Doha Guide

Where to Shop in Doha

Souqs

The centre of the town is dominated by Souqs. The most impressive of this is Souq Waqif. While this is an old souq, the place has been completely rebuilt, although in the old style - with rambling, cobbled streets and stone or whitewashed buildings. In Souq Waqif you can buy almost anything you want, from spices to musical instruments to traditional Arab dress. Even falcons are on offer here!

Malls

Qataris can shop until they drop, and, as if miles of souqs weren't enough, Doha is also crammed full of malls. City Centre is currently the largest, and here you can relax with a coffee by a waterfall, have a go-kart race or even cool down with an hour on the ice-skating rink. You might never know you were in the desert!

However, City Centre is rapidly being outclassed by the newest mall, Villagio. Though not completely finished, Villagio already boasts a Venetian style canal running though its interior - complete with Gondola. It also has the best collection of shops, including Virgin Megastore, which also has the best collection of books in Qatar.

Markets

If you a want a taste of local life, head down to the whole-sale markets. Here you can find vegetables laid out in an incredible array of colours, fish fresh from the sea and even camels for sale in the animal market. See Doha Markets on this lens.

For more information visit Shopping in Qatar.

Doha Sightseeing

Heritage Village

The Heritage Village is located on Doha's Corniche, and showcases traditional Qatari life. Attractions include the Tawaf or pearl trade, sitting in his house and weighing pearls, and the Qatari crafts of pottery, weaving and carpentry.

The Qatar National Museum

The Qatar National Museum is also located just off the Corniche, close to the port. Exhibits include a traditional Bedouin tent, pearl fishing and archeological findings.

Wind Tower

Doha's last remaining wind tower sits in the courtyard of Souq Ahmed in Grand Hamed street. The wind tower was a natural form of air conditioning, using the natural flow of hot and cold air to keep buildings cool in the peninsula's scorching summers.

The Museum of Islamic Arts

Situated on an artificial island next to Qatar's port, this museum's opening keeps being delayed. Hopefully we will finally be able to visit it early next year.

Dhows

The Dhow workshop lies between the Oasis and the Yacht club on Ras Abu Aboud street. Here you can still see traditional dhowws or Merkhab being built.

Read more about things to see in Doha on our website's Doha Guide.

Fish, Spices and Camels

Seven o' clock in the morning might just find me on the way to the Corniche - the Doha sea front. Here you can buy fish as fresh as you're ever going to get it. Boats pull up to the Corniche, still pulling fish out of their nets to sell. Fish and crab both start from 5 riyals a kilo - not even two dollars.

You won't get the same variety as the wholesale fish market off Salwa Road, though. In this market you can get tiny sprats and huge kingfish, tuna and sharks longer than me - and prawns and squid and crabs.

You also have the Omani soukh, selling all kinds of dates and spices and herbs, and in easy smelling distance you have the animal and camel markets. Here you can get fresh meat, killed while you wait. This place is very busy at the moment, as many people are buying animals to sacrifice for Ramadan.

More on markets in Doha:

Doha Markets

Selling fish on the Corniche

Doha's Corniche or seafront is without doubt the most attractive part of the city. Stretching for eight kilometres in front of turquoise waters, the immaculately maintained seafront is unimpeded by shops or houses. Instead you can relax in a park, admire the flowers or water fountains or lounge with a picnic under one of the many palm trees. Once the heat of the day has passed you could join the locals taking their exercise here, or enjoy a dhow boat trip around the bay.

Read more about Doha's Corniche.