Free things to do in Doha

Free things to do in Doha

1. See

   Fanar Qatar Islamic Cultural Center

   Easily spotted from the Corniche with its distinctive spiral minaret, the center aims to educate non-Muslims about Islam by offering free Arabic classes as well as art and calligraphy exhibits. The center conducts bi-weekly tours of local mosques followed by a traditional dinner (abayas provided for women, registration required), and also hosts weekly coffee mornings with presentations on Qatari culture and lifestyle (registration required).

   Daily 08:00-12:00, 16:00-20:00·Free

2. See

   Heritage Library

   Over 51,000 books in Arabic and other languages on Qatar and the Middle East, together with 600 antique maps, 2,000 manuscripts and 6,000 original photographs, form the Arabian and Islamic Heritage Library in Qatar, another initiative of HH Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned through Qatar Foundation. It is one of the largest research centres in the Middle East, and is based on a collection started by Sheikh Hassan Bin Mohamed Al Thani in 1979. Tours of the collections are offered twice on Sunday and Tuesdays, at 10:00 and 11:30, no appointments required.

   Free

3. See

   MIA Park

   This modern park was built on reclaimed land and affords great views of the West Bay skyline. Visitors can rent bicycles or paddleboats, and enjoy coffee or ice cream at a small café. At the end of the promenade is the monumental sculpture '7' by American sculptor Richard Serra. During the winter the MIA Park Bazaar is held on the first Saturday of every month, offering an eclectic mix of food, arts, crafts, books, and souvenirs.

   Oct-May: Wed-Mon 10:30-23:30, Jun-Sep: Wed-Mon 18:00-00:00, closed 1 Jul - 2nd day of Eid·Free

4. See

   Msheireb Enrichment Centre

   A small museum with photographs and artifacts illustrating the historic development of Doha from small fishing town to modern city. The exhibit is sponsored by developer of the Msheireb project near Souq Waqif.

   Mon-Thu 09:00-20:30; Thu 12:00-20:00; Sat 15:30-18:00·Free

5. See

   Msheireb Museums

   متاحف_مشيرب

   A collection of four historic houses in the new downtown district of Msheireb: Mohammed bin Jassim House, Company House, Bin Jelmood House and Radwani House. They feature exhibits on the Msheireb community, traditional Qatari family life, the history of the oil industry, and slavery and exploitation.

   Mon-Sat 09:00-17:00; open Fri until 21:, closed Sun·Free

6. See

   Museum of Islamic Arts

   Doha's flagship museum. Housed in a building designed by I.M. Pei, the museum hosts artefacts from Muslim dynasties all over Asia, Africa and Europe. Also present are items from the Al-Thani dynasty, as well as art from all parts of the Middle East. Gloriously air conditioned, there is also a cafe and gift shop. The permanent exhibition is on the 2nd and 3rd floors, with temporary exhibitions on the ground floor. Free wi-fi in the museum building, dress appropriately. An hourly shuttle service provides free transportation between MIA and Mathaf W-Su 11:00-17:00; driving time between the two museums is 25-35 minutes.

   S Mon Wed 10:30-17:30; Thu Sat 12:00-20:00; Fri 14:00-20:00·Free

7. Do

   Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club

   Horse racing takes place during the winter months, with races scheduled every Thursday beginning at 16:00 and lasting until about 21:00 Gambling is prohibited, but attendees can enter free raffles to guess the winning horses, with substantial prizes (including cars). These races are very popular. The showpiece race here is the HH The Amir Sword, held in February every year, one of the most prestigious races in the world for purebred Arabian horses. The Club also hosts an Arabian horse show every March; details are published in the local press.

   Free

8. Do

   Singing Sand Dunes

   In the desert 40 km southwest of Doha are the so-called Singing Sand Dunes. This is one of 30 sites in the world with "singing" sand, once attributed to evil djinn. When the humidity is low and the wind blows along the sand, an eerie humming sound can be heard, which can be amplified by running across the sand, or by sledding down it. Large plastic bags (e.g. garbage bags) or large pieces of cardboard work particularly well for this. The dunes are a bit off road and can be tricky to find. Head SW of Doha on Salwa Rd; after about 13 km you will pass a large roundabout; after you come to the Mobil Petrol station make a U-turn and turn right on Messaieed Road. Drive past two roundabouts, then take the next right. Take the left fork at the T-junction, and you will see the dunes on your right. It is possible to make the trip in a 2WD, but a 4WD is better to get close to the bottom of the dunes.

   Free

9. See

   The Miraculous Journey

   A series of 14 monumental bronze sculptures depicting the stages of development of a fetus from gestation to newborn, by British artist Damien Hirst. The sculptures were commissioned by the Qatar Museum Authority, which reportedly paid US$20 million for them. The medical center is a women's hospital.

   Free

10. See

    Virginia Commonwealth University Gallery

    The gallery at the VCU-Q campus in Education City regularly hosts visiting exhibitions and the work of faculty members and students. On those occasions, the gallery is open to the general public. The collection includes Arab manuscripts, a foreign language section dating back to the 15th century, and 20th century books about art and politics.

    Mon Wed Sat Sun 10:00-17:00; Thu 10:00-17:30·Free

11. Do

    Aspire Park

    The largest park in Doha. Lots of grass, trees, playgrounds.

    Free

12. See

    Firestation Artist in Residence

    Has an art supply store and cafe on site.

    Sat-Thu 09:00-19:00; Fri 11:00-19:00·Free

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Doha (CC BY-SA 4.0).