Whenever I travel, I try to not only find the cheapest flights but also try to combine my travel days with new destinations and layovers. Why? Most of the times, layover flights are cheaper than direct flights and in most cases it’s perfect to get the feel for a place in 24 hours. If I like the place then I put it on my list of really explore the place in the future. Sometimes cities, like Doha actually offer great deals for layover guests. That’s how I got to spend 24 Hours in Doha, Qatar on my flight back from Sri Lanka. Doha was perfect for a 24 Hours Layover as the airport is really close to the city and the main sights of the city are really accessible.
Top Tip: Qatar Airways offers cheap 5 and 4 star hotels for layover guests. You just need to click on this link and you get direct to the booking site. When I visited in February 2020, I got to spend a night in a 5 star hotel for 20€.
You first arrive at Doha International Airport and need to go through customs. I arrived at lunch time and I only had to wait a little bit before my passport was stamped. I travel on a German passport so you don’t need a visa to enter the country. Doha has uber so I quickly booked an uber into the city, which took around 10 minutes. Once at my hotel, which was in the area Mushaireb and I really recommend this area as it is very accessible, I left my small backpack as Qatar Airways kept my large backpack. This is another perk of layover trips, you don’t have to get your bag or need to check it back in when you leave. You do need to plan ahead what you are going to wear as I wanted to take advantage of the pool at my hotel, but I forgot my bikini in my carry-on luggage.
Top Tip: Check out what amenities your hotel has and pack accordingly. A night dip at a rooftop hotel pool should be a must :)
Doha has a really good metro system and when you enter the metro it’s the cleanest and most pristine metro station I ever entered. Might have been because I just came from Sri Lanka, where the day before I went on a day trip on local busses (check out my Sri Lanka Trip here) but I just was in awe of the metro station. I just bought one way tickets as these were already very cheap and I only planned to go to the city and back once. From where I was staying, it only took 10 minutes to the market.
I had a very different expectation of the Souq Waqif. The Souq Waqif is a market place in the center of Doha, close to the harbor. The new part literally looked like the Disney Land Version of the grand bazaar. Everything looked very new and very touristy. I walked through the local shops but didn’t feel like I got the real experience of an Arab Souq. The shop and restaurant owners were very nice and I didn’t get the feeling that they only were nice to sell me something, so that was a definite plus. So I ventured left and right and for the first time experienced the grandeur of the buildings of Doha. It is impressive to see vast market places, big buildings with palm trees dotted in between. I did venture towards to more local market and I liked that one so much more. Local Qataris doing their weekly errands, shopping for new clothes or trying to find a gift. I loved the atmosphere of this place.
When you walk through the market place and walk towards the harbor/ sea side, you can already see Downtime Doha across the water. It is an impressive skyline, with all the skyscrapers in Doha congregated in the distance. I didn’t go all the way over there but I’m sure it’s very impressive. I strolled along the promenade and looked at the traditional boats, called Dhow. You can go on a quick boat ride, as I was on my own I didn't do it but if you want to go, you just approach one of the boat owners and ask them if they can take you. At the harbor, you can also see a pearl next to the promenade. Which is a bit random and I still don't know why it is there but it makes for a nice photo.
When you walk more towards the right of the promenade you see a beige building leading from the pier into the water. It is the Museum of Islamic Art. Because, I still had time to explore, I decided to buy the ticket for around 11€ and went into the museum to explore. Next to amazing art piece, you can experience the history of Arab culture in a couple of hours.
After the museum, I was ready for some food and even though the Souq is very touristy, it did offer the most restaurants. I chose a typical middle eastern restaurant and I have to say that I wasn’t disappointed. I ate at Damasca One Restaurant which is a Syrian restaurant and I absolutely indulged in the best Syrian food I ever had.
A quick metro ride back and I went back to my hotel. The Four Points by Sheration is amazing for a one-night stay.
The next morning, I took another uber ride back to the airport and made my way back to Germany.
I really like these quick layover trips, because I had an amazing time in Doha. Not only was I able to explore the city a little bit but I also got to learn about Arab History and Arab culture. Doha was also convenient, as you can pay everything with a credit card and don't need to exchange any money.
Top Things to Do in Doha in 24h:
Souq Waqif
Check out the Harbour
Museum of Islamic Art
Total cost of a layover:
Uber Rides - €10
Entrance Museum - €11
Metro Rides - €1,40
Dinner - €30
Total Cost: €53 for one person
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