Doha will surprise you
Answer honestly: if you were given the opportunity to spend a couple of days in any city in the world, where would you go? Whatever your answer, one thing is almost 100% certain: **Doha does not top the list.**
However, it is possible that your more or less near future includes a stop in capital of Qatar. At least that's the purpose of Qatar Airways : The airline offers layovers of up to four days, free of charge, on all its flights with a stopover in Doha. What's more, it even takes care of organizing accommodation and everything (at reduced prices) so you don't even have to lift a finger.
An offer like that, honestly, is hard to refuse. Take advantage of it, because Doha hid and a couple of aces up my sleeve They well deserve our attention. Give yourself two days to discover them.
DAY 1
10:00 . Begin your exploration of Qatar's capital with an introduction to the Arab tradition at the excellent **Museum of Islamic Art (MIA)**. Contemplate its impressive exterior, on an island built exclusively to accommodate it and with privileged views over the skyscrapers of the western part of the city.
Inside, your collection of ceramics, jewelry and sculptures They will bring you face to face with the history of the region through artistic expression, on a walk through the past that you cannot miss.
13:00. When hunger strikes, go (or, depending on the time of year, take a taxi; the temperature can rise to a very unpleasant 45ºC at this time) to the souk area.
The gastronomic options are innumerable, but for a quick and satisfying lunch we recommend Bandar Aden and its traditional Yemeni cuisine. Opt for fahsa (Yemenian-style vegetables, rice and spiced potatoes) with karse (the Yemeni answer to Indian naan), perfect for refueling (and hiding from the sun for a while).
Museum of Islamic Art in Doha
15:00 . In the afternoon, take another crash course in Qatari and Gulf area life at the house Bin Khelmood . It is part of the urban project Msheireb Downtown Doha , and is commonly known as slavery museum Thus, this former private residence takes the traveler through one of the darkest sides of Qatar's history to the present day. Essential.
17:30 . As soon as the sun goes down, go outside again and take a good walk (this time, for real) through the Souk Waqif . If you have visited other souks or bazaars, this may seem excessively calm : The shopping experience is orderly and relatively quiet, with stores instead of stalls and quiet interactions in which almost it's embarrassing to haggle .
Don't let the modesty of the experience confuse you: this souk has been around since the bedouin period , and it's just as authentic and historic as all the others in the region.
8:00 p.m. For dinner, stay away from the shopping area, but don't move from the old town: there are real culinary gems beyond the hotels (yes, no alcohol on the menu...). Two recommendations: Saravanaa Bhavan and its exquisite typical dishes from South India, and the Persian-style lamb skewer from Khosh Kabab .
DAY 2
8:00 . On your second day in Doha, get up early and get ready to step into pure Arabia: today, you go to the desert.
Many tour operators in the city offer tours of the desert in Jeeps, which will take you across the country to the inland sea, next to the border with Saudi Arabia . The excursion, which usually lasts about four hours, includes camel rides, dune bashing (jump across the dunes in the 4x4) and the opportunity to swim in the inland sea. Take something to eat, you'll need it.
House of Bin Khelmood
1:30 p.m. On your way back from your desert ride, ask the driver to detour on the way back to Doha and drop you off at the grounds of ** Sheikh Faisal .** This museum, which houses Sheikh Faisal's private collection, inspires a only adjective: peculiar . Whether you like it or it horrifies you, one thing is for sure: you have never seen anything like it.
Vintage cars, Ottoman-era pistols, Persian rugs, souvenirs from questionable political regimes, dinosaur bones … Everything has a place in this walk through Qatari history through the life of a (very particular) sheikh.
five pm. Back in Doha, take advantage of your last sunset in the city to see it from another point of view with a ride in dhow by the bay
These wooden boats, which you will find all over the Corniche (Doha's waterfront) are a glimpse into the past, before oil and gas, when Qatar was a maritime economy that lived on fishing and oyster farming. Today, they are an excuse to see the skyscrapers and the city skyline from afar (and take advantage of the sea breeze, which is sorely missed on land).
20:00 . Say goodbye to Qatar in style with dinner at one of the capital's international restaurants. These establishments, by default, are inside hotels, and thus can serve alcohol.
Nobu , first cousin of his namesake in New York, awaits you at the Four Seasons with its terrace and its Japanese fusion menu. You can also take advantage of the curry night of isan , the Thai restaurant Hyatt , and alternate between massaman and panang dishes while toasting with one of their highly imaginative cocktails.
Corniche views