Qatar is outlined by its contrasts. Just as the revolutionary Doha skyline echoes in the significant waters of the Arabian Gulf, the nation stands at the intersection between West and East, amid the past and present. A wide-ranging space where ultra-modern experiences and edifying treasures sit adjacent.
National Museum of Qatar
Drawing stimulus from and restoring the naturally ensuing crystal formations known as the desert rose, the National Museum of Qatar was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel. Spanning a whopping 430,500 square feet, the museum is built around Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al-Thani’s unique palace, which was the seat of government for 25 years. It gives expression to Qatar’s legacy while revelling in its future. To enjoy the essence of Qatar, book a lunch table at Jiwan on the fourth floor before you start your tour. This is where Alain Ducasse’s high standards meet local traditions and generous Arabian hospitality. The design works in accord with the menu to give you a taste of Qatar’s nature and rich traditions linked to activities by the sea.
SOUQ WAQIF
Head to the 100-year-old Souq Waqif, within walking distance of the Corniche, for a vibrant take on native life. Tangled alleys here pack in character in abundance, with stalls vending all kinds of wares. If you’re looking for kitsch souvenirs, this is your place! With some outstanding examples of Middle Eastern wind tower architecture, a couple of hours here is a great way to get a peek at how life was once lived here. Post-sunset, the souq comes to life. Relax at one of the many cafes over a conventional Arabic coffee and soak up the ambience. Stop by one of the Arabian cafés and restaurants for local fare. Al Shurfa, a charming Arabic eatery overlooking the market’s main artery, comes highly recommended. Go for the mezze and the decadent kebabs.
Katara Cultural Village
Situated at the threshold where the Middle East unites with Asia, Qatar is known for being the centre of varied cultures and ethnicities from all across the globe. This spirit is echoed in the self-acknowledged village of Katara, which gets its name from the country’s former spelling. The Katara Mosque, styled with Persian and Turkish tile and enamel work in blue and gold, was designed by a Turkish lady, Zeynep Fadilloglu, who was considered the first female architect to focus on mosques. In close addition to the mosque is the Gold Mosque, which lives up to its name and is a golden image under the sun. The village’s classical Greek-style amphitheatre is spread across 3,275 sq m, can house around 5,000 viewers, and absorbs Islamic inspirations, as seen in its arched entrances too. It’s a good idea to look around at the many art galleries nestled there as well as the planetarium. Hungry? There are several restaurants serving various cuisines. Boho Social has the best views and honest-to-goodness food.
SHEIKH FAISAL BIN QASSIM AL THANI MUSEUM
Established in 1998, it is home to over 15,000 items. The museum’s outstanding collection features articles from the Jurassic age up to the present day. A highlight is an old-style Syrian home brought in from Damascus and re-erected. Abundantly furnished, it includes a courtyard and two living spaces, exhibiting gorgeous tile and lattice work. Two model Qatari homes encompass items from Sheikh Faisal’s personal home. With his extremely personal collection, exemplifying the founder’s individual interests and tastes, and a life opulent in experience.
PLACE VENDOME
This mall is the spot to fixate on and diligently shop at all day. Located in the city of Lusail, it is massive, with four floors (canal, ground, first, and second) and spread over 1,150,000 square metres. The design is an uncluttered concept and is stimulated by characteristic French-style architecture. Everything at Vendome is larger than life and radiates grandeur with its extravagant setting, gorgeous interiors, and profligate architecture. Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, Dior—it’s all there in all its glory. A favourite for make-up is the flagship Sephora store, spread over 3 floors and replete with a rooftop. Don’t miss the dancing show that happens every evening with an hourly interval from 7 until 11 p.m.
MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART
Crafting its sign on the Doha skyline, the instantly familiar inclines of IM Pei’s modernist victory bulge out from its island just off the capital’s Corniche. Step inside the museum, and the assortments straddling 1,400 years are every bit as remarkable. From textiles and jewellery to Islamic manuscripts that are spread over five floors, all tell the story of Islam in stages. Regular, distinctive exhibitions add to the prosperity of the knowledge collected here.
KHOR AL ADAID (INLAND SEA)
Explore the 11,437 square kilometres of desert located less than an hour south of Doha, near Qatar’s sand-swept southern border. There lies the compellingly gorgeous inland sea, an extraordinary quirk of nature, glistening with reefs of silver sardines. One of the few places on the planet where the ocean infringes deep into the heart of a desert, it’s a UNESCO-listed refuge for wildlife, counting Arabian gazelles, turtles, and dugongs (famous as ‘sea cows’). Today, the swift dunes that enclose it, extending for miles in each direction, are a sanctuary for epinephrine junkies, too. Several operators offer full-day, half-day, or all-night trips from Doha for activities ranging from sand-skiing and sand-boarding to dune bashing in 4×4 jeeps.
The Pearl Island
Set near the west bay lagoon of Doha, the Pearl is the most admired lure for finding the fineness of architectural exquisiteness, displaying Mediterranean appeal and glow with its open plaza and awnings. There are parks, cafes, pedestrian walkways, and a play area where one can hug the sprightly ambience. It can justly be termed a magical land with elegant villas, the beachfront, mosques, skyscrapers, and the Pearl Qanat Quartier. With its effervescent beaches and anchorage for yachts, this man-made island is a terminus that outlines the plush Qatari lifestyle.
NIGHT TOUR OF MINA DISTRICT
Vibrant buildings, places to eat, shop, and more! The beautiful Mina District, located on the picturesque Doha corniche, is a must-see by itself. Formerly known as Old Doha Port, it is now being revamped and is fast becoming a breath-taking tourist spot. There are more than eighty active outlets in Souq el Mina, offering diverse products for sale. If you are looking for some conventional clothes to shine at the next iftar party, look no more.
QUEST THEME PARK
Qatar’s first-ever indoor theme park! Quest, the avant-garde theme park, makes for a perfect leisure destination with adrenaline-packed rides and attractions. Divided into three different zones, namely ‘Oryxville,” which signifies the Arabian past and calls itself the ‘forgotten land with antiquated ruins, mesmerising wonders, and escapades at each corner’. The City of Imagination emphasises wandering through ‘space and time’, discovering what is proceeding now and what could happen in the future. And Gravity, an ultramodern land, lets guests go on ‘out-of-this-world galactic missions’ from its spaceport. Across the land are 30 rides, including a number of record-breaking ones.
The EpiQ Coaster is the world’s tallest indoor rollercoaster, with a 197-foot warped upright spike and top speeds of 56 mph, while the Magma Blast is the tallest indoor drop tower ride in the world. Other rides include a 3D motion simulator and a flight simulator. Are you ready to test your limits?
Akanksha Dean, an independent chef and food and travel writer, is the first Indian to have trained at Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy, rated as the world’s best restaurant in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2016 and 2018 and currently in the Best of the Best category.