Doha walking tour & city guide

Old Doha and the new city

Souq Waqif is the heart of old Doha. The market was rebuilt in traditional style in the 2000s, with timber-beamed ceilings, narrow alleys and shops selling spices, perfume, textiles and pottery; there is a falcon souq where birds sit hooded on their perches, and the main lanes fill with diners and families in the evening. Right next door, Msheireb Downtown is a newly built district of pale stone streets, shaded walkways and small heritage museums in restored houses.

Across the water, West Bay is modern Doha: office towers, hotels and malls, best seen from the Corniche at sunset. Further north, The Pearl is an artificial island of marinas, cafés and apartment blocks, with a pastel, canal-side quarter built in a Venetian style, and Katara Cultural Village has an amphitheatre, galleries and a public beach.

A classic walk: Souq Waqif to the Museum of Islamic Art

Begin in the late afternoon at Souq Waqif and wander its alleys before the evening crowds arrive. From the souq, cross to the Corniche and follow the waterfront east to the Museum of Islamic Art, the geometric building by I. M. Pei that stands on its own island. The park beside it looks straight across the bay at the West Bay towers.

Stay for dusk, when the skyline lights up and traditional dhow boats wait along the shore for short harbour trips. Walk back to the souq for dinner, or continue to the restored Old Doha Port, the Mina District, with its brightly painted buildings.

Good to know

November to March is the time to walk: days are warm and evenings pleasant, while summer heat is extreme and most life moves indoors. The driverless Doha Metro links the souq, West Bay, Katara and Lusail. Dress modestly in the souq and in public buildings, covering shoulders and knees. The National Museum of Qatar, shaped like a desert rose, is a short taxi ride from the Corniche. As with anywhere in the region, check current travel advice before you go.