Doha grew from a pearling port into one of the Gulf’s most eye-catching cities, where glass towers arc over the calm of the Corniche and tradition hums in the lantern-lit lanes of Souq Waqif. You’ll feel that duality everywhere: dhow boats gliding past Jean Nouvel’s desert-rose National Museum, call to prayer echoing a short stroll from a Nobu designed like a seashell.

Beyond the skyline, the desert steals the show. Dune bashing, camel rides, and sandboarding lead to the Inland Sea where Qatar meets Saudi Arabia—one of the few places on Earth where the sea kisses the sand dunes. Add in a moonlit dhow cruise and island-hopping bites around The Pearl, and your week balances adrenaline with serenity.

Practical notes: Friday is the main holy day (many shops open after 1–2 pm). Dress modestly in traditional quarters (shoulders/knees covered). The Doha Metro is modern, air-conditioned, and efficient; taxis and rideshares are plentiful. Hydrate, plan outdoor time for early mornings and evenings, and lean into Qatari staples—machboos, regag, and karak tea.

Doha

Qatar’s capital is a compact playground of culture and coast. Wander the storied Souq Waqif for spices and falcons, step into global-class museums (MIA and NMoQ are musts), then swap city for sea on a dhow cruise under a purple Gulf sunset. Katara Cultural Village and The Pearl-Qatar add beach-and-boutique vibes, while Msheireb Downtown Doha showcases sustainable urban design.

• Top sights: Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ), Souq Waqif & Falcon Souq, Corniche promenade, Katara Cultural Village, The Pearl-Qatar, Msheireb Museums, 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic & Sports Museum, Aspire Park, Place Vendôme & Lusail Boulevard.
• Local flavors to try: Qatari machboos (spiced rice with meat), regag (paper-thin crepe), luqaimat (honeyed doughnuts), and karak tea.
• Getting around: Doha Metro rides ~QAR 2 per trip; day pass ~QAR 6. Taxis/Uber/Careem are abundant; traffic is lightest outside rush hours.

Where to stay: For skyline-and-beach access, look at West Bay and The Pearl; for culture at your doorstep, choose Souq Waqif or Msheireb Downtown Doha. Browse serviced apartments (great for families) and hotels here: VRBO Doha | Hotels.com Doha. Notable properties include Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels by Tivoli (heritage vibe), Park Hyatt Doha (Msheireb design hub), W Doha (stylish West Bay), Marsa Malaz Kempinski (resort feel on The Pearl), and Four Seasons Doha (home to Nobu).

Getting there: Fly into Hamad International Airport (DOH), a major Middle East hub. From many US/EU hubs, nonstop or one-stop flights often run 10–16 hours (~$750–$1,400 economy round-trip depending on season). Compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Airport taxis to central Doha take ~20–25 minutes.

Day 1 — Corniche, MIA Park Sunset, and Souq Waqif Welcome

Afternoon (arrival): Check in, freshen up, and stretch your legs along the palm-lined Corniche. Watch dhows nose across the bay and grab a refreshing lemon-mint. If time allows, continue to MIA Park for skyline photos with I.M. Pei’s Museum of Islamic Art as your backdrop.

Evening: Drift into Souq Waqif—a restored marketplace alive with spices, oud, and tailors. For dinner, book Parisa (Persian; mirrored mosaics and pomegranate-studded stews), or go casual at Shujaa Restaurant (grilled skewers) or Damasca One (Syrian mezze). Finish with warm kunafa at Al Aker Sweets and a stroll past the Falcon Souq.

Nightcap: Karak tea and regag at a souq café; the lanes are atmospheric after dark.

Day 2 — Msheireb Design District, MIA, and a Moonlight Dhow

Morning: Coffee at Flat White Specialty Coffee in Msheireb, then explore Msheireb Museums (four historic houses narrating pearl-diving, slavery, and urban change). If you prefer a sit-down breakfast, Opus at Park Hyatt serves a refined Levantine morning spread.

Afternoon: Head to the Museum of Islamic Art (allow 1.5–2 hours; adults typically ~QAR 50). Highlights span lusterware, Fatimid glass, and jeweled manuscripts. For lunch, choose the breezy MIA Park Café or reserve IDAM by Alain Ducasse upstairs for contemporary Arabic cuisine with sea views.

Evening: Sail the bay on a traditional wooden dhow—Doha is luminous at night from the water.

Book: Moonlight on The Gulf: Dhow Cruise (about 2 hours; typically $35–$60). Post-cruise bites: Al Mourjan on the Corniche for seafood and mezze.

Day 3 — Katara Culture by Day, Desert Adventure by Late Afternoon

Morning: Make for Katara Cultural Village: peek into galleries, the Greco-Arab amphitheater, and the Blue & Golden mosques. Breakfast on the waterfront with Chapati & Karak (sweet spiced tea and hot-off-the-griddle flatbread) or linger over pancakes and eggs at Boho Social above Katara Beach.

Afternoon → Evening: Shift gears to the dunes for adrenaline and cinematic scenery. Expect a 4x4 hotel pickup, camel meet-and-greet, dune bashing, optional sandboarding, and time at the Inland Sea.

Book: Desert Safari: Dune Bashing, Sandboarding, Camel (ATV option) (4–5 hours; many tours $60–$120). Return to town for dinner at Al Mourjan or a late Syrian feast at Damasca One.

Day 4 — The Pearl & Lusail, Then a Boat-and-Bites Tour

Morning: Wander The Pearl-Qatar: pastel bridges and canals in Qanat Quartier, glossy promenades in Porto Arabia. Breakfast at Karak Mqanes (Qatari comfort plates and karak) or Eggspectation (hearty international brunch).

Afternoon → Evening: Dive deeper with a guided tastings-and-boat experience across The Pearl and Gewan Island—ideal for sampling local flavors while cruising turquoise canals.

Book: Qatar Island Experience: Boat & Food Tour (7 tastings) (approx. 3–4 hours).

Late Night: Taxi up to Lusail Boulevard for neon-lit architecture and a fountain show at Place Vendôme. Sweet finale: macarons at Ladurée in the mall.

Day 5 — Education City, Sports Heritage, and a Designer Dinner

Morning: Head to Education City. Brunch at the leafy Chef’s Garden (farm-to-table plates), then visit Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art for contemporary voices from the region.

Afternoon: Explore the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic & Sports Museum (displays on global sport and Qatari achievements), and stroll Aspire Park. If you’d like a quirky interlude, Villaggio Mall’s indoor canal offers gondola rides under a faux sky.

Evening: Dress up for West Bay Lagoon. Choose Morimoto Doha (artful Japanese) or CUT by Wolfgang Puck (steak and seafood) at the Mondrian. Cocktails/mocktails in the hotel’s sculptural lounges cap the night.

Day 6 — Full-Day North & West Coast Heritage Adventure

Escape the city for windswept forts, ghost towns, and stark desert sculpture on a private full-day tour with hotel pickup, A/C transport, and local insight. Typical highlights include the UNESCO-listed Al Zubarah Fort, the abandoned fishing village of Al Jumail, the moonlike mesas of Zekreet, and Richard Serra’s monumental East-West/West-East installation. Expect a local lunch stop or a scenic picnic en route.

Book: Discover Qatar’s Hidden Gems: North & West Coast Private Tour (full day; usually 8–10 hours). Bring sunscreen, hat, and plenty of water.

Day 7 — Souq Deep Dive, Msheireb Tram, and a Nobu Farewell

Morning: Traditional breakfast at Shay Al Shamoos in Souq Waqif—eggs with tomatoes, regag with honey, and steaming karak. Explore the Falcon Souq and Gold Souq for last-minute keepsakes (perfume oils, pashminas, spices).

Afternoon: Ride the petite, air-conditioned Msheireb Tram and dip into boutiques around Barahat Msheireb. If you crave downtime, book a spa session—Banyan Tree Doha has rainforest hydrotherapy, and several five-star hotels offer excellent hammams.

Evening (departure day): Early dinner at Nobu Doha—black cod miso with the sea practically beneath your feet—then head to the airport. If you have extra time before your flight, consider a short city-and-cruise combo:

Doha City Tour & Dhow Boat Cruise (handy for departures later in the evening).

Optional add-ons and logistics:

• Private airport transfer: For a smooth start or finish, consider a pickup/drop-off service: Private Doha Hamad Airport Transfer.
• Flight search: Compare fares and schedules on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.
• Accommodation deals: Check availability and filters (pools, suites, apartments) on VRBO and Hotels.com.

Café and dining cheat sheet (use throughout the week): Shay Al Shamoos (Qatari breakfasts), Chapati & Karak (iconic tea and flatbread), Flat White Specialty Coffee (third-wave coffee), Al Mourjan (sea-view mezze), Parisa (ornate Persian), IDAM (elevated Arabic at MIA), Morimoto Doha and CUT (fine dining at Mondrian), Nobu Doha (destination dining), Karak Mqanes (snacks and karak) and Al Aker Sweets (kunafa, baklava).

In one week, you’ll have traced Doha’s story from pearl dives and souqs to design museums and desert horizons. Expect a city that rewards slow walks, shared plates, and starry nights at sea—bookended by thoughtful hospitality and Gulf sun.