top of page
Search

Doha, Qatar [2024]

  • Mar 1, 2024
  • 2 min read

We'd been meaning to visit Doha since pre-pandemic. We finally set aside a weekend for a weekend trip, and we were delighfully surprised. While we wouldn't recommend much more than a weekend, we found plenty of stuff to do in the short time we visited.


National Museum of Doha
National Museum of Doha

Pre-trip Notes

  • Qatar had an underground rail put in for the World Cup. We didn't use it, but it's an option if it works for you!

  • While more westernized than Kuwait, Ash still dressed conservatively to be on the safe side.

Flag Plaza
Flag Plaza

What We Did

  • Mina District Corniche: We walked around here for about half a day exploring all along the way to the farthest point on the jetty. There's lots of green space and this colorful village-like area that looks to be an outdoor shopping and office center in-the-making. There's also loads of street art to admire while you walk around the buildings and drop in for a coffee.

  • Museum of Islamic Art: While we've seen a lot of Islamic art and calligraphy in various museums around the Gulf, we still really enjoyed this museum. The architecture is stunning both inside and out, and we were really impressed by the quality of artifacts, calligraphy, and art. Be sure to check out the traditional dhow boats nearby!

  • National Museum of Qatar: Such a gem. The architecture alone is incredibly unique, as it's inspired by the mineral desert rose (a form of gypsum), which occurs naturally in this part of the world. The shear amount of information here was also very impressive, with the biggest learning for us being Qatar's view on the receiving end of the blockade in 2017. The story is quite complex, and clear there is much more to the story than what is shown.

  • The Rug Man: Riyaz is the best! Even though we were honest and said we didn't plan to buy a rug, he still invited us in to explain his mission and from where his rugs originate. Most of his rugs are gently used and are handmade by tribes in the Afghanistan region. We had recently bought a rug in Abu Dhabi and weren't sure if it was "authentic" (e.g. handmade). He took a look at a photo I had and immediately told me it was handmade, and that it's specifically a ghazni rug. Riyaz also mentioned that he regularly travels to the US to sell his rugs, and his dream is to become a vendor at the Houston Rodeo. Seriously, we're so glad we paid a visit! The rugs are BEAUTIFUL.

  • Souq Waqif: Wandered the shops and particularly checked out some of the falcon shops. We also saw a massive amount of camels being paraded from a pen area to the lawns of the Amiri Diwan government building. It was super cool!

  • Fire Station Museum: We walked the corniche north to get a view of the FIFA World Cup statue and the Doha skyline, but the main destination was this art museum. We were honestly shocked by the amount it seems Qatar is investing in art to be a cultural hub. This place was delightfully funky, and we loved it.


Comments

bottom of page