Doha at a glance
This list is a selection, not a ranking. Entries 1 to 3 are museums. Entries 4 to 6 sit in the old centre around Souq Waqif and Msheireb. Entries 7 to 10 cover The Pearl and Katara on the northern coast. Entries 11 to 13 are about the water and the desert. Entries 14 and 15 are in Lusail.
Prices are adult prices as listed in 2026 and can change. The exchange rate is fixed at 1 US dollar to 3.64 Qatari riyals (QAR), so the dollar figures below are rounded. Museums differ on closing days, and two of them have a changed schedule on Sunday 25 October 2026.
Museums (1 to 3)
Three large museums, each with its own closing day.
1. Museum of Islamic Art
The building was designed by I. M. Pei and houses an Islamic art collection. It is open Saturday to Tuesday 09:00–19:00, Thursday 09:00–21:00 and Friday 13:30–19:00. It is closed on Wednesday, and on Sunday 25 October 2026. One ticket offer lists QAR 50 ($14) without a guided tour. Another source lists QAR 100 ($27) for adults, so check the price at booking. The park outside is open 24 hours.
Museum of Islamic Art guide →2. National Museum of Qatar
The building was inspired by the desert rose, and the museum tells the history of Qatar and its people. A ticket offer lists QAR 25 ($7) without a guide. Hours are 09:00–19:00 on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Wednesday, 09:00–21:00 on Thursday, 13:30–19:00 on Friday, and closed on Tuesday. On 25 October 2026 it opens only from 15:00. Some galleries can be closed for improvements, so ask what is open when you buy.
National Museum guide →3. Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum
The museum has interactive sports exhibitions and stands at the Khalifa International Stadium, not at Lusail. A ticket offer lists QAR 50 ($14). Hours match the National Museum on regular days. Take the Gold Line to Sport City. A 5-day Discover One Pass is listed at QAR 70 ($19) for several museums, but the access to Mathaf is described in conflicting ways, so do not buy it for that museum alone.
Our picks: things to do
The dunes, the water and a museum ticket.
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 →
Museum of Islamic Art admission
Entry to the permanent and special exhibitions, with an audio guide via QR code. The meeting point depends on the option you pick.
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, dhow cruises, desert safaris and museum tickets, with live prices and availability.
Souq and old centre (4 to 6)
Markets, falcons and four historic houses.
4. Walk through Souq Waqif
The old market area mixes trade with restaurants and cafés. It gets busier after 16:00. On Fridays some shops and stalls open only in the afternoon, while restaurants can run on their own hours. It lies on the Gold Line. Cover shoulders and knees. During Ramadan 2026 the shops listed 08:00–12:00 and again from iftar until midnight.
Souq Waqif guide →5. See the Falcon Souq
The falcon trade sits inside Souq Waqif, between Al Asmakh Street and Al Ahmed Street. It lists 09:00–13:00 and 16:00–20:00 on working days and evenings only on Friday. You can hold a falcon only under the supervision of the trader. It is not a free petting activity.
6. Visit the Msheireb Museums
Four restored houses, Bin Jelmood House, Company House, Mohammed Bin Jassim House and Radwani House, are run as museums in Msheireb Downtown. Entry is free. Hours are 09:00–17:00 from Monday to Thursday and on Saturday, 15:00–21:00 on Friday, and closed on Sunday. The last entry is 30 minutes before closing. The houses are wheelchair accessible, and there is parking near the Jumaa Mosque.
The Pearl and Katara (7 to 10)
Canals, marinas, mosques and gardens along the northern coast.
7. Stroll through Qanat Quartier
The canal district on The Pearl has pedestrian squares, shops and restaurants. The operator lists 1,120 retail parking spaces. The Metro does not stop in the district itself. Go to Legtaifiya and change to the free Metrolink feeder.
The Pearl guide →8. Eat at Porto Arabia
Porto Arabia is one of the visitor and dining areas of The Pearl. A water taxi links it with Qanat Quartier from 08:00 to 00:00, from QAR 25 ($7) for 20 to 25 minutes. Check whether that price is per person or per trip when you book.
9. Explore Katara Cultural Village
Katara lies between West Bay and The Pearl. It has the Katara Mosque, the Gold Mosque, an amphitheatre and galleries. The Red Line stops at Katara station. Dress modestly at the mosques.
Katara guide →10. Walk the Katara Hills
The green areas and paths lie north and south of the village. A summer 2026 report lists the Katara beach at QAR 10 ($3) for adults, with swimming only from 15:30 until sunset. That is a seasonal report, not a guaranteed October price, so check at the gate.
Water and desert (11 to 13)
A promenade, a booked boat and a day in a 4x4.
11. Walk the Corniche
The crescent-shaped promenade on Doha Bay is described as 7 km long. Walking it is not a booked activity, and it should not be confused with a boat trip. Combine it with the Museum of Islamic Art Park.
Corniche guide →12. Take a dhow sunset cruise
One booked cruise costs QAR 150 ($41) for 2 hours. From October to February it runs 16:00–18:00, and from March to September 17:00–19:00. The route starts and ends at The Pearl and passes Katara, West Bay, the Corniche and the Mina District. You must be able to board and leave the boat without help. The provider calls it unsuitable for wheelchair users.
Tours compared →13. Drive to the Inland Sea
The Inland Sea in the south-east needs a 4x4. The distance is about 80 km, roughly 1 hour 30 minutes from Doha. A private tour is listed from QAR 227 ($62) for 09:00–13:00 or 14:00–18:00. Check whether the price is per person or per vehicle. Khor Al Adaid is on Qatar's tentative list for World Heritage, not an inscribed site.
Desert safari guide →Lusail (14 and 15)
The newer city north of Doha.
14. See Lusail Boulevard
The boulevard is a street space in Downtown Lusail. Take the Red Line towards Lusail, or change to the tram network, and check the current map for your route.
Lusail guide →15. Visit Place Vendôme
The shopping centre in Lusail has water fountains. Its operator lists 10:00–23:00 and hourly fountains from 13:00 to 23:00. A tourism listing gives other hours, with 09:00 openings, a late close at the weekend and fountains from 19:00. Check the day you plan to go.
Plan the rest of your trip
Pages for each of the places above.
National Museum of Qatar
Hours, tickets and the changed schedule on 25 October 2026.
Souq Waqif
When it is busy, the Falcon Souq and Friday hours.
The Pearl
Qanat Quartier, Porto Arabia and how to get there.
Katara
Mosques, galleries and the beach prices of 2026.
Corniche
The promenade, the park and the boats.
Desert safari
Inland Sea, 4x4 trips and who can join.
Lusail
Boulevard, stadium and Place Vendôme.
Getting around
Metro lines, fares and taxis.
Things to do in Doha: frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in Doha?
That depends on your time. For one day, many visitors combine a museum with Souq Waqif in the evening. The list above is a selection, not a ranking, and it shows what each experience costs and when it is open.
Which museums are free?
The Msheireb Museums are listed as free by their operator. The big museums charge. Prices differ: QAR 25 ($7) for the National Museum of Qatar and QAR 50 ($14) for the Sports Museum in one ticket offer. For the Museum of Islamic Art, two sources list QAR 50 and QAR 100.
What should I wear?
The tourism guidance asks men and women to keep shoulders and knees covered in public areas. Museums can refuse entry if clothing is not suitable.
Can I do Doha in one day?
You can see a selection. A realistic day is one museum, lunch, the Corniche and Souq Waqif in the evening. The Inland Sea and Lusail each need more time. Look at the layover guide if you are in transit.
Stopover guide →Is it safe to travel to Doha right now?
The German Federal Foreign Office advises against travel to Qatar, as of 20 October 2026, and Austria lists security level 3. Read your own government's travel advice and check your flight before you go.