Cheap flights to Doha

Doha overview

Doha is an exciting city and the perfect destination for those wishing to experience Middle Eastern culture with a liberal dosage of glitz and glam. This city is famed for its colossal new buildings, modern Souqs and its crescent shaped corniche. Doha architecture is impressive, and the Burj Qatar building, World Trade Centre Doha Tower and Aspire Tower, create a strikingly modern landscape. The Souq Waqif is the place to go for fine dining, shops and cafes. This market was redesigned, to retain its ancient 19th century style. The site where the Souq stands was originally a market place, where Bedu tribes traded cattle for various essential items. Although newly refurbished, the Souq Waqif looks authentic and you’ll find traditional garments, perfumes, antiques and modern art galleries here. Note that most of the shops, in the Souq, close from 12 noon till 4pm. The cafes and restaurants remain open throughout the day though.

The corniche is a waterfront promenade and a popular spot for tourists and locals to visit. In the early evening, you’ll see families spending time on the grass, enjoying picnics, while early hours of the morning bikers and joggers occupy the cycling tracks and footpaths.

Visit one of the many cafés in Doha to relax and people watch while ordering some delicious Middle Eastern treats. Try some Shisha while here too.

Desert Safari excursions are a popular attraction too and various tour operators organise them so you can benefit from their expertise. Experience overnight camping in the desert and explore heritage sites during the day. 

Getting around Doha

Doha has a very reliable bus network that provides services across the city. Most people rely on taxis to get around though and the high demand of cabs can lead to long waiting times. Car hire is also a favoured option.

Getting from the Airport to the City

Once you have arrived on your flight to Doha, transportation from Doha International Airport (DOH) to the city is varied. Large hotels provide shuttle buses for their guests and standard or VIP class limousine services are also available for those wanting to travel to their hotel or holiday rental in style. Airport taxis provide a 24 hour, 7 day a week service and can carry up to 5 plus passengers. There are also buses travelling to the city centre.

Doha airport overview

Situated on the western coast of Qatar and very close to central Doha, Doha International Airport boasts several food and beverage outlets, an award-winning duty-free area, and free Wi-Fi throughout the airport.

Once used mostly by Qatari holidaymakers and foreigners there on business, Doha has recently seen a huge increase in international tourists passing through on connecting flights or visiting Doha itself. As the only commercial airport in Qatar, it has struggled to keep up with the influx, and despite numerous extensions in recent years the main terminal is often criticized for operating over capacity. A replacement airport, 5km (2.2 miles) east of the existing buildings, is currently under construction, with the first phase due to open to passengers in early 2012. When complete, the new airport will be two-thirds the size of the city of Doha, and will cater for 12 million visitors annually. In the meantime, however, be prepared to deal with over-crowded terminals during peak times.

If you’re lucky enough to be flying first or business class with Qatar Airlines, which calls this airport home, you’ll have access to several lounges and business centres. The Gold Lounge and the Silver Lounge, for those on Qatar Airline’s loyalty programmes, offer shower rooms, business centres, day care facilities, smoking rooms, and various magazines and newspapers. The Premium Terminal, for Qatar Airlines business and first class passengers, offers a jacuzzi, sleeping rooms, and massage services in addition to buffet services and world-class business centres.

If you’re flying economy or with any other airline and are stopping for more than a couple of hours, it’ll probably be worth your while to head for the Oryx Lounge where (for a fee) you can enjoy an air-conditioned space with a business centre with computers, day care facilities, a smoking room and a buffet. Business class passengers from other airlines get free entrance.