Stopping over in Doha? Here's everything you need to see and do there right now.

With numerous overseas flights from Australia stopping over in Doha, Qatar is quickly becoming a new tourism hub in the Middle East.

Travel is something I love to do when the chance strikes, and seeing different parts of the world has always been the dream. A lot of people can say they've been to Europe, the UK or America. But not everyone can say they've been to the Middle East.

Places like Oman and Dubai had always been at the top of my list. Then Qatar entered the picture.

I recently came back from my trip to Doha, where I travelled around the main city and its outskirts, exploring all that was on offer. 

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For context, I flew Qatar Airways, which was recently named the World's Best Airline for the seventh time. As for where I stayed, the Park Hyatt Doha hotel was home for my five-day stay, and I would thoroughly recommend it - particularly given its central location.

My itinerary was jam-packed, meaning I got to see plenty of Doha and travel outside the main city hub too.

Here's everything to see and do in Qatar, including the must-visit shopping locations, sight-seeing destinations, food spots and cultural centres. 

Where to shop.

The Souq Waqif is a must-see in Doha. It is one of the biggest marketplaces on offer, selling traditional garments, spices, handcrafted goods, perfumes, souvenirs, food and more.

It's open morning to night, but in the evening is when it's bustling and best to visit. It's a favourite among locals and tourists, and there's even a dedicated souq (market) for gold and falcons. 

For more of your everyday shopping trips, there are two key spots to check out - the Place Vendome and Villaggio Mall.

The first shopping centre only recently opened its doors, modelled off French-style architecture and the iconic high-street shopping destination Rue de la Paix in Paris. It's located in the Doha city of Lusail, and it's huge to say the least with four floors and over 1.15 million square metres. And it has the 'boujiest' of shops inside. 

The other option is Villaggio Mall, which has a mix of luxury and high-street brands. This shopping centre is still pretty grand, modelled off Italian architecture - a similar vibe to Milan's landmark Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II mall. 

There's even a theme park inside there for kids, plus a giant moat throughout the mall, where you can ride a gondola, like in Vegas. 

Image: Supplied.

Where to go for sightseeing.

Before heading over to Doha, I had a squiz over on Visit Qatar to see what activities I was keen on doing. And the desert trip to Khor Al Udaid (Inland Sea) was at the top of my list. 

The desert safari was by far the coolest thing I did - exploring the 11,437 square kilometres of desert located less than an hour from Doha. 

There are a bunch of activities on offer at the Inland Sea, including camel rides, falcon holding, dune bashing in luxury 4WDs, swimming in the adjacent Persian Gulf, and sand surfing/boarding. 

While there, you can also organise to have a bedouin camp experience - a traditional Arabic tent setup that is reminiscent of tribes who lived like this years before, and some still do so today. There are plenty of these camps set up across the Inland Sea, where you can admire the desert surroundings and have a Middle Eastern feast. 

For more inner-city Doha experiences, there are three in particular that you can't miss out on.

One of them is taking a dhow cruise in the Doha harbour. Best done at sunset, a dhow cruise lets you see the city panorama aboard a vintage Arabian dhow boat.

I also adored going to the Katara Cultural Village, which consists of a bunch of mosques, art galleries and an amphitheatre nestled in a maze of cobbled alleys. Being able to admire and appreciate the Turkish architecture behind some of the village's mosques is a worthwhile opportunity. 

For reference, entering the mosque was the only time while in Qatar that a strict Islamic dress code was requested - other than that, I wore what I wanted throughout the trip - just making sure I covered my chest and knees.

Last but certainly not least, we have The Pearl.

It's located 350 meters offshore of Doha's West Bay District and is divided into ten architecturally distinct precincts inspired by Mediterranean cities. Essentially, The Pearl is an artificial island that has humongous buildings, shops, incredible architecture and jaw-dropping residential palaces. It's also a spot mostly consisting of expats, so the dress code is slightly more relaxed here. 

It's best to either hire a car or tour guide for The Pearl, so that you can properly drive around and see all that it has to offer.

The dhow boat cruise and The Pearl. Image: Visit Qatar.

Which museums to visit. 

On my first day in Doha, I went to The Museum of Islamic Art. 

As someone who loves shiny things and history enmeshed, this museum was perfect for me - a comprehensive collection of Islamic art from around the globe. You can also do a guided kayak tour around the perimetre of the museum, as it's located on Doha's harbour area.

Another museum option is The National Museum of Qatar. This one is a little more history and information based, and the building itself is quite architecturally impressive. It's important to note though that entry costs for both museums are on the pricier side when considering the exchange rate between Australia and Qatar. 

Last but not least, there is the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic & Sports Museum. This is a new one that was built in the lead up to the FIFA World Cup in Doha last November.

This museum I thoroughly enjoyed, and as someone who isn't super into sport, that's a pretty big win. There was also an exhibit that paid homage to incredible Olympic athletes from across the world - so it makes sense that Australia's fabulous Cathy Freeman and her achievements were on display. 

The Museum of Islamic Art and The National Museum of Qatar. Image: Supplied.

Where to go for food.

As for food - for classic Middle Eastern flavours, Parisa restaurant is the way to go. It's located in the heart of the Souq Waqif and has an incredible Persian-themed interior and authentic Persian food. And trust me when I say the meat is good.

You can also buy local sweets, spices, nuts and dried fruits while in the Souq Waqif too.

Just like with the architecture, there appeared to be a big love for all things Italian in Doha - so you betcha there were plenty of lush Italian restaurants in Qatar. 

One great option is having lunch at Michelin-star chef David Myers' restaurant ADRIFT, which is near Place Vendome in Lusail. 

And another food highlight for me was eating at B-Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton by the lagoon. The food was spectacular - although more on the high-end scale - and appeared to be a hit among locals and tourists.

Image: Supplied.

Overall, I loved my time in Doha. It was unlike anything I've seen or experienced before.

There were a few predominant factors in the back of my mind during the trip.

There is no shying away from Qatar's reputation. Qatar, like many countries across Africa, Asia, the Pacific and the Caribbean, criminalises homosexuality, which has caused criticism from prominent activists. 

Amnesty's report on the situation of migrant workers amid the FIFA World Cup was also a topic raised while I was in Doha. It's an issue the Qatari government should answer to. And another cause for concern is the invasive search situation multiple women experienced on a Qatar Airways flight in 2020.

Ultimately, these are factors people should consider if visiting or stopping over Doha, as with considering any travel experience. Because comfort, safety and enjoyment is always key. And for me personally, I can say I loved getting to see a country so different to my own. And that's something I always look for in travel. 

The writer travelled as a guest of Visit Qatar.

Feature Image: Supplied/Visit Qatar.

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