Doha Travel Guide

Doha is getting there. Real estate prices have risen and population has burgeoned as more and more people from all over the world flock to work and live in the fast-growing capital of Qatar. Unlike Dubai, Doha hasn't turned itself over entirely to the tourist trade but it is fast catching up. Its museums, cultural landmarks and family-friendly attractions have made it an increasingly popular place to visit. And if the frenzied hotel building activity along the Doha Corniche is any indication, then it won't be long before Dubai has a new tourism rival in the gulf.

Sights

Doha has a great number of museums to indulge your artistic and cultural interests. The Museum of Islamic Arts has a wide collection of Islamic artifacts from Muslim dynasties of the Asian, African and European continents. Other museums worth a visit include the Museum of Orientalists, the Weaponry Museum and the Sheikh Faisal Museum. If you're traveling with kids, the Doha Zoo has quite a menagerie. Also make...

Doha is getting there. Real estate prices have risen and population has burgeoned as more and more people from all over the world flock to work and live in the fast-growing capital of Qatar. Unlike Dubai, Doha hasn't turned itself over entirely to the tourist trade but it is fast catching up. Its museums, cultural landmarks and family-friendly attractions have made it an increasingly popular place to visit. And if the frenzied hotel building activity along the Doha Corniche is any indication, then it won't be long before Dubai has a new tourism rival in the gulf.

Sights

Doha has a great number of museums to indulge your artistic and cultural interests. The Museum of Islamic Arts has a wide collection of Islamic artifacts from Muslim dynasties of the Asian, African and European continents. Other museums worth a visit include the Museum of Orientalists, the Weaponry Museum and the Sheikh Faisal Museum. If you're traveling with kids, the Doha Zoo has quite a menagerie. Also make time for Rumeila Park, an indoor-outdoor space that features landscaped lawns and a playground for the young ones. An indoor theme park, Jungle Zone, is located inside Hyatt Plaza and offers fun for the whole family.

Dining

There are many Middle-Eastern restaurants at Al Bandar, along the end of the dhow jetty. For fresh seafood and belly dancing for entertainment, check out the Sultan Ibrahim Fish Market. If you want heaping servings of cholesterol-rich foods, most of the popular Western restaurants and fast-food chains are located inside the City Center-Doha and in the other shopping centers in the C-Ring and Salwa Road.

Shopping

With its Venice-like theme, the Villagio brings shopping to the next level in Doha. Other shopping centers where you can buy clothes, cosmetics and jewelry are City Center-Doha, Landmark Shopping Mall, the Mall and Hyatt Plaza. For a more traditional shopping experience, head to the souqs. Souq Waqif has a wide array of souvenirs for you to take home. Gold and jewelry are best bought at the Gold Souq, located near the bus station. Be sure to bargain.