10 Best Places To Visit In Qatar - Updated 2024

Irene
Contributing Writer
Updated
| 5 min read

This beautiful country, Qatar, is known all over the world for its amazing terrain which entails an arid desert and a long Persian (Arab) Gulf shoreline full of mind-blowing beaches and dunes. On the most prime areas of the country including Doha, you will love the futuristic skyscrapers and other important ultramodern architecture that was inspired by ancient Islamic design, such as Museum of Islamic Art which was built from limestone. Even though Qatar has so much to offer, a new visitor might run out of ideas on places to visit while they are here. For that reason, check out some of the best places to visit in Qatar.

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1. National Museum of Qatar

In just our first three months, the National Museum of Qatar has already proven to be hugely popular. Now, to upgrade...

Posted by National Museum of Qatar on Friday, 14 June 2019

Designed to be both immersive and experiential, the National Museum of Qatar focuses on telling both the past and present of Qatar. The museum is located on Museum Park Street just across from the Corniche and is spread over 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) giving visitors a unique journey through a mix of compelling storytelling in an environment that will engage all the senses. The National Museum of Qatar features an auditorium with the capacity of accommodating up to 220 guests and has an enticing programme of events which ensures that visitors will learn about Qatar from a new perspective. The museum also houses a research centre and laboratories which offer new study opportunities to students and researchers.

National Museum of Qatar

Address: Museum Park St, Doha, Qatar

Website: National Museum of Qatar

Opening hours: Sun - Wed: 9am - 7pm; Fri: 1:30pm - 9pm; Thu, Sat: 9am - 9pm

Price: 14 USD (adults); 7 USD (students)

Tip from Content Creator

National Museum of Qatar

This is one of my favorite architecture museums in the world. Did you know that it was inspired by the desert rose crystal that can be found in Qatar?

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2. Doha Desert

best places to visit in qatar | doha desert

If you are in Qatar or planning to visit any time soon, you have to experience a thrilling dune bashing drive through the Doha desert. This activity gives you the chance to enjoy dune bashing over some of the tallest dunes in the area. Surf across the sand plains as you experience desert topography to the fullest. Once you are done enjoying this activity, you can also try out other popular desert sports such as sandboarding and camel riding. While you are here, you will have the opportunity of taking epic photos of this beautiful landscape to cherish these newly created memories for a lifetime.

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3. Souk Waqif

Located at the heart of Doha city right next to Wadi Msheireb, Souk Waqif (standing market) is one of the most known tourist attractions in Doha. For this activity, you will get to discover some of Qatar’s hidden gems such as the Arabian horses and camels, the textiles market, the Rayan Theater, and the antique market. To make sure this memory lasts, take some pictures of the market and shop for souvenirs at the vibrant market.

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4. Pearl Monument

The Pearl Monument
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Richard Stephen H... used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Strategically situated at the heart of Qatar’s capital, Doha, Pearl Monument is a famous fountain that pays tribute to Qatar’s history of pearling. Before oil, the most thriving industry in Qatar was pearling and up to today, pearls still play an important role in the country. You will love the structure of the Pearl Monument which portrays a giant open oyster with a massive pearl in its mouth. The fountain normally lights up at night giving visitors an ideal location for photo sessions while at the same time paying homage to Qatar’s pearling history. This is the perfect place to create unforgettable memories in Qatar.

Pearl Monument

Address: Corniche St., Doha, Qatar

Website: Pearl Monument

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

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5. Falcon Souq

A falcon is displayed to potential buyers during the First Annual Souq Wajif Falcon Auction in Doha, Qatar, Oct. 31, 2013. (Reuters)

Posted by Al Arabiya English on Friday, 1 November 2013

Falcon Souq is a dedicated market for unique birds where both locals and visitors can shop, take photographs, and sometimes hold birds under the supervision of the owner. Normally evenings are the best time to visit the market, especially on Thursday evening if you are lucky enough to catch customers examining the birds and discussing the finer points of falconry with the shopkeepers. This tradition is very important to the locals to the point that the market has a falcon hospital. If you are willing, you can also attend the public falcon auction which is normally attended only by males and the prices of a falcon start at USD 3,000.

Falcon Souq

Address: Al Souq St., Doha, Qatar

Opening hours: Sat - Thu: 7am - 6pm (closed on Fri)

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6. Museum of Islamic Art

The Museum of Islamic Art houses a collection of Islamic art from 3 continents over 1,400 years, hence helping in transforming the State of Qatar into a cultural capital of the Middle East. Designed by I.M. Pei, the museum features a main building with an adjacent education wing connected by a large central courtyard. The main building consists of five-stores, topped by a high-domed atrium within a central tower. The museum features artefacts that shed light on Qatar’s culture such as Qajar Women (19th-century images in Iran), The Hunt (Princely Pursuits in Islamic Lands) and, Mughal and Safavid Albums. MIA is not a religious institution however you can find prayer rooms and ablution facilities dedicated to all Muslim visitors.

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7. Aspire Zone

best places to visit in qatar | aspire zone
Source: www.klook.com

Over the past few years, Qatar has experienced rapid growth when it comes to education and sports. This is thanks partly to Aspire Zone where you will find state-of-the-art facilities just for that purpose. Aspire Zone features Education City, which is a massive campus dedicated to education, science, and community development. Aspire Zone also features Qatar National Convention Centre which is a major centre of many activities in sports and education in the area. You will also get to see an incredible array of world-class sport training facilities and a research area for sports medicine and education on various sports.

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8. Barzan Towers

Staircased Barzan Tower
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user takwing.kwong used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Also known as the Umm Salal Mohammed Fort Towers, the Barzan Towers is located in the suburbs of Doha in Umm Salal Mohammed village. The towers were constructed in the late 19th century with the aim of serving as a watchtower to protect the local water sources and as an observatory to keep track of the dates of the lunar calendar. The architectural design of the tower is in the form of a rectangle building with three storeys as well as an external staircase which is an exceptional architectural style in the Arabian region. Currently, the Barzan Towers are restored with some internal features such as modern air-conditioners.

Barzan Towers

Address: Muhammed, Qatar

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

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9. Katara Cultural Village

katara cultural village

Katara Cultural Village is undoubtedly the largest cultural project in Qatar. Katara was established with the aim of transforming the country into a cultural beacon through several activities in music, literature, theatre, and conventions. In alignment with the goals set by the Qatar National Vision 2030, Katara plays its role by spreading awareness on the importance of preserving one’s culture and on the importance of civilization. The cultural village of Katara offers a glimpse of the future where people of various cultural backgrounds overcome their differences and work together with the hope of promoting unity. Katara is the place where the past meets the splendour of the future.

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10. Msheireb Museums

Msheireb Museums was constructed by the Msheireb Properties with the aim of celebrating the four historic houses namely the Company House‭, Radwani House‭, Bin Jelmood House‭, and‬ ‬Mohammed Bin Jassim House which are all located at the heart of Msheireb Downtown Doha‭. ‬The museum reveals a lesser-known aspect of Qatar’s cultural and social development by creating safe and trusted environments where people can exchange thoughts about both their history and fantasize about the future of their nation‭. ‬The restoration of the four heritage‭ ‬houses‭ ‬into world-class museums is in line with the city’s plan for the Msheireb Downtown Doha development‭.‬

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Amazing places to visit in Qatar

Qatar is a huge country with lots to discover. Those who are visiting this country might sometimes run out of ideas on where to visit. In case you find yourself wondering where to go, check out some of the best places you can visit in Qatar. Be sure to check out some amazing things to buy at Doha Airport as well.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Irene Mwikali is a graduate student in Kenya who has a passion for travelling and exploring the world. Currently, her love for travel has taken her to several destinations including South Africa,...Read more

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