Where to stay in Doha — pick the right hotel, book in 3 clicks

Local dishes to try in Doha

1. 1🍛

   Machboos (Kabsa)

   Qatar's signature one-pot spiced rice with chicken, lamb or fish and dried black lime (loomi) for a fragrant, tangy depth — the dish to order first in Doha.

   📍 National dish
2. 2🥣

   Harees

   Wheat slow-cooked with meat until it breaks down into a smooth, comforting porridge — especially popular during Ramadan and family gatherings.

   📍 Wheat + meat
3. 3🍲

   Thareed

   Flatbread layered at the bottom of a rich meat or vegetable stew so it soaks up the sauce, then topped with chunks of meat and veg. Hearty and warming.

   📍 Arabian lasagne
4. 4🍮

   Balaleet

   Sweet vermicelli flavoured with saffron, sugar and cardamom, topped with a thin savoury omelette. Sounds odd, works beautifully — often eaten at breakfast.

   📍 Sweet-savoury
5. 5🍩

   Luqaimat

   Bite-sized dough balls fried until golden, drenched in syrup or date molasses and sprinkled with sesame or pistachio. Best eaten hot from an evening stall.

   📍 Dessert
6. 6🍵

   Karak tea

   Strong black tea brewed with cardamom, milk and sugar (sometimes saffron) — a sign of Indian influence on Gulf culture and a cheap, all-day must.

   📍 Local staple

1. 1🕌

   Museum of Islamic Art

   I.M. Pei's iconic waterfront building houses 1,400 years of Islamic art — calligraphy, textiles and ceramics from three continents. The adjacent MIA Park has the best West Bay skyline photo spot.

   📍 Must-see
2. 2🛍️

   Souq Waqif

   A traditional market in restored mud-brick buildings — a labyrinth of alleys selling spices, perfumes and crafts, buzzing at night with restaurants, shisha and the falcon souq.

   📍 Don't miss
3. 3🏛️

   National Museum of Qatar

   Jean Nouvel's desert-rose-shaped building tells the nation's story through immersive exhibits, from the desert and pearling era to the oil age.

   📍 Architecture
4. 4🌊

   Doha Corniche

   A 7-km crescent promenade around the bay with the best skyline views — walk, run or cycle it, or board a traditional wooden dhow for a cruise along the coast.

   📍 Stroll
5. 5🎭

   Katara Cultural Village

   A waterfront cultural hub between West Bay and The Pearl with an open-air amphitheatre, galleries, a beach and restaurants from around the world. Free entry.

   📍 Art + beach
6. 6🏝️

   The Pearl-Qatar

   An upscale Mediterranean-style island with a yacht-filled marina, waterfront restaurants and designer boutiques — a lovely spot for a relaxed stroll.

   📍 Luxury + shopping
7. 7🏟️

   Lusail & World Cup stadiums

   The new city of Lusail offers Lusail Boulevard plus 2022 World Cup venues such as Lusail Stadium, the shipping-container Stadium 974 and Khalifa International Stadium.

   📍 All-rounder
8. 8🐪

   Khor Al Adaid (Inland Sea)

   A rare natural wonder where the desert meets the sea, about 80 km south of Doha. Visit on a 4WD safari with camel rides, sandboarding and sunset views.

   📍 Desert