When to Visit Qatar?
The best time to visit Qatar is from November to April when the weather is nice and mild, with temperatures averaging between 15 to 25 degrees Celsius (59 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit).
Winter is awesome in Qatar because you can explore places like the traditional Souq Waqif or go on a desert safari without sweating buckets. Trust me, you will sweat buckets if you decide to visit Qatar outside of the recommended period.
The temperature will be around 40 degrees Celsius, and, to make matters worse, extreme humidity is all but guaranteed. I'm from Thailand, and I still find the summer months in this part of the world unbearable. So, avoid it at all costs.
How to Get Around Qatar?
The best way to get around Doha is to use its metro system. You can travel from the airport straight to the city center for only 2 QAR per journey, regardless of the distance, which is remarkably affordable for a Gulf country.
To use the metro, all you have to do is get the Travel Card from the ticket vending machine located in every metro station in the city. The travel card should cost about 10 QAR, and you can use it approximately 5 times, which should be more than enough for this itinerary.
There are three metro lines in Doha, but we will mostly rely on the Red line, which takes you straight from the airport all the way to Katara Cultural Village, and a bit of the Yellow line to travel between the museums we will be visiting.
Note: Keep in mind that on Fridays, the metro station opens at 2 PM instead of 6 AM like on other days. Therefore, do not rely on it to get to the airport if you have a morning flight on Fridays. Just use Uber instead.
If you want to explore Qatar further, you can also rent a car and drive yourself or go on one of the many organized tours that will take you into the desert and explore the other tourist attractions outside of Doha.
How to Get from Doha Airport to the City Center and vice versa?
Getting from Doha Airport to the city center is pretty straightforward. You can take the Red Line metro straight from the airport to the city center. It should cost about 3 QAR per journey with a single ticket or 2 QAR if you choose to buy the Travel Card, which I recommend.
Daily Budget
Traveling here can be quite expensive and isn't necessarily budget-friendly, though there are still options to manage costs. You can expect to spend around $50 - $70 USD per day per person, including food, accommodation, and transportation.
Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.
What to Pack for Qatar?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Qatar:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Swim Suits: A swim trunk is a must-pack item if you are planning to visit Qatar in the summer, just in case there is a body of water you can jump in.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.