Travel to Qatar with travel insurance from Essential Travel

click here for a single trip travel insurance quotation

Information on Qatar with single trip travel insurance from Essential Travel

A relatively untouched corner of the world, Qatar only began issuing tourist visas in 1989. It has a sublime location the Middle East on a peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia. It is a perfect destination for those who prefer to avoid hordes of tourists and enjoy exploring areas that the guidebooks have yet to document. Ancient rock carvings and distinctive architecture are among the sights on offer.

Doha, the capital of Qatar, has a number of interesting attractions, including: the Doha Fort (1917), the Ethnographic Museum and the Qatar National Museum – which was once a palace and now contains a two-level aquarium along with information on the culture and lifestyle of the Qatari people. Aladdins palace should be at the top of the pleasure-seeker’s list. Found in the centre of the capital, this amusement park proudly boasts the only rollercoaster in the Persian Gulf area.

Umm Salal Ali, 40kms north of Doha, is home to a field filled with ancient grave mounds dating back as far back as 3rd millennium BC. Also to the north is Al-Khor, which contains a small museum, several ruined watchtowers and a mosque with a beautiful view of the ocean. The museum features an anthropological section, a section of marine and land life and a section depicting the traditional fishing, diving and shipbuilding for which Al Khor is famous.

An important historical town, Al-Zubara was a large commercial region in the 18th century. All that remains is a fort which has been restored and converted into the Al-Zubara Regional Museum. The museum houses fascinating exhibits of pottery and archaeology. Another noteworthy destination just 25kms from Doha, Umm Salal Mohammed has an amazing fort with two towers that rise four storeys in height. Near the fort are a tiny mosque and some mud-brick fortifications.

South of Doha, there are beaches along the road to Umm Said, but they are fairly disappointing unless you are desperate. Desert excursions (called wadi bashing) are a great way to spend time in Qatar, with the best areas for this around the southwest of Doha along the road to Salwa.

' '
' '

back to city guides