Doha in 3 days: what to see and do with tips from an expat

What can you see and do in Doha in 3 days? Do you really need that much time? I mentioned in my previous post all the highlights of Doha for 1-day trip, but really, there is so much more to do that it would not be possible to squeeze in one day. Some time ago I created a list of 50 amazing things to do in Qatar and I assure you, the list is not exhaustive.

I’ve lived in Doha for over 7 years and there’s always something new being build. Even a post written 2 years ago would now be incomplete. So in this 3 days in Doha itinerary, I’m including places that are still unknown as they were opened only a few months ago. I’m not talking about restaurants or coffee places, but whole new neighborhoods.

How to get to Doha?

Doha is very well connected with many cities in Europe, USA or now is going to even have more direct flights to South America. Since the city is not that known yet, it is mainly used as a stopover option on the way to Africa, Asia and Australia. There are a few airlines flying to Doha, however I highly recommend Qatar Airways as they offer an amazing stopover packages with 5-star hotels starting at over 30$. Its really worth booking it as a stopover option rather than a whole separate trip.

Read some of my favourite posts from Australia, South America and Asia (in case you head that way through Doha):

Where to stay in Doha in 3 days (aka most convenient locations)

If you only have 3 days in Doha, staying in a convenient location is key to saving your time. I live in Westbay, which is my favourite part of Doha (the area with all skyscrapers) because is central and in between all attractions. Some people love the Pearl, which is nice for a day, but if you stay there, you’ll need to take a taxi or Uber to most places as the metro doesn’t operate there and the traffic sometimes id quite congested.

Therefore, the places I recommend the most are:

Westbay

Westbay has a couple of metro stations to reach most of the places of interest, close to the Corniche and Al Bidda park. It also has a few great restaurants and hotels.

Hotels I love in Westbay:

Sheraton is an absolute top pick for great pool, walking distance from beaches (those where you can wear bikini) and Corniche.
W Doha is a modern hotel with beautiful decor and great restaurants. I don’t like the pool though, because is tiny with a few chairs cramped on a terrace.

Souq Waqif

If I were a tourist in Doha, I think staying in Souq Waqif is an attraction on its own. It is a few minutes walking from Musheireb and it has a metro station that links most of the touristic places that you will most likely visit. Being in the middle of the market ”caos” is pretty cool.

Hotels I think you might love in Souq Waif:

Musheireb

Musheireb is a modern part of Doha with many restaurants and coffee places. It also has a metro station, so it will be easy for you to go to many attractions cheaply.

My favourite hotel in this area is Mandarin Oriental.

Day 1: Old Port (MINA), Souq Waqif, Musheireb, Education City

All these places are conveniently located and can easily be done in one day. I would start from a walk along Corniche for a beautiful views of the see and Westbay (the business area with skyscrapers) in the background. As you walk along, you get to the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) and the MIA park, which also give you an opportunity for great views and a coffee stop.

From there head to the National Museum of Qatar (by taxi or Uber- both safe and easy). While, in my opinion, the inside and the collection is not that impressive, the building itself is stunning as it resembles the desert rose. It’s a piece of art. While there, go upstairs to Jiwan restaurant for delicious food and amazing views of the Old Port, Corniche and Westbay.

After your visit either walk (about 30 minutes) or take a taxi to go to Musheireb, a modern part of Doha, also called smart city. I love this area- it’s calm, full of coffee places and some exhibitions sometimes. Occasionally, in the building called M7, there are amazing exhibitions, like Dior or Valentino creations from the past. It’s worth checking out on their website.

I love the Asian restaurants in Musheireb. One of my favourite ones is Liang, a Chinese restaurants (that have been listed on Michelin Guide 2025).

Take a metro to Education City

Education City is a neighbourhood of Doha with most of the top universities, a modern mosque and a lovely park. On weekends, there is a food market called Torba, which offers coffees, food and fresh produce from local businesses. It is a very popular place among Qataris and a great place to immerse yourself into a local life.

I used to study Arabic at one of the universities in this area, so I might be a bit biased. However, this area has its own vibe and charm. The National Library also cannot be missed- it’s a modern building with beautiful interior.

Old Port (MINA) district

I cannot imagine how many new areas just got created in Doha in the last couple of years and the Old Port is one of them. I like this area very much. It has a nice promenade, buildings of pastel colours, lots of cafes and ice cream shops (cannot recommend any though as I’m not a fan). Also there, you can visit the most beautiful fish market ever (probably) and a free acquarium.

Day 2: Katara, the Pearl, Lusail

These three neighbourhoods are close to each other in the northern part of Doha, so it just makes sense to see them in the same day. No matter where you start or end, each place has its charm. Hpwever, I love the evening walks in either Katara or Lusail (where you can also have dinner in one of many restaurants).

The Pearl

First head to the Pearl for a walk along the bay, many coffee places and options for breakfast. The Pearl is quite big with a few sections. Porto Arabia (where the boats are and Kai’s Songbird restaurant– very Instagramable). From there cross the road to Qanat Quartier that kind of imitates Venice with its canals, bridges and colourful buildings- it’s a great spot for pictures. Then head to Medina Centrale, where some nice restaurants are (although I don’t really go there too often)- this is the place where often a big show off happens with locals driving slowly their sport cars. Another area that I like is Porto Arabia, but there’s no many attractions to see there apart from having a lovely walk.

Crystal Walk in Gewan island

After visiting the Pearl (the closest part from the Pearl is Qanat Quartier), either walk or take a taxi to Gewan island, one of the newest parts of Doha, just completed at the end of 2024. It is known for pretty shading, air conditioning and most importantly, the floor with crystal installations that represent many different scenes.

Katara

Katara is a cultural village with occasional small exhibitions, horse show, or dhow show. I can’t mention the exact timings as it may vary, however most outdoor events are most likely to happen in winter.

When in Katara, visit the maze of buildings, the Gold mosque and Katara Hills for a walk in greenery. Don’t forget that Katara is also known for an air-conditioned street.

Lusail and Boulevard

Lusail is big and you might need to use a taxi between Lusail Marina and Boulevard. If your legs are still ok after the whole day of walking, you can walk the whole Lusail promenade and continue towards the four towers in Boulevard to see the hanging whale shark. It’s doable, I do it from time to time, but it will take you at least an hour and half.

Nonetheless, let me mention all the best places to see in Lusail. First of all, the walk in Marina is very nice. You will pass the sigh ” I love Lusail” and many floor fountains. For sure, the highlight of that walk is Katara towers, the iconic building with Fairmont Hotel. Stop by for an amazing lobby and a bar on the top for great views from the terrace.

At the end of the walk, you will get to Al Maha island, where you might stop for a coffee or food, they even serve alcoholic drinks there now (that wasn’t the case long long ago). Thie area is also popular due to the Winter Wonderland.

Nearby, if you want to see the opulence of Qatari malls, stop by Place Vendome. It is a massive mall with many luxury shops, restaurants and singing fountains.

Day 3: Explore the desert

There are so many ways to explore the desert of Qatar. The most popular option would be dune bashing in Inland Sea in the south of Qatar. I’ve been there numerous times because it is such a pretty place to be.

However, this is not the only desert option in the country and not the only tour available. For example, one of the nice tours is kayaking in the mangroves where flamingoes live. You can do it early in the morning or for sunset.

If you are willing to rent a car, you will have so much flexibility to see a lot. Driving in Qatar is fairly easy, especially outside of Doha, as the roads are rather empty, have multiple lines and are just straight. On top of that that the distances are not big, so you can get everywhere within an hour or so.

So what can you see if you rent a car and drive yourself? Here you have a few of my favourite places:

North Sedra farm- there is a little museum and some animals, like the national oryx.
Torba Farm- it is a beautiful place to be surrounded by greenery in the middle of the desert. It has a really pretty restaurant with locally grown food.
White sand beaches in the north: Fuwairit beach (for kitesurfing),
Sheikh Faisla museum with his lifelong collection of cars and everything else.
The Ghost Town- a 19th century abandoned village. Its actual name is Al Jumail village.
Al Zubara fort and Shadows travelling on the sea of the day desert installation nearby.
Richard Serra’s East West/West East desert sculptures.

See also:

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Use my favourite travel resources to plan your dream trips

Booking.com for searching best prices on accommodation.
Discover Cars is a great website as they search both local and international car hire services, so you can choose the best deal for yourself. Make sure though, that the company has a good reputation and reviews.
Get Your Guide is my place to go for searching and booking tours and excursions, especially when I travel solo.
World Nomads and EKTA travel insurance. I like them because they have quite extensive coverage of different activities.
Jack’s Flight Club is a service that can save you hundreds of dollars on flights, it works especially well in Europe.
Trivago where you can search and save on hotels.
Klook for all sorts of bookings- offers discounts.
Go City is a perfect site for booking bucket list experiences and attractions all in one to avoid paying for multiple tickets. Easy and saves money. You can even save 50%.
Trip Advisor– amazing for good quality recommendations.
Skyscanner is a perfect website for searching flight routes and comparing prices.