Qatar may not be the first country you think of when looking for budget-friendly adventures, but the country isn’t all glitzy hotels and designer stores. Beneath the gleam of Doha’s skyline lies a wealth of free activities, and even more so outside of the capital, where hundreds of kilometres of picturesque coastline, wild desert landscapes, and bird and animal life abounds.
Whether you’re a visitor looking for ways to stretch your budget, or a new resident in search of activities that won’t break the bank, these are the best free things to do in Qatar.
1. Catch a fountain show at Place Vendôme Mall
The popular dancing fountain show at Place Vendôme Mall takes place each hour, on the hour, and while the best views are from the terraces of the cafes and restaurants, there is ample standing – and some sitting – room for guests too. The show begins at 5pm and runs until 11pm from Sunday to Wednesday and from 3pm on the weekend (Thursday to Sunday).
2. Stroll the Corniche promenade at golden hour
Doha Corniche is seven kilometres of bike and walking lanes along the Arabian Gulf, a route that is studded with play areas for kids, picnic spots and is incredibly popular with both visitors and locals during the evening. Catch great views of the wooden dhows in the water of the bay, as well as of the stupendous modern architecture of nearby West Bay.
3. Hit the road and check out Qatar’s pre-oil historical sites
Providing you have your own vehicle and a picnic to bring with you, a road trip up to Al Zubarah, north of Doha, will cost you nothing. Entrance to the fort, which contains a small museum, is free, as is a walk around the archaeological site nearby. It contains the remains of houses, mosques and date presses that existed here before it was abandoned at the beginning of the 20th century.
4. Head to the beach and souq at Al Wakrah
Just 20 kilometres south of Doha, Al Wakrah was once a pearl-diving and fishing hub and is named after the Arabic for ‘nest’ because of the nearby mountain of the same name, which is said to be a hub for nesting birds. You can tour Al Wakrah Old Market, which is right on the beach and sells everything from cheese and flowers to swords. There are a number of good beaches here, with separate areas for solo men and families. Entrance is free.
5. See the sand meet the sea at Khor Al Adaid
You’ll need your own wheels, but once you get to Khor Al Adaid near the border with Saudi Arabia, swimming in the lagoon – known as the Inland Sea – is free, as is roaming the dunes and snapping pictures as the sun dips below the horizon. On the weekends, this nature reserve is a popular place for locals to camp, picnic, and razz their souped up 4X4s up and down the dunes in a practice known as ‘dune-bashing’.
6. Explore desert landscapes and Film City in Zekreet
Drive west to the Zekreet Peninsula for surreal rock formations and an abandoned TV set called Film City. The trip is free, as long as you have a 4×4 and a good sense of adventure. This area also includes the “Desert Mushroom” rock formations and the East-West/West-East Richard Serra sculpture, both open to the public at no charge.
7. See camels parade at Doha’s Amiri Diwan
On the lawns outside the Amiri Diwan, Qatar’s government headquarters, visitors can watch palace guards ride their camels twice daily, once in the morning and once in the afternoon (timings vary). Even when the camels aren’t on parade, you can visit the animals in their paddocks behind the palace. Amiri Diwan is an easy walk from Souq Waqif.
8. See the falcons at Doha’s Souq Waqif
If the camels have whet your appetite for the animal and birdlife of the Gulf, head to the falcon souq at Souq Waqif to see the hunting birds for sale. Although tourists cannot actually buy falcons (it involves quite a bit of paperwork), the stallholders may allow you to have your photo taken with a falcon for a couple of riyals.
9. Take a self-guided art walk in Msheireb Downtown Doha
Msheireb Downtown Doha is resplendent with open-access art and architecture, and you can conduct your own walking tour of the district with a downloadable art map. Don’t miss the Msheireb Museums, which are free to enter and packed with cultural insight. You can learn about the contribution of formerly enslaved people to global culture at the Bin Jelmood House, traditional Qatari life at Radwani House, and Company House marks the history of the discovery of oil.
10. Visit mangroves at Al Thakhira Beach
Located near Al Khor, Al Thakhira Beach is known for its natural mangroves and birdlife. Visitors can walk, picnic, or just enjoy the peaceful views. It’s one of Qatar’s best escapes for those who want to experience nature without breaking the bank.
11. Visit the Qatar National Library’s architecture and archives
Qatar National Library in Education City is open to the public and houses rare books and maps alongside a striking modern design. Non-residents can explore the public areas and exhibitions without registering. Once you are in Education City it is worth spending some time checking out Oxygen Park and Education City Mosque, which is a vast modern complex with an exterior emblazoned with Arabic calligraphy. All the sites in Education City are linked via a free tram.
12. See stars (and lots more) at Al Thuraya Planetarium
One of Doha’s standout free museums – and a hit with overheated kids – is the planetarium inside Katara Cultural Village, where interactive screens teach kids about important astronomers and objects are on display that chart the history of mankind’s observation of the stars. There are regular shows inside the planetarium’s dome, and the venue is open until 8pm.
