THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN QATAR

Corniche

Easily one of the most popular locations amongst walkers, bikers and joggers, the Doha Corniche is a waterfront promenade that reshaped Doha's coastline in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

While it is a popular place for exercising in the morning, it attracts a diverse crowd who are looking for spectacular views of the city's skyline.

During the day, you can admire the incredible colours of Doha's bay; in the evening, you can enjoy an amazing view of a beautiful sunset; and at night, you will be able to see the magnificent colours of the city's lights reflected off the calm water.

Souq Waqif

The Souq Waqif is located just a few minutes away from the Corniche. Well known as the social heart of Doha, Souq Waqif is a great place to shop, explore, have a meal or simply idle time away in one of the attractive local cafes.

The place is normally crowded with tourists walking around the alleys to admire the architectural buildings and the many cultural shops offering everything from embroideries, spices, perfumes and oud (an exotic incense made from agarwood)

Gondolania Indoor Theme Park Located inside the Villagio Mall, this is every kid’s fantasy! There’s everything you can think of – arcade games, bumper cars on ice, ice skating, laser tag, go-karting, bowling, billiards, gondola rides, trampolines, 4D cinemas and even a roller coaster. There are exciting rides for both the kids and adults as well as many restaurants.
Opening hours: Sat-Wed 9am-11pm, Thu-Fri 9am-midnight.
Location: Villagio Mall.

CanDo Doha Do you have trouble peeling away your kids from in front of electronics and video games and encouraging them to be active? Well, we’ve found a compromise for you! This entertainment centre offers digital games that involve exercise and challenges that require both physical effort and using their minds. Your kids will be jumping, cycling and dancing all while they enjoy things like 4D rides and puzzles to name a few. CanDo is a Qatari-developed concept.
Opening hours: Sat-Thu 10am-10pm, Fri 1-11pm.
Location: Gate Mall, West Bay.

Aspire Zone This is the place to be for anyone who’s into sports. There are lots of sporting facilities here for kids to get involved in. You can also have family picnics and walks with exotic trees all around you. There is a playground for children to roam free safely, making it a popular spot for families.
Opening hours: Varies.
Location: Aspire Zone Road.

Megapolis

Immerse yourself in a world of fun, thrill, and adventure at MEGAPOLIS, Qatar’s latest and unparalleled entertainment center in town. With a diverse array of games and activities, MEGAPOLIS caters to guests of ages. From high-end arcade games and indoor, real-time golfing and car racing simulators to bowling, billiards, and karaoke guests will find themselves enjoying every minute in this unique, entertainment hub. Stay fueled and energized while playing by enjoying a variety of delicious food outlets, all located within walking distance. Whether you decide to savour sushi, indulge in ice-cream, or choose to grab a quick sandwich, an assortment of appetizing dining options are available. To top it off, guests can end their fun-filled day by passing by MEGAPOLIS’ very own retail store where you can purchase memorable gifts and souvenirs. So, what are you waiting for? Bring your friends and family and head our way, where fun, thrill, and entertainment awaits you!

Shopping malls within a 30-minute drive from Al Khor

Al Khor Mall

Al Khor Mall is the first mall as well as the largest of its kind in the Al Khor. With more than 100 outlets and a variety of dining options, fashion outlets, multiplexes and a family entertainment centre, the mall enables you to indulge in a plethora of interesting activities other than shopping. The typical Arabic architectural style blended with facilities of international standards adds to its convenience and style. Further, the mall comes with an expansive parking lot that can hold up to 1,500 cars. Best of all, Al Khor Mall boasts of a strategic location and is close to such highlights of the city as Beautiful Beaches, Qatar & Ras Gas housing complex and JabalJassiya which stands out for its beautiful rock carvings.

Doha Festival City is the largest and most well-loved destination for world-class entertainment, fashion, lifestyle, dining and hospitality experiences in Qatar.

Place Vendome mall exudes grandeur with its palatial setting, exquisite interiors and extravagant architecture. The mall has many new and upcoming retail stores and eateries.

Landmark Mall is a premier mall destination – a place where you can relax and enjoy free time in salubrious surroundings.

Landmark by name, landmark by stature – Landmark Mall stands tall as the place to see and be seen. Loved by everyone throughout Qatar, it’s an attraction where the most discerning can shop, relax and enjoy the finer experiences in life.

The brightly lit, spacious, single-storey mall provides a relaxed shopping experience with retail outlets offering a rich and diverse selection of well-known brands, including Karen Millen, Furla, Marks & Spencer, Omega, H&M, Swarovski, PAUL, Zara& Zara Home, The One and Pinkberry (how can you resist?).

The mall also hosts Carrefour hypermarket, food court, fine and casual dining restaurants, offering a wide choice of delicious options, a multi-screen Cineplex and Circus Land indoor amusement park.

Lagoona Mall, an oasis of exclusivity and enchantment dedicated to luxury and style.

Influential and inspirational in equal measure, Lagoona Mall’s attractive fusion of retail and lifestyle is changing the way shopping is perceived, making Lagoona Mall, not just a destination... but a revelation.
Lagoona Mall has emerged as the place to be seen for those who value a touch of class. For global brands, Lagoona Mall offers pristine, picture-perfect surroundings and an attractive client base. Located in Doha’s affluent West Bay Residential Lagoona Mall development that houses some of the city, Lagoona Mall is an oasis of exclusivity and enchantment dedicated to luxury and style.

Al Khor

Funville
Located in Al Khor Mall, Fun Ville is an ideal play area for kids between 1-12 years of age. Fun Ville forms an integral part of the society by providing a platform to children for social interactions and active play in a safe, secure and conveniently accessed location.

Fun has many faces at Fun Ville. “Fun n Learn” an area for children age 0-4 provides avenues for mental and physical development of a child, whereas the soft play area called “PlayZone” provides a safe and secure place to slide, run, climb, jump around and enjoy. School Trips and Mom’s Coffee Mornings are the perfect get-togethers that make every moment for family and friends a whole lot more fun and memorable.

Purple Island

Where Mangroves Meet History

The Azirat Bin Ghanam, also known as Al-Khor Island or Purple Island, is located off the east coast in Shaqiq Bay. Some people think that the island was named after the purple flower that grows in the area swamps, but the truth is, the island was home to a species of sea snail which was used to produce purple dye about three thousand years ago. The island was subsequently used as a trading port, a fishing and pearl-diving spot. The main attraction of the island is its abundance of wildlife and its greenery. Mangroves forest serve as a playground for migratory birds like flamingos and herons. To get there, take the Shamal Highway, drive north to Al Khor, go past the turning for Al Khor Hospital and drive past a big water tank tower and look out for a small sign for the Flower Each Spring camp and after reaching this sign, drive one mile onto the dirt track. UTM coordinates N 25°41'34" E 51°32'56"E.

Al Khor Park - If you’re looking for a good park to visit over the weekend, then you should know about the new traditional family park that has been recently opened to the public. While covering an area of around 28,500 sqm, the public park consists of a play area for the kids, a football ground, athlete walkway and facilities to house a collection of birds and animals.
A feature of this park is that it has a unique environment section covering an area of about 600 sqm. Also, many varieties of trees have been planted inside the park and for fencing.

Al Bayt Stadium – which means ‘the home’ in English - is designed after the tents historically used by nomadic peoples in Qatar and the Gulf region. Like the bayt al sha'ar tents, the arena has black stripes and vibrant sadu patterns on its façade. Al Bayt Stadium Park boasts a vast green space along with children’s play areas, exercise stations, cycling tracks, boat rentals, food stations, and many more, making it an ideal place for families to enjoy time as well as a great place for people of all ages to relax or do physical activities all year round.

Beaches

Fuwairit (around 30 minutes from Al Khor)

On the Al Shamal (North) Road, look out for interchange exit number 79, as the signpost for Fuwairit is just before the bridge. Come off the road, turn right at this sign and follow the surfaced road leading to a small village. Upon reaching the outskirts of the village, turn left onto a rough track running parallel to the coast. Drive for about a kilometre to get to the beach. From here turn right for the main beach and watch the kite-surfers, or turn left to see the unusual formations of eroded jebel that run down to the water’s edge. Watch out for rocks in the water.

Al Thakhira (around 15-20 minutes from Al Khor)

Pass through Al Khor and bear left at the northern end of the Corniche, heading towards Al Thakhira. Turn right at the next roundabout; take the first left and pass through the gap between the houses. Heading left away from the village, pass the car park and jetty onto a track across the salt marsh, which eventually leads to a small wadi (desert depression) and then to the beach. At high tide the salt marsh can turn treacherous, so park near the wadi unless in a four‑wheel‑drive vehicle.