Top Excursions and Shore Activities in Doha

Doha, being the capital of the host country of the world cup 2022, is already in everyone's mind for its fantastic show of culture, tradition, and talent. From its exotic landscape and dunes to the tallest skyscrapers, Doha is a small city with big ambitions. Your cruise trip from Doha can offer you the best Doha cruise excursions to connect with the city.

Top Doha cruise shore excursion activities

To save time, while not regretting missing out on things to experience in Doha, you can divide your activities and fix the best places that satisfy your needs. Below are some activities that you must include in your Doha cruise excursion.

1. Visit the futuristic architectures and deserts

It is not unknown to anyone how this city has made some of the wealthiest investments in cutting-edge technologies. Their futuristic and modern ideas are not just ahead of time but unbelievable to the point that you cannot choose to miss them.

A guided tour of all such wondrous projects including architectural innovations is a must. Below is the list of places to visit while cruising from Doha:

• Qatar National Library: This state-of-the-art library has a diamond-shaped exterior but its interiors are unbelievably spacious. With the latest technology of automated sorting, any book becomes easily accessible. It houses over a million books along with a basement full of archaic documents going back to the 7th century AD.
• Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies(QFIS): This educational mosque won at the World Architecture Festival in 2015 in the religion category. The architecture looks wondrous with Arabic scripture on the building. The architecture was designed keeping in mind the importance of faith. This is built on five pillars each representing a pillar of Islam.
• Al Thumama Stadium: This themed stadium hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2022. In case you have missed the World Cup, you can visit this stadium as a part of your Doha cruise excursions to witness its amazing architecture. The architecture is designed to represent Ghafiya, a cap worn by men in Arabic countries, and has specific woven patterns represented accurately by the architect.
• Museum of Islamic Art: This is the brainchild of Pritzker Prize winner architect, I.M Pei, who also designed the glass pyramid in Paris. This museum's architecture showcases a mesmerising blend of traditional Islamic architecture and modern architecture. The inspiration behind this architecture was an ablution fountain from the 9th century in Egypt.
• Katara Cultural Village: This concept village is built for a better future. Katara Cultural Village exhibits a mixture of culture, tradition, art, and modern technology to remove boundaries and unite the whole of humanity.

With the amphitheatre, private beach, and various exhibitions, Katara Cultural Village is a place you must visit during your Doha cruise excursion.

Also Check: Exploring the Arabian Gulf: A Guide to the Best Destinations on a Doha Cruise

2. Savour your taste buds with Qatari cuisine

Qatar is well known for its spices. The Qatari cuisine will serve you the exotic flavours that set this city apart from others. The dates, hummus, and other delicacies are a must to try before your cruise from Qatar. Do not forget to try out their traditional Mediterranean dish, the Majboos, which is the tastiest grilled meat wrap you can try.

• Poori with Karak: This is not the regular Indian poori, but a Qatari delicacy. It is a variant of the Indian chapati served with Karak tea, another variant of Indian tea with added spices. This is served in almost all tea shops on the street or in malls. Katara Village is a great place to go looking for the Poori and Karak. However, Shay Al Shamoos in Souq Waqif serves the best poori and Karak.
• Falafel: Falafel is a well-known Mediterranean dish. Being a vegan snack it caters to the needs of people following a special diet and lifestyle. It is a healthy snack to indulge in without any worries. Baked falafels are available in Ard Canaan, which is located in the Katara Village. Apart from that, Falafel Al Akawi specialises in falafel.
• Ragag: These are crepes that can be enjoyed with a variety of side dishes. These crepes are as thin as paper and are an excellent breakfast option for your cruise excursions. It is generally eaten with hot tea or toppings of eggs and cheese. Sometimes, ‘Mhyawa’, which is a fish paste, is also used while cooking the crepes. Shay Al Shamoos is the best place for the most authentic ‘Ragag’ in the city. 
• Samboosa: ‘Samosa’ is a popular snack throughout the world. Different countries have introduced their versions of samosa, and ‘Samboosa’ is one of them. This version, in Arabic countries, is thinner than the other countries with spinach, cheese, and minced meat stuffed inside it. This snack is readily found in dessert shops across the capital city of Qatar. Delhi bakery in Doha, spice market, and Soghaat serve the best ‘Samboosa’. 
• Luqaimat: Also goes by the name lokma, these are sweet dumplings. With a hard crust and soft filling, this dessert is an all-time favourite for travellers. It is soaked in sugar syrup and flavoured with cardamom and saffron making it a compulsory dessert during Ramadan.

These snacks should be eaten while they are fresh. You can get these in Souq Waqif, where it is cooked fresh and served to the customers.

3. Shop from the best places in Doha

Shopping in Qatar involves buying high-end fashionable products with fragrant spices. Souq is the name for marketplaces in Qatar. These markets will cater to all your needs including dried fruits to Bedouin rugs.

• Souq Waqif: Souq Waqif or “the standing market” is the oldest in Doha. It covers almost all the requirements you can have while shopping. From fragrant spices to Bedouin rugs, it offers you everything including exotic handicrafts.
• Gold Souq: This is a souq that glitters. It has only gold and jewels for you to buy at affordable prices. It also offers platinum and different other precious metals and jewellery. However, to avoid the crowds you must visit this place before or after the holidays. 
• Souq Al Dira: Visiting the market only for textiles and fabric is a must in your Doha cruise excursions. Famous for its skilled tailors, this market can get any dress of your choice. It also offers you an array of fabrics like silk, pashminas, lace, and many more. Prices are not fixed so you have the freedom to bargain at your heart's content.
• Omani Souq: One of the many famous souqs to include in your Doha cruise excursion list is the Omani souq. The speciality of this souq lies in the fact that the entire market has products imported from Oman. The best products to buy are decor items including pottery, ceramics, and plants. Iranian honey and Date flowers are a special attraction in Omani souq.
• Souq Al Wakrah: Traditional set-up is the speciality of this souq. It represents the old market styles in Doha and holds onto the old cultural and traditional values. If you are inclined towards vintage ideas then this is the perfect souq to visit. It has cafes and mosques all built in the old style. You can shop to your heart's desire while your kids can play around. The traditional dhow boats are a speciality here. 

Final words

So, these were some of the excursions and shore activities that one can indulge in when exploring Doha, on a cruise in Qatar. For more details, check out CruiseBooking.com.