National Museum of Qatar, Doha

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Best time to travel: Jan-April, Oct-Dec
Ease of travel: Easy
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $

  • The building, which was constructed in place of the original Qatar National Museum, was designed by architect Jean Nouvel who got his inspiration from the desert rose crystal, which can be found in Qatar
  • The museum site includes Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al-Thani’s Palace, which is the heart of the Qatari national identity
  • Opened to the public in 2019

Museum of Islamic Art, Doha

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Best time to travel: Jan-April, Oct-Dec
Ease of travel: Easy
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $

  • Museum built on an island off an artificial projecting peninsula near the traditional dhow harbor showcasing the Qatari seafaring past
  • Established 2008

Souq Waqif, Doha

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Best time to travel: Jan-March, Nov-Dec
Ease of travel: Moderate
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $$

  • Marketplace (souq) in Doha noted for selling traditional garments, spices, handicrafts, and souvenirs
  • Also home to dozens of restaurants and Shisha lounges
  • Although it dates back at least a hundred years, it was renovated in 2006 to conserve its traditional Qatari architectural style

The Pearl-Qatar, Doha

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Best time to travel: Jan-April, Oct-Dec
Ease of travel: Moderate
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $

  • Artificial island and the first land in Qatar to be available for freehold ownership by foreign nationals
  • Once fully completed, The Pearl will create over 20 miles of new coastline, for use as a residential estate with an expected 18,831 dwellings
  • The Pearl is said to resemble a string of pearls, Qatar being a previous major pearl diving site

Doha Corniche

Best time to travel: Jan-Feb, Dec
Ease of travel: Easy
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $

  • Waterfront promenade along Doha Bay in the capital city of Qatar
  • Annual celebrations of national holidays such as Qatar National Day and National Sports Day are centered on the Doha Corniche

Katara Cultural Village, Doha

Best time to travel: Jan-April, Oct-Dec
Ease of travel: Moderate
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $

  • Katara has an open amphitheater, an opera house, a multi-purpose cinema, a multi-purpose conference hall, a beach, and a souq
  • A museum showcasing the country’s maritime heritage was opened in 2015
  • The buildings and facilities at Katara were deliberately arranged in order to reflect the country’s cultural and architectural heritage

Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha

Best time to travel: Jan-April, Oct-Dec
Ease of travel: Easy
Cost ($-$$-$$$): $

  • Offers an Arab perspective on modern and contemporary art, and was established in 2010
  • It has a collection of more than 9,000 artworks, that offers a rare comprehensive overview of modern Arab art, representing the major trends spanning from the 1840s to the present
  • It is thought to be one of the largest collections of Arab-produced paintings and sculptures in the world