a desert safari and a dhow cruise.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Desert safari with sandboarding and Inland Sea
An air-conditioned 4x4 with a guide, dune bashing, sandboarding, tea and water. Hotel pickup, camel ride and quad bike depend on the option you choose.
Check availability →
Guided city tour with airport or hotel pickup
Pickup and return from your hotel or the airport, a guided walk through Souq Waqif, a photo stop on the Corniche and visits to Katara and The Pearl.
Check availability →
One-hour dhow cruise along the skyline
A one-hour trip on a traditional dhow with views of the skyline, water and an air-conditioned vehicle. Dinner is included only if you choose that option.
Check availability →Doha tours and day trips
City tours, desert safaris to the Inland Sea, dhow cruises and museum tickets, with live prices and availability.
Plan your trip
Start with the list of things to do, then pick the pages you need.
Things to do in Doha
Fifteen experiences, from museums and the souq to the Corniche and the desert.
Doha tours compared
City tours, desert safaris, dhow cruises and museum tickets side by side.
Desert safari and Inland Sea
Dunes, 4x4 drives and the lagoon at Khor Al Adaid, about 80 km from Doha.
Doha layover and stopover
What fits into 6 hours or 4 days, and what the stopover package costs.
Hamad International Airport
Metro, Karwa taxis and what to expect on the way into town.
Doha Metro and getting around
Lines, fares, Friday start times and the free Metrolink feeder.
Weather and best time
Monthly temperatures from a historical series and when outdoor plans work.
Where to stay
West Bay, Msheireb, The Pearl or Lusail: which area fits your plans.
Museums, markets and districts
The places most visitors build their days around.
Museum of Islamic Art
Tickets, weekly hours, MIA Park and the closure on 25 October 2026.
National Museum of Qatar
Opening hours, gallery works until 30 December 2026 and the Gold Line.
Souq Waqif
Evening hours, the Falcon Souq and the Msheireb Museums.
The Pearl-Qatar
Qanat Quartier, the water taxi and how to get there by metro.
Katara Cultural Village
Mosques, amphitheatre, galleries and the beach prices reported for summer 2026.
The Corniche
A 7 km promenade, the MIA Park and where dhow trips start.
Lusail
The boulevard, Place Vendôme and the stadium, reached by the Red Line.
Good to know in autumn 2026
Where older guides and some listings are out of date.
Museum changes on 25 October 2026
The Museum of Islamic Art is closed to the public on Sunday 25 October 2026. The National Museum of Qatar closes early that day, at 3 p.m., and the last gallery entry is at 2:15 p.m.
Museum of Islamic Art →Museum prices are not the same
One 2026 listing shows QAR 25 for the National Museum and QAR 50 for the Museum of Islamic Art and the Sports Museum. Visit Qatar lists QAR 100 for adults at the Museum of Islamic Art, so compare before you pay. The Discover One Pass costs QAR 70 and covers 5 days. Its page promotes Mathaf and also says Mathaf is closed until further notice, so confirm before you buy.
National Museum →Fridays run later
The Qatar Rail pocket map (printed January 2025) gives a Friday start of 9 a.m. for the metro and 2 p.m. for the tram. Check the current timetable before you plan a morning on the rails.
Metro and getting around →Entry rules: two sources for US citizens
Qatar's Ministry of Interior lists a visa valid for 2 years with stays of up to 90 days. The US State Department lists 90 days of validity. Both give a fee of $21. Read both before you fly.
Arriving at the airport →Katara beach prices
A report of June 2026 gives QAR 10 for adults on summer opening days, not the often-quoted QAR 50. Nothing confirms that price for October, so ask at the gate.
Katara →Travel advice
The German Foreign Office currently advises against travel to Qatar (status 20 October 2026), and Austria lists security level 3. Read the advice of your own government before you book and again before you fly.
Layover and stopover planning →Doha: frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Qatar?
Citizens of Germany, Austria and Switzerland are on the Ministry of Interior list for a free tourist visa on arrival: 90 days in total, multiple entries, valid for 180 days and not extendable. You need a confirmed onward or return ticket, and the list gives a passport validity of at least 6 months. Visit Qatar names 3 months in general, so plan for 6. US citizens: see the box above. Rules change, so check your government's travel advice.
When is the best time to visit Doha?
Visit Qatar names November to February as the winter travel season and June to September as the summer, when plans move indoors. Outdoor activities are generally best from October to May. No month is guaranteed to be comfortable every day. See the weather page.
Which currency do I need?
The Qatari riyal (QAR, also written QR), divided into 100 dirham. It is pegged at 1 US dollar to 3.64 QAR. The peg is not the rate you get at a bureau or on a card, because fees come on top.
What should I wear?
For men and women, Visit Qatar recommends covering shoulders and knees in public places. Qatar Museums can refuse entry for unsuitable clothing. During Ramadan, eating, drinking and smoking in public during the day are not expected. Alcohol may not be consumed in public and is served in licensed hotels.
How do I get from the airport to the city?
By Red Line metro from the station Hamad International Airport T1, or by Karwa taxi from the pavilion at the left end of the arrivals hall. A hotel in Msheireb quotes about 25 minutes by car, and traffic changes that. See the airport page.
Is visitdoha.org an official site?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to Visit Qatar, Qatar Museums, Qatar Airways, the airport or any tour operator. In an emergency in Qatar, call 999.