Visit archaeological sites at Al-Zubarah or gaze up at high-rises along the coastal Corniche promenade in Doha. Lose yourself looking for bargains to take home from bustling souk markets, then cool off on a boat trip to the islands surrounding the Qatar peninsula.
Nearly half of the population of the small Middle Eastern nation of Qatar live in the capital Doha. Here you can browse market stalls at the souks, puff on a fruit-flavoured shisha pipe or sip mint tea. Further south is Al Wakra, once a tiny pearling and fishing village, but now a growing town. You'll find the beaches of Al Khor north of the capital – come here to relax or to try water sports. Inland, escape to the salt flats of Khor al-Adaid, surrounded by sand dunes.
Wander the crescent-shaped Corniche along the coastline of capital city Doha. Then go shopping in Souk Waqif for carpets and jewellery. Explore the museum inside the thick walls of the fort at Al-Zubarah and investigate the archaeological site nearby. You can go to former fishing and pearling village Al Wakra to visit its museum dedicated to marine life and natural history.
Get a closer look at Qatar's national animal at the Oryx Farm in Al-Shahaniya. Then capture the beauty of pure-bred Arabian horses at Qatar Race & Equestrian Club. Take a desert safari to climb 196-foot-high sand dunes at Khor al-Adaid in a 4x4. Or join a boat trip to explore the islands off the coast of Qatar – at remote Shrao Island, fringed by a coral reef, turtles come ashore to nest. Soak up the sun on the sandy beach at Al Khor.
