The country experiences long summers from May to September characterized by intense dry heat, with temperatures rising above 45°C. Winter temperatures are mild but may fall below 5°C. Rainfall is only experienced during the winter with the northern parts of the country receiving 30% more rainfall than the south.
3.54 MI/ 5.7 KM away
Laid out in traditional Bedouin style, Souq Waqif is a lively bazaar set in a maze of alleys and covered passageways. Here you can barter for souvenirs like copper coffee pots, stained-glass lanterns and hand-embroidered shawls, or buy saffron and turmeric at stalls piled high with fragrant spices. It’s also the place to try Qatari street food at its best, so look out for the spicy chicken-and-rice machboos or kousa mahshi courgettes stuffed with lamb, cooked to order at simple roadside stands.
Steps from the hotel, the multi-storey City Center Doha is a gleaming shopping and dining mall packed with hundreds of stores. Inside you’ll find global street fashions, sports gear and organic cosmetics, as well as local shops offering traditional Qatari perfumes. You can catch a movie at the 14-screen City Center Cinema, treat the kids to ice skating and bowling, and take your pick from fast-food restaurants, Lebanese cafes offering tasty mezes, and rooftop shisha lounges with skyline views.
You’ll get a fascinating insight into regional heritage at the spectacular National Museum of Qatar, designed by architect Jean Nouvel to resemble the pink-tinged, circular petals of desert roses. Inside you can immerse yourself in multimedia displays of undersea life, learn about Doha’s historic pearl-fishing industry, and spot models of traditional wooden dhows. As an added bonus, its space-age stores are packed with cool gifts, and the palm-lined gardens are filled with quirky fountains.
Close to our hotel in West Bay’s popular business district, Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre is Qatar’s leading events venue. Flooded with natural light and stylishly decked out with polished stone and oak panels, the halls offer exhibition spaces for global trade fairs and high-tech suites for conferences and meetings. You can visit prestigious annual events including Qatar Motor Show and FoodEx, and you’ll find embassies, international schools and several global companies nearby.