48 Hours Exploring Dohaf

I am a bit behind on my travel posts, yes I know, but I have been doing too many fun things lately that I have wanted to share that my posts from Asia keep getting bumped back.  But here is a new one!   During my long weekend in Doha back in April I enjoyed my afternoon in the Qatari desert and my trip to The Museum of Islamic Art in Doha but I also managed to fit a lot more in!  Take a look at some of my highlights during my two days in exploring the capital city:

The Pearl     A visit to the The Pearl was not on my original list but the combination of a friend’s recommendation and some online highlights I took a trip one morning to this massive artificial island.   Getting there was a bit tricky so I opted for an Uber and after brunch eggspectation I took a stroll around this massive development, filled with marinas, luxury acts, and  high rises built in a Mediterranean style.  It’s worth a visit, plus TripAdvisor rates it quite highly on the things to do in Doha!  If I ever manage to go back I will need to figure out how to get on one of the gorgeous boats!

Marriott Hotel     As I mentioned in an earlier post this year – I have made a concerted effort to not make all day, every day constant running around when I go on vacation and actually now book myself “relax” time.   And one of my favourite places to do this is by a gorgeous pool.  The Doha Marriott Hotel had a great pool, delicious food served to your chair on deck, (a wonderful way to kick off vacation) and as an added bonus, on my first night they had a Full Moon Party complete with neon paint and dance floor in the sand! And stays like this are part of the reason I have hit Platinum Status by August this year – most of my hotel for this 2.5 week long trip in Qatar, Bali, and Singapore were SPG / Marriott properties.

The Souq    The Souq Waqif was one of the places I was most excited to visit and the manly place I have ever been offered a burka.   It is a really clean, modern, and well preserved Very cool market place though a bit odd to visit on Easter in a very Islamic country. (You can read more about that here).   It was a beautiful combination of old meets new with traditional clothing, spices, and handmade items as well as a ton of tourist souvenirs and hookah / shisha cafes.  I must admit though,  the one is Marrakesh is much more impressive with a wider central market setup.  And in case you need more information about exploring Doha, specifically the Souq, check out this great article on 10 things to see and do at Doha’s ‘standing market’.

The Waterfront      In addition to The Pearl, Doha has many other gorgeous spots along the water and one of the prettiest might be the waterfront promenade.  I ddi not walk the entire seven kilometer curved path but the bit of the Corniche I did stroll along was gorgeous and gave great views of Doha bay.

Islamic Museum of Art      The Museum of Islamic Art in Doha already got it’s own post as a pre-cursor to this overview of exploring Doha, so please make sure you go check that out! But to highlight, there is a great outdoor fountain space with views, an architecturally stunning lobby, and of course some priceless art. If you are going to visit though, make sure you check out the website ahead of time as there is a dress code!

The Westin   My last night I stayed at the Westin in Doha which was beautiful and I had a love affair with not only the soaking tub but also fresh flowers in the lobby were stunning.  From the minute you pull up to the circular drive it is clear it’s a 5-star hotel but only a little over $100 making it quite a good value for money!  If I go back to Doha, this is definitely where I will be staying even though it is not walking distance to any of the attractions mentioned above (very little is). 

What do you think of my two days exploring Doha?