48 Hours In Doha – What To Do, See & Eat
48 Hours In Doha – What To Do, See & Eat
How to spend 48 hours in Doha, Qatar
To me, Doha is the undiscovered jewel of the Middle East. I’ve fallen in love with it so much that if I could, I would live there. For most people however their first experience of Doha is probably going to be a stopover. Therefore this is my guide on the best way to spend 48 hours in Doha!
And what makes me so passionate about it? Doha was my home for seven years – I basically grew up there, and since leaving I’ve gone back almost every year. I’ve seen my best friends get married and have their own kids in Doha, and I’ve seen the place itself blossom.
With Fifa 2022 just on the horizon, the past few years in Doha have been full of development. Cultural and artistic centres have sprung up, even faster than the stadiums. There are luxury hotels, some of the best chefs in the world, year-round sun, all on a backdrop of traditional Arabian hospitality. Whats not to love?
Without further ado, here’s my idea of a great way to spend 48 hours in Doha…
Day 1 – Museums, Pools, Souqs
Arrive in Doha and drop your bags off at your hotel. If you’re a couple then try out the Mondrian Doha, with its incredible interiors and spectacular food.
If you have children then either the Intercontinental Doha or the Sharq Village and Spa would be fantastic with their private, fine-sanded beaches and kid-magnet pools.
Breakfast at Sharq Village and Spa
The Sharq Village and Spa, a Ritz Carlton hotel, is especially beautiful with its traditional Arabian design.
Their Arabian-meets-intercontinental breakfast buffet is also great, especially eaten by the pool.
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Exploring my favourite museum in Doha
After breakfast head to the Museum of Islamic Art with its masterpiece collections spanning 1400 years, across secular and non-secular communities.
This is my favourite piece of architecture so far in Doha, a gorgeous building that floats between the sea and sky, and is filled with incredible artefacts from the Muslim world.
The MIA also hold unique exhibitions, which in the past have included ‘Images of Women in 19th century Iran’, featuring the centrality of the female form in Iranian artwork during the 1785-1925 Qajar period.
After exploring the works inside then it’s well worth having a stroll around the MIA park, that curves around part of the coastline. At the end is a secret cafe, and one of the prettiest daytime views of the Doha skyline.
Haute cuisine for lunch at IDAM
Grab a quick drink here, then head back to the MIA for lunch at IDAM, Alain Ducasse’s first restaurant in the Middle East.
Located at the very tip of the MIA, IDAM offers a fusion of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food, and it veers to fine-dining more than casual. Its nice, and I would especially recommend the date and labneh souffle. Noms.
A Dhow Cruise
A trip of only 48 hours in Doha is going to make things tight but, if you can, then a ride on a dhow around the corniche is well worth it.
Chilling out by the pool
In the afternoon head back to the hotel for a siesta by the pool..
Traditional shopping at Souq Waqif
And then get ready to head out again to Souq Waqif, a traditional bazaar selling dates, spices, Arabian swords, hand-crafted lamps, rugs, fabrics, Ouds and Attars, and a million other incredible things.
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Oud Immortel by Byredo, An Arabian Perfume
Souq Waqif has some great dining options too if you fancy a bite. Try Parisa for traditional Iranian food, or one of the open-air rooftop restaurants like Tagine, with their contemporary Moroccan stews.
Dinner with the best evening view of Doha
If you’re feeling like a more fancy meal, then tail off the first half of your 48 hours in Doha at Al Mourjan, the only restaurant on Doha’s pretty corniche. The Middle Eastern food is excellent, particularly the meat-filled Arayes, and the shisha is grand too. The main draw however is to see the sun setting, and the Doha skyline lighting up the sky.
Spiced tea and people watching at QIFF
If you happen to visit Doha in March then head to the Qatar International Food Festival. Take in the evening air, tour the food stalls, people watch, and drink a mug of hot, spiced Karak Chai.
Day 2 – Gyrocoptors, Qatari Lunches and Stunning Sunsets
Wake up bright and early on the second half of your 48 hours In Doha, and pick up a taxi to the Qatar Flying Club in Al Khor. It takes around 45 minutes to get to, and is based just north of the capital.
Gyrocoptoring over Qatar
The journey is worth it when you get up on one of the Gyrocopters, and get some truly stunning views of Qatar..
The gyrocoptor ride lasts for 40 exhilarating minutes and takes you back and forth over the turquoise water and the natural mangroves. There are kayakers, dhows, fishing boats, and a sense of the place that you just couldn’t get any other way.
A traditional Khaleeji lunch
Once you’ve had your fill of the blue-on-blue views, head back to Doha and have a traditional Khaleeji (Gulf Arabian) lunch.
We went to Yemeni House and loved the lamb Mandi with its signature charcoal smokiness, the Majboos/Kebsah with its Arabian bzaar spice mix, the Burma with its meat that slipped off the bone and heady, fragrant broth, and the impossibly buttery bread. Yum!
Just as a note, this restaurant is quite modest, but don’t let that stop you from visiting – the food is authentic and absolutely incredible.
Ai Wei Wei’s newest exhibit
Once you’re done, head to the new exhibition centre at the Garage Gallery in Doha’s old Fire Station, showing Ai Wei Wei’s new exhibit Laundromat, which highlights the plight of refugees.
If you get hungry, then pop in to the amusingly named #999 Cafe for some fat club sandwiches and multi-coloured ice cream.
People watching at The Pearl
Once you’re done eating head to The Pearl, a man-made complex full of restaurants and flats. Although parts of The Pearl are very quiet, there are areas that are perfect for grabbing a coffee, meal or shisha and watching the people (and the lux cars and superyachts) go by.
Try the area around Médina Centrale for a great late evening buzz.
If you get peckish there are certainly a lot of restaurants to choose from. I loved my visit to Basta for some Khaleeji desserts – Seweya (sweet noodles), saffron milk cake, and syrupy balls of Luqaimat. If you’ve got a sweet tooth then try to fit in a trip in your 48 hours in Doha – the saffron cake is especially enchanting.
Architectural wonders at Katara
Carry on your outdoor adventures at Katara, a hub of Arabian architecture that is a pleasure to explore. It is also home to Chapati & Karak, where you can pick up a buttery paratha pastry and a mug of cardomom and saffron spiced tea, before seeking out the golden mosque.
Incredible sushi for dinner at Morimoto
End the last part of your 48 hours in Doha with dinner at Morimoto, the brand new Japanese restaurant at Mondrian Doha. We loved the whole menu, but if you do go then you have to get the sushi and sashimi. The tuna, flown in first class from Japan, is cloud soft and melts on your tongue. Swoon.
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Craving Japanese Food at Roka, Canary Wharf
And that marks the end of your 48 hours in Doha! There are lots of other things to do that I’ll cover in a few more posts, but these are some of the best things to do in Doha on a short trip :)
The Details
Kuoni (01306 747008 or www.kuoni.co.uk) is offering a three night, half board at Sharq Village & Spa in a Deluxe Resort Room including flights on Qatar Airways from London Heathrow and private transfers in resort. The price for selected dates in August and September 2018 based on two adults sharing is from £979 per person with a saving of up to £447 per couple. Sharq Village & Spa is a luxury waterfront Doha resort located 15 minutes from the Hamad International Airport on 350m of private coastline. Featuring 174 luxury hotel accommodations, an award-winning spa, world-class dining and impeccable service, this distinctive five-star hotel in Doha is an idyllic coastal retreat.
Qatar Tourism Authority: For more information on Qatar please visit: www.visitqatar.qa
Sharq Village & Spa Doha: For more information on Sharq Village & Spa please visit: www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/qatar/sharq-village
Qatar International Food Festival: For more information on the Qatar International Food Festival please visit: www.qifoodfestival.qa
Travel Designer: Transfers, tours and activities can be provided through Travel Designer: www.traveldesigner.qa
Qatar Airways: For more information on Qatar Airways please visit: www.qatarairways.com
My trip to Doha was sponsored by Visit Qatar
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