15 of the Most Instagrammable Spots in Doha, Qatar
10 April 2020
Is Qatar on your bucket list, or is it a place for transit or work? Whether you live in Qatar and are looking for new places to explore or you're a visitor here for a quick pit stop, there is no shortage of things to see, do, and photograph. I've been a resident here for almost 10 years now, and I am still amazed by all the places I am discovering. I have compiled a visual list of some of my favorite spots to photograph in this beautiful Arabian country that I now call home - Qatar.
Let's start with the city of Doha and then make our way around the country...
1. NATIONAL MUSEUM OF QATAR (NMOQ)
What: The National Museum of Qatar opened its doors in March 2019. It is a beautiful collection of disc-like buildings that were inspired by the desert rose crystal. The unique architectural design makes the museum a great photography location, no matter where you are standing.
Where: If you are coming from the airport, I would make NMOQ my first stop. It is located just off the Corniche and in close proximity to the next spot on this list.
2. MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART AND MIA PARK
What: The Museum of Islamic Art (not to be confused with NMOQ) is Doha’s most iconic museum. Shaped like a pyramid with steps, the Museum of Islamic Art is located on the Corniche, adjacent to a seaside park called MIA Park.
Where: The museum is an 8-minute drive on the Corniche from NMOQ or a 20-minute walk. Be careful of the traffic when you cross the road.
3. SOUQ WAQIF
What: Souq Waqif offers a beautiful maze of old stores selling spices, souvenirs, hardware, and more. There are also numerous restaurants to dine at. The souq is a great place to be when photographing the view of the Abdulla bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center.
Where: The souq is just across the road from the Museum of Islamic Art and also within walking distance to location four…
4. MSHEREIB DOWNTOWN
What: Msheireb Downtown is a new development in a historical area. This planned city offers stunning architecture and a great spot for photographing people because there aren’t many crowds yet. It’s probably the most underrated area in Doha and my favorite photo spot for sure.
Where: Located next to Souq Waqif and the home of the delicious Mandarin Oriental. Stop by their Gelateria for a great mango sorbet (my fave).
5. DOHA CORNICHE
What: The Corniche is a waterfront promenade with scenic views of Doha’s city centre on one end and views of the Museum of Islamic Art on the other. Traditional wooden Dhows line the Corniche. You can pay to take a trip on the water with one of these if you have time.
6. DOHA CITY CENTRE - WEST BAY
What: In my opinion, this is the center of Doha as it is the business center. The architects of all the buildings obviously didn't agree with each other, but I think that's what makes this city center so unique and beautiful. There are high-rises of different shapes and styles everywhere you look.
Where: The other end of the Corniche from the museums.
7. KATARA CULTURAL VILLAGE
What: Katara Cultural Centre is exactly that, a cultural center with many different attractions. There is a golden mosque, an amphitheater, an opera house, a multi-purpose hall, a beach, museums, restaurants, and more. There are so many little corners to explore and photograph here.
Where: Katara is located between Doha City Centre and The Pearl. I would suggest stopping here before you make your way to The Pearl (the next location).
8. QANAT QUARTIER ON THE PEARL
What: Have you noticed yet that I'm taking you on a nice little route through the best parts of Doha? Now, welcome to my neighborhood. Qanat Quartier is a residential area on The Pearl with many cute cafes and restaurants. It's almost like a mini Venice with colorful buildings and blue canals, which is great for walking around and taking photos.
Where: Qanat Quartier is located on The Pearl, which is about a 15-minute drive from Doha city center.
9. QATAR NATIONAL LIBRARY
What: Probably the most futuristic library I have ever seen. Lines of symmetry, rows of books, hanging chairs, meticulously placed lighting, and clean white interiors make the library a great place to take photos (or read books if you're into that kind of thing).
Where: The library is under the non-profit organization of Qatar Foundation, located in an area called Education City. It is a 20-25 minute drive from The Pearl.
10. AL RUWAIS SEASIDE VILLAGE
What: We are now about 1.5 hours north of Doha, on the northern coast of Qatar in a little port town called Al Ruwais. Although there is not much to see in the town itself, there is a cute little seaside coffee shop called Arsan Cafe that is great for a pit stop before you proceed to Location 11 on this list.
Where: Arsan Cafe, Al Ruwais, 105km north of Doha.
11. AL JEMAIL GHOST TOWN
What: Now this is why we traveled 1.5 hours north. Al Jemail Ghost Town is an old fisherman's village that was abandoned many years ago. The town now consists of ruins made from what were once stone and shell fisherman homes, as well as the Al Hussein Mosque. There was an eerie yet calm feeling to the place.
Where: Al Jemail Ghost Town is a 10-minute drive from Al Ruwais.
12. QATAR FILM CITY
What: Film City is located in the far west of Qatar on the Ras Brouq National Reserve. The city is a contemporary recreation of an old Arabic village.
Where: Film City is quite a drive from the north of Qatar. It took us 2 hours to get there from Al Jemail. Note that the drive to reach Film City also requires a little off-roading. It's rocky and bumpy but worth the trip.
13. MYSTERY VILLAGE
What: Little stone huts perched on top of rock formations. Mystery Village is a little bit of a mystery to me. It's been said that the area was created for filming. All I know is that the sunset there was spectacular!
Where: Mystery Village is located about a 5-minute drive from Film City.
14. EAST-WEST/WEST-EAST BY RICHARD SERRA
What: An art piece in the middle of the desert. "East-West/West-East" by Richard Serra is a unique sculpture that consists of 4 steel plates reaching more than 16m tall. They were installed in 2014 and still stand tall today.
Where: Finding this on Google Maps is not too hard, but driving off-road was rocky, to say the least. I'm thankful we were in a FWD (front-wheel drive) vehicle.
15. SEALINE - DESERT
What: Sealine is the area of Qatar where you will find the stunning sand dunes that are iconic to a desert country! There's a beach, resort, and a whole lot of sand. Need I say more?
Where: It is a 30-minute drive from Hamad International Airport. I highly suggest traveling there with someone who has been before and has a FWD (front-wheel drive) vehicle.
