Tourist Activities
City Sights
General Comments – The list below contains links to the popular tourist sights and attractions in Qatar (*don’t miss sights) - I plan to provide more details about my visits/experiences in blog posts in the coming months. Given the country’s small geographic size, options are somewhat limited for those planning to stay in-country for more than a few days. In addition, it can be expected that these sights and activities will be crowded and access constrained during the World Cup, so plan your visit ahead of time.
Central Doha
*Doha Corniche and Dhow Harbour
A seven-kilometer promenade around Doha Bay with the city skyline in the background, including the harbor for traditional sailing vessels. click here
*Souq Waqif
A souq for Bedouins for centuries, the market was restored in 2004 preserving traditional Qatari architecture. click here
Museum of Islamic Art and Park
A museum and an adjacent park with a large green area featuring views of the Doha skyline. Museum click here and Park click here
Qatar National Museum
A museum with the stated mission “to bring to life the unique story of Qatar and its people in an innovative, holistic and immersive way.” click here
North of Central Doha
*Katara Cultural Village
A small, artificial village boasting a variety of cafes, an open-air theatre, outdoor markets, and buildings designed in the traditional Qatari fashion. click here
The Pearl-Qatar
A man-made Island with residences and “lively shopping and entertainment, and scenic backdrops.” click here
Lusail
A futuristic city currently under construction. click here
West/Southwest of Central Doha
Villagio Mall
A mall with luxury shopping, gondola rides and a theme park. click here
Aspire Tower and Park
A skyscraper hotel, also known as The Torch Doha, and surrounding Aspire Zone park and sports complex. click here
Day Tours
General Comments – As with everything else in Qatar during the World Cup, it’s unclear how tour operators will be able to increase capacity and meet demand when the number of fans arriving for the tournament will be similar to the number of visitors to Qatar in a typical in a year. The typical tour itineraries and currently available tour operators are listed below. NOTE: Some companies are already taking reservations, so book early.
Tour Itineraries
City Tours – some combination of visiting common tourist sites, sampling food, and/or shopping.
Desert Safari – photo ops for sandboarding, camel riding, and the Inland Sea, linked together by four-wheel-drive “dune bashing.”
Northern Qatar – visits to sights like Umm Salal Fortress, Al Zubarah Fort, and Dhow Habor in Al Ruwais.
Specific Activities – for example, attending camel races or kayaking through mangroves.
Tour Booking Sites
Discover Qatar: click here
Qatar Day Tours: click here
Viator - Doha: click here
Tours by Locals - Doha: click here
Get Your Guide - Qatar: click here
Side Trips in the Region
General Comments – Although the close proximity to other Gulf nations and other Middle Eastern countries makes side trips theoretically easy, the escalating airfares may make it impractical in some cases. If the visits can be coordinated, here are my top five three-day visits that could be squeezed in between USMNT matches. NOTE: I will expand on my own personal experiences in blog posts in the coming weeks and months.
UAE – Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Israel – Jerusalem and the Dead Sea
Saudi Arabia – Jeddah and Madinah
Jordan – Petra and Amman
Oman – Muscat and Nizwa
Eagleman Blog Posts
Coming Soon
Useful Links
Coming Soon