72 hours in Doha, Qatar

The Qatar Airways stop over experience is a brilliant idea. It is such good value for money as you get to transit in Doha for up to 96 hours. This allows you to leave the airport, check in to your hotel and explore the city. We had the option to stop for a day, which is usually the popular option. However, travelling with a baby means that we slow down even more. This helps us relax more and actually enjoy the places we visit. Instead of 24 hours, we decided to spend 72 hours in Doha, Qatar and it was such a fantastic choice.

About Doha

Doha is the capital of Qatar. It is a very popular stop over hub thanks to its national airline, Qatar Airways. I believe this is the reason for the Qatar Airways stop over programme. They must have seen the amount of passengers who commute via their Hamad International airport to other countries; without stopping to explore Doha.

You need a maximum of 4 days to see everything Doha has to over. It is a very safe city and crime rate is low. The wealth of the country comes from Oil and Gas (mainly Gas); so as you can imagine, it is a super wealthy country.

Its total population is 2.8 million; however, only 400k are locals while 2.4 million are foreigners. The major nationalities are India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Pakistan, and Egyptians etc.

72 hours in Doha, Qatar: What to know before you visit Qatar

Visa Requirements and Passport Validity

Visa is not required for UK/US/Canadian passport holders. For Nigerian passport holders who hold a valid UK/US/Schengen/Canadian visa, it is visa free. To know if it is visa free, confirm via Visit Qatar.

Passport validity is 6 months from the date you are departing Qatar. One thing I found weird was that I did not receive a stamp when I got in nor when I left. This might be a new thing where border force officers don’t stamp any more? I will be vigilant going forward because I like my stamps lol.

Qatar Currency

The currency is QAR but I did not need to withdraw any money. My UK Starling bank master card and AMEX worked perfectly.

Tipping Culture in Doha

Tipping is appreciated but not necessary. I know this is a very controversial topic especially if you are not American. The concept of tipping is bizarre to me; however, I always check what is appropriate in each country I travel to. With Doha, I tipped our guide and driver after our day out with them.

Religion and Culture in Qatar

Qatar is a Muslim country, which means that you are restricted when it comes to drinking alcohol in public places. Of course, like Dubai, you can drink in your hotel and restaurants etc; but it is largely prohibited to drink in public, unapproved spaces. You also won’t find pork for your bacon and sausages, as it is not allowed.

Things work around the Muslim holidays and festivities. So for example, during Ramadan, many of the businesses adopt “Ramadan hours” which limits business hours. The hours are loosely 9am – 2pm and then 7pm till midnight. What this means is that during the day, everything is quiet. This might be a good thing for tourists wishing to have a quiet visit. However, it is something to note especially when you have to think of lunch options.

How to get around Doha

Uber is available and popular. In fact, everyone will advise you to use uber instead of the metered taxis.

What to wear in Doha

Qatar is a very conservative country so dressing modestly is encouraged. I found it a little stricter that Dubai but that might be because we went in Ramadan period. I made sure to cover my shoulders, wore trousers and when we visited the Mosque, I covered my hair.

As someone who travels a lot, I always make sure I respect the Culture and Religion of where I visit. Whether or not I agree with their practices is irrelevant. In my opinion, if you will not respect it, then don’t bother visiting. There are many places in the world to travel to that will always fit what you are willing to tolerate. Dressing modestly is not a problem for me and if it will make me feel more comfortable, win win.

Where to stay in Doha

We stayed at the Mondrian Doha in Lusail city and I don’t think I’ll stop talking about it anytime soon. It was possibly one of our most epic hotel stays to date. Using Qatar Airways’ stop over program, we maximised every possible luxury in our 72 hours in Doha, Qatar. There was the choice of staying in one of the free hotels assigned but for a little extra, you could upgrade to one of Doha’s 5 star hotels. Since I had always wanted to experience the luxury of Mondrian hotels, it seemed the best time to take advantage.

What was even more incredible was that due to Ramadan, we were able to upgrade to a suite for only £50 extra per night. The suite had a 180 degrees window view like you see in Manhattan buildings. Our view was the Pearl on one side, in the distance and the classic old Doha skyline to the other. Our guide told us that JLo and Paris Hilton had stayed there; I guess if it is good for them, it is good for us too haha.

A full and honest review of where we stayed during our 72 hours in Doha, Qatar is available to read.

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72 hours in Doha, Qatar: What to do in Doha

This part of our trip was very well planned. Although we had 3 full days in Doha, we spent the 1st day resting in our hotel. I have always been one who booked hotel as part of the travel experience. So my trip will always include a full day or 2 to enjoy it.

We ended up speaking to the concierge who organised an external guide and driver for us. I had my list of places I wanted to visit; armed with that list, we mapped out the best plan. Day 2 was for exploring with the guide and day 3 was for exploring by ourselves.

Our concierge recommended Qatar International Tours and I am so glad we went with them. The tour guide, Jay was Philippino and was the 1st Asian to obtain a tour guide license in Doha. Sri Lankan driver, Gunasiri, accompanied him. We had such an incredible day with them and I made sure to leave a tip and review afterwards.

Souq Waqif

Our first stop of the day was this bustling market, which sells everything you can think of. Jay took us to the Falcon daycare/spa – yes you read that right and the Falcon hospital. In Qatar, owning a falcon is quite a fancy thing and when the Qatari owners are out of town for example, they keep these majestic creatures in day care.

The Falcon hospital is also quite a fascinating place to visit. It has 4 floors all dedicated to treatment and wellness of falcons. Jay even explained that some of the falcons have wing transplant. This is where additional wings are attached to make them faster when hunting prey. We struggled to understand how the whole thing works and I doubt that it is ethical, but it is a big deal. In another breath, I’ll add that the falcons are very well taken care of so maybe it’s ok? I’ll let you decide.

Souq Waqif is usually packed but thanks to Ramadan, it was very sparse which made us enjoy it better. We bought our table souvenir, took some photos, met some camels and learnt a lot about Doha’s history.

National Museum of Qatar

One of the top things to do within 72 hours in Doha, Qatar is to visit the National Museum. If you have the time, makes sure to go in for an exhibition. We stopped by this incredible building and were totally blown away by the stunning architecture. If you did not guess yet, Doha is in a league of its own when it comes to the architecture. Everything looks so futuristic, well thought out and aesthetically pleasing. It can be quite difficult to get all 3 right but Doha does that best.

The best thing to do before your visit is to check out what exhibitions they have on show. It is also worth noting that there are periods like Ramadan when the museum will not be open all day.

Villaggio Mall

This might be the most beautiful mall I have seen complete with ever-blue skies. We walked in and it seemed like we were in some kind of AI stimulation but make it real life. The skies were blue with clouds looming; there were gondolas causally going up and down the canal and there was train loudly playing nursery rhymes. 

In case I have lost you, let’s bring it back to the basics if possible. Villaggio Mall is a shopping center where you can find everything. From independent stores to international shops to an arcade to a theme park – I mean, everything. It is designed in gorgeous pastels and the faux sky makes it look like 24/7 daylight inside the mall. You could easily spend the whole day here especially if you have up to 72 hours in Doha, Qatar.

Adanna loved the train ride as she sang along to nursery rhymes very passionately. I enjoyed watching the gondolas go by and Mr E kept exclaiming in astonishment. There is nothing like Villaggio Mall and is a must visit if ever in Doha.

Doha Corniche

This is Doha’s gorgeous promenade that extends 7 km long. It is where the big celebrations such as National Sports Day and Qatar National Day are held. You can see the incredible Doha skyline and even lots of traditional boats just chilling on the river.

We visited the Hublot official countdown clock and sign; they sat in front of the waterfront and looked so fancy. What attracted me was different though. I had seen dhow traditional boats in Dubai so I was drawn to them again in Doha. We had a quick peek, took some photos and I imagined I was in a Peter Pan movie. I also imagined being in perhaps, Pirates of the Caribbean? You tell me haha.

Doha Old Port

Old Port was quite a surprise to us. Who would have thought that Doha was a pastel loving city? Old Port introduced us to how much pastel is loved here and we went on to see more pastel buildings. It is located in the Mina district and is what I will call a pastel picture perfect sight to behold.

Old Port is where the cruise ships dock and there is a popular fishing market in the district as well. The whole area is quite charming and the cobblestone streets will make you believe you are in a Disney movie. I absolutely loved this place. To make it even more special, the area lights up at night so you can imagine how pretty it gets.

Further down the road is Box Park. This area is a little different but still quite colourful. However, this time, the colours are very bold and it looks like a trendy neighbourhood to catch up with friends. The “boxes” are made of old shipping containers, which have been recycled and I thought the idea was cute. Doha is going in the right direction when it comes to sustainability so that’s another plus in my books. The port has a beautiful backdrop of boats; yet another gorgeous spot in this city that has managed to surprise me.

Katara Cultural Village

This is a must visit if you are ever in Doha. I think it is where you find the juxtaposition between old and new, traditional and modern. The Blue Mosque might be the most popular attraction; also know as the Katara Mosque. A Turkish woman designed it; and features Turkish and Persian tiles. This makes the Mosque a controversial building having been designed by a woman. However, it is a functional Mosque so I’m not sure the so-called controversy is a thing. It is very beautiful and reminded me of the Mosques I had seen in Istanbul.

The most impressive architecture to me was the Bird Towers. The high, oblong structures moulded from clay shelter the birds from being preyed upon by falcons. It is what you see when you are shown a picture of Katara Cultural village as they represent Qatari heritage. There is an amphitheater as well which is used for concerts today.

Katara Cultural Village has its beach. However, this one is where you have to respect the culture and not turn up in a bikini. The beach has its rules and it is more popular with the locals or tourists looking for a traditional experience.

The Pearl Island

This was the view from our hotel; Mondrian Doha and I knew we had to check it out. It is shaped like oyster and is a man made island where foreigners are allowed to buy property. Pearl Island is known for being opulent with gorgeous cafes, restaurants and of course, Qanat Quartier.

It reminded me of London’s Canary Wharf, only that it is much prettier and cleaner too. There is a “Rialto” bridge, which was modelled after the famous one in Venice. I did find it odd that Rialto was recreated and wondered what the world’s fascination is with Italy. It is a great place to spend a few hours exploring and perhaps, for lunch too.

Place Vendôme

You would be forgiven to think that you are being transported to France with a name like Place Vendôme. But no, we are still in Doha and this is another beautiful mall to visit. I don’t think it is as captivating as Villaggio Mall; but honestly, it is very stunning. We found a Boots pharmacy in there and picked up some medication and had a browse. We visited in the afternoon while lots of shops were closed due to Ramadan. This meant that if felt rather quiet, which we thought was weird for a huge shopping mall.

The main reason why people flock to Place Vendôme is the fountain show, which is very popular. We missed it due to Ramadan and from videos I had seen online, it is quite the show. My guess is that it is as epic as anything else in Doha so might be one to watch out for.

72 hours in Doha, Qatar

I’m not sure if I would have visited Qatar if we did not have the stop over option. As much as I have come to see how lush Doha is, it was not high on my travel list. So when we planned to visit the Maldives, we knew that this was our one opportunity to see Doha. For Mr E, he was excited to see where 2022 World Cup was held; and as a fan of over the top architecture, he was right at home.

Adanna really enjoyed herself. I’m not sure if it was the warm weather or the kind hotel staff but she seemed so happy. The Qatar Airways stop over programme; together with hosting the World Cup has probably made the country much more enticing to visit. However, like Dubai, I never know what to make of countries where most of their population is foreigners. This is especially the work force. It is one that will always fascinate me.

I am now more inclined to visit more Middle Eastern countries and I have my eye on a few.

Until then, it is a hop and skip to one of our bucket list destinations.

Bisous, Bugo x