Is Qatar on your travel list for 2024? Then you've come to the right place with this blog post! To be honest, the country was never on my list, so it was more of a twist of fate that I got the opportunity to see Doha (the capital of Qatar) - even if it was only for one night! Especially after the scandal surrounding the construction of the soccer stadium for the World Cup, I tend to be somewhat critical of the country, so I went into this overnight stay without any particular expectations. But I can tell you that the city really surprised me in some points.
But how did I end up here? If you've read my first blog post, you'll know that my trip was supposed to start in Bali. Our stopover was in Doha and due to delays we missed our connecting flight. Qatar Airways kindly rebooked us straight away and put us up in a hotel for the night. So I can't complain about a free stay in a country I hadn't yet traveled to!
5 things you should know about Qatar
Before I tell you about my stay and my personal opinion of Doha, here are a few things you should know and keep in mind:
The currency in Qatar is the Qatari riyal. 1 QAR is roughly equivalent to 0.25 EUR. You can withdraw cash from ATMs as normal, just be aware that there may be additional fees. This usually depends on your bank and the type of credit card you have. Card payments are also widely available.
You don't have to apply for a visa in advance! As Qatar is a very hospitable country, citizens of most countries can enter without any problems and receive the free visa directly upon arrival at the airport.
Make sure you dress appropriately! As this is an Islamic country, you should avoid wearing short or tight clothing. You should only wear your swimsuit at the pool in your hotel complex. It is also forbidden to exchange affection in public and homosexuality is prohibited in Qatar.
The climate is very hot and dry! When I got off the plane, I was breathless at first. The temperatures are in the region of 40 degrees Celsius. As the city is completely surrounded by desert, there is a lot of sand and dust in the air, which made the it look very foggy.
Alcohol and drugs are prohibited! It is strictly forbidden to consume alcohol in public or to bring it into the country. However, some hotels have a special license to sell alcohol. The consumption and especially the sale of drugs is punishable by prison sentences and, in the worst case, even the death penalty.
The Souq Waquif marketplace in Doha
As we unfortunately only had one evening to explore the city, we decided to visit the Souq Waquif marketplace. It was about a 20-minute walk from our hotel, which meant we could see a bit of the city straight away. The market is a very large, circular area with countless different small stores and stalls. The entire market takes you on a journey back in time to the ancient Orient. The buildings are made of old stone and the colorful offerings bring a unique vibrancy to the place. You really will find everything your heart desires here - from small decorative items and souvenirs to huge vases, carpets and even stuffed animals. So if you love oriental-inspired things, you've come to the right place!
Of course, you will also find various restaurants with different dining options. We had already had dinner at our hotel, so unfortunately I can't give a personal recommendation here, but everything looked amazing!
My conclusion after one night in Doha
The city, or rather Qatar, definitely has a lot to offer. Despite many very historical aspects of the city, you can definitely see the shift towards modernity and luxury. There are already many skyscrapers and more are under construction. Thanks to the desert and the sea, Qatar offers the opportunity for a variety of vacation activities and the option of relaxing by the hotel pool.
Although I was very impressed by the antiquity and the very neighboring history of the market, the country is not on my list for a repeat or more extensive visit. But that's mainly because I don't particularly like desert countries and the dry climate, and I don't think there's too much to discover and explore compared to other countries.
Let me know what you think in the comments or tell me about your experiences if you've ever been to Qatar!
Love, Shirley
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