20 Free Things to Do in Doha: Museums, Beaches, Souqs and Views That Cost Nothing

Doha on a budget — twenty genuinely free experiences, most of them among the best in the city.

Half of the best things in Doha cost nothing — the city's museums are state-funded, its cultural districts are public and the Corniche is a free grandstand for the skyline. Here are twenty, all genuinely free, with the practical bit on each.

Museums and culture

1. 1 Museum of Islamic Art — free permanent collection, closed Tuesdays.
2. 2 Msheireb Museums — four heritage houses, free.
3. 3 Katara Cultural Village — mosques, amphitheatre, galleries.
4. 4 Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Education City — free.
5. 5 The Fire Station gallery — free contemporary shows.
6. 6 Education City Mosque and the National Library — free to visit outside prayer times.
7. 7 Souq Waqif Art Centre — free galleries above the lanes.

Walks and views

1. 1 The Corniche at sunset.
2. 2 MIA Park skyline viewpoint.
3. 3 Lusail Boulevard's evening light show.
4. 4 Porto Arabia boardwalk at The Pearl.
5. 5 Aspire Park lake and the Torch at night.
6. 6 Al Bidda Park's shaded gardens.

Local life

1. 1 Souq Waqif — window shopping, the falcon souq and a QAR 1 karak.
2. 2 Camel racing at Al Shahaniya, Fri/Sat mornings in season.
3. 3 The Dhow Harbour at dawn when the fishing boats come in.
4. 4 Al Wakrah heritage souq and public beach.
5. 5 Friday afternoon at Sealine Beach.
6. 6 Katara's festivals — most events are free.
7. 7 The Fanar Islamic Cultural Centre's free tours and Arabic coffee.

The metro day pass is QAR 6 and reaches MIA, Souq Waqif, Msheireb, Katara, Lusail and the airport — the cheapest sightseeing ticket in the Gulf.

Worth paying for

If you spend money on two things, make them the desert safari (from $60) and the National Museum (QAR 50). Everything else on this page will fill the rest of your days for free.

A free full day, timed

Free with a small catch

• National Museum of Qatar — free for under-16s, residents, students and Qatar Airways passengers with a boarding pass within 7 days; otherwise QAR 50.
• Katara Beach — QAR 20 entry, but the promenade and mosques are free.
• Falcon hospital tours — free, weekday mornings, book at the desk.
• Lusail Stadium plaza — free; the interior tour is paid.

Cheap eats near the free sights

Souq Waqif's cafeterias (QAR 10–20 for shawarma, falafel or a Yemeni mandi plate), the Katara seafront's karak and chapati stalls, Msheireb's food hall, and the Indian canteens of Al Ghanim behind the souq where a thali is QAR 12. Tap water is safe; bottled is QAR 1 in any shop.

Free events through the year

Katara's calendar is almost all free: the falcon exhibition in September, the dhow festival in November, National Day shows in December, Ramadan nights. Souq Waqif hosts the Spring Festival in March and street performers on winter weekends. Darb Al Saai in December and the Qatar International Food Festival (usually March, at Hotel Park) are free to enter. Check the Visit Qatar events page the week you arrive.