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Doha Airport Transit Requirements And Procedure (2024 Guide)

Doha Guides Team regularly reviews this article to ensure the content is up-to-date and accurate. The last editorial review and update were on 02 February 2024.

Flying on a connecting flight and airport transfer can be quite a hassle for most travellers. Doha’s Hamad International Airport (HIA) is among the region’s busiest airports and sees millions of transit passengers annually.

This article will explain Doha Airport transit requirements and procedures to be followed. It will also brief the facilities available for passengers and the frequently asked questions about transfer through Hamad International Airport.

About Hamad International Airport

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Hamad International Airport (DOH), with an annual capacity of 35 million passengers, is the principal international airport in the State of Qatar. It is certified by Skytrax as a 5-star Airport for facilities, comfort, cleanliness, shopping, food & beverages, staff service, and security/immigration. The airport saw 7.14 million passengers in the first quarter of 2022.

During the last two years, HIA has been named the World’s Best Airport at the Skytrax World Airport Awards. It is also the first Middle Eastern airport awarded Skytrax’s World Best Airport.

Since 2014, HIA has been home to Qatar Airways, a 5-star Airline that has been voted six times as the World’s Best Airline by Skytrax. Qatar Airways connects more than 140 destinations worldwide, and a large number of its passengers are transit passengers.

One of the most common questions is whether you need a transit visa for connecting flights through Doha Airport. The answer is no, you do not need a transit visa if you are not planning on leaving the airport.

Here is a tweet from Qatar Airways on 18 July 2022 to confirm this:

Qatar Airways Tweet About Transit Visa for Transit Passengers

Earlier Qatar Airways travellers could apply for a free 96-hour transit visa that would allow them to visit the city. However, this service is currently suspended; instead, eligible travellers from 90+ countries can use Qatar’s visa-on-arrival facility .

Doha Airport makes it easy and convenient to transfer to your connecting flight. There is only a single passenger terminal at HIA, which means you can arrive, transfer and depart in the same terminal. You do not have to worry about changing the terminal building,

The terminal building has three levels and five concourses: A, B, C, D, and E. Each of these has several passenger gates connected to jet bridges. The below map will give you a rough idea of the airport layout.

Below are the steps on how to transit at Doha Airport:

Step 1: Exit the aircraft

For most flights, you can access the terminal through jet bridges. During peak hours, you may be required to use a bus, which will be guided by staff.

On arrival, Al Maha customers, special assistance travellers, and unaccompanied minors are met by airport staff.

Step 2: Proceed to Transfer Halls

Upon exiting your aircraft, follow the “Transfer” signs. These signs will lead you to the Transfer Halls on the concourses.

Directional signs are available in English and Arabic; some even have estimated walking times.

Please follow the ‘Transfers’ sign for transit, not the ‘Arrivals’ sign. If you wish to exit the airport, please approach the transfer desk for assistance.

Step 3: Collect the Boarding Pass if required

Most airlines will issue you both boarding passes at the first check-in point (country of origin). If you already have the boarding pass for the next flight, you can proceed to the Departures Hall.

However, for some flights, you may be required to collect a new boarding pass from Doha. In that case, go to the transfer desk, and the staff will assist you.

The staff at the desks can answer any questions you may have. They can also help you reschedule or rebook flights, upgrade seats, obtain boarding passes, and exit the airport if you plan a stopover.

Step 4: Go through security screening

Before entering the Departures Hall, you must pass through a security screening. Your hand baggage will be screened for potentially dangerous items. Also, you will be required to pass through metal detectors.

Make sure your baggage does not contain any prohibited items.

Step 5: Check the gate number for your next flight

Several electronic screens with Flight Information can be seen in the Transfer and Departures Halls. Check the screens for your next flight number and the corresponding gate number.

Doha Airport Checking Flight Information Gates

You may not see your gate number if your flight is after a few hours. In that case, you can relax, dine or shop at the terminal. We will discuss those options later.

Step 6: Proceed to your gate

Once your gate information is available, proceed to the gate. You can use the shuttle train service inside the airport for some concourses. If you need help navigating around the airport, ask at the information desk or use the airport maps available throughout the airport.

Moving walkways are also available on most routes. Along the way, there are plenty of toilets to freshen up. Below is a video by HIA on how to transfer through Doha Airport .

Most passengers often wonder how much transit time you need for connecting flights at Doha Airport. There are several factors to consider here:

a) Boarding Pass: If the boarding pass for the second flight is issued from the first airport (point of origin), you can proceed to security check and move to your gate. If not, you will have to queue up at the transfer desk and wait for your turn to collect your boarding pass.

b) Distance Between Gates: Doha Airport is an integrated facility inside a single terminal building, but it is not a small airport. The walking distance between some gates can be up to 15 minutes.

c) Flight Arrival: You also need to consider the possibility of your first flight landing late. If you have a very short connection time, say 1 hour, even 15 15-minute delays in your flight can create havoc on your plans.

d) Disembarkation Time: Even if your flight arrives on time, you may not be able to leave the aircraft at the next moment. Usually, you have to wait 10-20 minutes to leave the aircraft through the jet bridge. It may be longer if you need to take a bus from the aircraft.

e) Gate Closing Time: Remember that gates close 20 minutes before departure time.

f) Seasonal Rush: During peak seasons like holidays, FIFA World Cup, etc., you can expect some delays in security screening.

Considering all these scenarios, a safe margin would be three hours . Shorter durations, like 1.5 to 2 hours, may be doable but can be a risky call. We wouldn’t advise anything below 1.5 hours.

Below are the estimated walking times from Transfers Hall to the gates in each Concourse.

In the unfortunate situation of having missed your connecting flight, please contact the transfer desk. The staff will assist you with re-booking a later flight.

You can visit one of the transfer desks if you need assistance with your onward flight, including boarding passes, rescheduling flights, or general inquiries.

The transfer desks can also assist you if you are on an extended stopover and wish to visit Qatar before boarding your onward flight. It is important to check visa and immigration requirements before beginning your journey to avoid disappointment and delays.

Hamad International Airport has some of the world’s best facilities for relaxing and refreshing during your transit journey.

There are several world-class travellers’ lounges at the terminal. They offer complimentary food, shower facilities, business rooms, and luggage lockers. Depending on your ticket or privilege club membership, you may be entitled to complimentary lounge access , or you can pay to access the lounge.

There are also quiet rooms offering recliners and soft lighting where you can relax.

Doha Airport Restaurants

The airport features a wide variety of restaurants and coffee shops to suit international travellers. There is a common food court area near departure (near the Giant Teddy), and coffee shops and restaurants spread all over the duty-free area. Below are some of the dining options available at Doha Airport.

Azka Restaurant
Burger King
Brioche Doree
Camden Food Co
Coffeeshop Company
Costa Coffee
Del Monte F&B
Emporio Armani Caffe
Evergreen Organics
Great Eastern Market
Harrods Tea Room
Harvest Market Restaurant
Jamocha Cafe
Le Grand Comptoir
Red Restaurant
Red Mango Yogurt & Smoothies
The Burger Federation

Shopping At Doha Airport

The award-winning Qatar Duty-Free (QDF) shopping emporium is one of the largest in the world. It is home to around 100 retail outlets and restaurants across 40,000 square meters of combined retail, food, and beverage space. Among its many products are designer labels, electronics, gourmet foods, and much more.

The prominent luxury brands at QDF include Tiffany & Co., Gucci, Bulgari, Hermès, Hugo Boss, Moncler, Rolex, and Harrods. If you are in a hurry, express stores are also available.

Sleeping Options at Doha Airport

Sleep ‘n fly Sleep Lounge is located within the main duty-free area within HIA’s transit terminal and offers a selection of sleep pods and cabins that can accommodate up to 50 adults and four children. The sleep units provide a soundproof, air-conditioned space where you can relax before or between flights and pay by the hour.

You can choose from the following accommodations at Sleep’n Fly:

FlexiSuite Sleep Pods (one person)
YAWN Double Cabin (max. two persons)
YAWN Double Cabin with kid’s pull-out bed (max. two adults and one child <115 cm)
YAWN Bunk Cabin (max. two persons)

The average two-hour rates are USD 48 (one person) and USD 77 (two persons).

You can make online reservations at www.sleep-n-fly.com For assistance, call +974 4467 8993 or email [email protected]

Doha Airport Hotels

Doha’s Hamad International Airport (HIA) has two hotels for transit passengers:

Oryx Airport Hotel

Oryx Airport Hotel is conveniently located inside Hamad International Airport’s passenger terminal, offering guests a wonderful place to relax, unwind and recharge before their next flight. The hotel offers hourly rates, fitness facilities as well as spa services for the convenience of every guest.

Daily rates for Superior Rooms start at QR 1,290 (USD 350). To know more about hourly rates, contact the reservations team by email at [email protected] or call +974-40108100.

You can see the hotel reviews and book on TripAdvisor .

Oryx Garden Hotel

The Oryx Garden Hotel is HIA’s newly inaugurated airport hotel located in North Plaza. A total of 100 rooms are available, ranging from king beds to twin beds and suites. All rooms are conveniently located within the terminal, near boarding gates. Bookings can be made around the clock for a maximum of 24 hours.

A variety of retail and culinary options are conveniently located near the Oryx Garden Hotel, as well as complimentary new-generation wireless internet throughout the premises.

Luggage Storage at Doha Airport

Currently, the Hamad International Airport storage lockers are not in operation due to health and safety concerns. However, Tawfeeq Travel offers luggage storage at their Travel Hub inside the airport Metro station. You can find more details about luggage storage here .

Doha Airport Wifi

HIA provides complimentary wireless internet WiFi access throughout its passenger terminals. You can sign up for complimentary WiFi by searching for “HIAQatar Complimentary WiFi”.

There are also internet kiosks and desks with screens and keyboards that offer free web browsing. Kiosks are located throughout the passenger terminal (near the boarding gates).

Purchasing a prepaid calling card from Qatar Duty-Free lets you make international calls anywhere in the world. There are telephone booths throughout the passenger terminal (including at the boarding gates).

Other Facilities

The passenger terminal has smoking rooms, prayer rooms, and phone/laptop charging stations.

Six foreign exchange stores and multiple ATMs are located throughout the passenger terminal. Travelex offers currency conversion of over 40 currencies. There are play areas and activity nodes for children. Complimentary baby strollers and parents’ rooms are also available.

If your transit is more than 8 hours, you can join a city tour or adventure tour by Discover Qatar. There are three types of tours available. Below are the details:

For more details and booking, check Discover Qatar Transit Tours .

You can explore Qatar by booking a stopover holiday with Qatar Airways. Packages start from $14, including luxurious accommodation at 4-star and 5-star hotels. For more information, check the Qatar Airways Stop Over Package.

A Transit Visa is NOT required for transit passengers who do not plan on leaving the airport terminal.
Ehteraz pre-travel registration is NOT required anymore. Qatar has completely removed the Ehteraz pre-registration requirement from 1 November.
A vaccination Certificate and COVID-19 PCR Tests are only required if your destination country requires these . If your country of arrival does not demand these, you do not have to present them for transit.

The above information is already available on the Qatar Airways website. Below is a tweet from QA on 07 August 2022 to confirm:

Qatar Airways Tweet About covid test for Transit Passengers

You can check your destination country’s requirements using this tool on Qatar Airways .

Covid Hygiene at HIA

HIA takes extreme care of hygiene, especially after the pandemic breakout. It is mandatory to wear masks and to maintain social distancing inside the airport. It is only permitted for staff members and passengers with valid flight reservations to enter the airport terminal.

265 hand sanitiser dispensers have been strategically placed throughout the terminal. Each passenger touch point is sanitized regularly, and all baggage trolleys and tubs are regularly disinfected. UV disinfection tunnels were installed to disinfect all luggage arriving at the airport.

Other security measures include mobile disinfection robots, plexiglass shields, thermal cameras, contactless elevators, and contactless payment methods. As a result of its efforts, HIA has become the first airport in Asia and the Middle East to receive a COVID-19 5-Star Airport Safety Rating from Skytrax.

READ NEXT: Qatar Visa on Arrival: Complete Guide

Is a Covid PCR test required for transit through Doha Airport?

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Images and video courtesy: Hamad International Airport, Qatar Airways

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What To Do At Doha Airport: Tips For A Long Layover In Qatar

Jayne Gorman

February 27, 2020

I once spent just over 12 hours in transit at Doha Airport on the way to the Maldives and it wasn’t nearly as painful as I expected! There are quite a few things to do at Doha Airport that make a stopover here enjoyable.

While not the cheapest airport to spend a long layover (the showers in particular are more pricey than average and there are not nearly as many free things to do as there are at Singapore’s Changi Airport ) it can be a fun place to transit if you head to the pool or nab yourself a place on a Doha city tour.

Plus, if you fly with Qatar Airways you may be able to turn your stopover into a short holiday with one of their amazing Qatar Stopover deals.

So, for anyone about to transit through Doha or book a short stopover in Qatar, here’s my lowdown on the best things to do at Doha Airport during a long layover.

Disclosure: This post is not sponsored but contains some affiliate links. Read the disclosure policy for details. All prices and info correct when updated in February 2023.

Best things to do at Doha Airport

Tips For Transiting At Hamad International Airport In Qatar

Connect to the free Wi-Fi

After working there for 7 hours straight I can confirm that the Wi-Fi at Hamad International Airport is free, fast and unlimited. Simply connect to ‘HIAQatar Complimentary WiFi’. I was asked to pop in my Qatar e-ticket number to log on – you’ll find this on the boarding pass if you don’t have your booking handy. There are also iMac computers near the gates if you didn’t bring your laptop.

Take a shower

If you don’t have access to a lounge with free showers, you can pay to use the Doha Airport shower facilities at the Vitality Wellbeing & Fitness Centre or the Be Relax Spa.

Use of the shower room at the Vitality Wellbeing & Fitness Centre costs 90 QAR (approx. £20 GBP or $25 USD), which is fairly expensive for airport showers, but they are sparkling new facilities with lockers, towels, Rituals Spa toiletries and use of hair dryers included. You have max 40 mins to use the facilities and they hold your boarding pass at the front desk until you leave.

For a cheaper option, you can shower at either of the Be Relax Spas (found on Concourse A and Concourse D/E) where a 10 minute shower costs 70 QAR or the price is 95 QAR for 25 mins. That price includes towel, shower gel and shampoo, plus an extra vanity or shaving kit if you go for the longer option.

You can also book a number of express beauty treatments and massages – find the full price list here .

(Note: They accept credit cards throughout the airport so there’s no need to take out local currency if you’re just in transit.)

Swimming pool at Hamad International Airport Qatar

Swim at The Vitality Pool

If you’ve got enough time you can shake off those airplane aches with a few laps in the swimming pool at Doha Airport. The Vitality Pool was temptingly empty on my visit, but sadly I hadn’t come prepared with a swimming costume.

Use of the 25-metre indoor swimming pool costs 175 QAR (approximately £38 GBP or $73 AUD) but that price includes use of all Vitality Wellbeing and Fitness Centre facilities, so you can also have a dip in the hot tub, use the gym and freshen up in the showers I mentioned earlier.

Sleep at The Oryx Airport Hotel

Depending on how long you’ve got to kill it might be worthwhile checking into The Oryx Airport Hotel , which has chic airside rooms and grants guests free access to the gym, pool and jacuzzi at the Vitality Wellness Centre.

As the hotel is airside you do not need to go through passport control but must have a valid onward ticket from Doha Airport to check in as this hotel is for transit passengers only.

Remember, you won’t have access to your checked luggage, so pack a change of clothes in your hand luggage if you plan to stay over.

You can book a room for day use (9am to 5pm) or by hourly packages starting from 8 hours.

Head to a designated family or quiet area

There are a number of interesting sculptures dotted around the airport, some of which children can climb on and one of which (I’m talking about you teddy) everyone seemed keen to get a selfie with.

There are also quiet lounges for those looking to get some shut eye, and family lounges for those travelling with kids . I found a quiet spot in the eating area near Burger King that had a power socket under the table so spent a lot of time here.

Drink decent coffee

The coffee at Soho Coffee gets my rarely handed out seal of approval.

Food-wise you can get a number of sandwiches, snacks, curry and burgers in the food court. Soprafino by celebrity chef Massimo Capra does delicious pizza at a decent price. Find all dining options at Hamad International Airport here .

Shop for gold

My only criticism of Doha’s Hamad Airport is that the shopping doesn’t really appeal to me. There’s lots of designer labels but little in the way of affordable fashion. (Where’s a Zara when you need one?). Aside from your usual duty free items the only thing you can buy in abundance here is gold!

Join a Doha City Tour from 99 QAR

If you have a transit time of more than 6 hours you can book a Discover Qatar City Tour from 99 QAR. The guided tour is designed to be an introduction to Doha and includes stops at city highlights such as The Pearl-Qatar, Katara Cultural Village, Souq Waqif and the Museum of Islamic Art.

( Note : The free Doha city tours for transit passengers have been replaced with this option.)

Tours are bookable in advance online up to 48 hours prior to arrival. You can also book a tour upon arrival by heading to the Discover Qatar Transit Tour Desk. Full terms, details and booking forms can be found here .

Nationals from a total of 80 countries can now take advantage of visa free entry into Qatar so there’s no need to worry about applying for a tourist or transit visa if you are from one of these countries.

Want to explore independently? Find some tips for a Doha, Qatar stopover by Calculated Traveller.

Book a Doha Stopover

If you’re flying with Qatar Airways and have a minimum transit time of 12 hours you might want to take advantage of one of their Qatar Stopover deals. Through their website you can book a 4 or 5 star hotel from just 14 USD per night.

You’ll also receive a free transit visa (if necessary) and can add on a number of different tours and activities.

Qatar Airways make it really tempting to turn your Doha stopover into a luxury holiday. Find information and book your flight and hotel here .

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Great advice Jayne. We transited through Doha a few times and were lucky enough to score the free hotel on our last trip. It was fantastic, 5 star, enormous rooms and came with a $50 food voucher we happily used on a 4 am breakfast in bed. I seriously think it’s worth going for the 18-hour layover for this option. My only extra tip is if you are doing the hotel transit/free city thing avoid a Friday as everything is closed until 2 pm so that really cuts into your sightseeing opportunities.

I’m wishing I had a longer layover now! I’m always looking for ways to break up the flight to Europe and even better if the hotel and meals are included 😀 Great tips re the timings on Friday, I hadn’t thought of that!

Paula, may I know how you were able to secure the free hotel at the ai[ot for yoru layover? I have a 20 hr layover and need to plan what will work best for me. Thanks

Hi did you figure out how to do it? I am also interesting in booking it. Thanks

Hi, as mentioned in the article you can either call Qatar Airlines directly or visit the transit desk at the airport upon arrival. You can also book a longer Doha stay from 29 USD. The link is also in the article. Hope this helps.

Just wondering if the showers are per person? I’m traveling with my 2 children, wondering if we could all go in together? Thanks in advance

I’m not 100% sure as I haven’t done it with my son yet but I have a feeling you pay per adult and the children can come in with you.

Hi have just checked with them and unfortunately, city tours are no longer free. They are charged at 20 USD per person.

Thanks for the update!

Hello, is Qatar still giving the transit visa on arrival? Or there are covid restrictions. Called the airlines but no response please let me know what is the best.

24 hours in Doha – Places to visit in Doha

I was flying Qatar Airways from Gothenburg in Sweden to Bangalore via Doha and I landed in the wee hours of the morning at the Hamad International Airport. The Doha airport transit hotel was full and hence I was in a taxi at 2 am heading to my hotel. My transit in Doha was a little less than 24 hours but I slept for almost half of it. As the morning dawned, I decided to explore the city with Discover Qatar and head to some of the places to visit in Doha. I met my guide Firas at the reception and together we went on a whirlwind tour of Doha. We had time for just five fascinating places and here is my suggestion on what you can explore in 24 hours in Doha

Places to visit in Doha, 24 hours in Doha, transit in Doha

The Corniche

We started at The Corniche, where I spent a few minutes admiring the skyline of Doha before sudden drops of rain started tumbling down from the skies. The Corniche is a seven km strip of waterfront along the Doha Bay shaped like a half-moon. This is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Doha, especially if you have just 24 hours in Doha.

The promenade has several landmarks and monuments but most notable is the Museum of Islamic Art, where the walkway ends. Several traditional dhow boats beckon you for a cruise as you glimpse at Doha from the waters. If you have the time, do go on a cruise as its one of the fascinating experiences if you are on transit through Doha.

Places to visit in Doha, transit in Doha

The Museum of Islamic Art

Located on the dhow harbour in an artificial peninsula, which is reclaimed land, the museum is home to Islamic art collected from three continents across 14 centuries. The landmark building is designed by Chinese-American architect IM Pei, of the Louvre fame, and is influenced by ancient Islamic architecture and inspired by the Ibn Tulun Mosque in Cairo. This iconic museum is one of the places to visit in Doha, especially if you have just a few hours on your transit in Doha.

The main building has five storeys and is topped with a dome and a central tower. A massive courtyard connects it to the educational department. There is a library with nine rooms. Several workshops for students and the public are held here. There is a lush park here as well. You would need at least a day here but then with such a short time in hand, I could barely get a glimpse.

The Souq Waqif

The oldest souq in Doha is not just the cultural symbol of the city but also one of the popular tourist destinations here and one of the places to see in Doha. The labyrinthine lanes of the market take you into different worlds as you find everything from spices to antiques, falcons to fish. If you can see just one place during your transit in Doha, then head here. Its like a microcosm of the country itself and the best way to explore the city while on a transit through Doha.

There are Shisha lounges, famous restaurants, boutique hotels, and art galleries here. Historically the Souq is over 200 years old and was the marketplace for Bedouins who traded primarily in livestock among other wares. There are so many places to visit in Doha souk and its a perfect destination if you have just 24 hours in Doha.

It is believed that the traders and tribes used to stand and display their goods, be it spices or textiles. Hence the name Souq Waqif or standing market stands even today.

The Souq was restored recently but it retained the traditional architectural designs and even today, it is one of the historic souqs that remain in the Middle East today and one of the best places to see in Doha.

Places to visit in Doha, 24 hours in Doha

National Museum of Doha

Immersive and experiential, Doha’s story is described in eleven different galleries and is focussed on these three themes – Beginning, Life in Qatar and The Modern History of Qatar. But for me, the very experience of the museum starts with the magnificent facade and the architecture of the museum and the waterfront with the fountains. Not to be missed even if you have just 24 hours in Doha as its one of the iconic museums and places to visit in Doha.

Inspired by the desert rose crystal found in Qatar, the museum was designed by French architect Jean Nouvel and mesmerises you with its series of discs that intersect and collide with each other. The museum spread over 1.5 km includes the palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al-Thani as well. The museum is more than a monument. It is an experience. Make sure you see this museum even if you have a short transit through Doha.

Doha Heritage Village or Katara Cultural Village

Katara was the ancient name for Qatar and the Katara Cultural Village gives you a glimpse of the architectural heritage of this country, besides being a tourist hotspot. Pottering around, you can see amphitheater, galleries, museums, and markets here besides a souk and a traditional mosque. Its a little further away and may not be possible if you have just a short transit in Doha.

However, if you have 24 hours in Doha like me, it’s easy to just do a quick visit. One of the best places to visit in Doha for the architecture and cultural displays, it is always bustling with life as several events are held here. Locals and tourists throng here after sunset for the lively atmosphere and there is even a public beach with water sports being the main attraction and one of the places to see in Doha.

24 hours in Doha, places to visit in Doha

While these are some of the attractions in Doha for a whirlwind tour, I wished I had more time to explore Qatar’s capital. Perhaps I will get an opportunity to visit Doha again and hopefully it is not just on transit in Doha. What are some of the places to see in Doha that you would recommend if you have just 24 hours in Doha ?

Places to visit in Doha, transit in Doha, 24 hours in Doha

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Transit Exclusive - Discover Doha

Tour Timings: 08:00 | 11:30 | 15:00 | 16:00 | 18:00 | 19:00 | 20:00 | 21:30 Frequency: Daily | Duration: 3 hours Required Transit Time: 6 hours Meeting Time: 2 hours before the scheduled tour Meeting Point: Discover Qatar desk at Hamad International Airport

If you are traveling within 2 days and the calendar does not show availability on this website, please visit the Discover Qatar desk at Hamad International Airport to book your Tour.

Click here to view the location of the Discover Qatar desk at Hamad International Airport.

Discover the unique heritage of Downtown Doha as you wander through the vibrant labyrinth of alleyways of Souq Waqif. View modern day Doha’s towering iconic architecture and discover the Corniche, Doha’s iconic waterfront where the azure waters of the Arabian Gulf provide the setting to the city’s impressive skyline.

Our first stop is at Museum of Islamic Art. This iconic building on the Doha Corniche, designed by the famous architect I. M. Pei. You will have an opportunity to see this architectural masterpiece and the panoramic views of Doha’s impressive skyline.

We then proceed to Katara Cultural Village which is the largest and the most multidimensional cultural project in Qatar. Experience the cultures of the world with beautiful theatres, concert halls, exhibition galleries and cutting-edge facilities. You will also visit the Katara Mosque (the ‘Blue Mosque’) and the Golden Masjid (the ‘Gold Mosque’), before taking a stroll through the outdoor air-conditioned pathways to Galeries Lafayette, with some time for luxury brand tax-free shopping.

We end our tour with a stroll through the colourful Souq Waqif where you can experience the living heritage and traditions of the city and enjoy the colourful commerce and culinary offers abundant within its vibrant alleyways. You will see the Falcon Souq and Falcon hospital (one of the largest in the Middle East), Carpet Souq, Gold Souq, Art and Handicraft Souq and so much more in this eclectic hub of trade, tradition and commerce.

Note: To ensure maximum comfort in warmer weather between June to August, the walking tour of Katara will be replaced by a panoramic drive through the Al Mina District and The Pearl and the length of the Souq walking tour will be reduced.

Visa Information: Please note as this tour requires you to pass through immigration control to enter the state of Qatar, you will require a Visa. Discover Qatar will provide guidance at the airport, but are not responsible for the issuing of the Visa. This tour does not meet the requirement of a Visa on Arrival. Should your entry/visa be declined by the authorities despite meeting all the visa requirements, Discover Qatar will issue a full refund for the tour. For a full list of countries eligible for visa-free entry and Qatar entry visa requirements, click here .

What to Expect

Pick-up and drop-off at Hamad International Airport
Brief stops at Dhow Harbour
Drive past Museum of Islamic Art
Longer stop and walk through the Souq Waqif
Drive along the Corniche, Doha’s iconic waterfront
Stop at Katara Cultural Village
Transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle
All guides are licensed and English-speaking
Meals and beverages
Travel insurance
Anything else that is not expressly mentioned above in Inclusions
Tour Departure from Hamad International Airport : passengers can select from the scheduled departure. Return to Hamad International Airport : transit tours will be dropped back to Hamad International Airport at the published tour completion time.
Minimum Transit Time: 6 hours (between arrival and departure flight schedule).
Immigration Clearance: an entry Visa is required, pre-approved visa or visa on arrival. 102 countries can now take advantage from visa-free entry, click here for more information.
Vehicle: Tourist Coach.
Passengers who have booked in advance should approach Discover Qatar Transit Tours desk (located in Duty Free Plaza South, behind the escalators between concourse A & B) no later than 2 hours prior to scheduled tour departure for service validation.
Late arrivals to Discover Qatar Transit Tours desk shall be considered as no-show.
For bookings within 2 days, if you are unable to book online, please come and see us at the Discover Qatar Transit desk to book your transit tour, subject to availability. Click here to view the location of the Discover Qatar desk.
Please take time to read the Terms and Conditions that are applicable to all Transit Tours before booking.
Duty Free: Please do not purchase alcoholic beverages before your transit tour. Bringing alcoholic beverages into Qatar is strictly prohibited, and we will not be able to store them for you.

Accessibility: Not recommended for wheelchair bound customers. This tour is suitable for guests with mobility issues, who can climb independently in & out of the coach and walk up to 30 minutes at a time. If you have any specific questions please contact us for more information.

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Private Vehicle & Driver

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Doha Things To Do & Travel Guide (Perfect for a Stopover!)

By: Author Emily

Posted on Last updated: November 27, 2023

On a peninsula in the Persian Gulf sits the small nation of Qatar. Its capital city, Doha, rises up as a shimmering wall along the cost. In this post, we’ll help you plan a trip to this Middle Eastern capital. Whether you are planning a Doha vacation or you’re just adding a short stopover, we’ll explain what Doha is like, where to stay, what to do, and more. Keep reading to learn more about Doha, Qatar!

In this post

Plan your visit to doha, doha stopover program, getting to and getting around doha, things to do in doha.

Sample Doha Itinerary

Is Doha worth visiting?

Meet doha, qatar.

Doha is the capital and largest city in Qatar. The small nation is located in the Middle East on a peninsula along the Persian Gulf. (Fun fact, “Al Jazeera” actually means “the peninsula” and the news network was named after Qatar’s peninsula.) It shares a land border only with Saudi Arabia to the southwest, but it’s close by way of sea to both Bahrain and United Arab Emirates.

The city of Doha feels very new and modern — because it is. Doha was founded in the 1820s after it split off from a slightly more historical city built a few hundred years before. Oil was discovered in the 1950s which triggered an economic boom for Qatar, and the city of Doha expanded rapidly in size and population. In 1971, Qatar declared their independence from the British and Doha was named the capital.

In the early 2000s, Doha started to enter the global stage. It began hosting major sporting events and conferences, and tourism started to steadily increase. That culminated in 2010 when it was announced that Doha would host the 2022 World Cup. This trigged a massive surge in construction and tourism to the tune of $220 billion (with a B), making Doha one of the fastest growing hospitality markets in the world.

In 2022, Qatar welcomed 2.53 million tourists, nearly all of which arrived in Doha. That was almost 4x higher than 2021 (thanks in large part to the World Cup), but still shy of its peak year for tourism which came in 2016 and saw 2.94 million ( source ). For comparison, nearby Dubai welcomed 14 million tourists in 2022.

Qatar is not free from controversy. In 2017, several Middle Eastern countries cut ties with the Qatar over their alleged support of terrorism. The blockade halted the economy and tourism until it was lifted 2021. The country also received great criticism for their labor practices and anti-LGBT policies (among other things) during the World Cup.

What is Doha like?

Because Doha was built up so recently, everything is very new and modern. Even the things that look old or traditional are new. It’s very curated and planned out, and that results in a beautiful city that is pretty easy to get around.

Most of Doha’s tourism is centered around the corniche, the land that borders a small bay of the Persian Gulf. The north end of the corniche is the main business district and is home to the tallest buildings in Doha’s skyline. The south end is more touristy with the main concentration of museums, markets and shopping malls. There are clusters of hotels on either end.

Qatar experiences a desert climate, so it gets really hot during the day. Many of the city’s top attractions are indoors and include things like museums and shopping malls. Outdoor attractions, like the corniche and souks, tend to be most popular in the evening when the sun sets and it cools down.

The state religion in Qatar is Muslim, as is most of the population. People tend to dress very conservatively here. You’ll see lots of men and women in traditional dress, and it’s not uncommon to see dress codes in public places like malls, museums and beaches.

Muslims do not drink alcohol, so you’ll find that many restaurants don’t serve it. There are of course bars and restaurants that do, but many of these establishments are located in hotels where foreiners tend to congregate. Coffee shops, malls/markets and hookah bars are instead central to the muslim social scene and night life.

Overall, I would say that Doha feels like Dubai’s younger sibling. While Doha is smaller and less popular than Dubai now, they share a similar story of concentrated wealth and rapid growth in the Middle East. If Doha continues this trajectory, I believe it will become a tourist hot spot in the next ten years.

Here are a few things to consider before you book your trip to Doha. In this section we’ll cover Visa requirements, where to stay, how long to stay, when to go and what to wear.

Doha visa requirements

Qatar offers tourist visas on arrival to travelers from over 95 countries, including the US and most of Europe. You can view the full list of countries here .

To receive your VOA, you will need a passport valid for at least 6 more months and an onward ticket exiting the country. There are no additional fees or steps required.

NOTE: Visitors from Thailand, India, Iran, Pakistan and Ukraine must also have a hotel booked through the Discover Qatar website.

Where to stay in Doha

There are three primary areas to consider for tourists in Doha, two around the corniche and The Pearl island.

Many of the best ultra-luxury hotels are located on Doha’s manmade island, The Pearl. Similar to Dubai’s The Palm, this island was constructed as a luxury residential and commercial destination. On and around The Pearl you’ll find 5-star hotels including St. Regis, The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Hyatt and the Four Seasons.

For a wider selection of hotels, look to the West Bay area which is north of the corniche. West Bay Doha is the central business district, and has a high concentration of skyscrapers including hotels and office buildings. There are plenty of 5-star hotels here too, including the Waldorf Astoria, JW Marriott Marquis and Sheraton Grand, but also a handful of more approachable options like the Crowne Plaza, Mövenpick and Hilton.

And lastly, there is Msheireb Downtown Doha and the area south of the corniche. This neighborhood is closest to the airport and home to some of the most popular tourist attractions including Souq Waqif and the main museums. There are several nice hotels to choose from including Park Hyatt, Mandarin Oriental and one of the most highly rated, Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels.

We personally stayed at the Alwadi Hotel Doha – MGallery. We really enjoyed our stay and would definitely recommend it. Our room was nice and had a great view of the water and downtown, plus it was close enough to walk to Souq Waqif nightly. The hotel had a rooftop bar with an even better view, a few restaurants and rooftop pool, with a kids pool. It was also close to the train, so it was easy to get around town and to the airport.

How long to stay in Doha

We had a great visit to Doha, but you definitely don’t need that much time here. One full day in Doha is all you really need , but two days is nice. Two days in Doha is the perfect amount of time to see a few museums, enjoy the souk, and walk the corniche.

You may want to add a third day if you want to plan a beach day, theme park, or take an excursion to another city in Qatar. The only reason you’d want or need to stay more than three days is if you’re planning a resort stay. If you’re looking to post up in a fancy resort, of course stay as long as necessary.

Personally, we’d suggest two days with either two or three nights, depending on your flight schedule.

When to go to Doha

Doha is hot all year and really hot in the summer. The average high is over 100°F from April through September with lows in the 70s and 80s. Winter is milder, but still sees highs in the 70s and 80s.

Doha is used to the heat, so most of the best things to do are indoors or are best experienced in the evening. For that reason, I would stay that there’s no time that you should rule out completely simply due to weather.

More importantly to planning is Ramadan, since Qatar is a Muslim country. Even if you are not a practicing Muslim, this can impact your experience as a tourist. Most notably, in Qatar it is illegal to eat or drink in public between sunup and sundown during Ramadan.

While you are not required to fast, you will find that most restaurants and cafes are closed during the day. Your only food options will be grocery stores, a handful or restaurants that offer takeaway, or some hotel restaurants that serve in an isolated room. Ramadan will also impact the hours for public transportation, museums and more. I’d recommend checking out this guide for a detailed look at what Doha is like during Ramadan .

And lastly, its important to note that weekends in Doha are Fridays and Saturdays — not Saturdays and Sundays. Fridays might be more bustling than you think at your hotel and the beaches, while Sundays will be busier downtown and in West Bay.

All that said, the best time to visit Doha is probably the winter between November and March, as long as that doesn’t overlap with Ramadan.

What to wear in Doha

Doha is a modern city and is more liberal than other parts of the Middle East, but it’s still located within a Muslim country that tends to err on the conservative side.

Around Doha you’ll find Qatari nationals and many tourists from nearby Gulf Countries, so there is a very high concentration of Muslims. As you’d expect, many of the men and women in Doha wear full-length robes, with women wearing hijabs or full face veils.

Non-Muslim tourists are not required to meet this dress code entirely at all times, but they should be sensitive to it and it sometimes there are actual rules and dress codes.

In public places, both men and women should keep their knees, shoulders and upper arms covered. Men should wear jeans or trousers with short sleeves, polos, or light button-up shirts. Women should wear pants or capris, long dresses or skirts, and shirts that are short-sleeve or longer. Tourists should not feel obligated to cover their head.

Many of the museums and shopping malls in Qatar have a dress code. Short dresses, tank tops, crop tops and shorts are not allowed. You may be denied entry if you are not properly dressed.

Personally, I wore the following outfits during my visit and felt comfortable (socially and physically).

Maxi skirt and long sleeve shirt or t-shirt
Sleeveless maxi dress over a t-shirt or under a jean jacket
T-shirt and jeans

As far as swimwear goes, it depends where you’re swimming. Public beaches in Doha have a dress code, and bikinis and typical one-piece swimsuits are not allowed. At minimum, all genders must wear long board shorts and a short sleeve shirt or rash guard. At private beaches and hotel pools, you can typically wear whatever you like.

Lastly, these rules also typically don’t apply to private places, like hotel restaurants and bars. In these areas, you can usually wear whatever you like.

One convenient way to add Doha to your travel plans is with a stopover. It’s actually perfect for that because you really only need a day or two to see and experience Doha.

What is a Doha stopover

Think of a stopover as a long layover. A stopover allows you to leave the airport and explore Doha for 12 hours to 4 days in the middle of your trip without booking separate flights. Basically you can have two destinations instead of one, for roughly the same price.

Let’s say you’re flying from New York to Delhi. You could book through a US or Indian airline and fly direct. Alternatively, you can book through Qatar Airlines and connect in Doha. You can then spend a few days in Doha on your way there or your way back, without spending extra money on your flight.

TIP: If you are traveling transatlantic and like the idea of a stopover, be sure to look into visiting Iceland ! They basically invented the stopover and its credited for Iceland’s massive tourism boom.

How to book a Doha stopover

The Doha stopover program is run by Qatar Airways, the flag carrier and government run airline of Qatar that is based out of Doha. You will need to book a stopover directly through the airline and the package includes flights and hotel.

Start by navigating to the Doha stopover booking page . Enter your departure airport and then your final destination — don’t include Doha. Then note how many days you’d like to spend in Doha. Depending on your route, I’d suggest 2 or 3. You’ll also have to select whether you want to stop in Doha on your way there or your way back.

Once you’ve entered all the info, you’ll be presented with flight options for the three legs of your trip, including the stopover in Doha. Unless you happen to luck into a Fifth Freedom route, you will also likely connect through Doha even on the leg that doesn’t include the stopover.

The cost of the flight with the stopover should be the same as booking two regular connecting flights. There will be an additional cost for your hotel, which is required for the stopover package. Passengers flying from select countries including most of Europe (full list available here ) can book their hotel at the same time as their flight. Travelers from all other countries including the US, will have to book their flight first and then add their hotel after.

Here is a look at the hotel prices available with the Qatar stopover program.

NOTE: If your stopover is less than 24 hours, you will not be able to retrieve and access your checked bag during that time , so everything you need will need to be in your carry-on.

The best thing about a newly developed city like Doha is that it usually has a pretty good train system. That’s definitely the case in Doha. Here’s a look at how to get to Doha from the airport and then how to move around the city center.

How to get to Doha from the airport

Hamad International Airport (DOH) is located on the southeast side of Doha along the water. It’s easy to get from the airport to central Doha via a variety of transit options.

The fastest way to get to downtown Doha from the airport is by car. Uber is available in Doha or there is a traditional taxi stand at the airport. (Don’t forget you’ll need to either connect to the airport free wifi or use cellular data to use Uber.) A cab or rideshare from DOH to city center will cost about 50 QAR ($14 USD) and take about 20 minutes.

The cheapest way to get from DOH to downtown Doha is to take the Metro. From the arrivals area, follow posted signs to the Metro. It is a pretty long walk, about 10-15 minutes, but it’s all indoors.

You can buy your ticket from the kiosk at the station, and there is often an attendant there to help you out. They don’t sell point-to-point tickets, so the best bet is to buy a standard day pass for 6 QAR.

Enter the station and then follow signs to the Red Line toward Lusail. The train to city center is 15 – 25 minutes, depending on where you are going.

Getting around Doha

There are several easy ways to get around central and downtown Doha.

The Doha Metro is a convenient way to get around Doha. You can full the full Metro map here. The metro opened in 2019, so all of the stations and trains are new and clean. They’re also very well staffed with attendants who can help answer questions or point you in the right direction.

A day pass for unlimited rides on the metro costs 6 QAR and you can purchase them at kiosks at every station. You need to tap your pass every time you enter and leave a station. Also take note of the car you enter. On each train there is a Gold Car, which requires a more expensive ticket, and a family car for families traveling together, women and children.

The Doha Metro typically operates Saturday through Wednesday from 6 AM to 11 PM, Thursday from 6 AM to midnight, and Friday from 2 PM to midnight. The most notable thing here is that they don’t operate on Friday mornings, which might be unexpected for non-Muslim travelers.

Doha tram service

A few regions of Doha are also connected by tram. There is a point-to-point tram route in Lusail, which is north of The Pearl, and a loop route around Msheireb Downtown Doha. The later is most practical for tourists.

The downtown Doha tram is free to ride and runs from 10 AM to 10 PM Saturday to Thursday, and 2 PM to 10 PM on Friday. Trams run every 15 minutes during most of the day, but jump up to every 6 minutes during peak hours between 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM.

The Lusail tram operates on roughly the same schedule as the Metro and uses the same fare card system and pricing.

Rideshare or Taxi

If you’re traveling somewhere that is not close to a train or tram station, have a lot of luggage or are simply in a hurry, you may want to take a car. Uber is available in Doha and standard taxis are regularly available and trustworthy.

Walking in Doha

Most of Doha is very walkable. Downtown Doha has some pedestrian only areas in addition to great sidewalk coverage, and there is a walkway around the corniche that is pedestrian only as well. There are walk signals at nearly every light, and there’s also some underground tunnels where pedestrians can safely bypass major intersections entirely.

The only problem with walking in Doha is that it’s really hot and there’s not a ton of shade. You can walk places, it’s just not super pleasant midday. So you’ll probably want to take public transportation or cars to get around during the day, and then walk more in the evening when it cools off.

Here’s a list of some of the best and most popular things to do in Doha, Qatar. The items noted with an asterisk (*) are the very best attractions that you should prioritize if you are short on time. In the next section, we’ll help you string these things together into a sample itinerary.

Museums & Mosques in Doha

National Museum of Qatar*: This museum opened in 2019 and is located inside a stunning building that was built around a former palace. The museum explores Qatar’s national history, from prehistoric times through the blockade that ended in 2021. It also has some great exhibits for kids. (Hours: Saturday through Thursday 9 AM – 7 PM, Friday 1:30 to 7 PM | Cost: QAR 100)
Museum of Islamic Art *: This is an art museum that showcases (you guessed it) Islamic art dating back 1,400 years. There are lots of cool works inside, including many ancient and beautiful Qurans, textiles, jewelry, weapons, and of course paintings. (Hours: Saturday through Thursday 9 AM – 7 PM, Friday 1:30 to 7 PM | Cost: QAR 100)
Museum of Illusions: Here you’ll find a collection of optical and physical illusions that you can interact with and take photos with. It’s not a traditional museum, but it’s popular with kids and families. (Hours: Saturday through Thursday 9 AM – 10 PM, Friday 1 to 10 PM. Cost: QAR 80)
Imam Abdul Wahhab Mosque : Non-Muslim tourists are welcome to visit the state grand mosque in Doha. The mosque is the largest in Qatar, and showcases 93 beautiful domes and marble floors. ( Hours: Saturday through Thursday 9 AM – 7 PM, Friday 2 to 7 PM | Cost: free)
Katara Mosque: This mosque is smaller than the grand mosque, but also completely different in style. It has a colorful blue and gold facade with intricate patterns. It’s free to enter and walk around. The Gold Mosque is also nearby.

NOTE: These museums have a dress code, so be sure you cover your shoulders and knees. At the grand mosque, women will be provided an abaya to wear free of charge.

Doha neighborhoods & markets to explore

Souk Waqif *: This is the main souk, or market, in Doha. The main strip is lined with restaurants, cafes and large souvenir shops, while the smaller windy market lanes sell everything from clothing to housewares to birds. There’s also a large open square with lots of seating and fun things for kids like a small train and animal rides. The souk is most popular as the sun sets and into the evening.
Msheireb Downtown Doha : This area has lots of hotels, great coffee shops (% ARABICA is our favorite) and restaurants. There’s also a mosque, shopping mall, Msheireb Museums and shaded town square to keep you busy.
Corniche*: This is a pedestrian pathway the follows a crescent shaped inlet of the Persian Gulf. There are a few different parks and statues, including the iconic Pearl statue (not to be confused with The Pearl island) along the way. Most importantly, it has great views of the skyline. It gets really hot during the day, but it’s great for an evening walk.
The Pearl: Similar to Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah, The Pearl is a man-made island that is home to high-end residences and luxury hotels. There are several beaches, many of which are private, as well as shops and restaurants. Check out this post for a great guide to exploring The Pearl even if you’re not staying there.

Malls & Amusement Parks

Villagio Mall: Did you even go to the Middle East if you didn’t go to an elaborate themed mall? This one is Venetian themed, complete with an indoor Gondola. It also has an indoor ice skating rink, amusement park, and of course a wide array of stores and dining.
City Center Mall: This is the main mall in West Bay. It’s a massive shopping complex that also has a large inflated kids play area, arcade, movie theater, and more. If you’re interested in malls, you might also want to check out of Mall of Qatar , which is a bit further but is the largest mall in Qatar.
Quest: Doha Quest is an indoor amusement park that has real and virtual rides and attractions for kids and adults. There are several roller coasters and drop rides, kiddie rides and arcade games, plus some food and beverage options for purchase.
Lusail Winter Wonderland : This is a seasonal outdoor amusement park in Lusail, north of Doha. It includes rides, character greetings (including Cocomelon), ice skating and more. It is typically held from November to March. You can learn more and buy tickets here .

Beaches & Parks in Doha

Aspire Park: This park is a bit of a hike from the corniche and downtown Doha, but if you’re craving green this is where you need to be. It has lots of open space, green grass, and some shade trees. There’s a large lake with a bridge that has fountains over it, which is a popular place for kids to run around and get wet.
Katara Beach: This is the most popular beach for tourists in Doha due to its central location between The Pearl and West Bay. There is a small fee to enter (10 QAR), and other activities such as boating and standup paddle boarding are available for an added cost.
Al Safliya Island: This is a small uninhabited island just off the cost of Doha. There are no stores or restaurants, but it’s perfect for a serene beach experience with skyline views. To get there, you’ll need to take a boat from either The Pearl or the corniche.
MIA Park: This large park is located on the south end of the corniche near the Museum of Islamic Art. It’s mostly open green space, with several walking paths. The highlight of this particular park is the large children’s playground and great views of the skyline.

Sample Itinerary

We spent two days and three nights in Doha. It wasn’t technically a stopover because we booked two separate tickets (one in Qatar Economy and one in Qatar Qsuites ), but we did stop in Qatar as a break between Delhi and New York City.

Below is a sample itinerary modeled mostly after our actual trip. It’s a good example of how you can schedule two days in Doha.

Arrival day

Doha Metro from Hamad International Airport to our hotel (Alwadi Hotel Doha – MGallery)
Evening stroll through Souq Waqif
Dinner at Alnema Cafe in the souq (famous for their chapati)

Coffee from % ARABICA
Walked from our hotel to the Museum of Islamic Art
Visited the Pearl statue for some photos
Lunch at Anis
Spent the afternoon swimming at our hotel.
Walked to dinner at The Rice And The Noodle Doha (though if you eat meat, you should go to Usta Turkish Kebap & Doner )
Enjoyed another evening walk around Souq Waqif

Coffee from NOMAD Coffee
Took the Dubai Metro to National Museum of Qatar
Lunch at Thalatheen
Metro to Villagio Mall
Spent the afternoon at Gondolania (the amusement park inside the mall)
Dinner at Nourlaya
Final stroll through Souq Waqif

Departure Day

Our flight was early, so we left our hotel at 6 AM after our third and final night.

Doha is easily overlooked. The stop in Doha is simply a toll people pay in order to fly Qatar Airways between two other points. Doha is trying to change that — particularly in light of the World Cup. (Though to be honest, they got as much bad press from that as they did good.)

The Qatar Airways stopover program has definitely helped with that goal. But based on how few people got off our plane in Doha, it feels like not many people are taking advantage of it. Which leaves one wondering … is Doha worth visiting?

The short answer? Yes, Doha is worth visiting on a stopover, but I would not plan a trip to Doha as my only destination.

If you have a chance to add a stopover in Doha, it’s worth visiting for at least one full day. I say that mostly because the city is so easy to get around. It isn’t difficult or expensive to add a stop here, and I think it has enough to enjoy that it’s worth the small amount of effort to experience it for a day.

If you can see one of the two main museums, explore Souq Waqif, and take an evening skyline stroll along the corniche, I think that is a day well spent. If you’ve already flown Emirates and been to Dubai, flying Qatar Airways and seeing Doha is a great way to experience a different city in the Middle East.

Doha isn’t a must-visit city (yet) and it’s easy to feel like the city lacks a culture and history, but it’s a nice place to be. It’s pretty, it has some interesting things to see, and it’s easy to get around. For that reason, I’d say Doha is worth visiting for a day or two on a stopover. I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to come here again, but I’m glad I was able to experience it while I was here.

Qatar Transit Tour: Doha City

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Qatar is a tiny peninsular Arab nation in the Arabian Gulf bordering Saudi Arabia. Most of the country resides in the capital city of Doha. The economy is nearly 75% based on petrol and natural gas, making this small country the world’s richest nation (GDP per capita).

Over two million people call Qatar home, yet only 20% of the population are Qataris, with a huge population of foreign workers. Qatar has been selected to host the 2022 World Cup, the first in the Arab world. This has resulted in construction projects throughout Doha.

New Doha, known for exotic skyscrapers that rival Dubai, is an extremely modern city built entirely on reclaimed land in 2000. Doha is a regional hub and a common layover with Qatar Airlines. There is an excellent city tour available for those passing through offered by Discover Qatar. Read on to learn more about the Doha city tour.

Content and photographs provided by Yana Kogan and Timon .

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we may earn a small commission (don’t worry, it’s at no extra cost to you).

Important Things to Know When Visiting Doha

Visa to qatar.

Visa on arrival is available for countries in the E.U., the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and South Korea. All other countries are required to get a visa before arrival. See more visa information here .

Best Time to Visit Doha

Visiting Qatar is best in the winter months between November and February. Days can still get hot with cool evenings, but the weather is very manageable. Temperatures in the summer average over 100° F (+40°C), making visits during this time very unpleasant.

The Qatari Riyal is the national currency in Qatar. It is pegged to the USD at $1 = 3.64 QR. ATMs are widely available at the airport and around Doha.

Doha City Tour

Are you flying with Qatar Airlines and have at least a six-hour layover in Doha? Take their Doha city tour! The tour lasts just under three hours and stops at the four below locations. There is a free one-day visa and the tour is first come, first serve, but you can also book your tour online up to 48 hours before your arrival time. There are six tours each day that leave at 8am, 10:30 am, 3pm, 6 pm, 8pm, and 9:30 pm.

Check-in starts two hours before the scheduled tour. The check-in location is at the Discover Qatar Transit Tours desk in Concourse A towards Gate A4. The city tour is on a 46-passenger bus and has short stops for a quick visit to Doha. At the time of writing, the Doha city tour was offered for free to promote Doha tourism. Nowadays, the tour costs 75 QR ($21 USD).

1. Museum of Islāmic Art

What to See in Doha: Museum of Islamic Art

The first stop is next to the Museum of Islāmic Art. This building is an iconic building on the Doha corniche designed by the famous architect I. M. Pei. While there is not enough time to visit the museum, there is a photo opportunity of the building as well as a panoramic view of New Doha. This stop is for five minutes.

2. Katara Cultural Village

Opened in 2010, most cultural attractions for the city, such as open-air concerts, theatre, opera, or other events, occur in Katara. While this part of the city is becoming more popular, it is still mostly under construction until 2018. This stop is for 20 minutes.

3. The Pearl

The Pearl of Doha is a mini-Dubai-like pearl-shaped island with high-end shops, restaurants, and a marina. This is also the first place in Qatar that allows foreigners to own property. This stop is for 15 minutes.

4. Souq Waqif

Souq Waqif, the largest in Qatar, is a traditional market that is predominately a tourist destination. While it is not used by Qataris today, there remains an authentic feel and look to this market that is over 100 years old. This stop is for 45 minutes.

Tour Details

A small bottle of water for each person
Stops include an opportunity for a restroom breaks
Timelines are strict to get everyone back to the airport
English-speaking guides led the tour and offer historical context as well as information while riding on the bus between stops

That’s it – we hope you enjoy exploring the beautiful city of Doha!

Yana & Timon met at college in Boston, Massachusetts. After graduating, they started their professional careers. They moved to San Francisco in 2010, a city they loved living in for nearly six years. After working and saving up money for several years, they quit their jobs and set off on an adventure of a lifetime. They started living a nomadic lifestyle in December 2015 and have not looked back since.

3 thoughts on “Qatar Transit Tour: Doha City”

Do I really need to be there 2 hours early to check in? My flight lands at 5 and I would like to do the 6pm tour. What are your thoughts?

Did you need a COVID test to exit for transit tour

Hi do you need a covid test to enter for transit tour?

Boarding passes, airport exits and queries

Please visit one of our transfer desks if you need any assistance with your onward flight, including boarding passes, re-scheduling flights and general queries ( map ).

If you have an extended stopover and would like to exit the airport to visit Qatar before boarding your onward flight, our transfer desks can assist you. To avoid any disappointment or delays please confirm visas & immigration requirements before you commence your journey. Please note that it is not required for you to acquire a transit Visa if you are not leaving the airport.

Security check

Your hand-baggage will be security screened for prohibited items before you can enter the passenger terminal. Please visit our Security & Customs page for more information. Dedicated lanes are available for First Class and Business Class passengers.

Priority processing

All Al Maha customers , special assistance travellers and unaccompanied minors receive priority processing during transfers at Hamad International Airport. They are also met at the aircraft or aerobridge on arrival.

Things to avoid

Please ensure your baggage does not contain any prohibited items. These items will be confiscated and you won’t be able to retrieve them at any time. Please visit our Security & Customs page for more information.
Do not follow the signs to ‘Arrivals’. If you wish to exit the airport please approach the transfer desks for assistance ( map ).
Do not be late for your onward flight. Your boarding gate will close 20 minutes before the flight departure time.

Solving problems

Our transfer desks are there to help you ( map ). If you’ve missed your connection our transfer desks will assist you with re-booking a later flight. They can also help with re-printing your boarding pass, upgrading your travel class and re-scheduling flights.

Things to do while Transferring

Relax and refresh.

The Airport Hotel offers four-star hospitality for stays as short as five hours. You can also unwind with a massage and facial, dive in for a refreshing swim, or hit the gym for a quick workout at the wellness centre.

Find out more

Experience A Glimpse of Qatar

Discover Qatar, the Destination Management Company of Qatar Airways, offers exclusive transit tours for customers to experience a glimpse of Qatar, available at the Discover Qatar kiosk at Hamad International Airport.

All customers who have a transit time of 6 hours or more can now enjoy one of the exclusive transit tours:

Discover Doha - a three-hour coach city tour that takes you around Doha, allowing you to explore the Corniche, the Museum of Islamic Art, Dhow Harbor, Katara Cultural Village, and Souq Waqif.
Discover the Desert and Inland Sea - a four-hour private tour that offers you the change to visit one of the only three places in the world where the Arabian desert meets the azure sea at Khor al Adaid.
Shuttle Bus Service - Discover the Qatar National Museum, Museum of Islamic Art or Doha Beach Club with the hassle-free pickup and drop-off shuttle service from Hamad International Airport to three iconic destinations.

Discover Doha by Air - A 45-minute flight over Doha's most iconic sites, impressive skyline and FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ stadiums. Explore breath-taking landscapes and iconic landmarks from the unparalleled comfort and convenience of a light aircraft.

Discover Doha your Way – With your private vehicle and chauffeur, you can choose where you would like to spend your time during transit in Doha. Plan your journey or choose from a selection of recommended places of interest and leave it in the hands of your experienced chauffeur.

Passengers with transit times of 4 hours can Discover the Art of the Airport while enjoying an airport-based tour that introduces to Hamad International Airport’s impressive art installations.

Discover Qatar will take care of all transit arrangements, ensuring you are back in time for your following flight. For more information and booking, please visit discoverqatar.qa or Discover Qatar Transit Desk located in the Duty Free Plaza.

Smoking rooms, prayer rooms and phone/laptop charging stations are located across the passenger terminal.

Get Connected

Complimentary wireless internet is available throughout the passenger terminal. You can also get online at internet kiosks and desks that offer Mac computers for browsing.

Eat and drink

Choose from more than 30 restaurants and cafes. Explore a wide variety of global cuisine.

Relax in a Lounge

You may be entitled to complimentary lounge access depending on your ticket or privilege club membership, or you can pay for lounge access. You can also relax in one of our quiet rooms that offer recliners and soft lighting.

Indulge in a Cultural Experience

Experience an innovative and immersive visual experience. Art is an integral part of HIA, having been designed to house permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Keep the Children Entertained

There are five activity nodes within the passenger terminal designed for children of all ages. They create a distinctive and friendly feel by offering play areas, televisions, internet points, retail stores and food and beverage options, all catered for the enjoyment and relaxation of families. Additionally, there are parents’ rooms that allow you to attend to your infant in privacy and comfort and family toilets to make it easier to look after your child’s needs.

Enjoy Duty-Free Shopping

Qatar Duty-Free, our award-winning shopping emporium, has more than 70 retail outlets and 30 cafes and restaurants spread over 40,000 square metres of combined retail, food and beverage facilities. It offers unprecedented selection of designer labels, electronics, gourmet foods and much more. Express stores are also available if you are in a hurry.

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9 Hour Stopover in Qatar: Is It Worth Exploring?

If you need to do a 9 hour layover in Doha, this is your guide to what to do to make the most of your time there. Also, how to leave the airport on a Qatar stopover!

Having seen the overstretched Doha Hamad International Airport for 2 hours on the way to Vietnam I knew I didn’t want to spend 9 hours there on the way back. We couldn’t even get anywhere to sit for an hour, never mind lay down.

There must be a way to make the most of our Qatar stop over while we were there, I thought. Turns out, there is!

If you’re wondering what to do in Doha airport for 9 hours, I’d say leave it, ASAP.

9 hour stopover in Qatar

I’d been debating for a few weeks before we left for our two-week trip to Vietnam whether to fork out for a hotel in Qatar, or stay the night in Qatar’s Hamad Airport.

Other Qatar Airways passengers can get a hotel voucher when they have a stopover as long as ours, but apparently our super cheap flight meant there was no budget for this. I tried to pull some strings at work ( I worked at Flight Centre ), but was firmly told it was up to me to sort my own hotel to stay the night in Qatar.

Check with your airline though, to see if there’s any complimentary transit accommodation before you start doing all this…

I had a look around online and found a relatively cheap hotel near the airport called La Villa , where double rooms were going for around £34. It was right in the centre and close to the seaside Corniche Boulevard. I decided to just go for it and get it sorted on booking.com – I was bored of weighing up the pros and cons.

Click, click, yep, done, then I received an email thanking me for my booking.

Please be advised that couples checking in to the same room must present a marriage certificate upon check-in as per Qatari law.

Dammit. There was no getting around that one, me and my boyfriend would need two rooms. Pushing it up to £68 and doubling the price of our Doha stopover.

Cancel that then, and I booked two singles knowing that there was a free cancellation option upto 48 hours before check in. Although in moments of boredom I carried on the debate in my head as to whether I’d done the right thing, right up until we were actually there.

Read more: The BEST HOTELS IN DOHA FOR YOU

Can you leave Doha Airport during a layover?

Leaving doha airport in 3 easy mistakes.

I might be a travel blogger, but at that time I was inexperienced in layovers and changing planes. We only had 9 hours in Qatar and we wasted over an hour because we had no idea what we were doing, and just kept going wrong.

Lucky for us our flight did actually get in about 30 minutes early, but if you’re planning on leaving the airport in Qatar, here’s what to do for a quick escape to make the most of your 9 hour layover in Doha.

1. Get off at the first terminal, arrivals

If you’re leaving Doha Airport during a layover, you need to listen!

The announcement on the airport bus told us that if we have yellow tickets we must go to Departures. This may sound obvious to some, even me now, but we followed that instruction and carried on to Departures, rather than Arrivals. And so we couldn’t get out the airport once we’d arrived in the terminal.

We had to sit and wait with the other dumbasses for a bus to take us back to Arrivals.

Time wasted: 40 minutes

2. Know if you have a hotel voucher

If you have a hotel voucher given to you by the airline go to the hotel voucher desk just as you get in the Arrivals doors. If you have booked your own hotel in Doha join the passport and immigration control queue.

We joined the hotel voucher queue, as there was something vague like ‘hotels’ written across the desk. We waited for ages and then were told to join the passport queue as they were getting ferried directly to their hotels supplied by their airlines.

Time wasted: 20 minutes

3. Have the visa cash ready

If your passport was issued in one of these 34 countries you can get a visa on arrival for 100 Qatari Rial (about £17).

If you don’t have the correct currency make sure to check the people in front of you are paying with card and clearing the desk ok.

I sailed on through, but my boyfriend ended up being directed to the only desk where the card machine was broken.

This meant he had to walk across the airport to the ATM, queue there to get some cash out, then queue to get some special prepaid card, then join the queue of people who’d suffered the same fate. Apparently he couldn’t just go to another desk because they’d already started his entry process.

He also had to pay more as he had to buy the prepaid card.

Time wasted: 25 minutes

Doha Airport to Hotel

We cleared the last security checks easily and went outside to pick up a taxi for our layover in Doha.

The second we stepped outside the heat hit us and both of us immediately fogged up, thanks to our glasses.

Men in white jalabiyas were offering us taxi rides and asking where we wanted to go, but neither of us could see a thing. Little bit nerve-wracking, but through the fog I could see ‘Karwa’ written on the taxis over yonder, and the magazine I’d read on the flight said to use those, so off we went.

We paid 50 Rial (£8.50) for the 5-minute journey to La Villa Hotel.

On the way we saw huge skyscrapers, beautiful mosques and the uniquely designed national museum. I could also see big flash cars, huge new roads and looming bank buildings. There weren’t many people about though, especially compared to Ho Chi Minh City where we’d just come from.

The hotel was fine. Nothing fancy, but we each had a nice big bed and a big TV, which I was too tired to even turn on. By the time we got there it was 11:30pm – we decided to just go to bed and get up early to do a taxi tour instead – by midnight and after a quick look out my window I was asleep.

Me in my room and my boyfriend in his.

Is your budget higher? Here are the best hotels near Doha Airport for you !

Book this special Qatar layover sightseeing trip!

“When travelling through Qatar, there’s no need to wish your time away at the airport. If your transit at Hamad International Airport is 8 hours or more, you can turn your stop into an extended holiday. We make this as simple as possible for you by taking care of all of your transit arrangements and ensuring you are back in good time for your onward flight. You can then make the most of your transit time by taking a break from your travels to discover Qatar, and explore its unique Arabic heritage, before connecting to your final destination.” – Transit Exclusive – Discover Doha / GetYourGuide

AMAZING! This is what we needed!

If you’d rather have a private tour on your Doha layover, read on for more special Qatar layover tours.

Taxi tour of Doha

We booked a taxi at the front desk for 5:30am and told the man we wanted to see The Pearl. I slept lightly, although slightly paranoid about waking up in time seeing as you couldn’t phone each other’s room, my boyfriend’s phone didn’t work, and the Wi-Fi there was next to useless.

After a quick shower I was in the lobby for 5:25am and the taxi was there right on time.

We soon realised there had been a misunderstanding on ‘The Pearl’. I’d wanted to see the flats and man made island, which was apparently 30 minutes drive away. We only had 30 minutes till we had to be at the airport.

Our taxi driver took us to The Pearl monument via the ATM. Thanks to Doha’s one-way system we got to see The Corniche, and get close to the skyscraper filled skyline. We saw a palace and the football stadium in the distance, getting ready for the World Cup 2022. The sunrise was incredible – one of the brightest and harshest I’ve ever seen.

Getting out the car was like hitting a wall of heat though, it was sweat inducing to just cross the road, and it was still early. Not sure how all those footie fans coped!

Our friendly taxi driver dropped us at the airport for 6am and we sailed through with our hand luggage – the checked in baggage was all taken care of. One coffee later and we were at our boarding gate, mission ‘9 hours in Qatar’ accomplished.

With the time we had we could only get a quick look at all the great things to do in Doha , the taxi tour ended up being a great idea. Or, you could book one of the special layover tours from and to the airport. They didn’t have them when I travelled through but they seem to be the answer to all the airport anxieties and worries about leaving the airport in Doha.

Doha: Desert and Inland Sea Beach Layover Tour

Leave the airport and explore the Qatari desert with an experienced guide.
Experience one of only three places in the World where desert meet the ocean.
Private Dune bashing drive with a professional 4WD driver.

Doha Layover: 4 Hours Private Tour

Explore Doha city With Experience Guide
Discover Multipole Site Of Doha in 4 Hours
Get Picked Up and explore the city and drop-off back to your destination
Spend your quality time during layover to visiting Doha City
Visit Main Sights: Souq Waqif, Doha Corniche, Katara Cultural Village, The Pearl

From Doha Airport: Private City Tour for Transit Passengers

Drive along the fabulous Doha Corniche and West Bay area.
Discover the extraordinary Pearl Island.
Visit the Souq Waqif local market.
Explore the Katara cultural village.

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The cost of our stopover in Qatar

Stopover time: 22:25 to 7:55

Visa: 100 (£17)
Hotel: 200 (£34)
Taxi to hotel: 50 (£8.50)
Morning sightseeing taxi for 30 mins: 100 (£17)

Cost of seeing Qatar each: (£76.50)

If you can spare £76.50 I’d definitely recommend getting out of the airport in Doha. I’d much rather spend my layover in Qatar in Doha, rather than in Doha Airport.

The taxi ride, getting a tiny glimpse at a new country and not feeling crappy at the airport thanks to no sleep made it totally worth it. If we needed any more reassurance we only needed to look at people trying to sleep on the floor to know that we’d done the right thing.

Q&A on a Doha Airport layover

Yes, you can. If I was to do it again it’d probably seem pretty easy, but as this was my first stopover, ever, we wasted a lot of time. Please read the guide above to learn from my mistakes!

What can I do in Doha airport for 9 hours?

First recommendation would be to leave, like we did.

Otherwise there are a few shops, and a lot of people trying to sleep on the floor. That’s your second option.

Here’s a round up of the best things to do in Doha Airport, if you don’t want to leave.

Visit the airport lounges: Qatar Airways’ Al Mourjan Business Lounge and Oryx Lounge offer comfortable seating, showers, dining, and Wi-Fi.
Explore the airport art: Hamad Airport is known for its impressive art collection, including sculptures, paintings, and installations. Take a self-guided tour to appreciate the artwork throughout the terminal.
Eat: The airport offers a variety of dining options, from international fast food to upscale restaurants. Try some Middle Eastern cuisine or enjoy a coffee at one of the cafes.
Shopping: Explore the duty-free shops and boutiques for luxury goods, electronics, clothing, and Qatari souvenirs on your Doha layover. The airport is known for its high-end shopping.
Qatar Airways tours: Qatar Airways offers city tours for passengers with extended layovers. Explore Doha’s key attractions like the Souq Waqif, Museum of Islamic Art, and the Corniche. See the tours listed above!
Relax and refresh: Use the airport’s quiet zones, relaxation rooms, and spa facilities to unwind. You can even take a shower to freshen up.
Exercise: Stay active at the airport gym or take a swim in the Oryx Airport Hotel’s pool.
Connectivity: Stay connected with free Wi-Fi throughout the airport. You can catch up on work, stream entertainment, or connect with friends and family.
Prayer rooms: If you need a place for prayer or meditation, the airport provides well-equipped prayer rooms.
Kids’ play area: If you’re traveling with children, let them burn off energy at the airport’s play areas.

What can you do in 9 hours in Doha?

The fact that we were there overnight, from around 11pm to 7am, did kinda of limit what we could do in Doha for 9 hours. We managed a shower, a sleep and a quick tour, which was just fine.

If your 9 hours in Doha is more daytime, then see how many of these fun Doha activities you can fit in.

PIN 9 hour layover in Doha for LATER

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Hi, I'm Vicky! I wrote this. You can find me on all the social media @VickyFlipFlop. I love a bit of adventure, will try anything once, and have a strong passion for the local food and drink, whatever it may be. I'm here to help inspire you to travel to places a little out of your comfort zone, or at least to explore the usual destinations in a different way. Stay, have a look around, and if you have any questions – let me know below.

55 Comments

Qairways and the website for the airport lets you know that you cannot do a stopover d/t covid 19 precautions. So you are going to be in the airport. You cannot do anything else.

Hi, thanks for the updated advice on this. It’s very hard to keep up with current rules and regulations.

I absolutely enjoyed reading this. I’m an Indian expat, grew up in Qatar and didn’t really see this from a foreigners perspective. Anyways, I’m sure if you decided to visit again, you would love it. Feel free to DM me on Insta @the_halal_lifestyle and I’ll link you up on places to stay, visit and eat at. Oh, and Uber is way more affordable and reliable than the karwa!

Oh fab! Thanks for the hot tip. This post was written a while ago now, so it’s good to have some updated info. Thanks 🙂

I know your post is quite old but I’m having a few problems making a decision for my stopover in Doha.

I have an 11 hour stopover in Doha arriving at 5:30 am. I am just 1 hour short of the stopover deals the airline has to offer. So I emailed the hotel inside the airport where they’ve quote me $365 Australian dollars for 8 hours. This is insane, so I called the airline to see if they could help me find accommodation outside the airport and was told because I missed out by 1 hour I was not entitled to a transit hotel. I asked if I could leave and stay at a hotel outside the airport, they told me I was not allowed to leave.

I’m confused by this as you were able to leave. Being a solo female traveler I am very nervous about leaving and not making it back. I was hoping the airline would provide support.

Any advice?

Hi Courtney, oh that’s strange – and annoying. You’d definitely have time to explore Doha with 11 hours from 5:30am. I’ve just looked up hotels, and yes, the transit one is the only one available and super expensive. All the others seem to be 4 miles away.

I’d be very surprised if you can’t leave the airport, that seems very strange. If I was you I’d talk to the airline staff and see when you arrive. We didn’t even get questionned when we left.

As you say, it’s a few years since I did this but seems very strange not to be able to leave. You’d be able to get a taxi and look around easily in that time, but yes, depends if you want to.

Have you seen this page? https://www.qatarairways.com/en-gb/offers/doha-city-tour.html

Hope that helps.

Very nice article, I loved reading about your experience 🙂

Oh thanks! Hope it helps with your trip planning :).

In my trip to Namibia I had the chance to stopover in Doha for almost one day and we really enjoyed! It is worth it!

Yeah I totally think it’s worth it for the day. I wouldn’t really want any longer, but fun to be able to check it out for a few hours. Definitely recommend getting a private taxi driver to show you round.

Because i wanted to buy cheaper tickets for my family (cheaper by usd 480 for 2 adults and 2 kids), i bought us the long 9,5 hours layover instead of 2,5 hours layover. We will reach Doha 15 23:30 then connect out flight at 09:00 the next day. The airport hotel rate is super expensive. I would like to have some sleep but the hotels rate are so expensive that wud end up the same if i have bought the more expensive tickets. What wud u recommend me if you were in my situation?

Hello Eppie, how about the Villa Hotel I recommend above? It’s difficult because of the timings of your flight but if you get up super early you’d be able to have a taxi ride round Qatar like I did. That would make the extra money worth it?

Thank you for this post! I am flying Hanoi-New York with an 18-hour layover in Doha, on a similar super-cheap ticket, so probably not eligible for the hotel voucher (which I only just learnt about; yes, I’ve been traveling for an entire year and still make mistakes). This is SO helpful.

Great! Happy to help. I hope you enjoy Doha, 18 hours is definitely a good amount of time to explore :).

I will have a layover in Doha arriving at 23:50 and leaving 07:10, would it make sense to leave the airport by taxi to do my own mini tour through the city?

If it’s overnight I’d get a taxi. I’m not sure how much you’d be able to see during those hours?

18 hour layover, but we arrive at 01:30am so I guess it’s a two night stay to ensure early check in and late check out? Has anyone else had this type of stop and can advise?

Hey Andy, can anyone help him?

Hi Vicky, I will have a layover in Qatar. Will arrive there at 5:30pm and my outbound flight is 9 hours later at 3AM. I ready that Qatar airlines offers a complimentary 3 hour tour. I read the tour starts at 8pm. Do you know anything about this and is it worth doing? Because it is complimentary it is on a first come/first serve basis. Only 22 people can get the tour. I am a family of 4. I am afraid if I miss it, I will be stuck at the airport for 9 hours. Any suggestions?

I’m afraid I don’t know anything about this tour. Is there no way to book onto it? I’d recommend that you try and get on the tour, but if you don’t, you can arrange your own travel. There are many taxis outside that can take you to your destination, or even just for a tour. As you can see that’s what my friend and I did last time. It was all very easy.

That way you’re covered if either event happens.

Let me know what you decide, I’d be interested to know.

I have the same flight on the 12th of November. Did you find out anymore information or do the tour? I’m sure you would be unlucky to miss out on a spot.

Did your plans include flying from Qatar to Denpasar by chance? I have the same flight and wanted to see what you ended up doing at the airport during the 9+ hour layover?? Thanks so much!

Hi, no it was Qatar to Ho Chi Minh City. Everything I did is in the post above 🙂

i’m going this October. we have a 15 hour layover… should be enough time to see the city.

Hope you enjoy it! Sounds like a good amount of time.

Great post Vic, I’m looking at 24 hours in Doha and thinking to myself, surely one of the bloggers has done this before. Hazzah! Vicky has!

Cheers mate, you saved me some work!

Ha, no worries! 24 hours? I’d definitely recommend getting out and exploring – get yourself a private driver, go on, you deserve it.

Hi Vicky, I have 10 hrs layover at Doha in December. I really don’t know what to do lol. Seems so long specially the last time i traveled was about 10 years ago. Any suggestion?

what about a stop over of 24 hours? we’ll 22 hours till 23 next day..

Oh yeah, definitely then! I’d hate to stay in the airport for that long…

so i’m wondering if you think it is worth getting out of the airport for my stopover at Doha, arriving 10:50 pm-departing 8:30 am (about 10 hours)? I am also a single, female traveler. I would like to maybe drive by a couple sites but more importantly don’t want to struggle for a place to sleep that night. Any suggestions you may have is greatly appreciated!

Hello, all the info I have is in the article above really. It was an expensive few hours, but in my eyes worth it to see what Qatar was about, and to have a quick look around.

My fiance & I may have a 7.5 hour layover in Qatar, but it will land 6pm in the evening. Still think it’s worth leaving the airport to see the city at night?

Hmmm, to be honest there’s not much to see. 9 hours was tight, but I guess we did sleep and you wouldn’t have to. The city isn’t lit up particularly, or wasn’t where I was. It was just banks. I’m going to say no. I wouldn’t bother again.

Great. Thanks for the honest feedback!

I had a similar opportunity in Bahrain but ended up just staying in the airport due to not really having a plan to make the most of the layover… Some good advice on leaving airports quickly. I shall bear it in mind next time.

Happy to be of service Adam. It was quite stressful, in a way, but I’m someone who’d rather be stressed than bored, so I was alright!

And you didn’t have any more time than that. I dislike long layovers because it means I don’t have enough time to see everything at the place I’m stopped at.

I had the same debate about Singapore and decided to save cash and stopover in the airport – that was a big mistake – I think I managed a total of about 30 minutes sleep on a hard wooden bench, so I would definitely plump for getting out of the airport in the future!

Yeah it’s a difficult choice when you know it will mount up, but sometimes you’ve just got to splash out and see it as an opportunity to see somewhere new. It’s not like I’d ever go to Qatar on holiday so I just wanted to check it out.

from the pictures alone, i would say yes

Ah thanks, pretty cool hey?!

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Middle East

Doha airport transit: a review of my trip with qatar airline.

Doha Airport is one of the best in the Middle East and the headquarters of the Qatar Airline. I needed to fly from Hong Kong to Europe (specifically Berlin) when I saw the option of having a layover at Doha and thought, why not? Without thinking too much, I booked the trip with 8 hours in Doha, opting to do a transit tour during the day before continuing my journey.

I couldn’t find too much information about it online back then, so I thought I should write up my experience:

Booking the flight with Qatar Airline

I always recommend booking long haul flight directly, especially if some trickier aspect e.g. a transit is involved. Hence, I booked my flight on the official website and receive confirmation swiftly.

Doha transit visa

First things first: if you are only transiting – aka not leaving the airport – you DO NOT need a visa. But i gather some of you mean whether you can get a visa to exit the airport and see Doha/Qatar for a short period of time. Once you have your flights, you can apply for your such a visa if you need one. It’s also called a transit visa, hence it’s confusing.

Doha City view from Dhow Harbour Doha Qatar Middle East - laugh travel eat

Once you have booked your ticket, you can apply for one on the Qatar Airline website here for free. But if you are one of these 80 countries , you don’t need to apply for one at all. This visa is valid for up to 96 hours and need a minimum of 7 days. You can’t do it too far in advance either if I remember correctly – only 60-30 days in advance.

Booking a transit tour for Doha with Qatar Airline

While Qatar Airline provide free transit tour before, after some digging, it seems that it is no longer the case. All transit tour can by Qatar Airline is under Discover Qatar now , and the formerly free tour is the Doha City Tour. It costs QAR 75, which is around 21 USD and 160 HKD, with 6 tours throughout the day, running for 3 hours. You need at least 5 hours of transit time to take a tour.

coach qatar discover tour transit Doha Qatar Middle East - laugh travel eat

Why did I choose to book a tour instead of just winging it since I have 8 hours? First, with a tour they bring us through the immigration out and shepherd us straight on a coach, which is much easier. Second: I didn’t need to change any local money at all. Plus, it’s not a lot of money for a tour with so many stops.

But if you have more time and want to explore Doha fully, here are a list of things to do in Doha.

So I booked online, chose my date and time, and got my confirmation. I would print out the voucher just in case, although Doha Airport has excellent WiFI.

Flying with Qatar Airline

Since we’re talking about the transit tour, it seems weird to not cover my experience flying with the airline, too. The space between the rows is spacious, but the back of the seat is quite stiff when upright.

They do have great amenities, like the fleece blanket and akit with eye mask, toothbrush, earplugs, socks etc. We were also handed hand towels when waiting to fly, which was a nice touch.

meal on qatar airline - laugh travel eat

My touch screen monitor was a bit glitchy, nothing a restart didn’t fix, and the selection of movies were good. My favourite was the food. My first leg from Hong Kong to Doha was around 8 hour and we were given two full meals. Although that meant I didn’t have much time to sleep, I can’t complain about the food at all.

Doha airport

Once we landed, I followed the transit sign to find the counter for transit tour. It’s located by the gate A3, and from my international arrival, I needed to go through security check to go in, so no water!

transit tour airport Doha Qatar Middle East - laugh travel eat-2

The booking window for the tour closes 90 minutes before the tour starts. Since I have already booked, all I needed to do was to let them check my passport and boarding pass.

transit tour airport Doha Qatar Middle East - laugh travel eat

The 8am tour that I booked required me to meet by the counter at 7, where we were given pre-filled slips for immigration regarding our arrival point and next destination, as well as nationality.

Note: Alcohol is not permitted out of the airport. If you have any, customs will hold on to it. Although I’m not sure if you get it back when you re-enter.

As we leave, we had to have our bags scanned again but there was no need to take everything out. I do have a drone on me, which I didn’t plan to use but needed to hand carry. There’s zero issues of me carrying it out and back in, but do note that you can’t use it in Qatar.

Doha City Tour for transit passengers

coach qatar discover tour transit Doha Qatar Middle East - laugh travel eat-2

Once we are through immigration, we were greeted by another member of staff and had a few minutes to use the bathroom etc. Our coach was waiting outside the airport, and there’s a snack, a water bottle, free WiFi and usb charging port. The guide – Jasmine – basically spew info on Qatar throughout and I quite like it.

Here is some information:

Dhow Harbour Doha Qatar Middle East - laugh travel eat

Islam was introduced around the 7th century, and it was occupied by the Portugese and ruled by the Ottomon. Qatar was a British Protectorate during WWI, and the economy started to improve as the British exploited the oil reserve here.

Katara Cultural Village Doha Qatar Middle East - laugh travel eat-2

Now back to the tour. There are 4 stops on the city tour, and luckily, we can leave our bags on the bus. The three hour tour is mostly a whistle stop tour, which I thought I wouldn’t link, but it was so hot that most of us would rather get back on the bus half the time. The tour mostly loops around the city and we saw a lot of Doha through our window, too. Here’s an overview of the tours:

Dhow Harbour

Museum of Islamic Art Doha Qatar Middle East - laugh travel eat

We stopped at the harbour front facing the modern cityscape of Doha, right of the Museum of Islamic Art. It’s only a quick stop for us to take photos so we were down there for around 20 minutes.

Katara Cultural Village

Although it was purpose built as a cultural center, I really enjoy the visit to the Katara Cultural Village. It has a beautiful mosque, amphitheater, and museums. Again, we only have a limited about of time – about 40 minutes – to snoop around. But it’s definitely a photogenic location.

The Pearl Doha Qatar Middle East - laugh travel eat

Possibly the least favourite part of the trip, the Pearl is a shopping mall by a pretty marina. It does, however, makes for a good place to take a bathroom break. Since most of the tourees felt the same way, most of us got back to the tour bus early and we left promptly.

Souq Waqif Doha Qatar Middle East - laugh travel eat-3

Our last stop is the Souq Waqif, a market complex with a maze of alleyways both indoor and outdoor. The original building was burned down and this was rebuilt in 2006. It’s a perfect place to shop for some souvenirs and get some tasty treats.

While the merchants prefer the local currency, we find that they also accept small bills in Euros and USD. so bring some small bills if you don’t want to change money and you can still buy some stuff. For example, a girl I met on the tour got some floral tea and cups.

Dropping off at the airport

airport Doha Qatar Middle East - laugh travel eat

We were dropped off at the airport departure section where we can go through immigration ourselves. It’s a smooth journey from there so overall, a good trip!

Hi, my name is Nam. I am 24 and spent half my life in Hong Kong and the other half in UK. I believe there's endless experience and beauty in the world and this is me chronicling how to experience the best at the best price.

2 thoughts on “ Doha Airport transit: a review of my trip with Qatar Airline ”

Was it hard to get back through security during the airport tour?

it wasn’t! I kept the slip they gave us and it was an easy process.

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Qatar Travel Tips: 19 Useful Things to Know Before You Visit Doha

Considering a stopover in Doha or planning your first visit to Qatar for the FIFA World Cup? This list of 19 incredibly useful Qatar travel tips covers everything from dress code and rules for couples, to budgeting, and how to move around the city.

In many respects, Qatar is a closed book.

Before I decided to sign up for a layover in Doha , I knew very little about this tiny oil-rich Islamic country in the Persian Gulf. Like many travellers before me, it was precisely this sense of the ‘unknown’ that lured me to visit Doha – that, and the promise of fragrant souqs, harbours crowded with dhow boats and men parading the streets with falcons perched on their wrists instead of Rolex watches.

What is it like to travel in the richest country in the world per capita, where more than 85% of the local population are expats or migrant workers?

Most people’s experience of Qatar will be like mine: A somewhat superficial brush with a small but socially complex country on an extended layover. For practical reasons, Qatar is a great place to break up a long flight (the trip from Australia to Georgia , for example).

Even if your visit is fleeting (heck, even if you’re not planning to leave the airport), there are certain things you should know about Qatar in advance to make your experience in this beautiful Middle Eastern nation smoother and more enjoyable.

From what to wear, to which day of the week to avoid and a few sure-fire tips to save money, here are 19 incredibly useful Qatar travel tips to help you prepare for your visit.

Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Learn more.

Doha Quick Links

Find cheap flights to Doha: Use Skyscanner to find the best price on Doha flights. Remember you may have to book direct through Qatar Airways if you want to take advantage of the free stopover.
Do you need a visa for Qatar? Qatar offers visa-free entry for citizens of more than 80 countries Check to see if you need a Qatar visa on iVisa .
Do you need proof on onward travel? Use OneWayFly to obtain proof of onward travel and/or a hotel reservation.
Insure your trip: HeyMondo is my preferred provider for single-trip and annual travel insurance.
Stay connected: Set up an Airalo eSIM for Qatar before you leave home and hit the ground running when you arrive in Doha.
How to get from Doha Airport to the city: Take the newly constructed metro or organise a private hotel transfer from Hamad International Airport (recommended if you’re arriving late at night or early in the morning).
Doha car hire: Keen to explore more of Qatar? Use Discover Cars to find the best price on a rental car in Doha.
On a short layover? This Doha transit tour starting and ending at the airport is a great way to see the city when you have limited time.
5 essentials to pack for Doha: Universal travel adapter ; an insulated water bottle and LifeStraw (Qatar is one place you definitely want to stay hydrated!); a travel scarf with hidden pocket (handy for visiting mosques or covering up in the sun); sun protection gear – including a wide-brim hat and sunglasses at a minimum; a copy of the latest Lonely Planet guidebook for Qatar .

Watch my Doha travel video

19 practical qatar travel tips, 1. a qatar airways stopover is the easiest way to organise your doha visit.

If you want a taste of Doha, you can squeeze a lot into a 24 or 48-hour layover .

In an effort to encourage more people to travel with the national carrier and break-up their journey in Doha, Qatar’s tourism board introduced a program to incentivise extended layovers. Booked through Qatar Airways , a stopover can take a lot of the hassle out of organising a trip.

It works like this: Choose your airfares to and from Doha (they must be with Qatar Airways, and you must leave a minimum gap of 12 hours between flights). You’ll then be eligible for a ‘free stopover’ of 1-4 nights. Benefits include a heavy discount on a selection of 4 and 5-star hotels , and a free transit visa (if you need one).

If your stopover is shorter (6-12 hours), you can opt for a discounted Doha transit tour instead.

2. The climate is extreme, so time your visit wisely

Remember when Qatar was first named host country for the 2022 FIFA World Cup? Most newscasters’ first reaction was to point to the absolute unsuitability of the climate for outdoor sports.

Qatar has a desert climate – hot and dry are the imperative words here. But that doesn’t mean it’s sweltering year-round.

Cool season (December through February) is mild, with temperatures averaging 14-25 Celsius most days. Desert gusts are tempered, skies are clear, and rainfall is minimal, giving Doha a spring-like atmosphere. This is by the far the best time to visit Qatar (and for the record, this is when the World Cup will take place, too).

With that in mind, Qatar is certainly not a place you want to visit in the peak summer months. May through September is much warmer, with max temperatures hovering around the low 40s. July, traditionally the hottest month of the year, should be avoided at all costs. It’s not unusual for the mercury to soar to 43 Celsius in June, July and August.

You should also consider whether your visit will coincide with the Holy Month of Ramadan . Qatar is an Islamic nation, and majority of people observe the 30 days of fasting and prayer. Under Sharia Law, it is illegal to eat or drink in public in Doha during Ramadan. Most cafes and restaurants close during the day, while shops, museums and the souq all observe restricted hours.

Other rules, such as dress code , are more strictly enforced during the Holy Month.

3. Doha is surprisingly affordable

The official currency in Qatar is the Qatari riyal (QAR) . Like in neighbouring Oman , it’s relatively easy to make your money stretch further. We drew up a rough budget and withdrew cash on our first day in Doha (ATMs, by the way, are ubiquitous, and most venues accept payment by credit card). This was one of the rare times we over-estimated our spend and had to change most our riyals back into USD at the airport.

In the end, we spent around 40 USD per person per day on food and transport in Doha. That was enough to cover three solid meals, a few trips on the metro, and tickets for the Museum of Islamic Arts.

Food portions are huge, so you can easily save money by sharing meals. The metro is cheaper than taking a taxi (more on that later), and you can save even more cash by avoiding ticketed attractions (our biggest expense by far, aside from accommodation, was museums).

4. Tipping is customary, but not mandatory

There are no hard and fast rules about tipping in Qatar – but it is increasingly expected in Doha, especially from tourists.

If you’re happy with the service, it is considered polite to offer waiters and other staff a small gratuity. Generally speaking, 10-15% is acceptable for restaurants, cafes and bars, while you should aim to tip your taxi driver or gas station attendant 5-10 QAR.

15 essential Qatar travel tips to know before visiting Doha – including dress codes, rules for foreigners, how much to budget and how to get around.

5. Doha shuts down on Friday mornings

Friday prayers, or Salat al-Jumu’ah , are an obligatory religious ritual in Qatar. Walking around on a Friday morning, Doha can feel like a ghost town as most people are busy attending mosque.

Restaurants, cafes and museums don’t open until 1pm or 2pm on Fridays . Two of the city’s most popular attractions, the Museum of Islamic Art and Souq Waqif, are both closed on Friday mornings. If your Qatar layover falls on a Friday, keep in mind that you’ll have to structure your itinerary around these restricted hours.

Also bear in mind that the Doha metro doesn’t start running until 2pm on Fridays.

6. There is a dress code when you visit Doha

Much like rules for couples, there seems to be tension between official policy and public consensus when it comes to the dress code in Doha.

From my observations, locals and expats in Doha tend to dress modestly in their daily life. Long, loose-fitting clothing seems to be the preferred style. As Qatar is a Muslim country, tourists are generally expected to cover their shoulders and knees at a minimum (although I did see a few short skirts and spaghetti tops on the street during my visit).

Showing too much skin in public places is frowned upon. Swimsuits are only allowed in hotel pool areas or on private beaches , and are forbidden on public beaches.

The rules are of course a lot stricter if you’re visiting a mosque or religious site . You won’t be permitted entry to a mosque unless you’re covered up and wearing a scarf over your hair (women). It surprised me to learn that you might be denied entry to the Museum of Islamic Art if your shoulders and knees aren’t covered. This is the only place I’m aware of that imposes such restrictions.

The dress code at the airport is more liberal, but I still recommend carrying a light cardigan and wearing long pants if you’re transiting through Doha and want to feel more comfortable.

The consequences for donning inappropriate attire range from awkward stares from locals through to be removed from a venue by security or even being fined by police. Dress codes are more strictly enforced during Ramadan. Needless to say, small towns and rural areas are more conservative, so you should always dress modestly outside Doha .

7. Arabic is the official language, but English is widely spoken

Being a former British protectorate, English is widely spoken in Qatar. Arabic is the nation’s official language for daily use, but when it comes to business, trade and official procedures, English is the go-to.

You’ll find that most Qataris speak English, especially those who work in tourism. We had no issues getting around with English only.

8. It’s perfectly safe to visit Doha as a (solo) woman

Provided you dress appropriately and avoid certain behaviours such as drinking in public (more on that later), Doha is a perfectly safe place for solo female travellers .

Crime rates are very low in Doha across the board, which is why it’s constantly ranked among the top 3 safest cities in the world . Streets are well-lit at night, and apart from the odd overexcited taxi driver, there’s not really a ‘hassle culture’ in Doha. You won’t be approached in the souq, for instance.

One thing you should be aware of is ‘men-only’ establishments – tea houses and restaurants that are closed off to Qatari ladies and foreign women alike (this should be pretty obvious if there’s only dudes around). Most public spaces are of course mixed, but some restaurants and cafes have special ‘family areas’ for women and children. The Doha metro has family carriages if you want to sit with other females.

Here are more tips for visiting Doha as a solo female traveller .

9. There are particular rules for couples

If you’re travelling to Qatar as a couple, there are particular local laws and social customs to be aware of.

Until recently, unmarried couples were prohibited from sharing a hotel room. This rule seems to have been relaxed in recent years, at least for foreign tourists. According to recent reports, it still applies to Qatari couples and expats living in the country.

This was our experience: We booked a hotel room in Doha under my husband’s name. Despite having different surnames in our passports, we weren’t asked to explain the nature of our relationship. We were married at the time (this was actually our honeymoon), so we weren’t particularly concerned – I had a copy of our marriage certificate ready to show if needed.

If this is something you’re worried about, try sticking to international hotel chains (for example, the InterContinental) or just email your accommodation in advance to double check the house policy.

Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar, but it’s not unusual for men (for example, business travellers) to share a hotel room. See here for more information and advice about queer travel in the Middle East .

Public displays of affection (including hand-holding) are illegal in Qatar.

10. Some hostels are single-gender

If you’re booking a hostel in Doha, make sure you check whether it’s gender-separated . Some hostels only offer men’s dorms (for example, Casper Hostel ), while T Ladies Hostel is female-only. To make things confusing, the policy isn’t always obvious at first.

Q Hostel offers both men’s and women’s dorms – but no hostel in Qatar offers mixed dorms. Couples, therefore, may be better off upgrading to a mid-range hotel.

A final note on accommodation in Doha: Airbnb is legal in Qatar and can be an affordable alternative to a hotel. You can find some beautiful self-contained apartments with sea views around The Pearl, and simpler private rooms near the souq.

11. Qatar is incredibly multicultural

Another thing that surprised me about Qatar is that 85.7% of the population is made up of expats . India, Bangladesh and Nepal are the top three countries represented.

As a visitor, you feel Qatar’s cultural diversity on several levels. Firstly, the plurality of faces on the street is obvious and gives Doha a cosmopolitan feel. Travellers also benefit from an incredibly rich food scene , including some great Indian and Yemeni restaurants.

But you can’t ignore the fact that many of these workers are low-paid (or unpaid) labourers . As far as I know, forced labour isn’t directly related to the tourism industry in Qatar, but it’s still something to keep in mind when you’re visiting Doha.

The ILO is a great resource for information on this topic.

12. Qatari culture is relatively accessible

Gulf nations like the United Arab Emirates are known for flashy developments and high-rise buildings. But Qatar is a little closer to Oman in terms of local culture. Downtown Doha is quite modern, but it’s clear that the government has gone to great lengths to ensure preservation of local culture in the architecture.

Despite the fact that it’s reconstructed, Souq Waqif still appears true to style. The Falcon Market is the perfect place to experience one of Qatar’s most beloved local customs, falconry.

My advice is to skip the shiny shopping malls and stick to traditional markets.

13. Doha is home to one of the world’s most sustainable city districts

One of the first things that strikes you about Doha is how new and polished everything feels. There are grungy corners, yes – but for the most part, even the oldest parts of the city (including the souq) have been entirely reconstructed.

This has pros and cons. On the downside, Doha lacks the gritty charm and ‘rustic authenticity’ of Muscat , for example.

On the plus side, when you re-build a city from scratch, the only limit is your imagination. In the case of Msheireb, one of Doha’s oldest districts, planners envisaged a futuristic, sustainable city when they went about revitalising the area.

Msheireb Downtown combines traditional Qatari design with green technology. The district has the highest concentration of LEED-Certified buildings in the world . Streets are laid out to catch the Gulf breeze and shade walking routes and windows, limiting the need for air conditioning.

The whole area is solar powered and planted out with native flora. Massive underground car parks have been installed to limit traffic and encourage people to walk or cycle.

Pretty neat, huh?

14. Qatar is a tea-drinking nation

Skip the water, skip the booze: Grab a tea instead.

Tea is ubiquitous in Doha, and enjoying a cuppa or two (or three) at a local cafe or chai house is a must-do for every visitor. In the mornings, you can find groups of men sitting around playing dominoes and sipping short glasses of bubbly, brick-coloured karak tea .

Karak was introduced to Qatar by Indian and Pakistani expats in the 1950s. A version of Masala Chai, karak is a heady brew of tea, milk, sugar and spices boiled low and slow for maximum flavour. The traditional Qatari version contains only cardamom , but cinnamon, cloves or ginger may also be added.

A cup of karak typically costs 1-4 QAR depending on the establishment.

15. You should avoid drinking tap water (and alcohol)

Qatar isn’t a dry country, but alcohol is strictly regulated . Booze served in hotels is subject to a ‘sin tax’ and expensive as a result. If you’re serious about saving money, avoid drinking.

There is conflicting information online, but the general consensus is that you shouldn’t drink the tap water in Doha. Drinking fountains around mosques and on the Corniche should also be avoided, particularly if you have a sensitive stomach.

Apart from being a terrible blight on the environment, there are also concerns over imported bottled water in Qatar containing higher than normal levels of arsenic. The easiest solution is to carry a Steripen or LifeStraw and purify your own water .

16. It takes a ridiculously long time to cross the street

Walking around Doha can be a strange experience. First of all, pavements are usually deserted (especially in the middle of the day) as most people opt to drive.

One peculiarity we noticed is the time it takes to cross the street. Every intersection is fitted with lights and pedestrian crossings in a bid to control heavy traffic in the inner-city. These run on a ‘smart system’ that uses sensors to detect cars and direct flows.

As a result, it’s not uncommon to have to wait 10 minutes or more to cross the street in Doha. But wait you must – drivers are unpredictable, speeding is common, and jaywalkers face fines of up to $140.

A red and white street sign in Doha, Qatar.

17. There are construction sites everywhere!

Like many other Middle Eastern countries in the Gulf Region, parts of Qatar and especially Doha do feel like one big construction site.

New power plants, expressways, stadiums and apartment blocks are mushrooming in every corner of the city, and this does mean that some streets are dusty and noisy as a result. Take care when you’re walking around Doha, and if you’re a particularly light sleeper, it might be worth checking if your accommodation is close to a worksite.

18. Metro is the best way to get around

If you prefer not to walk, you can always take an Uber . But the most cost-effective way to move around Doha is using the city’s relatively new underground metro system.

Completed in May 2019, it’s one of the fastest driverless trains in the world. Departures are frequent, it’s very easy to navigate, and most major tourist attractions (including the Corniche, the museum and Katara Cultural Centre) have dedicated ultra-modern stations.

Best of all, a one-way metro fare costs just 2 QAR . Single tickets can be bought from machines inside the stations – no cards or top-ups necessary.

There are three metro lines: The north-south red line (handy for getting to Katara Cultural Village), and the east-west gold and blue lines. Running hours are still being negotiated, but at the time of writing, the metro runs from 6am until 11pm Saturday to Wednesday, from 6am until midnight on Thursdays, and from 2pm until midnight on Fridays.

In December 2019, the metro expanded to include a stop at Doha’s international airport , making this an efficient way to get into the city when you first arrive in Qatar.

19. You need a car to explore beyond the city

Public transport within Doha is efficient and affordable. But if you want to explore beyond the city centre, you’re going to need a car.

Here, you have two options: Either hire your own wheels and self-drive – the easiest way to explore on. your own terms – or join an accompanied tour . A day tour is the best way to go if you have limited time in Doha and you want to see something specific (such as the Inland Sea or Zakreet).

If you have more time and want the freedom to seek out far-flung sand dunes and coastal fishing villages, consider renting a car at Hamad International Airport . All major companies are represented. I suggest using Discover Cars to find the best price on a rental for your dates and requirements.

Qatar is a signatory of the United Nations convention and thus it is a legal requirement for all foreigners to present a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) when hiring a car. Driving in Qatar is fairly straightforward, but for safety reasons, it’s best to limit your driving to daylight hours.

Where to stay in Doha

We stayed at Saraya Corniche for 2 nights during our Doha stopover. Our room was comfortable but a little dated – however, we really loved the central location walking distance from the waterfront and souq.

If we had our time again, we would choose either the InterContinental or Souq Waqif Boutique Hotel . The latter is set right in the heart of the souq and features roomier, more luxe suites than Saraya.

If you’re on a shorter layover and you prefer to stay near the airport, Oryx Transit Hotel is the top choice.

What are your top Qatar travel tips? Leave your advice in the comments below.

Things to know before you Visit Doha: Pin it

Planning a stopover in Doha? This list of 15 incredibly useful Qatar travel tips covers everything from dress codes and rules for foreigners, to budgeting, and how to move around the city.

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Great travel tips while visiting Qatar. Saving it!

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Complimentary Transit Accommodation

You can now benefit from a Qatar Airways complimentary transit accommodation package when you fly with the World’s Best Airline.

This service is for passengers who have a transit time of 8 to 24 hours, with no immediate connections.

The package includes:

This service may be available if all the following conditions apply - There is no connection of less than eight hours available - The transit time in Doha is between eight and 24 hours;
For bookings made within 72 hours of departure, transit hotel accommodation cannot be pre-booked. In cases where your ticket is booked within 72 hours from your arrival in Doha, please proceed to the transfer desk when you arrive at Hamad International Airport to arrange your transit accommodation.
Transit accommodation is at the discretion of Qatar Airways. Not all fares are eligible for this stopover service.
Confirmation of your hotel at Doha does not guarantee entry into the State of Qatar. This is entirely at the discretion of the Qatar Immigration Authority. Qatar Airways is not liable in the event entry is not permitted, in spite of a hotel booking.
Please contact us to confirm whether this service is available for your journey. Charges may apply.

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Doha metro | Driverless trains in Qatar capital

Travel on the Doha Metro

When it comes to travelling around Doha in Qatar, the metro is exceptionally clean and convenient. It makes one of the world’s most advanced metro train systems, with high-speed journeys and trains arriving every 6 minutes.

Fast trains at an affordable price

Surprisingly affordable, the Qatar metro in Doha is one of the best ways to get around. You can explore all day for a maximum cost of QAR 6. There are 3 types of carriage to choose from: Standard, Family, and Goldclub.

Driverless trains

One of the fastest driverless train systems in the world, it reaches speeds of up to 100km/hr.

17.4 million passengers

During the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, 17.4 million passengers used the metro from November 20 — December 18 2022. It was the most used mode of transport for fans.

Covers over 76km

The Doha metro lines cover a distance of 76km in Qatar.

Doha Metro lines

There are three separate lines with 37 stations available across the city. Plus, there are plans to add another line soon. Eventually, there will be around 100 stations on the Qatar metro system.

The Green Line (Education line)

The Green Line runs east from Al Mansoura to Al Riffa Mall of Qatar in the west. There are 11 stations along the line, with notable stops being Education City, Hamad Hospital, Al Shaqab and Qatar National Library.

The Red Line (Coastal line)

The Red Line runs for 40 km from Al Wakra in the south to Lusail in the north. It also connects Hamad International Airport at Terminal 1 to the city centre. Amongs its 18 active stations are West Bay Qatar Energy, Katara, and Qatar University. The Red line has connecting stations where you can hop on to other lines: Al Bidda for Red/Green line interchanges and Msheireb for Red/Green/Gold line interchanges. It also connects to the tram network at Legtaifiya and Lusail.

The Gold Line (Historic line)

The east to west Gold Line extends from Ras Bu Aboud to Al Aziziyah. Eleven stations run along the Gold Line, with stops at the Qatar National Museum, Souq Waqif, Sport City (for Khalifa International Stadium) and Al Aziziyah (for Villaggio Mall).

The Blue Line (City line)

Still under construction, the Blue Line should be finished by 2025. It will run from HIA (Hamad International Airport) Terminal 2 to West Bay. Total length 17.5 km.

Getting to the nearest Metro station

Need to get to a Metro station quickly? You have several options for services that will whizz you to your nearest stop.

Catch a free metrolink bus

The Metrolink is a feeder bus service for passengers within a 2-to-5-mile radius of the Doha Metro stations. It is free, but you will need to download the free QR code (available on the Karwa Journey Planner app). Then, tap this code every time you go in or out of a Metrolink bus.

Take the metroexpress ride share

Ride sharing is a free metroexpress service that connects certain zones around metro and tram stations. Request a ride on demand using the Karwa Taxi App and look out for the large, white 7-seater vehicle. The metroexpress ride-sharing service is exclusive to customers using the Doha Metro.

Get a Karwa taxi

The blue Karwa taxis are synonymous with public transport in Qatar. Qatar Rail has partnered with Karwa Services to help you book convenient taxi and limousine services. Use the “RAIL” discount promo code and request your next ride through the Karwa app.

Doha metro services

Riding on the Qatar metro is convenient and pleasant for everyone in the family. Services you can expect include:

Luggage storage

Wifi & usb ports, three carriage types, wheelchair access, cctv security, hop on the doha metro .

Want to see it in action? Get a glimpse of the smooth and rapid metro journeys in Qatar’s capital city.

Hours of service

Open from early until late, the Doha Metro system is accessible most of the time.

Sunday – Wednesday: 5:30 AM to 11:59 PM

Thursday: 5:30 AM to 1:00 AM

Friday: 2:00 PM to 1 AM*

Saturday: 6:00 AM to 11:59 PM

*Take note of Friday morning shutdown for Friday prayers. Many museums, restaurants and sights are also closed during this time.

How to get tickets for the metro

There are two main classes of travel: standard (which includes family carriages) and goldclub. Get your tickets from any station vending machine, and pop into a goldclub office in one of the Doha Metro stations for a goldclub card.

Tip: Travel cards are for frequent customers only and designed to be topped up.

Have questions about the Doha Metro system?

Do you have to pay for children’s tickets.

Children under the age of 5 travel for free. Then, children will be charged at the same price as adults.

How do I pay for my travel card?

You can buy your ticket (travel card) at the station vending machines. There are some retailers which also sell metro cards too.

How often do metro trains arrive?

The trains arrive every 6 minutes so you won’t be waiting long.

Do I have to tap or insert my travel card?

Yes, you ‘tap in’ and ‘tap out’ your Doha metro card at the start and end of every journey.

How long does it take to get from station to station?

As the trains are high speed, the average journey from station to station is just 3 minutes.

Can I travel beyond Doha on the metro?

You can go beyond Doha to the neighbouring city of Lusail. Doha metro connects with Lusail tram network at Lusail and Legtafiya stations. There are also plans for water taxis to link Al Wakra with Al Khor, so watch out for that.

Which metro line goes to the Mall of Qatar?

The Green Line.

Which is the biggest metro station in Doha?

Msheireb is the largest station at the heart of Doha metro map. Here, Red, Gold and Green Lines all meet.

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Transit through Qatar

A small but useful article for those who plan to transit through Qatar, whether it’s a short layover in Doha or a long one. I will tell you about all the nuances that will help you organize your trip without any issues. You will find out if you can leave the airport in Doha and what to see, even if you have only a few hours to spare.

It will be difficult for you to plan your dream trip to Qatar without these websites

Table of Contents

Transit through Qatar: general information

If you have already purchased tickets for a vacation, let’s say London – Maldives with a transit through Doha, and you know nothing about Qatar, we will fix that now. If you have any questions left unanswered, feel free to ask in the comments, I will answer 🙂

Qatar is a small but very wealthy country in the Middle East.
Doha is the capital of Qatar, with over 50% of the population living there. However, compared to London, Doha is much smaller. Only about 1.3 million people live in the capital. You can read about Doha: transportation, districts, shopping, and where to stay – in the article provided in the link.
The only international airport in Qatar is located right in Doha. It is called Hamad. IATA code – DOH.

Good news: From the Doha airport, where you will arrive, there is a metro to the city center. You can reach the center of Doha in half an hour for only $1.6. Even in European capitals, not all airports have a metro to the city center. You can read about Qatar’s metro system , how to use it, how to buy a ticket, prices, and which car to get on in the article provided in the link. The metro in Doha is the solution to all transport problems for those with a short transit through Qatar.

Can I leave the airport during a layover in Doha (short transit)?

This is the most common question I get from transit tourists. The answer is yes, you can. Here’s what you need to know about it:

Tourist visas are available for citizens of 95 countries worldwide, including all of Europe and the USA. They are issued for free upon arrival at the Doha airport. The duration of stay is 30 days (up to 90).
Transit visas are available for citizens of 150 countries worldwide, including all the same countries plus an additional 60. They are also free and obtained upon arrival at the airport, with a validity of four days.
If you are a citizen of a country on the above list and have a short transit through Qatar, it does not matter which visa you get. The passport control officer will decide for you.
For more information about visas in Qatar , please visit the link provided.

An important note for those with a short transit through Qatar: You can only leave the airport and enter the city (with a tourist or transit visa) during a transit through Doha if your layover is longer than 5 hours, regardless of the type of visa. One of the required documents is your flight ticket out of Qatar, which will be checked. If you have less than 5 hours until your next flight, you will not be allowed to leave the transit zone of the airport. However, there are things to do here as well, such as buying an iPhone at the iStore.

Regarding shopping and stores in Qatar , as well as getting tax-free refunds if you plan to make expensive purchases.

Transit hotels at the airport, and where to stay overnight in the city.

There are two options depending on the length of your layover in Doha.

As an alternative, you can buy the pass to one of the business lounges. You won’t be able to sleep in a bed, but there are comfortable chairs where you can stretch out fully, and you can also have a snack. Look for information about lounges in the airport review.

For those with a transit through Doha of at least 12-15 hours, it will be easier, cheaper, and more comfortable to book a hotel in Doha, take a half-hour metro ride there, and relax. And if there’s time, take another look around the city.

At the beginning of the article, there was a map of Doha with the airport, and a red square marked in the center. This is the old part of Doha, and I recommend looking for accommodation there if you have a long transit through Doha. This part of the capital has a lot of affordable housing, and a good room in a hotel costs $30-40 per night. There is a direct metro line from the airport, and many attractions that you can easily walk to.

Regarding hotels in Doha, apartments, tourist features, and where to book.

Transit through Doha: what to see in the city.

If you don’t have much time in Qatar, but you want to see more of the city? What’s even worse is that there are cool locations outside of Doha too, and if you see photos, you’ll be disappointed that you don’t have time to see them.

Sights of Doha in 1 day : map, prices, description, itinerary. Here you can plan your route considering your transit time.

Good to know: For those with transit through Qatar for at least 2 days, I strongly recommend renting a car and spending 1 day exploring the sights outside the city. The process of renting a car in Qatar is very easy and cheap, as is gasoline.

How to make it if my layover in Doha is only 45 minutes?

This is also a common question, and it’s no longer about leaving the airport. The question is how to make it to your next flight. I’ll share my own experience.

We’ve been to Qatar many times, including transit. Our shortest transit through Doha between flights was 1 hour 5 minutes, and the plane (which arrived in Doha) was already 20 minutes late. We made it, and even our luggage was transferred to another plane. But we had to run.

Here’s what you need to know about a short transit through Doha of less than an hour:

If you know in advance about a short connection, choose seats at the beginning of the cabin on the first flight. Try to be one of the first to leave the plane.
Then you literally have to run, relax only when you sit in the next plane 🙂
The airport in Doha is very large, with 4 terminals. In terminal A (200+ gates), you can run for 25 minutes to the last gate.
Even transit passengers are subject to inspection upon arrival at the airport.

Important note: There are many airport staff in Doha. If you see a long queue at the inspection, approach an employee and show your ticket, they will let you skip the queue. Plus, there’s fast track, just for those with a short layover in Doha.

The most important thing in this matter: don’t procrastinate, do everything quickly, follow the signs “Transfer.”

Traveler’s tip: I always try to buy tickets with short layovers where all flights are operated by the same airline, for example, a route like Istanbul-Doha-Bali, where the Istanbul-Doha flight is operated by Qatar Airways and the same airline operates the next Doha-Bali flight .

Then you are an internal passenger of the airline, and in your case, if you are late for the next flight (due to the airline’s fault), they will solve the issue themselves with compensation and finding tickets for the next flight.

But if the first flight, let’s say, is with Turkish Airlines and you are late for the next flight with another airline because of them, then you will have a lot of problems, big expenses, and lengthy disputes with the airline for compensation. Because for the first one, a delay of up to 2 hours according to international standards is considered normal, and the latter flew without you, and your ticket simply expired. Finding the truth in this chaos will be difficult.

This applies to any short transfer in any country, not just in Qatar. Remember, if there is a short layover, it is best if both flights are operated by the same airline.

Where and how to buy the tickets in Qatar, perhaps even with a discount, what to pay attention to.

Travel tips about transit through Doha

Finally, one more point that will not apply to everyone who is flying through Doha in transit, but you should know about it. And this is another pros in favor of buying tickets where all flights are operated by one airline.

Good to know: All the world’s best airlines, and Qatar Airways is one of them, have programs for transit passengers.

Different airlines have different conditions for these programs, and there are many nuances, but the essence is simple: if you’re a transit passenger with a long layover in Doha, you may be eligible for free hotel accommodation or a meal voucher with some caveats. By the way, the hotels that Qatar Airways works with are all 4 or 5 stars. We were personally accommodated at the Hilton.

There are many nuances involved, and not every transit passenger will meet the requirements. But if you have a long layover in Qatar, find out the requirements in advance – you may be eligible.

Details about free hotels, miles, and purchasing tickets with bonuses can be found in the article: Qatar Airways Review – One of the Best Airlines in the World.

In conclusion: transit through Qatar is a great opportunity to see Doha if you have the time. You don’t need a visa, and there’s a metro from the airport to the city center. What else do you need to avoid sitting in the airport for many hours? Qatar is a beautiful and welcoming country that will delight anyone.

Resources to help you plan your dream trip to Qatar

Flights at the best prices with discounts
Car rental : DiscoverCars
Hotellook – compare prices when booking around the world.
Agoda – the best selection of hotels in Qatar.
Booking – the main competitor of Agoda.
GYG – more than 400 tours
Viator – excursions and activities throughout the country
Travel insurance : EKTA
Airport transfer : Intui
Airalo – eSIM in Qatar.
Drimsim – universal sim card for frequent traveler.

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24 Hours in Qatar: How to Maximize a Long Layover in Doha

Museum of Islamic Art Water Foundations and View

Updated May 2024

I have flown in and out of Hamad International Airport in Doha on a Qatar Airways stopover a bazillion times, travelling to and from Hong Kong . However, for this flight I booked a long layover in Doha just so I could spend 24 hours in Qatar and finally see more than just Doha’s airport!

I actually really enjoyed my layover in Qatar, getting out of the airport and into the city, and highly recommend venturing out if you’re in transit in Doha with Qatar Airways. So, here is the story of my 24 hours in Qatar, how I made the most of a long layover in Doha and some Doha travel advice for anyone looking to do Qatar Airways stopover.

Is it Safe to Travel to Qatar?

Doha city tours, do i need a qatar visa to visit doha, qatar airways stopover packages & stpc, doha airport luggage storage, exchanging money, leaving doha airport, what to see in doha in one day, 24 hours in qatar: qatari food, doha travel advice: 5 things to know about qatar, 24 hours in qatar: a long layover in doha.

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In a nutshell yes, but for more information, you can see the UK government’s Foreign Travel Advice for Qatar , The US’s Travel.State.Gov advice for Qatar , or your own country’s equivalent.

Qatar Airways Stopover: Doha’s Airport

The first couple of times I flew in and out of Hamad International Airport in Doha, it was nothing but a shack with a duty free section and nowhere to exchange money!

Now, the new fancy terminal is like a miniature city in itself. There’s so much to see and do in Doha’s airport alone that you could easily make the most of a long layover in Doha without ever actually venturing out into Qatar itself (and I have done that too).

Aside from the obvious restaurants and shopping, Doha’s airport has art galleries, lounge facilities (all-inclusive food/relaxation areas starting at US$55), an airport transit hotel and a spa with massage packages and even a swimming pool! More information about Doha’s airport can also be found on the Qatar Airways website .

If you have a slightly shorter (but still long) Qatar stopover than me (for example, 10 hour layovers in Doha are quite common), you can also book transit tours such as the Doha City Tour . There are four tours per day and they’re first come, first served, booked at the airport. The Doha City Tour lasts 2.5 hours and includes the Pearl-Qatar, Katara Cultural Village, Souq Waqif and the Museum of Islamic Art.

Anyway, all that is worth a future Doha airport transit blog post in itself. But for this trip, I really wanted to escape out into the city and see it for myself. I’m so glad I did because I loved my 24 hours in Qatar and I wouldn’t hesitate to do another long layover in Doha next time I fly through.

Doha Corniche skyline view across the bay in Qatar

With five years worth of HK stuff in my suitcase and hand luggage (and smiling sweetly at the check in staff who kindly didn’t charge me for being well over the weight limit), I arrived for a layover in Doha. I was familiar with Doha’s airport already, but a little unsure how to actually leave it.

Rob and I wandered a little trying to find luggage lockers, but ended up at Immigration instead. For our UK passports, our Qatar visas cost £20, but note that this can only be paid with card. You can check the requirements for your passport and itinerary here .

Qatar Airways offer stopover packages and also have a STPC policy (Stopover For the Purpose of Connection) which could entitle you to a free stay. The conditions are that you book a flight with them that has a long stopover in Qatar (8+ hours) when there are no short layover times available.

Rob and I did not qualify as we deliberately chose the longer stopover in Doha, but it’s always worth contacting them to ask .

Museum of Islamic Art in Doha Qatar at sunrise

If you are looking for Doha airport’s luggage lockers, be warned there are none in the Arrivals Hall. There are rumours of luggage lockers inside the terminal itself (I can’t find any solid information about this online), but we couldn’t see how to get to them without sacrificing our trip through Immigration. So, I was carrying 7kg+ of hand luggage all day!

We exchanged money at the airport, though I would advise against the “buy back” deal they have, which promises that you can exchange any leftover money back at the same rate. However, we had no money left by the end of our day, so we didn’t need the deal anyway.

What is the currency in Qatar?

The currency in Qatar is Qatari riyal.

As we left Doha’s airport, we didn’t need to worry about getting ripped off by taxis (been there, done that enough times leaving an airport) because Qatari taxis are monitored by the national transport company.

The distinctive turquoise-coloured taxis are metered (though tipping is always appreciated) and display the “Karwa” banner.

Our taxi driver, to our surprise, was not Qatari-born, but from the Caribbean! He blasted reggae in his car as we made our way into the city. The driver was really friendly, chatting about politics back in his home country and why he’d moved out to Qatar (essentially, because it’s awesome).

Our flight got us into Qatar at ridiculous o’clock in the morning, though we didn’t feel particularly tired as we were running on HK time. We watched the sunrise as we took the taxi into the city, then spent most of the morning just walking around town and getting our bearings.

This was a first-time trip to the Middle East for both of us, so we were in awe of everything.

The harbour is beautiful, especially with the view of the skyline on the opposite side of the water, almost rivaling Hong Kong’s epic views . The lines of traditional dhow boats that are tied up along the waterfront are really pretty and the architecture is also quite cool. Here are just a few things that caught our eye:

We walked around part of the Doha Corniche, which is the waterfront promenade that runs along Doha Bay. Also, there are loads of cafes, tea shops and things to see around the Souq Waqif, so we hung out around there for most of the day.

1. The Souq Waqif

Colourful lanterns at the Souq Waqif in Doha Qatar

One of the best things to do in Qatar is explore the Souq Waqif. The Souq Waqif is an Aladdin’s Cave of treasures and sells all the dream things I would decorate my apartment with. If I had an apartment. Or anywhere to live. Or any money. Or any space in my hand luggage.

Sadly, I had none of these things, but it was wonderful just walking around and window shopping. The souq is a labyrinth, so it’s easy to get lost, but we were more than happy to get lost inside, smelling the spices and getting Christmas present ideas.

The goods on offer are nothing like we’d seen before, even from markets all around Asia. As we were there early in the morning, we drank tea and watched the shop owners setting up and had a nose at what was for sale.

Lanterns at the Souq Waqif in Doha Qatar

Aside from the standard souvenir shops, there are jewellery and home decor items; lanterns and glass ornaments; gorgeous clothes and shoes; Christmas decorations (yes, really); and bags and bags and bags of aromatic spices that I was desperate to buy.

However, it’s really in the evening the souq truly comes alive. The atmosphere is great: there are performances, loads of things to sample or try and of course, a good bit of haggling!

Educate Yourself About Islam at the Souq Waqif

Also, I was intrigued by a stand between a few of the shops displaying leaflets and books about Islam (pictured above). With all the crap going on in the world at the moment and the rise of Islamophobia, I found this really touching and took a few leaflets to better educate myself.

2. Museum of Islamic Art

The Museum of Islamic Art in Doha Qatar at sunset

We had spied the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) building as soon as we arrived in Doha, though had to wait until it opened later in the day to visit. When you’re considering what to do in Doha, this museum is a must-see, even if just from the outside.

The building itself is an incredible work of art, designed by famous architect I. M. Pei. Pei is also the genius behind the Bank of China building in Hong Kong and the Louvre in Paris. The museum literally looks stunning from every angle, in all weather and all times of the day, so I took an obscene amount of photos of it, as you can probably tell just from reading this blog.

Water fountains at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha Qatar

Also, the museum is free and you can leave your bags in the cloakroom, so you don’t have to carry them around. My shoulders greatly appreciated this after more than half a day carrying my overweight hand luggage on my back.

I found the MIA exhibits fascinating. They mostly focus on Islamic art throughout different periods of history. The style of art is intricate and visually stunning. There was also an exhibition about Muhammad Ali on the top floor, which was a surprise to me as I had no idea he was Muslim.

The Museum of Islamic Art Muhammad Ali Exhibit

The grounds of the MIA are beautiful too, with lots of open spaces and pretty fountains. The views out across the bay are grand and the cafe in the main entrance hall was a great place to stop and rest our weary feet. The near-panoramic views of the ocean helped a little bit too.

Oh my god, Middle Eastern food is so delicious! Apologies for the dark and bad-quality images (I was hungry and just wanted to eat, OK?). For lunch, we ate lunch at a cafe/restaurant in the Souq Waqif, but because it’s such a maze around there, I’m not sure I could now tell you where it was.

We had no clue what to expect, so we just ordered random things off the menu that we liked the sound of. This included a flatbread with spices, a flatbread with cheese and meat paste (that looked a lot like pizza) and fried potatoes with cheese and pine nuts. So, super-healthy choices, basically.

Middle Eastern Qatari food and hummus in Doha Qatar

Of course, the rule is that it’s not a trip to the Middle East until someone eats some hummus! For dinner, we wandered back to the Souq Waqif again around sunset as there are so many food options around there and even the more upscale restaurants are still reasonably priced.

I ordered bread with all the dips! It was absolutely delicious.

Girl standing in front of the Doha skyline in Qatar

1. Qatar’s Weather

Qatar is not as warm as we thought it would be. To be fair, our little Qatar stopover was in December, which is also their winter. But, although it was hot in the sun, it was also quite windy.

2. Dress Conservatively

It’s respectful to dress conservatively in Qatar and to cover arms and legs (that goes for everyone, not just women). I brought a scarf with me just in case I needed to cover my head and hair, but it wasn’t necessary. Plus, there are plenty of expats living in Doha who dress exactly how they like.

3. Men and Women

Typically, men do not talk to women they don’t know. It felt a little strange to be ignored, but I know it comes from a place of good intentions and respect. My boyfriend was addressed, greeted and spoken to, but I wasn’t. I didn’t mind, but it’s just something to be aware of.

4. Unmarried Couples Visiting Doha

Unmarried couples visiting Doha can’t stay in the same hotel room. Supposedly, you have to produce a valid marriage certificate upon checking in. Rob and I were looking into getting a place to sleep for a few hours or dump our stuff for a day, but on realising this detail, we decided against testing this out! Also, holding hands and PDAs aren’t appropriate.

Qatari dish of potatoes with cheese and pine nuts

5. Language Barriers

The official languages of Qatar are Arabic and English. We didn’t have any problems with a language barrier, as English is spoken widely and well. I do have a (tiny) smattering of Arabic, but the accent is different, so I didn’t try and use it other than to say thank you (shookran).

In summary, I’m so glad that I decided to finally leave Doha’s airport and spend 24 hours in Qatar by booking a long layover in Doha to get to see the city and the country. I absolutely loved my Qatar stopover and would definitely visit again or book another Qatar Airways layover flight with Doha transit (and just do more stopovers in general)!

Two Traveling Texans has a great post on How to Book a Stopover Flight Online , which is really informative.

Before I booked my flight, I was worried that I wouldn’t have enough time or that the things to do in Qatar would be far from each other and Doha’s airport. But, if you’re also considering a a long layover in Doha with a Qatar Airways stopover – get out of the airport and into the city!

I promise you won’t regret it.

Make the Most of a Stopover in Doha Qatar

36 thoughts on “ 24 Hours in Qatar: How to Maximize a Long Layover in Doha ”

I’ve read so much lately about Qatar and it sounds like such an interesting place! Really enjoyed reading your blog and the pictures were great!

Thank you! And yeah it was really interesting. Somewhere that will definitely stick in my mind. Thanks for reading.

I literally knew nothing about Qatar before reading this, the food looks amazing – especially the hummus. I’m off to South East Asia for several months and I’ve been told there’s no hummus at it upsets me. I’m hoping to be proved wrong.

Haha! I knew nothing before going! The hummus was incredible, as was all the food! Have fun in Southeast Asia! There’s no hummus there (except maybe in expensive international shops) but the food there will more than make up for it!

Have always transited Dubai..Doha looks a good tourist spot too. good pictures and brief about what to do. Thanks for sharing

Yes! I’ve changed in Dubai too, but never been able to stop over. That will be the next one! Thanks for reading.

First off, I think it’s so cool that you got to see an airport transform entirely! Also, I learned so much from reading your post. I didn’t know English was one of their official languages. I also didn’t know about the men not talking to women. I feel like that’s a very important aspect to know! Thanks for sharing 🙂

Hi Larissa, thanks for reading! I’m glad you found it interesting. I’ll definitely be trying to do more of these kind of long stops in the future – it was so cool to see a new place, even if just for the day.

Great pictures and so interesting! I wish I could explore – love the cave of wonders and the food. Someday!

Hey Lauren, thank you so much! You should definitely visit if you get the chance. I know I’ll be heading back again at some point either on a stop over or perhaps even as Qatar as the final destination! Loved this visit.

Looks like you had a great time. Ive always heard when you’re traveling overseas to plan layovers as long as you can so you can see different areas.

I did, thanks! Yep, I’ve heard the same, but this was the first time I could actually put it into action and now I highly recommend it!

Enjoyed reading about your adventures. This is an area of the world I hope to visit someday.

Thank you! I’m glad you liked it. I hope you can – Qatar is beautiful.

This looks so fun! How do you schedule long layovers? I’ve tried before, particularly when I had a layover in Dubai, but never figured it out. I have friends that swear by Qatar Airways.

Hey Jen, I just booked the flight with the longest layover – no special trick really! If you want more than 24 hours, I guess you can contact an airline, or a travel agent, or book separate flights if that’s easier? And yes, Qatar Airways is the best!

Woohaaa I love reading about how Qatar is and the pictures are definitely helpful :).

Thanks! It helps that Qatar is so photogenic as well! Doha is such a beautiful city.

I never considered Qatar to be such an interesting and fun place. Maybe I would wanna visit it. Your information is quite helpful though. thanks.

Hey, thanks Pooja. And yes you should! It may not be on many people’s radar, but I’m really glad I went. Keep an eye on the news for now – Qatar is experiencing some problems, especially with travel from neighbouring countries, but hopefully this is just temporary.

Some good news if you’re flying with Qatar Airways and changing planes in Doha.

You can get the new Transit Visa free of cost when you add a stopover of between five and 96 hours in Doha. Use the multi-city booking option to include the stop in Doha when booking your flight on qatarairways.com or contact your nearest Qatar Airways office. You must apply for your pre-approved transit visa at least seven days (excluding public holidays) prior to your departure. The visa is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance.

Thanks for passing on this info! I was travelling with my boyfriend, so we didn’t want to stay over night and have to pay for separate rooms, hence why we didn’t apply in advance, but I’ll be sure to include this info in a future post I’m writing about layovers in Qatar. Thanks!

Thanks @Amy for sharing your Doha dairies….its really cool and gives goosebumps also… Well Food, Places@ Ossom ….men can’t talk strange women@ really uncool… Well my layover time is 21 hrs on 24th this month…planning to do whole night out…

Thanks again…

Great post with so many helpful tips and great ideas for what to do there!

That’s great, thanks for sharing. Qatar Airways has great flight offers and I often had a layover there. Good to know!

I’m laying over in Doha in April on my trip to the Philippines! Glad to found this post. I’ll take your advices on board.

http://www.chezcapades.blogspot.com

Always wanted to go to Doha and a layover is the best way to make use of the time and at least see some of it! Thanks for sharing, very informative with the visa/applying for a free transit visa in advance! Definately a great tip!

I used to live in Doha so it’s really nice to see how someone would spend 24 hrs in the city. Reading your post I remembered a lot of life over there eg: how cold December and January actually is despite being in the desert. I’ve been meaning to write more about my time there and your post has inspired me!

Great note about checking on needing a visa – that seems to be the one thing that always slips my mind!

Never knew there was so much to do in Qatar! Kicking myself after reading for not stepping outside the airport on my recent layover – there’s always next time though 😉

Long layovers can be so fun. I had a long layover once in Dubai and I definitely made sure to get out and see what the city had to offer. I think it’s sometimes helpful when you don’t have much time – kind of forces you to make the most of your time. I would love to visit Qatar – I love traveling in the Middle East but I’ve never made it Qatar. Seeing this post and photos about food and souqs and all that definitely made me want to go, though! Out of curiosity, since you opted out of staying in a hotel did you end up just sleeping at the airport? Anyway, thanks for this guide – will file away for future reference 🙂

The blog is really great, thanks for sharing.

My wife and I have been here twice and never needed to have the marriage certificate. And we don’t have the same last name.

Doha seems to be a beautiful place to visit.. will surely be visiting Doha when having a day-long halt for Qatar. The airport of Doha is marvelous

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Doha Transit: How To Spend 13 Hours At The Airport

UPDATED MARCH 2024

A layover in Doha happens if you fly with Qatar Airways, but what to do if you have a 13 hours transit and want to stay at the airport? The truth is, there’s nothing much you can do inside Hamad International Airport. However, if you arrive early in the evening in Doha, you can go out and visit the capital city of Qatar. I love long layovers because they break long flights, but they must happen during the day.

It is not the first time I was transiting in Doha. But I really didn’t have a choice I landed at 11:00 PM, so leaving the airport wasn’t an option because it was too late. The most unpleasant experience I ever had. The 13-hour transit was too long to stay inside the airport. Now, if I’m searching for airline tickets, I look at the time of the layover because I don’t want to experience it again. So if you have such a long stopover I suggest booking a hotel or going out and exploring the capital of Qatar if you landed early in Doha.

Doha is underrated because they think there’s nothing there. In fact, there are a lot of things to do. On my previous layovers, I get out of the airport and explore the city. I was amazed at how beautiful the capital of Qatar was. Of course, it is not comparable with Dubai and Saudi Arabia. If you are looking for what you can do on a long layover, these might give you an insight into the Qatari capital. I even had 10 hours only. But my plane landed at 4:00 PM, and my next flight departed at 2:00 AM, so it was enough time to see something. Check my other blog post.

Long Layover in Doha: What to Do?

Free tourist visa.

I also suggest that you check the requirements of a tourist visa because some nationalities need a prior permit to enter Qatar. However, most European Nationals will get a stamp on arrival for 90 days. As for other passport holders check this LINK if you are entitled to get a visa on arrival. Even if you only transiting you should check if you need a transit visa to avoid any circumstances.

Doha Is A Busy Airport

Qatar Airways is the best airline with no dispute as I have flown all the Middle Eastern airlines. The price offer with Qatar is sometimes unbeatable, but then the layovers in Doha are so annoying. I was searching for a flight to Saudi Arabia, and Qatar was the cheapest I found, but the layover was tedious. I could choose the shortest transit of 1 hour 30 minutes or the longest of 13 hours.

Then I thought, if I only have more than a one-hour transit, although Hamad Airport isn’t that big I wondering if my luggage will be flying with me as this happened once on my previous trips when my luggage arrived two days later. I want to avoid happening again because I’m not stay in one place this time. So, I opted for a 13-hour layover instead.

Qatar Airways free transit hotel

Depending on your ticket type not all fares are eligible for this stopover service. I have tried filling up the form on the Qatar Airways website I thought I was eligible for free accommodation but hell no. I bought a low-priced ticket, so I have no right to a free hotel. That is one thing to consider before booking a flight with Qatar. If this happens again in the future I’ll book a hotel in the center. Because 13 hours at the airport is a disaster and exhausting, that is at least if you have no choice like you need a visa to go out. But for those visa-free travelers, don’t stay inside the airport.

So how To Spend 13 Hours At The Airport? I know it’s too long to stay inside. You can book an airport hotel, but they are expensive. However, if you really want to sleep and have a comfortable night before your next flight, I suggest looking for accommodation in the city center. There are plenty of hotels in Doha for less than 100 euros a night. I took the bullet of staying inside. However, you can do a few things while inside Hamad airport.

Walking inside the airport

After one hour of walking, you’ve seen it all. Hamad Airport isn’t that big compared to Saudi Arabia Airport Amman. I probably did the stroll three times until I got enough and said, now it’s time for relaxing. The good thing is that most duty-free is open 24-hours as well the restaurants.

Shopping And Dining

If you have space in your suitcase or have money to burn, shopping can be another option. You have to do something during your 13-hour layover in Doha. There are plenty of duty-free at Hamad airport, including gold shops.

By the way, speaking of gold, Qatar has reasonable prices for gold. However, if you plan to purchase a jewelry, you should do it in the city center because you can get a discount. I was able to buy a ring on my previous trips and still wear it every day. Apart from shopping, there are also restaurants from local to international food. And no need for local Qatari currency because credit cards are accepted unless their machine breaks.

Free Internet At Doha Airport

The same as many airports in the world, Doha has pretty good wifi. The free internet may be the first thing you’d like to do once entering the arrival terminal. Make sure to carry your booking reference or the ticket number with you, because you need to log into the free internet at the airport. Keep your booking all the time because once you’re inactive, you need to log in again. The internet in Doha works well. It can handle making a call through Facebook Messenger. However, other apps like WhatsApp only work for messaging but not for calling.

Go For A Relaxation

There’s more you can do during a 13-hour transit in Doha. I was bored after walking for hours until I came in a place to relax, but of course, an extra cost for my trip. Hell ya, we live only once, so why not? After sitting for more than seven hours on a flight from Brussels, I feel a bit of my backache. Thus, I opted for a massage which helped. Having this at the airport is good, especially if you come from a long flight. Take the relaxation before taking your next flight.

Search for benches to lie down

There is no shortage of benches inside Hamad Airport even though they are not comfortable, you can at least lie down. Look for corner places so you don’t have all that light in your face. But be careful with your belongings when you fall asleep. Don’t leave it under your bench lie down over it.

Get Asleep In The Quiet Room

I have been transiting to Doha many times, but this was the first time I was in a quiet room. And that is because I only have short layovers on previous trips. So the only thing in the quiet room is a matter of luck to find a space. You’re not the only one searching for a place to sleep. I came here twice, and it all engaged, so I went to a bench and sat for a while.

Then two hours later, I returned and was lucky that there was a space. It isn’t pretty comfortable; it is just a recliner bench, but at least more pleasant that you can lie down. If you want luxury, you can opt for lounges, but they cost more, and while this is free of charge. It just one thing to keep in mind you might lose your place if you go to the bathroom. People constantly looking to spend in a quiet room.

2 thoughts on “Doha Transit: How To Spend 13 Hours At The Airport”

I and my wife bought the Ticket of DAC/DOH/BOS. Our transit time in DOHA is 18 hours. QR will not give us any hotel even any food, nothing. They have only 1 hotel which is very expensive for us. For stay in the Hotel the charges will be not less than USD 350 for a couple. I think they should give us 2 or 4 hours Flight within free of Charges. QR said me. We travel before also QR. We have membership card also of QR.

If you have an 18-hour layover in Doha get a hotel in the city center it is a lot cheaper than at the airport.

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Doha City Tour With Discover Qatar: An Honest Review

Beautiful architecture at Katara cultural village

Would you like to learn more about the Doha City Tour with Discover Qatar? Then you have come to the right place!

If you travel east, chances are that you will use the Doha airport for your connecting flight. You might have a long layover in Doha , with plenty of time to kill before hopping on your next flight.

What better way to spend that time than by getting out of the airport to explore a new city that you wouldn’t visit otherwise?

Discover Qatar offers a 3-hour long city tour of Doha which will take you to the city’s main attractions. I took this tour to check out if it was worth it and the answer is YES !

Although Doha might not be a city that attracts many tourists, it does have some beautiful sights. I really enjoyed gazing at the skyscrapers one moment and visiting the traditional souqs the next.

You will find my experience, along with some useful information in case you want to do the Doha Transit Tour in this post.

Doha city tour with Discover Qatar

The places you will see.

After booking the tour and leaving the airport, I boarded the air-conditioned bus with a small group of people who had booked the same tour.

We met our guide, who told us about the country and explained we’d make four stops. These were the following:

The harbour

After about 15 minutes on the bus, we made our first stop at the Doha harbour, which is right next to the Museum of Islamic Art.

You won’t be able to really check this museum out though, as the bus only makes a 10-minute stop in order for you to snap some pictures of the panoramic skyline , which is the harbour’s highlight.

Katara Cultural Village

My favourite stop was the next one: Katara Cultural Village, which aims to promote cultural awareness in Qatar.

Although everything was closed due to Ramadan, the stunning Arabic-inspired architecture literally made my jaw drop. From its amphitheatre to the beautiful Katara Masjid mosque , the cultural village is definitely worth a visit!

We had some time to walk around and take some pictures here, but I wished we could have stayed a little longer. It’s a very beautiful and photogenic place that I would love to visit again one day.

Stop number three was The Pearl: an artificial island situated off the coast of Doha. It’s full of yachts and luxurious apartments, restaurants and hotels.

The name “The Pearl” was chosen because it was built on one of Qatar’s previous pearl diving sites. Before the oil boom, the country was one of the main pearl traders in Asia .

We walked around The Pearl for about 20 minutes, which was just enough for me. Then, we hopped on the bus to drive to our final stop.

Our last stop was the Soup Waqif, where we had an hour to explore the market. Unlike the souqs I have visited in North Africa, the vendors didn’t aggressively try to get you into their shops and sell you stuff, which was a very nice, refreshing experience.

They sell all kinds of things at Souq Waqif, from souvenirs to clothes, spices and even small animals.

The souq dates back at least a hundred years but it was renovated in 2006 after most of it was destroyed by a fire a few years before.

Here, we had the choice to either take the bus back to the airport or stay in the city and return by ourselves later. I didn’t have that much time left before catching my flight so this is when the Doha city tour stopped for me.

How to book Discover Qatar’s city tour of Doha

You can book the tour in advance on the Discover Qatar website or go to their counter at the Doha airport.

Follow the A gate and take the first flat escalator (I’m not sure what those things are called in English?). You will find the desk on the left side. This is also the place where the tour leaves.

The 3-hour tour of Doha that I took cost 99 QAR but there are other tours to choose from, depending on the time you have and your budget.

I didn’t have to pay a visa fee, but it depends on your citizenship. You can check if your country belongs to the visa-free countries here .

Tips for the Qatar City Tour

Bring water and sunscreen.
Always take your valuables with you when you leave the bus.
Ask for your tour operator’s contact number if you’re taking the bus back after the last stop. You never know what might happen and the bus doesn’t wait in case you get delayed.

Discover Qatar City Tour: Final thoughts

All in all, I had a great time on the Discover Qatar City Tour!

It takes you to Doha’s highlights and gives you an idea of what the city is like. There were places where I would have loved to stay longer but I know this wasn’t possible due to the limited time you have on a layover.

I would recommend this tour and would do it again in a heartbeat! It’s a great way to make the most of your layover and see a little bit of Doha.

Pin it for later: Did you find this post helpful? Save it on Pinterest and follow me on Instagram and Facebook for more travel tips and inspiration.

Laura Meyers

Laura Meyers is the founder of Laure Wanders. She was born in Belgium and has travelled to over 40 countries, many of them solo. She currently spends most of her time between Belgium and South Asia and loves helping other travellers plan their adventures abroad.

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Happy Customers

Very good Half Day Desert Safari. It was a very wonderful trip. Everyone enjoyed a lot. From the booking of the trip itself everything was very smooth. We were booked for 3-7PM trip. Our guide Mr. Rahim reached in our hotel sharp 2.45. He was a friendly guide with awesome driving skills. Enjoyed the Inland sea(15-20min stay is there)

A great way to see the North of Qatar. We were picked up on time as arranged in a lovely cool air conditioned vehicle making the trip very comfortable. We particularly liked that Saleh was from Qatar wearing traditional clothes giving a real authenticity to the tour. We feel we have now visited all the best sites and given good knowledge of each area. It was great to see the new developments such as the football stadiums and the old city and fishing port and market plus purple island which is literally a swamp in a dessert!! ending up at the El Zubarah Fort. The tour was very relaxed and we were given plenty of time to explore the sites. If you are visiting during the World Cup this would be a great trip to do in between the matches.

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There’s no need to tip in Japan. Here’s what else travelers should know.

The Land of the Rising Sun has fascinated travelers for centuries, and this summer is no exception.

Tokyo is among the top five international cities Americans are visiting this summer, according to Expedia and Google Flights. And with the exchange rate currently so strongly in Americans’ favor, it’s an especially good time to visit if you can take the hot and humid weather .

Before you book your flight though, there are some things you should know. From cultural customs to customs and immigration, here are 10 things to do when visiting Japan.

1. Learn basic Japanese

Some people, particularly in Tokyo, may speak English, but it’s best to learn a few basic phrases in Japanese like “hello,” “excuse me,” “where is the restroom?” and “thank you.” There are free tutorials available across social media and language apps like Duolingo or Babbel.

You’ll also want to download a free translation app like Google Translate that can handle both verbal and written translation.

2. Fill out the Visit Japan Web form

U.S. citizens don’t need a visa to visit Japan for stays under 90 days, but you will need to fill out a Visit Japan Web immigration and customs form . Save time by doing this in advance online instead of at the airport when you arrive.

What to know about Tokyo Disney Resort: Why Disney fans will travel all the way to Japan for its theme parks

3. Get a transit card

A prepaid Suica or PASMO transit card isn’t just for public transportation. It can also be used to pay for things at vending machines, convenience stores and some shops.

You can download a digital version through Apple Wallet or get a physical card once you arrive in Japan. Just keep it loaded with as much money as you want to spend.

4. Keep cash on hand

Cash is still king in some places, including food stalls and small shops that may not accept credit cards or digital payments.

You can withdraw cash for low fees and fair exchange rates from ATMs at Japanese convenience stores like 7-Eleven. A Suica or PASMO card can tide you over until you can get to an ATM.

5. Skip the tip

There’s no tipping culture in Japan. In fact, some servers have been known to follow customers out and return tips like they were accidentally left behind. Instead of tipping at restaurants, offer thanks.

Before eating, it’s customary to say “ itadakimasu ” like a quick prayer to show appreciation for the food and those who grew it. When you leave, you can say “ gochisousama deshita ” to staff to show gratitude for the meal.

6. Stand aside on escalators

In Tokyo, people stand to the left of escalators and keep the right side open for others walking up or down the moving steps. In Kyoto, like in most U.S. cities, people stand on the right. Don’t worry about trying to remember which side to stand on. It will be immediately clear once you’re there. Just do what everyone else is doing and don’t block foot traffic.

7. Keep the noise down on trains

It’s considered rude to talk on your cell phone or play music or videos out loud on subways and trains. You may hear some small groups of friends chatting, but many commuters keep quietly to themselves.

8. Wear or carry socks

Some places, like temples or restaurants with tatami mats, may require you to remove your shoes. If you’re not wearing socks, you may want to carry a clean pair with you, just in case.

9. Prepare to bare all at onsens

If you’re not comfortable sporting your birthday suit around others, you may want to skip public hot springs. Swimsuits and other garments aren’t allowed in the communal water. Some onsens may also bar tattoos or ask guests to cover them up with a patch. However, there are some tattoo-friendly onsens as well as private onsens available.

Additionally, it’s customary to shower before entering the springs to keep the water clean.

10. You’ll have to wait to open some souvenirs

If you plan to load up on Japanese beauty products, snacks and other consumables to take home, you can buy them tax-free at stores like Don Quixote, but they’ll seal them in a bag indicating they were purchased without paying tax. You can’t open the bag until you leave Japan.

Bonus: Eat all the things, including at convenience stores or vending machines

From egg salad sandwiches to fresh onigiri rice balls, there’s so much good, affordable food in Japan. Don’t miss the delicious and cheap treats at Japanese convenience stores like 7-Eleven, Lawson and Family Mart. The same goes for the wide variety of readily available vending machines selling cold and hot drinks, depending on the season.

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NJ Transit, Amtrak service suspended again at Penn Station

Rail service was disrupted for a second day on Friday, with Amtrak trains into and out of New York City delayed or canceled and service on the commuter line NJ Transit suspended during the morning rush.

Several Amtrak trains scheduled to run between New York City and upstate New York were canceled, the railroad said on X , and trains from Pennsylvania to New York were terminating in Philadelphia.

What You Need To Know

Rail service was disrupted for a second day on friday, with amtrak trains into and out of new york city delayed or canceled and service on the commuter line nj transit suspended during the morning rush widespread train delays and sweltering heat made for a nightmarish commute thursday evening amtrak warned commuters thursday afternoon that high temperatures may require trains to operate at lower speeds.

As of 4:30 p.m., there are still 30-minute delays due to "Amtrak overhead wire issues," according to the NJ Transit website.

Midtown direct trains were being diverted to Hoboken, New Jersey. Raritan Valley Line service will originate from Newark Penn Station. NJ Transit rail tickets and passes are being cross honored by NJ Transit, private carrier buses and the PATH at Newark Penn Station, Hoboken and 33rd Street in New York.

It comes after Amtrak delayed or canceled trains in and out of the city.

NJ Transit, meanwhile, appeared to blame Amtrak for the fact that its own service in and out of Penn Station was suspended during Friday's morning rush hour.

“Rail service is suspended into and out of Penn Station New York due to AMTRAK overhead wire issues in Penn Station New York,” the commuter line, which shares tracks with Amtrak, said on its website.

Service resumed around 11 a.m. with 45-minute delays, NJ Transit said.

Widespread train delays and sweltering heat made for a nightmarish commute Thursday evening.

"I'm disgusted because it's always something different,” said Denise Wooten, who commutes from Montclair, New Jersey, to Penn Station for work. “Delays. This has been going on for too long now. Every time you turn around. I just want to get home.”

NJ Transit and Amtrak users arrived at Penn Station Thursday only to learn that power outages were causing delays from New Haven all the way to Philadelphia.

An Amtrak spokesperson said two things were to blame for the service disruptions: brush fires in Secaucus, New Jersey and a malfunctioning circuit breaker which caused a loss in power on the tracks between New York, and Newark Penn stations.

"I take the train every day, but over the last couple of weeks, NJ Transit has really sucked. I mean we have had very poor services,” said Thurston Green, who takes Amtrak five days a week.

To make matters more unconformable, temperatures climbed well into the 90s Thursday, marking the hottest day of the year so far. And below ground, there wasn’t much relief.

"Look at me. I'm sweating, it's hot. It's too much,” said Wooten.

Amtrak warned commuters Thursday afternoon that high temperatures may require trains to operate at lower speeds, resulting in delays of up to 60 minutes between noon and 7:30 p.m. for the remainder of the week.

Power was restored at 5:30 p.m., but Amtrak warned riders to expect congestion along the rails.

Commuters said they’d like to see more accountability from transit leaders both in New York and New Jersey.

“They have to fix the trains. We keep spending all this money, $5 a fare. There are 365 days in a year, how much money are you spending here? Where's that money going to?” said Shawn Mendez, who was traveling to an event in Newark.

A heat advisory has been issued for the city beginning noon Friday with feels-like temperatures expected to reach 97 degrees.

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Power Failure Brings Amtrak and N.J. Transit Trains to a Halt

New Jersey Transit Service into New York City was suspended Friday morning, and Amtrak service was severely delayed, after a power outage caused major disruptions Thursday night.

A large digital board showing arrivals and departures hangs above people standing around under it.

By Patrick McGeehan

New Jersey Transit and Amtrak train service in and out of New York City was again disrupted Friday morning, just hours after a power failure shut down all lines for more than three hours on Thursday and caused significant holdups around the nation’s busiest transit hub.

Amtrak said that on Thursday, one of the hottest days of the year, the loss of electricity had forced it to suspend all service for several hours along a 150-mile stretch of the Northeast Corridor. By Friday morning, train service was again snarled around New York City, where a disabled train in Manhattan’s Penn Station halted New Jersey Transit service in and out of the city and led to major delays for Amtrak.

A little before 8:30 a.m., Amtrak said that service between Philadelphia and New York would resume at noon. Kyle Anderson, a spokesman for the rail service, said in a statement that it was working to remove the disabled train and repair damaged infrastructure. Mr. Anderson also said that Amtrak was working with New Jersey Transit to identify the cause of Friday’s disruption.

Thursday’s outage rippled along the Eastern Seaboard, causing trains to be halted and canceled as far away as Boston and Harrisburg, Pa.

Gery Williams, an executive vice president of Amtrak, said the problem had emanated from “a malfunctioning circuit-breaker” in New Jersey, just west of the rail tunnels under the Hudson River, which cut electricity to the overhead wires that power trains into and out of the tunnels. That segment of the corridor has just two tracks and is the primary bottleneck for train travel in the Northeast. Any disruptions to that narrow passage can mean headaches for thousands of travelers.

Mr. Williams said the electrical problem was not related to a brush fire in Secaucus, N.J., on Thursday afternoon that was burning near train tracks and the New Jersey Turnpike. That fire was extinguished by Thursday evening.

One of Amtrak’s Acela trains was already running more than an hour late when it got stuck just east of Newark with no air conditioning, Mr. Williams added. Those passengers were transferred to other trains, he said. Another Amtrak train was stranded in Queens, also without air conditioning. Amtrak sent a diesel engine to haul that train back to Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan, he said.

Mr. Williams apologized to the customers of Amtrak and New Jersey Transit, whose trains share the portion of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor between New York City and Trenton, N.J.

He said that he met on Thursday with New Jersey Transit officials to work out plans for upgrading the rail infrastructure “so that our customers don’t have to put up with this awful experience” again. He said there had been “too many” significant disruptions recently.

New Jersey Transit diverted trains bound for Penn Station to Hoboken Terminal and accepted train tickets on its buses during the hours it was out of service. The PATH train between Manhattan and New Jersey also cross-honored rail tickets.

Jim Casey, 59, had been waiting in the station for nearly three hours on Thursday night. The delays, he said, had thrown a wrench into his evening plan to go to the beach.

“Right now there’s one tunnel in and one tunnel out,” said Mr. Casey, who commutes to Manhattan from Bucks County, Pa. “If something goes wrong in the tunnels we’re stuck.”

Asked if he thought the situation would improve in the future, Mr. Casey did not hesitate. He was not optimistic “this problem will ever go away,” he said.

He said he was late to work Tuesday because of delays and then waited two hours after work the same day to get home.

Across the river, at Newark Penn Station, Ilana Nathan was trying to travel from Long Island to her home in Cherry Hill, N.J. Her train at Penn Station in Manhattan was canceled, but then she was able to board its replacement. Then that too was canceled, but only after she’d sat on it for 90 minutes (with no air conditioning.)

A station official advised her to take a PATH train to Newark, she paid surge pricing for an Uber to the World Trade Center station. When she arrived in Newark she found all trains canceled. By then, she had been in transit for six hours.

“I’m hot, I’m exasperated,” said Ms. Nathan, 29. “I just want to go home.”

The disruption was at least the fourth in the last two months to cause long delays for commuters in the metropolitan area.

On Tuesday morning, New Jersey Transit service into and out of New York’s Penn Station was suspended for about an hour and all Amtrak trains passing through the station were delayed because of overhead wire issues and a disabled commuter train on the tracks, train officials said.

That disruption ruined the morning commute for thousands of New Jersey residents as the delays rippled out along the various rail lines in the state.

The problems on Tuesday came on the heels of major rush-hour delays at Penn Station earlier this month, caused by an inspection of tracks owned by Amtrak. Service was significantly delayed for more than an hour.

Service was also disrupted in May when an overhead wire used for traffic signals fell and struck a cable in Kearny, N.J., that provides electrical power to trains on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. Trains were halted on Amtrak and New Jersey Transit in both directions between Penn Station and Newark, and delays stretched to more than four hours.

Reporting was contributed by Alyce McFadden , Maia Coleman , Nate Schweber , Victoria Kim and Isabella Kwai .

Patrick McGeehan is a Times reporter who covers the economy of New York City and its airports and other transportation hubs. More about Patrick McGeehan

Around the New York Region

A look at life, culture, politics and more in new york, new jersey and connecticut..

An Unanswered Question: Nico Nuño-Kelley, 17, fell six stories from the roof of his Manhattan apartment building after vaping marijuana. His anguished family wants answers .

Signs of Change?: New Jersey, a state notorious for political scandal, has lived up to a reputation this year. But recent upheaval might offer a silver lining .

Putting Out a Senseless Fire: A man set a fire at a Manhattan cafe. A garbage collector who spotted a bright glow while on his route drove toward it to help .

Subway Quiz: The New York City subway is arguably the most famous transit network in America. How well do you know it? Take our quiz to find out .

Sunday Routine : Regina Rocke, a sauna master who lives in Harlem, spends her Sundays making snowballs for her classes, snuggling with her cats, working on her towel dances and texting with her fiancée nonstop.

Ex-SEPTA manager gets 3 years for taking bribes of Barbra Streisand tickets, pope’s visit hotel stays, and thousands in cash

A former SEPTA manager was sentenced to just over three years in federal prison Monday for extorting bribes of cash, concert tickets, and pricey hotel stays from a company that held the transit agency’s $5.3 million maintenance contract for its surveillance cameras.

James Stevens, SEPTA’s former director of video evidence, apologized to his family and his former employer of 45 years, chalking his crimes up to an aberration motivated by greed. He pleaded with U.S. District Judge Gerald J. Pappert to spare him from time behind bars, citing the effect it would have on his family.

“My poor choices and judgment were overcome by greed — plain and simple,” he said. “I saw an opportunity [to get] money and extra favors without harming SEPTA … and I took advantage.

But the judge questioned Stevens’ contrition — noting that he showed next to no emotion as family members begged the court for mercy on his behalf — and he balked at Stevens’ suggestion that SEPTA had not been harmed by his misdeeds.

“There’s a lot of folks [in Harrisburg and] the rest of the state that don’t want to fund things in Philadelphia,” Pappert said. “They ask themselves, ‘Why are we taking tax dollars from Crawford County and giving them to SEPTA … because it’s just a corrupt black hole down there. Don’t think that at the right time, and in the right place, that this case won’t come up.”

He continued: “Nothing that happened over the course of four years at SEPTA with Mr. Stevens is acceptable or excusable.”

The 37-month sentence Pappert imposed — which also included a $25,000 fine and an order that Stevens forfeit more than $99,0000 — came five months after the 71-year-old former supervisor pleaded guilty to 15 counts including conspiracy, bribery, extortion, and honest services fraud.

And throughout Monday’s hearing, prosecutors painted him as bully whose demands for payoffs from an executive at Spector Logistics — the Delaware-based firm that held the camera contract until 2018 — were as unstinting as they were callous.

Throughout the four years Stevens was extorting Robert Welsh, Spector’s former chief operating officer, he repeatedly reminded him that he had the authority to cancel the contract at any time if his demands were not met.

As Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis D. Lappen described it in court Monday, Stevens’ requests were relentless.

Between 2014 and 2019, Welsh sent him monthly cash bribes totaling nearly $86,000, which Stevens referred to as a “consulting fee.” He demanded that Welsh keep him wined and dined by picking up the tab for regular restaurant meals across Center City.

Stevens had Welsh buy him concert tickets to Barbra Streisand and Billy Joel tour stops in Philadelphia in 2016 and 2017. And at Stevens’ insistence, Welsh also covered the cost five years in a row for the SEPTA manager’s departmental holiday party at the Center City bar Moriarty’s — at a cost of $4,700.

When, during Pope Francis’ 2015 visit to Philadelphia, Welsh booked a set of rooms at the Loews Hotel in Center City so his staff could be on hand in case of problems with SEPTA’s cameras during the visit, Stevens insisted that they be handed over to him and other transit agency employees instead.

Stevens even demanded that Welsh donate $4,400 to a supposed charity he oversaw — money prosecutors say Stevens pocketed and later used to cover his mortgage.

To keep that flow of benefits coming even after he retired from SEPTA, Stevens insisted that Welsh offer him a post-retirement job.

“This became a way of life for [Stevens],” said Lappen. “Every single year for at least four years, he took advantage of Mr. Welsh. … He was entitled, he was greedy, and he engaged in this over and over again.”

The extortion came to an end only after Welsh finally refused one of Stevens’ requests. In 2017, the SEPTA manager insisted that Welsh give his administrative assistant at SEPTA a part-time job and even drew up a contract himself between the woman and Spector, setting her pay rate at $25 an hour. Welsh, though, refused to sign it, insisting that he couldn’t afford the addition to his payroll.

Within months, Stevens made good on the threat he had been holding over Welsh’s head for years. He informed him that SEPTA would be terminating Spector’s contract and, knowing that the company was almost entirely reliant on its business with SEPTA to stay afloat, suggested that Welsh consider selling his firm.

Stevens even picked out the buyer — another firm that Welsh ended up selling his company to for $300,000.

In court Monday, Stevens acknowledged that he treated Welsh — who pleaded guilty in 2023 and is still awaiting sentencing — as an easy mark.

“I saw [his] willingness to please,” Stevens told the judge. “He was willing and able, and I took advantage.”

But despite the crimes, Stevens’ lawyer, Rhonda Lowe, maintained that her client had largely been a dedicated SEPTA employee over his nearly half-century career with SEPTA. She argued that the embarrassment and resulting publicity surrounding his case and the loss of his $6,000-a-month-pension as a result of his guilty plea should be punishment enough.

But the judge disagreed, calling her request for a sentence without prison time “completely inappropriate.”

Pappert, the Pennsylvania Attorney General between 2003 and 2005, said he had seen first-hand the effect a high-profile corruption case can have on a government office and alluded to his time as the state’s top prosecutor less than a decade after one of his predecessors in that role, Ernie Preate, was forced to resign and was sentenced to 14 months in prison for a federal mail fraud case.

And as Monday’s hearing drew toward its conclusion, SEPTA’s general counsel Gino J. Benedetti described a similar stigma hovering over the transit agency since the discovery of Stevens’ crimes.

“It’s an uphill battle for SEPTA day-in and day-out,” he said. “What Mr. Stevens did with these offenses absolutely … has had a broad and long-lasting impact on our credibility to deliver the services so many people rely on.”

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From Doha Airport: Qatar Transit Tour

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Doha, Qatar || July, 2023
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COMMENTS

Transit Tours
Transit Tours. If you are within 48 hours of arriving in Doha and you cannot see availability to book a tour, please come and see us in the Duty Free area of Hamad International Airport, where we can check live availability for you. See map for our location. When travelling through Qatar, there's no need to wish your time away at the airport.
Doha Airport Transit Requirements And Procedure (2024 Guide)
The answer is no, you do not need a transit visa if you are not planning on leaving the airport. Here is a tweet from Qatar Airways on 18 July 2022 to confirm this: Earlier Qatar Airways travellers could apply for a free 96-hour transit visa that would allow them to visit the city.
Best Things To Do At Doha Airport: Tips For Transit Passengers
Join a Doha City Tour from 99 QAR. If you have a transit time of more than 6 hours you can book a Discover Qatar City Tour from 99 QAR. The guided tour is designed to be an introduction to Doha and includes stops at city highlights such as The Pearl-Qatar, Katara Cultural Village, Souq Waqif and the Museum of Islamic Art.
Doha City Tours by Discover Qatar
Minimum transit time should be 8 hours and more, however that may vary according to tour. It is the passenger's responsibility to ensure they have adequate transit time when booking. Tours are bookable in advance online until 48 hours prior to arrival, and you must arrive at Discover Qatar Tours desk in the airport 2 hours before the tour start.
24 hours in Doha
The Doha airport transit hotel was full and hence I was in a taxi at 2 am heading to my hotel. My transit in Doha was a little less than 24 hours but I slept for almost half of it. As the morning dawned, I decided to explore the city with Discover Qatar and head to some of the places to visit in Doha.
The Layover Guide to Doha
15-30 mins to transit to downtown, depending on traffic; 3.5 hours to explore; 15-25 minutes to return to airport; ... Winter or the shoulder seasons are the best time to visit. Safety in Doha. Doha is a very safe city. It was even recently ranked the second-safest city in the world. Women and men can feel safe walking alone day or night and ...
Transiting in Qatar: Everything You Need to Know About Transit Rules
A transit visa is required if you are not one of the 102 nationalities eligible for visa-free entry to Qatar. Otherwise, you would need a pre-approved transit visa for a duration between 5 to 96 hours. The duration of stay beyond 96 hours is not permitted under this scheme. Furthermore, the 96-hour Qatar transit visa is issued free of cost.
Transit Tours by Discover Qatar
Create unforgettable memories during your transit in Doha with Discover Qatar. Book a tour from only QAR 36 to admire the cosmopolitan city or cutting-edge Hamad International Airport.* ... If you are arriving within two days or less, visit the Discover Qatar counter at Hamad International Airport. ...
Transit Exclusive
Transit Exclusive - Discover Doha. Transit Exclusive - Discover Doha. Schedule. Tour Timings: 08:00 | 11:30 | 15:00 | 16:00 | 18:00 | 19:00 | 20:00 | 21:30 ... If you are traveling within 2 days and the calendar does not show availability on this website, please visit the Discover Qatar desk at Hamad International Airport to book your Tour.
From Doha Airport: Private City Tour for Transit Passengers
To join this tour, you will need to have a layover of at least 8 hours at Doha airport. To find the exact pickup spot at the airport, please refer to the tour photos. From $77.00 per person. Check availability. Reserve now & pay later to book your spot and pay nothing today. Give this as a gift.
Doha Things To Do & Travel Guide (Perfect for a Stopover!)
All that said, the best time to visit Doha is probably the winter between November and March, as long as that doesn't overlap with Ramadan. ... It's easy to get from the airport to central Doha via a variety of transit options. The fastest way to get to downtown Doha from the airport is by car. Uber is available in Doha or there is a ...
Qatar Transit Tour: Doha City
The check-in location is at the Discover Qatar Transit Tours desk in Concourse A towards Gate A4. The city tour is on a 46-passenger bus and has short stops for a quick visit to Doha. At the time of writing, the Doha city tour was offered for free to promote Doha tourism. Nowadays, the tour costs 75 QR ($21 USD). 1.
Transfers
Please visit one of our transfer desks if you need any assistance with your onward flight, including boarding passes, re ... All customers who have a transit time of 6 hours or more can now enjoy one of the exclusive transit tours: Discover Doha - a three-hour coach city tour that takes you around Doha, allowing you to explore the ...
9 Hour Stopover in Qatar: Is It Worth Exploring?
Stopover time: 22:25 to 7:55. Visa: 100 (£17) Hotel: 200 (£34) Taxi to hotel: 50 (£8.50) Morning sightseeing taxi for 30 mins: 100 (£17) Cost of seeing Qatar each: (£76.50) If you can spare £76.50 I'd definitely recommend getting out of the airport in Doha. I'd much rather spend my layover in Qatar in Doha, rather than in Doha Airport.
Doha Airport transit: a review of my trip with Qatar Airline
All transit tour can by Qatar Airline is under Discover Qatar now, and the formerly free tour is the Doha City Tour. It costs QAR 75, which is around 21 USD and 160 HKD, with 6 tours throughout the day, running for 3 hours. You need at least 5 hours of transit time to take a tour.
Qatar Travel Tips: 19 Things to Know Before You Visit Doha
19 practical Qatar travel tips 1. A Qatar Airways stopover is the easiest way to organise your Doha visit. If you want a taste of Doha, you can squeeze a lot into a 24 or 48-hour layover.. In an effort to encourage more people to travel with the national carrier and break-up their journey in Doha, Qatar's tourism board introduced a program to incentivise extended layovers.
Complimentary Transit Accommodation
- The transit time in Doha is between eight and 24 hours; For bookings made within 72 hours of departure, transit hotel accommodation cannot be pre-booked. In cases where your ticket is booked within 72 hours from your arrival in Doha, please proceed to the transfer desk when you arrive at Hamad International Airport to arrange your transit ...
Doha metro
Hours of service. Open from early until late, the Doha Metro system is accessible most of the time. Sunday - Wednesday: 5:30 AM to 11:59 PM. Thursday: 5:30 AM to 1:00 AM. Friday: 2:00 PM to 1 AM*. Saturday: 6:00 AM to 11:59 PM. *Take note of Friday morning shutdown for Friday prayers. Many museums, restaurants and sights are also closed ...
Transit through Qatar: short layover, transit visa, tips
They are issued for free upon arrival at the Doha airport. The duration of stay is 30 days (up to 90). Transit visas are available for citizens of 150 countries worldwide, including all the same countries plus an additional 60. They are also free and obtained upon arrival at the airport, with a validity of four days.
24 Hours in Qatar: How to Maximize a Long Layover in Doha
2. Museum of Islamic Art. The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) We had spied the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) building as soon as we arrived in Doha, though had to wait until it opened later in the day to visit. When you're considering what to do in Doha, this museum is a must-see, even if just from the outside.
Doha Transit: How To Spend 13 Hours At The Airport
Shopping And Dining. If you have space in your suitcase or have money to burn, shopping can be another option. You have to do something during your 13-hour layover in Doha. There are plenty of duty-free at Hamad airport, including gold shops. By the way, speaking of gold, Qatar has reasonable prices for gold. However, if you plan to purchase a ...
Doha City Tour With Discover Qatar: An Honest Review
The Pearl. Stop number three was The Pearl: an artificial island situated off the coast of Doha. It's full of yachts and luxurious apartments, restaurants and hotels. The name "The Pearl" was chosen because it was built on one of Qatar's previous pearl diving sites. Before the oil boom, the country was one of the main pearl traders in Asia.
Doha Transit and Tours
Visit Doha a Beautiful Destination. Explore Doha with us! Best Price Guaranteed! Explore our budget friendly tours with the best price! ... Doha Transit and Tours Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 70526969 Tel 2: +974 77751342 Web: www.dohatransittours.com Email: [email protected] .
Visiting Japan: What travelers should know before they go
2. Fill out the Visit Japan Web form U.S. citizens don't need a visa to visit Japan for stays under 90 days, but you will need to fill out a Visit Japan Web immigration and customs form. Save ...
USS Theodore Roosevelt in South Korea Ahead of Transit to Middle East
USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) conducts a replenishment-at-sea with the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG-114), June 11, 2024. US Navy Photo This was the first ...
Visitors from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait top arrivals in Qatar during Eid Al
The travel and tourism sector's GDP contribution surged by 31% in 2023, hitting a record QR81.2bn, which amounts to 10.3% of Qatar's overall economic output.
NJ Transit, Amtrak service suspended again at Penn Station
NJ Transit rail tickets and passes are being cross honored by NJ Transit, private carrier buses and the PATH at Newark Penn Station, Hoboken and 33rd Street in New York.
NJ Transit and Amtrak Service Suspended Due to Power Issues
New Jersey Transit and Amtrak train service in and out of New York City was again disrupted Friday morning, just hours after a power failure shut down all lines for more than three hours on ...
Ex-SEPTA manager gets 3 years for taking bribes of Barbra ...
A former SEPTA manager was sentenced to just over three years in federal prison Monday for extorting bribes of cash, concert tickets, and pricey hotel stays from a company that held the transit ...
Dubai-based airline Emirates seeks to expand network to 4 more cities
Dubai-based airline Emirates has set its sights on expanding its network to four more cities in mainland China, part of a growing number of Middle Eastern carriers wanting to cash in on aviation ...

Doha Airport Transit Requirements And Procedure (2024 Guide)

About Hamad International Airport

Step 1: Exit the aircraft

Step 2: Proceed to Transfer Halls

Step 3: Collect the Boarding Pass if required

Step 4: Go through security screening

Step 5: Check the gate number for your next flight

Step 6: Proceed to your gate

Doha Airport Restaurants

Shopping At Doha Airport

Sleeping Options at Doha Airport

Doha Airport Hotels

Oryx Airport Hotel

Oryx Garden Hotel

Luggage Storage at Doha Airport

Doha Airport Wifi

Other Facilities

Covid Hygiene at HIA

Is a Covid PCR test required for transit through Doha Airport?

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What To Do At Doha Airport: Tips For A Long Layover In Qatar

Best things to do at Doha Airport

Connect to the free Wi-Fi

Take a shower

Swim at The Vitality Pool

Sleep at The Oryx Airport Hotel

Head to a designated family or quiet area

Drink decent coffee

Shop for gold

Join a Doha City Tour from 99 QAR

Book a Doha Stopover

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Doha Things To Do & Travel Guide (Perfect for a Stopover!)

In this post

Is Doha worth visiting?

What is Doha like?

Doha visa requirements

Where to stay in Doha

How long to stay in Doha

When to go to Doha

What to wear in Doha

What is a Doha stopover

How to book a Doha stopover

How to get to Doha from the airport

Getting around Doha

Doha tram service

Rideshare or Taxi

Walking in Doha

Museums & Mosques in Doha

Doha neighborhoods & markets to explore

Malls & Amusement Parks

Beaches & Parks in Doha

Sample Itinerary

Arrival day

Departure Day

More From This Trip

Qatar Transit Tour: Doha City

Important Things to Know When Visiting Doha

Best Time to Visit Doha

Doha City Tour

1. Museum of Islāmic Art

2. Katara Cultural Village

3. The Pearl

4. Souq Waqif

Tour Details

That’s it – we hope you enjoy exploring the beautiful city of Doha!

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Boarding passes, airport exits and queries