Hotels in Doha

Staying in Doha

Doha is both a stopover between Morocco and Asia and a destination in its own right, with a modern waterfront, museums, shopping malls and a traditional souk. The hotel stock is recent and often upscale: tall international hotel towers in West Bay, resorts on the artificial island of The Pearl, boutique hotels in the renovated Msheireb district, and simpler addresses around Souq Waqif and the old centre. The city is spread out and is mostly covered by car, taxi or metro.

Climate is the first criterion: summers are very hot and humid, and life then moves indoors, into the air-conditioned malls and hotels; the winter months are mild and allow you to stroll along the Corniche or through the souk. For a family stay, the resorts with pools and private beaches on The Pearl or along the seafront are popular; for a business trip, West Bay and its towers are close to the offices and conference centres. Souq Waqif, the Museum of Islamic Art and the Corniche are easily visited from the centre.

Where to stay in Doha

• West Bay

  The district of towers and international hotels facing the bay, close to the offices, the embassies and the large shopping malls. Convenient for business; the souk and museums are reached by taxi or metro.

• Souq Waqif and the old centre

  Traditional-style boutique hotels in and around the souk, restaurants, cafés and evening buzz. Ideal for a first stay and for experiencing the city on foot, close to the Corniche and the Museum of Islamic Art.

• The Pearl and Lusail

  An artificial island with marinas, resorts, apartments and promenades; Lusail, the new city further north, is also developing hotels and towers. Beach and family stays, with a taxi or car ride to the centre.

• Msheireb and the airport

  Msheireb, the renovated downtown district, offers boutique hotels and a major metro station; for a short layover, there are hotels at Hamad Airport or nearby.

Good to know before you book

• For a layover, check the real journey time between Hamad Airport and your hotel: the metro serves the airport and the centre, and taxis are plentiful, but some areas such as The Pearl require a longer ride.
• In summer, choose a hotel with an indoor or shaded pool, a shuttle and direct access to a shopping mall: the heat limits walking around during the day.
• Doha is a calm, family-friendly city where halal food is a given; check instead for connecting rooms, breakfast included and a beach or kids' club if you are travelling with young children.

Questions about Doha

Frequently asked questions