Visiting Qatar you will first be enamored by the beautiful airport and eager to see more of the city.
If you aren’t already aware it is very, very hot there. Even in Late September temperatures still hovered around 100 degrees feeling like 115 degrees. I would suggest light clothing that covers most of your skin as modesty is highly regarded and this protects you from the sun as well!
What to wear
Where to stay
We stayed at the Marriott Marquis City Center Doha. A beautiful 5 star hotel with numerous amenities and restaurants varying in style and price. This hotel is also connected to a shopping mall. The convenience of this place is superb.
The hotels pool area is relaxing, for ladies if you are on the property it is more acceptable to wear a bikini at the pool. Out on the pool deck are chairs with umbrellas and larger lounging cabanas and a nighttime lounge area called Aqua Lounge where they serve drinks, light snacks, and shisha (hookah )on the outdoor seating area.
This is all located on the 7th floor which is also home to the Spa. I did not have any time to spend here as I was out in the city. But if I could spend a few more leisure days there one of them would be dedicated to the spa and pool.
There are 9 places to grab a bite to eat inside this Marriott Marquis ranging from a Brazilian steakhouse to a sports bar.
Where to eat
Quick Bites:
Say you only have a few minutes or you need somewhere to get work done over a cup of coffee? This is a great option. Quick Bites serves a variety of pastries, drinks (smoothies, lattes), and breakfast options. It’s an ideal place to enjoy a casual meal.
Aziza:
Aziza is another Resturant that is located inside of the Marriott Marquis City Center. Aziza is a classy Lebanese Resturant with beautiful decor located on the 3rd floor of the Marriot Marquis.
They serve fresh seafood and Lebanese food. I love the decor here.
Eatopia:
This place is inside of The Gate Mall. Serving Middle Eastern food, Sushi, and American cuisine. This casual dining experience is a nice place to bring a lot of people who may have different favorite foods. Here you are bound to find food you would enjoy now and then you could even find food at the market for later.
IDAM:
Worthy of a Michelin star or 3! This Resturant is serene with water views and a view of Qatar, you won’t be disappointed. You’ll feel like a VIP once you step out of the elevator. This is a place you have to make reservations and dress classy.
A bread cart comes around with so many options and being a bread lover I suggest you try at least one. If that wasn’t enough you are also offered crisps with 3 different dips and an amuse-bouche (taste bud tantalizer.)
I also love the assortment of fresh juices, something I usually don’t have with dinner, but here I made an exception and tried one.
Once finished with your starters you continue to be amazed by the presentation of the appetizers, The beet salad is served in a glass bowl and looks sort of like a decorative plant, worthy of being adorned not eaten…. Oh well. Take pictures then eat it. 😁
If you love sea bass be sure to order this one with pomegranate seeds and carmelized leeks it was fresh and light.
At the end of your meal even if you don’t want/ order dessert you will still get dessert. So ensure to save room. A dessert tray comes around with a variety of bite size treats.
And at the very end when you are floating out of this beautiful restaurant you’ll be handed even more treats to take home ….what’s not to love here?
What to do
Desert Fun:
Beat the heat and get your adrenaline pumping early in the morning with a sand dunes excursion. If you are one for adventure. This is a great activity for you. At the end of most of these excursions they offer a short camel ride (about 5 minutes) that will be enough as you won’t want to be in the hot sun for too long. Most tours offer water, soft drinks, coffee, and tea.
The easier way to do this is to book a guide to take you out. I booked ours on Viator and recommend this method, but you could also ask around with locals and go by word of mouth. That may be cheaper but this seemed most efficient. I’ve used Viator in the past in other countries and am always happy with the tours. Just read the reviews and go through all the information before you book.
Museums:
The Museum of Islamic Art is located across a bridge right in the Persian Gulf. This will give you spectacular views of the water and boats.
There are so many beautiful pieces of art here. If you truly want to take it all in spend at least 3-4 hours here. The Resturant IDAM is here on the top of the museum offering the best views of the gulf. Which makes this museum a great place to spend the day and evening. Definitely a must visit while in Qatar.
The Family friendlier of the two
The National Museum of Qatar will mesmerize you starting from the outside architecture. The layered, circular architecture is so unique you have to see it in person. This is a new museum that is sure to leave you in awe. There are plenty of short films with seating around the museum. This way you are able to rest for a bit before walking around more. There is so much to learn: archeology, how dress has changed over the years, and about modern Qatar. I would go here multiple times if I were in town longer but 2 hours should suffice if on a time crunch.
Malls:
The malls in Qatar are huge it’s normal to have 4-5 levels in each mall. Definitely check out a couple different ones even just to see the beautiful dresses and luxury jewelry and perfume stores. There are cute cafes and restaurants in the malls as well. You could easily spend a few hours in each mall. One of the malls even has a Fun center if the kids need to blow off some steam.
Once the night falls it’s time to hit the Souq which means Market in Arabic.
Souq Waqif:
The main hub for locals and tourist alike to visit, You are able to find anything here. Lots of sweets, spices, perfumes, clothes, shisha (hookah), jewelry, souvenirs, and the list goes on and on. There is so much going on you will either find it fun or overwhelming, but nevertheless this is a place you will want to go even if just to experience for an hour.
The Pearl:
The most upscale place in Qatar. Which is hard to say because the whole city is luxurious. The pearl is where you can find a Ferrari dealership across from a Rolls Royce dealership next to the Hermes store. 
This is where you will find a ton of beautiful homes, lots of new construction, beautiful mosques, and the best mall in Qatar.
A must visit if in Qatar.
Shukran (Thank you) for reading..
