Qatar is a peninsular Arab country whose major landmass comprises desert and dunes. The Islamic nation is famous for its long Persian shoreline of beaches, futuristic skyscrapers, modern generation architecture, Islamic monuments and luxurious resorts. One of the richest countries in the Gulf and in the world, Qatar is all about luxury and royalty. Money flows like water in Qatar and an ordinary person can find it difficult to match the aura of the capital city Doha. Qatar is a unique combination of wealth and beauty. People from all across the world come to experience the luxurious lifestyle in Qatar and visit the unbelievable skyscrapers.
Spread over an area of 11,571 km sq., the country of 27.8 lakh people is known for its hospitality and acceptability in a rather conservative part of the world. Visitors can visit all the tourist places here without any restrictions and this behaviour has led to the economic boost in Qatar. Not swaying away too far from the topic, let’s look at 8 best tourist places in the country.
8. The Doha Deserts: Desert and Qatar are inseparable with the majority of the country’s landmass being desert. The Doha desert is one of the most visited places in the country due to its stunning views. Spread over miles, the unique and vast landscape here is perfect for a safari tour. You can listen to the engine’s throttle while running through the dunes. It is a unique experience for adventure lovers.
7. Museum of Islamic Art: Qatar is an Islamic nation that has several Islamic monuments that bring together the modern-day architecture and ages-old Islamic culture to create a majestic experience for visitors. The museum of Islamic Art is an architectural marvel located in the MIA park of Doha waterfront. The museum has been designed by famous architect IM Pei and it has the world’s largest collection of Islamic art that include paintings from three continents with some of them as old as 1,400 years. The amazing geometric patterns and eye-grabbing interiors are the highlights of the museum.
6. Souq Waqif: If you go out for a city tour of Doha, you will come across Sous Waqif that is one of the most popular sports in the city. You can shop, dine or click pictures while here. The place is famous for its breathtaking architecture, embroidery shops, spices, perfumes, oud (an exotic incense made from agarwood) and several other things that are a speciality of the gulf. A couple of hours of time is enough to visit Souq Waqif. The best time to visit Souq Waqif is after the evening.
5. Aspire Park: Greenery might be the last thing to cross anyone’s mind while thinking of Qatar. All you could imagine is an endless desert and Islamic monuments. However, Aspire Park is an exception. A soothing family holiday spot, Aspire Park is one of the largest parks in the entire Gulf region. The Torch Tower here is a major point of attraction. The 300m high building served as a giant torch for the 15th Asian games. It has now been converted into a beautiful hotel for tourists. The park is open between 8 am and 12 am.
4. Katara Cultural Village: If you want to know more about the tribe culture and history of Qatar, head to this cultural village that is located between West Bay and the Pearl. Events like the Doha Tribeca Film Festival, TEDx Doha, and Ajyal Youth Film Festival are the main attractions of this place. The design of all the buildings here is very traditional and contradicts the modern style architecture of Doha. This place has been given a look of a traditional Qatari Al Faraj.
3. The Pearl: Establishing artificial islands is a common phenomenon in the Gulf and the Pearl is one of the most beautifully designed artificial islands. Located offshore of Doha’s West Bay Lagoon area, The Pearl looks marvellous with the glittery lights in the night and is the first such area in Qatar that is available for ownership by foreign nationals. This place is an epitome of a modern and well-planned city. The boardwalk overlooking the marina looks spectacular. The view from the glass panes of towering hotels looks mesmerising.
2. Sealine Beach Resort: This is a major tourist attraction that is full of tourists during the summer season. Located near the Arabian sea, the resort offers a mesmerising view of blue waters and majestic sand dunes. You can either come here for a luxurious holiday or rent a dune buggy on the beach to enjoy dune bashing, which is an amazing activity for adventure lovers. This place is equally popular among tourists and locals.
1. Doha Fort: The Doha fort is an old day engineering marvel that was built in 1927 for military purposes. It has now been transformed into a museum for tourists and wooden ornaments, old fishing equipment, oil paintings, and old photographs here continue to intrigue the visitors. Visiting this fort will help you in understanding Qatar’s history and its significance in the ancient world. The building looks royal and majestic from the outside as well. If you are a history buff, this place will surely excite you.
