Before we changed directions and decided on Hawaii for our summer trip, we planned on traveling to Doha, Qatar. It is hot in the summer, so we had planned an itinerary primarily inside or during the coolest parts of the day. Our friends, who live in Doha, gave us some local recommendations for our trip as well. We are hoping to make this trip in the future since it did not work out this time around! Keep an eye out for future posts in “my travels” to read about the trip we took to Hawaii!
While we did have a more specific itinerary for this trip, we have the mindset when traveling that it is good to have a plan so you do not waste time planning while you are there, but it is good to be flexible and not over-extend yourself. It is okay to adjust plans depending on what you feel like once there! While we planned more days, three would probably be plenty in Doha. We had also considered Zedding to Dubai to extend the length of the trip.
Return Trip Considerations
One thing to consider as a non-rev about this itinerary is that the return trip can be difficult because flights are often weight-restricted and cargo takes priority. We had a series of Qatar Airlines ZED options scouted out in case our airline did not release seats to us. We had even considered using ZED to get to LHR with T-status and getting home from there. The ZED fare adds a little more to the cost of the trip.
Non-Rev Terms Explained
For any non-rev newbies, T-status is transfer status and it puts you higher on the list than other standby passengers. ZED is an agreement between multiple airlines to let employees fly on other carriers for a small fee. LHR is the airport code for London Heathrow. You will frequently see airport codes used by people in the airline industry for shorthand.
Itinerary of The Best Things to Do In Doha
Take the Metro to the hotel (Hamad Intl Airport red to Msheireb)
We planned on staying at the Mandarin Oriental using a credit card offer. It is
a beautiful hotel in a prime location.
Night 1
Upon arrival, explore the airport. Doha’s airport is supposed to be impressive. Check into the hotel and relax, wander Msheireb and Souq Waqif market for dinner and shopping. Both Damasca and Parisa were highly recommended for dinner as upscale options.
Day 2
Dune Bashing tour early in the morning to beat the heat. $140 per person depending on what tour you select. Make sure to choose a tour going to the Inland Sea.
Enjoy a nap, as it was an early morning.
Visit the National Museum of Qatar, $28 per adult
At Night: Villaggio, a Venetian-themed shopping enclave to shop and eat. To get there, use the metro. (Msheireb gold to Al Aziziyah) Purchase metro cards at vending machines in metro stations.

Day 3
Enjoy morning time in the hotel, we had planned on switching hotels to Hilton Doha Residences to use some Hilton points.
Museum of Islamic Art for an Arch Picture of a great city view. (free if you are only taking the arch picture and not visiting the museum, $28 if seeing the museum)
Free time to explore areas we would like to peruse longer
Day 4
Katara Cultural Village (take an Uber and get dropped off at Galeries Lafayette or take the metro to get there) The village is open from 9 am-4:30 pm, and the beach is open until 11 pm.
Katara Cultural Village is a very walkable art city. In Katara, enjoy eating in Snan Food Hall and seeing many sights including; a mosque, amphitheater, the Golden Masjid, 21 High Street, the art center, lots of stores, and the waterfront ($6 fee). There is even outdoor AC at Galleries Lafayette!
To take pictures in Katara Cultural Village, go to building 15 and obtain a photo permission slip.
After Katara, we had planned on going to the Place Vendome Mall, which also has outdoor AC, and ending the day with dinner on Pearl Island.

Day 5
Museum of Illusions $44 per person
Free time for anything we ran out of time for or optional activities
Optional Activities
- Sunset boat $110
- Grand Mosque
- Snow Dunes Theme Park $50 depending on what you do
- Pearl Island
- Salt Caves are $64 depending on what you do, in the Royal Plaza Mall
- Aquarium (Hamad Port Visitors Center) $26
- Planetarium in Katara Cultural Village
Restaurant Recommendations
- Parisa: famous interior
- Damascus One: different types of Arabic/Turkish cuisine
- Dokya: Mesopotamia food
- On the cheap side: Tea Time, a Doha classic. Order Chia Karak and Cheese and Honey Paratha Roll
- Shujaa BBQ
- Danat Al Bahar BBQ Fish
- Chia Halib for a snack and shisha outside, try a grape mint Shisha and a lemon mint drink.
- Izu, an expensive restaurant in the Mandarin Hotel
Foods to Try
- Warak Enab (leaves stuffed with meat)
- Balaleet (omlet+vermincelli and spices)
- Majboos (meat and rice)
- Madrouba (rice porridge)
- Kousa Mahshi (courgette stuffed with minced lamb and vegetables)
- Luqaimat (sweet dumpling)
- Umm Ali (dessert)
- Khanfaroush (Biscuit/cake)
- Rogag (filled pancake)
- Kunafa (dessert)
- Shawarma
- Crepe
- Pani Puri (balls filled with stuff)
- Khaboos (flat bread)
- Magic corn
- Spring Potato
- Karak tea

Other Information
- Six months validity on passport, no 12-page emergency passports allowed
- No public affection (kissing, hugging)
- The official language is Arabic, but English is widely spoken
- Qatari Riyal $1=3.64 QAR
- Women’s clothes must cover shoulders and knees and be loose-fitting, men can wear shorts if they reach the knees
- Alcoholic beverages are only in restaurants and bars and they are expensive
- Tip 10-15%, for taxi driver tip 5-10 QAR
- The city shuts down on Friday mornings
- Scarf over hair in mosque
- Do not jaywalk
- Do not write online reviews while there
- Do not comment on the culture or government
- No shaking hands with the opposite sex
- Accept any invitations, it is considered rude to decline
- No pictures of people, usually if you are in a tourist area it is fine but technically anyone can come up to you and ask you to delete a picture of them. Usually, it is the covered women in black who do not want to be photographed.
- Some places you cannot photograph are religious sites, shopping malls, external areas of the airport, military sites, construction sites, industrial areas, and Government buildings.
- Do not eat with your left hand
- 5 pm-12 pm best time to be out due to the heat
- Where alcohol is served it is more of a free zone in terms of what you can wear/say/PDA
- Doha is a good place to buy less-expensive and high quality gold
Google Map Link
https://maps.app.goo.gl/pgkoV1L5uAY3jKba6
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