Qatar, which has its roots in West Asia and is considered one of the largest and most famous transit gateways in the world, is full of luxuries and happy moments of life in the sights of Qatar. The hospitality that this country offers is world-renowned and is one of the main reasons why travelers travel to this country for vacations. The sights of Qatar are a combination of modern and traditional world. In this article from tourism magazine, we will mention 10 important attractions in Qatar.
10 must-see places on your trip to Qatar, from local markets to museums with amazing architecture, don't miss out on these Qatar attractions on your trip.
Museum of Islamic Art
This museum is a large collection of works of Islamic art of the world, which has been collected from three different continents and has turned it into a jewel. Before you want to enter the museum, the special and attractive architecture of this museum, which is similar to a post-modern castle, will attract your attention. This different and attractive appearance with the reflection it creates in the surrounding waters doubles the attraction of visiting this art museum.
The interesting thing here is that the architect who designed this extraordinary appearance for this museum is the same architect of the Louvre Museum. So you can imagine what special things await you inside this museum. The entrance of the museum is decorated with tall palm trees, which may be as interesting as viewing the special works inside the museum.
This museum consists of three floors, on the first and second floors of which there is a permanent collection of ceramic, glass and fabric artworks for visiting. There is a cafe on the lowest floor and a restaurant on the top floor, where visitors can relax and drink a cup of coffee after viewing the works of Islamic art.
Keep in mind that you should avoid wearing inappropriate clothes to enter this museum, because you may be denied entry.
National Museum of Qatar
Qatar National Museum is one of the newest attractions in Qatar, which was unveiled in March 2019. This museum will amaze everyone with its amazing appearance before entering. An attractive and spectacular look designed by a French designer and architect named Jean Nouvel. What makes this design even more special is the inspiration from the desert rose (also called crystal).
Inside this museum there is also a picture of the history of Qatar and its remaining heritage. This museum actually displays the past, present and future of this small country in 11 different galleries. Visiting this museum is more of an educational experience about a country that most tourists may know very little about.
Villaggio Mall
If you are going to shop in a luxury and spectacular shopping center during your trip to Qatar, you should include Villagio shopping center in the list of shopping centers you visit. As the largest and most famous shopping mall in Doha, Villaggio Mall will bring Venice to life in the heart of Qatar. Even if you don't shop, visiting this Qatar shopping center will be very attractive and special for you. An artificial water channel passes through the middle of this Italian-style shopping mall, and to make it more reminiscent of Venice, boats are on the water. Boating is one of the entertainments of this shopping center.
Villagio shopping center has more than 200 stores, most of which are famous international brands, and some of them are dedicated to brands related to Qatari products. In addition to these, there are restaurants, various entertainment for children and a luxury cinema, an ice skating and ice hockey playground, a bowling center and other exciting entertainment in this vast complex. Visiting this shopping center will probably take a few hours of your time.
Katara Cultural Village
Among the sights of Qatar that are attractive to many tourists is Katara Cultural Village. There are cobbled streets in this Qatar attraction, which form a mysterious and beautiful labyrinth. In the construction of this village, an idea has been taken from old and traditional souqs or markets. Katara Cultural Village houses an opera house, an outdoor amphitheater with a capacity of 5,000 people and a mosque built in the style of Ottoman mosques.
This cultural village is known as one of the best places to visit art works in this country and meet creative people in this field. This spectacular attraction of Qatar is 8 km away from the city center and it is easily accessible by metro.
Katara Beach
At a short distance from Katara cultural village, its private beach is located. A beach of 1.5 km which is considered a private luxury beach, which is visited by most of the visitors of the village. In this beach, various water activities and entertainments are performed, including swimming, boating, water skiing, parasailing and surfing. In addition to the main part of the beach, which is prepared for adults, there is also a separate area for children, which will be free to use. But keep in mind that you need to buy a ticket to use the water activities of this beach.
Aspire Park
At a distance of 10 km from the center of Doha, the largest green space of this city is called Spire Park. This vast park is where Qatar's tallest structure, called the Torch Tower, is located. In addition to this, this area has played a role in many sports events, including the 2006 Asian Games, and became an important and busy center in the 2022 World Cup.
The only lake in Doha is located in this park, where you can see birds and geese that fly to this lake from the heat of the desert. Wi-Fi internet is available for free in all parts of this park and access to this park is possible through Al-Aziziyah metro.
Pearl Island
Qatar has several islands, the most popular of which are the pearl and banana islands, which are often visited by tourists either to visit and enjoy the beach or to stay. Pearl Island is similar to Dubai's Palm Jumeirah Island, an artificial island that includes 12 different areas, each divided into residential, commercial and recreational areas. On this island, there are many luxury hotels to stay that Qatari travelers can choose as their accommodation and spend their vacation by the sea.
Pearl Island is also known as a shopping paradise, as many luxury fashion brands and glittering jewelry are available on this island. Access to Pearl Island will take 20 minutes from Doha city center, which is easily accessible by taxi.
You are not allowed to use plastic in Pearl Island. In fact, the use of any type of plastic is prohibited on this island, so keep this in mind and avoid carrying any plastic items when visiting Pearl Island.
Banana Island
Another island of Qatar is known as Banana. If you see the image of this artificial island from above, it looks very similar to a banana, that's why they named it Banana. This island is considered a peaceful and quiet refuge in the Persian Gulf, which is easily accessible by boat from the center of Doha. This route takes 30 minutes, so you can see this island in one day and return to Doha.
But if you wish, you can stay in the luxurious and beautiful villas of this island that have a beautiful view of the sea. Aquatic activities such as diving, boating and diving are also among the most popular activities on the island. To go to this island, you have to take a boat from Doha Corniche.
Souq Waqif
One of the most important sights in Qatar that you should not miss is Souq Waqif, the oldest market in Qatar. The history of this market dates back to 250 years ago and everything in it is built in the style of traditional Qatari architecture. This market was renovated in 2006, however, its appearance has not changed much. This old market is very popular with tourists and is one of the places that can be suitable for a family evening excursion. In addition to the markets and stores in Souq Waqif, you can also visit its cafes and restaurants.
Throughout the year, various festivals and celebrations are held in this bazaar and the Souq Waqif area becomes a place for performances or acrobatic movements.
Corniche
Corniche refers to the waterfront paths that exist in many waterfront cities including Mumbai and Dubai. Doha Corniche is one of Qatar's attractions, which includes a 7-kilometer path along the waters of the Persian Gulf, which is considered a suitable place for a walk by the water. This walking route starts from Sheraton Doha Hotel in West Bay and reaches the Islamic Art Museum and Mia Park on the other side of this city. Along this route, there are numerous attractions and beautiful and extraordinary views that will entertain tourists, so that you probably won't notice the passage of time.
