When you hear the name of the country, images come quick to mind like its flagship carrier – Qatar Airways, FIFA 2022, Al Jazeera, extremely hot summer temperatures, rich locals, and other exciting features. But to get to know more about this small gulf nation and its people, you have to spend time in Qatar’s most beautiful places and be fully present. Qatar Tourism Authority or QTA listed the beloved destinations of tourists:

Al Corniche, the 7-kilometer shoreline offers a great view of the country’s past and present. Buildings showcasing modern and intricate Arabian architecture on one side and on the other, the pearling and fishing activities centuries ago are reflected by the bay and traditional wooden boats or dhows. Don’t miss the exquisite sunrise and sunset as you walk along, run or cycle by the area with family and friends.

Souq Wakif is a traditional market where you can find small shops selling authentic Middle Eastern clothes, food and spices, jewelry, and souvenir items. It also has wide choices of entertainment to offer like traditional music, art, and cultural shows. Enjoy strolling along and humming Disney’s “Arabian Nights” as you discover more of this country’s uniqueness. Recommended visiting hours are between 7 to 11 pm.

What if you are told that you could visit a top cultural institution for free? Yes, that is true for Museum of Islamic Art or MIA and its permanent galleries. It displays a grand collection of Islamic artworks like paintings, ceramics, and manuscripts to name a few. The museum always updates itself with fun and exciting exhibitions so expect new eye-catching and moving pieces whenever you arrive.

The MIA also has a first rate restaurant and cafes inside and outside. It is open everyday from 8:30 am to 7:00 pm except on Fridays when it is closed between 8:30 am and 2:00 pm.

If you’re a movie buff, you can follow up on Katara’s activities because it has a yearlong schedule for indoor and outdoor screenings. Along with theaters, it has galleries, performance and recreational areas, and restaurants where you can also spend time watching concerts and shows and satisfy your taste buds with different cuisines. Last but not the least, there is a clean public beach where you can engage in invigorating water sports. You are recommended to visit the place between 11 am to 2 pm and 5 to 11 pm.

The Pearl-Qatar is where the rich and the famous go. It is also referred to as the “Arabian Rivera” because this man-made island has plush residential towers, matchless hotels. luxury shopping areas, and elegant atmosphere.

Would you like to have a glimpse of the lives of Qataris some 300 years ago? Before Qatar became a rich country, its humble beginnings can be seen in Al Zubarah, which is declared a Unesco World Heritage site. It is one of the preserved areas showing the livelihood of its citizens who proved to be hugely successful (not only in oil exploration but also) in pearl diving and trading.

Inland Sea or otherwise known as Khor Al Adaid presents a magnificent view of the dunes and the sea lying side by side. It is where animals of the country thrive like distance migrant waterfowl winter, ospreys,  Arabian gazelles, and rare turtles.

Now that you learned more about Qatar’s treasures, you will think of the country as more than a small and powerful one. Its name is also spelled L-O-V-E-L-Y.

By Jin

Source: Qatar Tourism Authority