I won’t say that Qatar is amazing and brain-blowing (like the films of Night Shyamalan), but it’s better to prepare in advance for a trip to this country.
- The days off here are Friday and Saturday (and Sunday is already a working day);
- Alcohol cannot be imported into the country (and it is not so easy to find it inside the country).
- And the local outlets have three holes instead of the usual two.
I even bought an adapter before the trip. Although in the end, I never needed it (since those same sockets turned out to be universal almost everywhere).
So that you don’t have to step on the same rake, today I decided to put together everything you should know before traveling to Qatar. Below I will tell you about free transportation and paid beaches, currency exchange and prices in local supermarkets. And also about the street dress code, restrictions during Ramadan and useful applications that will help you on your journey. Let’s get started, and we’ll figure it out as we go along.
Which area is the best place to stay in Qatar?
I would recommend the West bay area in the southwest of Doha. There are great beaches, beautiful skyscrapers, and the streets don’t seem lifeless (as in Lusail). The presence of two metro stations (DECC and West Bay) makes it easy to get to any part of the city. And the huge Carrefour supermarket (inside the City Center Mall) will provide you with food, water and cool souvenirs.
I recommend choosing this hotel as a place to stay . There are several restaurants with excellent dinners, a great location (near the beach and metro), and inside there is everything you need (from a heated pool with a sauna to a gym with a personal trainer). I liked it there myself.
About other areas of Doha (with their pros and cons) I told you here.
Currency exchange in Qatar. What kind of money should I take with me to Doha?
Qatar’s currency is the local rial (QAR). And only with this currency will you be able to pay freely. The exchange rate is stable and the same (!) in almost all exchangers (1$ = 3.64 QAR). And it hasn’t changed for many years.
Only the commission may differ at different exchange points . Most often they charge 3 rials for one exchange operation (regardless of the amount). But there are exceptions (for example, at the airport the commission is often higher).
Also keep in mind that:
- Dollars older than 2009 will not be accepted;
- And you will need a passport to exchange currency.
It is also better not to throw away the receipt that you will be given after the operation. If there are any rials left, then you can exchange them back into dollars or euros only if you have this check.
As for bank cards, they are accepted almost everywhere – even in taxis and at the market. I don’t know anything about Russian ones. But the Belarusian cards pass without problems.
I myself paid in Doha with the cards of the Belarusian National Bank (in BYN) and the dollar card of Belsvissbank. The payment was made without any problems. But the course was not very profitable. That’s why it’s better to bring cash with you.
See the addresses of the exchangers in Doha on the websitesunimoni.qa and aldarexchange.com . They are most often found in subway crossings and large shopping malls.
What language is spoken in Qatar?
In English. Yes, Arabic is also common here. It sounds in the subway speakers, is found on signs in the city and constantly flashes on advertising posters. But the indigenous Qataris make up only 12% of the country’s population. The remaining 88% are immigrants. Therefore, the vast majority of people in Qatar communicate with each other in English.
Among immigrants, the breakdown by nationality is as follows…
Source: @kidsloveqatar and qatarvisaqvc.com .
How to dress in Qatar?
Qatar has been active latelyWesternization is taking place, so the rules regarding the street dress code are no longer as strict as they used to be. Ideally, you should have your knees and shoulders covered. Men are not recommended to wear sleeveless T—shirts (“alcoholics”) and short shorts, and women are not recommended to wear too tight or revealing clothes.
Officially, the only exceptions are hotels and beach clubs. But in reality, even in public places, everything is not so strict.
Ideally, you should dress like this…
But if your shorts don’t reach 5 cm to the kneecap line, no one will call the vice police on you.
Ramadan in Qatar
If you’ve been reading this blog for a long time, then you probably know that we lived in Turkey for quite a long time. There (especially in the resort town of Alanya), Ramadan may not be noticed at all. But in Qatar, with Muslim holidays, everything is much more serious and stricter.
During Ramadan, Muslims keep a fast during which it is forbidden to eat, drink or even smoke until sunset. Many establishments in Doha open only at 5 p.m. (but then they work until 2 a.m.). It’s the same with museums. For example, the Qatar National Museum was open during Ramadan from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and then from 8 p.m. to midnight. The al Thuraya Planetarium has simply cancelled all daytime screenings. And the beach clubs stopped giving all guests a bottle of water at the entrance.
What should I do if my trip to Qatar falls on Ramadan? Don’t worry (but at the same time respect the local traditions). For example, you can eat in a hotel room. I went in — closed — ate. And if you feel thirsty outside, just go to the bathroom or go down to the underground parking lot and drink where no one sees you.
In fact, the whole life of Qatar during Ramadan shifts to the late evening. The streets can be quite deserted during the day. But in the evening (after 17:30), a large Arab family will be sitting on every lawn and on every bench by the embankment – with a pre-prepared lunch.
In fact, Ramadan is a very colorful time. Crescent moon lanterns hang everywhere, and every restaurant or hotel prepares a special menu in honor of the evening iftar (festive dinner). Yes, Ramadan is to some extent associated with restrictions. But that’s definitely not a reason to cancel the trip.
Doha Metro
I’ll start with the main thing: the subway in Doha is very comfortable and modern. There are 3 metro lines and about 40 stations. There are even stops at the airport and several satellite cities of Doha (like Lusail or Al-Wakrah). Therefore, for a small Qatar, this is the number one transport.
An important extension of the Doha metro is also these small Metrolink buses.
They are free and exist only to take passengers to the nearest subway station.
There are two types of travel tickets in the metro itself:
- One-day (Limited-Use Pass);
- and permanent (Standard Card).
Ticket vending machines in the Doha metro and an assistant girl side by side
In the first case (for 6 QAR), you will receive a cardboard ticket, which is valid for 1 day – until the subway closes. You can ride the subway with it an unlimited number of times, but the next morning you can only use it as a bookmark.
Standard travel passes cost 10 rials and are time-limited. But they need to be constantly replenished. One trip is 2 QAR (approximately 0.5$). At the same time, every passenger over the age of 5 must have their own card.
The subway itself in Doha is a separate entertainment.
- There are no drivers;
- But there are special carriages for the rich (the so-called Golden Class).
You can sneak in there without any problems. But not for long, as supervisors often walk along the subway.
The carriages are also different for ordinary mortals. The Standard class sections are for men only. (You go in there and it feels like you’re going to a construction site in Lusail with the boys.) But the class carsFamily are similar to the usual cars of the Minsk subway.
Everyone goes there mixed up – women, children, and men (but only accompanied by someone from the first two categories).
Metro 2 or Lusaila Tram
Qatar actually has another metro system, the Lusaila Tram. The same travel cards apply there. And stations are often located underground, so only the most attentive will be able to distinguish them from the subway.
There are only two stations where you can transfer from the tram to the metro (Lusail QNB and Legtaifiya). When changing from one transport to another, the fare must be paid for again. The cost of the trip is the same as in the subway.
Free transportation in Qatar
Here, the first thing to remember is about free golf carts, which are widely distributed in parks, embankments and even some tourist locations.
Free shuttle in Mia park
I’ve met them in MIA Park, Katara Cultural Village, Pearl Island (near Crystal Street), Aspire Park, and many other locations. When walking around the city, just pay attention to these cars (with lazy drivers inside). It’s okay if they stick to their phones and pretend to be furniture. Just go up to them, say “Hello” and they will take you to the right point in a couple of minutes.
Another example of free transportation in Qatar is trams. I have seen similar systems twice – once in the Msheireb design district, the other in the Educational City (near the Qatar National Library).
Tourist tram in the Msheireb quarter. The author of the photo is @ridoyahmed.
Trams travel in circles, so you can’t go further than one particular area. Therefore, in essence, it is more of a tourist attraction than a full-fledged transport. But still, it’s quite useful.
Links and services that you will need
First of all, download two taxi-hailing apps before traveling.:
- UBER
- and Karwa.
Taxis in Doha are cheaper than in Minsk, so I used them quite actively myself.
I also recommend paying attention to this website, which offers the best selection of excursions in Qatar. It has everything from tickets to the National Museum to desert safaris. And the prices are twice as low as on other sites.
As for Russian-speaking guides in Qatar, you can find them on the Tripster website. But I repeat: the choice there is not so big and the cost of excursions is often higher.
Another universal life hack before a trip is to subscribe to a couple of local bloggers to keep abreast of how the city where you are going is living now. In Qatar, I singled out the following three for myself.
@yallatino – reviews restaurants, talks about cheap fast food and shares the latest news from Doha;
@kidsloveqatar – shoots videos about entertainment centers and children’s activities;
and @dasha.far presents classic lifestyle – with reviews of hotels, store sales and restaurants with family brunches.
I’ll write in a separate line about navigator. MAPS.me (which, unlike Yandex Maps, works fine without the Internet). He helped me out on many trips, but he didn’t work perfectly in Qatar. Many interesting places in the application are simply not marked. But something is better than nothing. Therefore, I also recommend downloading these applications before your trip.
Qatar beaches
It is not so easy to find a good and at the same time free beach in Doha. Most of the coast already belongs to someone, so public beaches for the most part resemble either wastelands or construction sites.
Another thing is beach clubs. They’re really cool.
There are sun beds by the sea. Nearby there are showers and changing rooms, sports fields and playgrounds for children. Beach clubs often even have a foot court, an outdoor cinema, and rental outlets for sports equipment (from kayaks to flyboards).
But the entrance to such beach areas, of course, is paid (most often from 35 to 100 QAR per person).
If you are flying to Doha for a seaside vacation, then you have two good options:
- Choose a hotel with a private beach (where you left your room and immediately plopped down on a sunbed);
- Or look for a hotel that provides guests with special vouchers for free access to a nearby beach club.
For example, I’ll show you two hotels. The first one stands right by the sea and has its own private beach. The second one is located 500 meters from the sea, but provides free vouchers at the Doha Sands beach club.
Briefly about prices in supermarkets in Doha
Qatar is one of the richest countries in the world. But despite this, the prices in local stores are quite adequate.
A bottle of Pepsi (1.25) will cost you 5 QAR (1.37$). A baked chicken in the cooking department (Carrefour) will cost about 20 ($5.5). A serving of rice with vegetables (at local footcourts) can be purchased for 15 QAR ($4). A chicken shawarma with French fries, sauce and a drink will cost you 24 rials (or $6.5).
Good restaurants and coffee shops are another matter. A regular latte mug in Doha costs twice as much as in Minsk (from 20 QAR and above). And for dinner in a restaurant (for 2 adults and 1 child), we gave about 300 QAR (that is, $ 82).
I think this is enough to estimate the cost of a vacation in Doha. A little later, I will have a more detailed text with an overview of current prices in one of the richest countries in the world.
When is the best time to go to Qatar?
It all depends on the purpose of your trip. If you are going to Qatar for the museums, mosques and colorful houses of the Mina quarter, then winter is the best time to travel.
From November to February, Doha has a comfortable +23… +27 degrees. The water in the sea is still a little cool. But the sand warms up well, so even in February (and even during Ramadan) there are a lot of people on the beaches.
In the evening, the temperature drops rapidly. But even then, a jacket or a light sweater will be enough for you. That’s how I used to walk in the evenings.
When the sun went down, a denim jacket was added to this set.
If you are going to Qatar for the beaches, sunbathing and classic seaside holidays, then choose the period from March to May and from October to November. But it’s hell in Qatar in the summer. In July, even in the shade, the temperature accelerates to 40 degrees. And at noon it can easily reach +50.
During this period, Qatar melts like processed cheese “Orbit”. There is no one on the streets. And even there are noticeably fewer cars. Even just lying on the beach is already hard. The water in the Persian Gulf is +33C, and it hardly cools down. Swimming in the sea is like wallowing in a warm bath. It is really possible to go outside in the summer only closer to sunset.
Only hotels can be a salvation at this time. In many of them, the pools are specially designed to provide shade and protect from the heat. As an example, I’ll show you the aquazone at the W hotel (which literally covers the shadow of the building itself)…
And the swimming pool at the Four Seasons Hotel, which is densely surrounded by trees on all sides.
In each of them, the temperature in the pool was maintained at the same comfortable level all year round.
If you have ever been to Qatar (at any time), please share your impressions of this country in the comments. Maybe I missed something? Or was he overly categorical about something? It will be interesting for me to read. (Therefore, as Ivan Dorn sang, there is no need to be shy).
