Info needed about Doha and the Doha airport...
Hi there! I\'ll be staying at the Doha airport for 8-9 hours before flying to Istanbul....and I guess a good way to spend my time will be to leave the airport and walk around in the city!
Has anyone been to Doha? How long does it take to go to the centre from the airport? And what\'s the most convenient way to do so (apart from taxi)?
I don\'t know much about Doha or the Doha airport....so any useful information would be really appreciated!
Thanks for reading and hope to hear from you soon!!!
Reply to this Hello Jamie and welcome to the Forum!
I am currently researching this very topic as it appears that I will also have an 8 hour stopover in the city - but onwards to Kuwait in my instance.
From my research the must see place is the Islamic Museum of Art. The other major museum, the Qatar National Museum, is closed for renovations I believe.
The other two sights are the Corniche for a early evening stroll and possibly the main market, the Souq Waqif - which is not far from the Corniche. However, you could easily give this souq a miss, since if you are heading to Istanbul you can dive into the massive Grand Bazaar and the adjoining Egyptian Bazaar. These will outshine many other markets you will visit in this part of the world.
Doha Airport is close to the main sights, so a taxi might be the best way to head to the Doha proper. I'm unaware if there are other forms of public transport (buses).
Reply to this Hi Shane thanks for the quick reply! When are you flying there? I'll be flying there in early May....
Do you mainly look for info online? I've got a friend who's been to the Doha airport so I'm gonna ask him more about it. Sadly he didn't get to travel in the city before flying elsewhere....so I'm not sure how much he can tell me.
Oh dear, I have to check if the museum will be opened again in May...
Thanks again for your reply!!!
Reply to this I'll be passing through in mid-June, and I believe the Qatar National Museum will be closed for another year or two, according to this article in the Gulf News:
Qatar National Museum to reopen in 2012. So, looks like we'll both be missing it.
I read about info on Doha in a guidebook and then started searching around the net for further information. It is my usual practice for research before travel, though I sometimes dispense with the guidebook purchase if I feel comfortable enough in visiting a place.
Reply to this Get your on-arrival visa, jump in a taxi and drive along the corniche then get him to take you to Souq Waqif - a regenerated old souq full of lovely cafes and stalls and best of all - no hassle!. If you fancy some shopping, get another taxi to City Centre shopping mall, then take a short walk to the Sheraton Hotel for a soothing drink of Alcohol. Then get the taxi back to the airport.
Reply to this Grab a taxi from just outside the terminal. They're cheap and the best way to get around. Metered so you can take as little or as long with the same driver as you want.
Reply to this I've spent a large amount of my life hanging about at Doha airport for transfers (I used to live in Bahrain) and still have never been through to Qatar itself, not for the want of trying - they wouldn't let me through passport control as I had nowhere to go. I have a British passport and never usually have problems getting into countries around this area!
Reply to this Hello,
If you want a better insight in the Islamic culture you should visit the following landmarks: the Museum of Islamic Art, the Qatar National Museum, the Al Koot Fort, the Qatar national museum, the Post Office Museum and even the Weaponry Museum. The grand Mosque and the Kassem Darwish Fakhroo Islami, which is a tower, should not be missed either.
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