Qatar connects to countless destinations around the world, which makes it an incredibly busy transit hub.
In fact, Hamad International Airport has quickly become a global gateway for travelers from abroad.
So if you are planning a stopover and want to break up a long-haul flight, why not add a few days to your trip and explore this small Gulf country?
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Not only is it one of the safest countries in the world, but it also offers genuine Arabian hospitality.
There is a rich variety of food, adventure, beaches and sand dunes and, of course, year-round sunshine.
Here is a quick guide to the 14 best things to do in Qatar:
Go Dune Bashing
If you only have time for one activity in Qatar, make it a desert trip. The sand dunes are as tall as they are steep, which turns a drive across the desert to the sea into a thrilling experience. You can spend the night in luxurious Arabian tents or pitch your own, eat local food and sleep under the stars.
Several operators in the country offer dune bashing, an exhilarating ride across the dunes. Experienced drivers will pick you up from your hotel and take you into the desert for a half-day, full-day or overnight adventure.
Although dune bashing is an extreme sport, kids can usually join the ride too. Just ask the driver to slow down or choose a flatter route. You might even ask for that yourself after a few runs.
Visit Souq Waqif
Visit Souq Waqif in Doha to soak up its old-world atmosphere. The "standing market" was rebuilt to recreate the mood of days gone by.
The famous souq is a maze of shops packed with fabrics, spices, sweets, homeware (think enormous pots), souvenirs and art. Not only will you see woodcarvers and tailors at work, but you can also watch first-hand how the traditional agals are made, the cords Qatari men wear to hold their headdress in place.
There are plenty of restaurants here, including Syrian and Lebanese spots as well as shisha lounges. Head toward the souq mosque for cheap Arabic eats. Right next to it sits a humble restaurant with Qatari benches lining the aisle.
Here you can settle in over a plate of kebabs and bread, freshly baked in an open oven.
Souq Al Wakra near the airport is more modest and well worth a visit. Its beachside restaurants add to its charm.
Souq Waqif; +974 4433 6444
Enjoy the Doha Corniche and Dhows
Strolling along the Doha Corniche is a wonderful way to spend a late afternoon. The seven-kilometer waterfront stretches along the Gulf in West Bay, from the Sheraton hotel to the Museum of Islamic Art. You can grab a coffee, fly a kite or take a photo by the famous pearl-and-oyster monument, a symbol of Qatar's traditional past.
Exercise machines for public use are also set up along the way.
For an unobstructed view of the cityscape, take a ride on a dhow (you can't miss them). At night they are lit up and play an interesting mix of music, so feel free to bring your own tunes.
Visit the Museum of Islamic Art
When architect I. M. Pei designed the Museum of Islamic Art, he proposed building it on its own island so that new buildings would never block the view.
Set right by the waterfront, from some angles the museum appears to float on the water.
Calligraphy, Islamic patterns, jewelry and textiles from three continents make up its vast collection, with some pieces dating from the 7th to the 19th centuries. The museum also hosts renowned temporary exhibitions throughout the year.
For an impressive business lunch or an unforgettable date, try Idam, French chef Alain Ducasse's first restaurant in the Middle East.
The open terrace on the museum's top floor offers one of the finest views of Doha, along with fine dining and generous service.
Follow the path around the museum until you reach the open-air MIA Cafe. Sink into a lounge chair for a relaxed view of the city. You'll also get a closer look at another landmark, the sculpture "7," which soars 24 meters high.
Museum of Islamic Art; 5th Floor, Corniche, Doha; +974 4422 4444
Visit the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum
This is one of the most surprising and fascinating museums in the country. Located 23 kilometers west of Doha, the museum is the private collection of Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani, a distant relative of the country's emir.
The sheikh has been collecting since the age of 10 and once built a fort to store the seemingly random objects gathered during his travels, including ancient religious books, textiles, old cigarette packs and even an 18th-century Ottoman bomb.
More than 15,000 artifacts fill the rooms here, and one hall holds traditional pearl-diving boats and vintage American cars.
There is so much to see that it's easy to miss something, so be sure to ask about the Syrian house. It was shipped to Qatar piece by piece before the war and then reassembled.
Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum, Al Samriya St., Doha, Qatar; +974 4486 1444
See the "East-West/West-East" Artwork
Qatar is passionate about promoting art and culture in all its forms and commissions world-renowned artists to create truly unique works.
In the Brouq Nature Reserve, 60 kilometers northwest of Doha, sculptor Richard Serra's installation "East-West/West-East" rises from the sand.
It consists of four plates, each about 15 meters tall, standing along a kilometer-long corridor from the desert to the sea.
Serra says he chose this particular spot because he liked the height of the ancient sea levels, and the tall plates represent them.
The site is said to be a favorite of Sheikh Hamad too, now known as the "Father Emir," who remembers watching antelope gather here as a child.
Now Qataris, expats and tourists flock here to create memories of their own against the striking landscape.
Visit Al Zubarah Fort and the Abandoned Village
Discover Qatar's cultural history at the restored Al Zubarah Fort and the surrounding archaeological works, the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Qatar.
Although the archaeological remains here date back to the 1700s, the fort, built in 1938, is the youngest structure.
It towers over the old, once-bustling pearling town of Al Zubarah, where traders from China and Britain arrived some 200 years ago.
Today it is abandoned and feels like a ghost town, though it is still charming.
All that remains are empty doorways and the continuous thick walls that once connected this community.
The village's location is not obvious. You can reach it by turning right on the road just before the fort and following it for 10 minutes to Al Jumail. Park right in the village and bring water shoes, as you'll probably step on shells.
Attend Sporting Events
New stadiums and infrastructure are being built to accommodate the wave of fans expected for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
They will be in good company, since football is the most popular sport among locals and expats alike, but it is not the only sport that draws a crowd.
The ATP World Tour, which stops in the capital every winter, attracts tennis giants like Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki. The Qatar Moto Grand Prix, the World Superbike Championship and the Qatar Masters golf tournament are also annual events. So are Qatar's traditional sports, Arabian horse racing, camel racing and falconry.
If you want to be more than just a spectator, try the Losail Circuit Sports Club, which has a go-kart and race track open to the public.
Immerse Yourself in the Al Thakira Mangroves
One of the country's most iconic spots, the Al Thakira mangroves are a vast expanse of greenery and water with their own ecosystem in an otherwise sandy, scorching desert.
It is teeming with birdlife, and herons and flamingos have been migrating to this region for many years.
The best way to get to know the mangroves is to rent a kayak and lose yourself in the greenery.
If you're here in January, bring water shoes and wade through the shallows. It's easy to forget you're in the desert.
Soak Up the Atmosphere of the Pearl
Built on land reclaimed from the sea, the Pearl covers almost four million square meters and is a luxurious blend of residential, commercial and entertainment offerings.
One of its main attractions is the picturesque, Mediterranean-inspired Qanat Quartier, home to colorful apartments, canals, bridges and pedestrian plazas lined with restaurants and cafes.
As you stroll along the waterfront, you'll see rows of yachts moored on the clear water. You may even be lucky enough to spot a superyacht there.
For water sports, the Pearl has several adventure companies to choose from. So bring a wetsuit if you fancy surfing, kayaking or wakeboarding.
Visit Katara Cultural Village
Located on the way to the Pearl, Katara Cultural Village is a gem of Qatar's artistic and cultural scene.
A maze of passageways and waterways winds through here, opening up spaces for artists, filmmakers and photographers.
Here you'll find a mosque adorned with turquoise and purple mosaics, an open-air amphitheater overlooking the sea and an opera house that is home to the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra.
Festivals are held here too, including the Traditional Dhow Festival and the Palestinian Heritage Festival, as well as concerts. You won't go hungry thanks to the many international restaurants, cafes and kiosks. If you're craving a simple local dish, try chapati and karak. But be warned, you might come back for seconds.
Water sports are available in Qatar too, but you usually have to pay for beach access. However, Beach 4 is free for families from Thursday to Saturday.
Dine at the Best Brunch Spots
Hotels in the capital take brunch to a whole new level. They are lavish, elaborate and usually delicious, with options like sushi, salads, roasts, grills, cheeses, breads, chocolate fountains and sparkling wine.
Market by Jean-Georges at the W hotel is a consistent delight, Vine at The St. Regis draws chocolate lovers, and for kids there is a thrilling superhero picnic feast at the Ritz-Carlton, held on the last Friday of the month.
If you're not here at the end of the month, the Sheraton Grand Doha offers a garden brunch at its Italian restaurant La Veranda, and its all-day dining restaurant Al Hubara is also a popular brunch spot.
As an Islamic country, Qatar has no public consumption of alcohol. So while the all-you-can-drink vibe at brunch is heady, remember that public disorder is not tolerated.
Head to the Shopping Malls
You don't have to travel far to reach a mall in Doha. One of the most famous is the Venice-inspired Villaggio Mall, which has more than 200 shops. Its main draw, though, is the indoor canal. Here you can take a gondola ride and gaze up at a painted blue sky dotted with clouds.
Doha Festival City is the largest mall in Qatar, with a full lineup of shopping and entertainment, plenty of fashion brands, an IKEA, a cinema, a theme park and an indoor snow park opening soon.
The upscale Al Hazm, which translates as "the high lands," blends Arabian traditions with European design and even has 200-year-old olive trees imported from Europe. Visit the Cultural Center to see rare volumes and classics.
Bounce off the jet lag at Bounce, a new indoor trampoline park at Tawar Mall that covers more than 4,000 square meters.
Explore the World of Horses
Even if you're not a horse fan, the Al Shaqab equestrian center in Doha is worth a visit to see what happens when a culture that loves horses decides to pour a fortune into its passion.
The result is a gleaming, ultramodern complex where prize-winning sport and show horses are cared for and prepared to win competitions.
Preserving the local tradition of breeding purebred Arabian horses is the goal of this vast horseshoe-shaped center, but tours also let visitors watch training in facilities that include running tracks, pools and private racecourses.
Keep an eye out for the newborns. The intensive breeding program at Al Shaqab means there's a good chance you'll meet an adorable, recently born foal.
