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Must try trips in Doha

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Escape the city at these brilliant locations 

Doha offers so much to do that we frequently spend our weekends taking in the city’s top attractions.  

However, there are many good reasons to leave the city, so we’ve gathered some of our top day trips from Doha for you to try.  

As usual, we ask that you behave properly by cleaning up after yourself and taking your trash with you so that these locations can continue to be as stunning for future visitors. 

Must try trips in Doha 

Al Karaana Lagoon

Al Karaana Lagoon was formerly used for wastewater, but a restoration project finished in 2019 by the Public Works Authority of Qatar (Ashgal) totally altered it. Red foxes, desert hares, snakes, and other species of birds are among the wildlife that now calls the three man-made lagoons home. If you enjoy the outdoors, doing this day excursion from Doha is certainly recommended. 

Location: Al Karaana Lagoon

Al Safliya Island 

The West Bay skyline is beautifully visible from this manta ray-shaped island close to The Pearl-Qatar, especially around sunset. Although there are no facilities on the island, it makes for a great day excursion from Doha to unwind on the sand. A tour company like National Cruise or 365 Adventures can help you arrange a boat journey, or skilled paddleboarders can join Blue Pearl Experience and paddle across. 

365adventures.me / nationalcruise.com / bluepearlexperience.com. 

East-West/West-East by Richard Serra

One of our favorite pieces of public art in Qatar has to be Richard Serra’s East-West/West-East. The sculpture, which spans a kilometer in the desert, is made up of four 14 m-high steel plates. When juxtaposed to the barren environment in Zekreet, they are precisely aligned and appear magnificent. For the full effect, depart from Doha for this day trip at either sunrise or sunset. 

Brouq Nature Reserve, Zekreet. 

Galactic Core Bay 

Stargazers, this one’s for you: due to the lack of light pollution in the area, this bay on Qatar’s northwest coast is ideal for snapping pictures of the night sky. But be warned—the road to this location isn’t ideal, so you’ll need a 44 to visit it. Anything is fair game for the ‘gram. 

Location: Galactic Core Bay. 

Inland Sea

You should visit the Inland Sea right away if you haven’t already. It will steal your breath away since it is one of the few locations in the world where the sea meets the desert dunes. You may reserve a spot with a tour operator like 365 Adventures for an overnight camping trip or a day excursion from Doha, or you can drive your own vehicle. If it’s your first time there, be careful to travel with a club, like the Qatar 4Wheelers or the Dune Riders Club, both of which frequently organize trips to the location. 

Inland Sea, 365adventures.me. 

Purple Island

Al Khor Island, commonly referred to as Purple Island, is where you should go if you’re in the mood for some vegetation. Though it was the first area in the world to create purple mussel dye, don’t anticipate to be greeted by a sea of purple. Getting back to the present, 365 Adventures and Blue Pearl Experience both offer tours to Purple Island where you may kayak through the mangroves that surround it. If kayaking isn’t your thing, there’s also a promenade where you can take in the view from dry land. 

Location: Purple Island. 

Shadows traveling on the sea of the day

Our list of must-do day trips from Doha already includes Olafur Eliasson’s installation Shadows traveling on the sea of the day (2022), which was  unveiled in October 2022. The piece is intended to be “an invitation to resync with the globe” and is made up of 20 mirrored circular shelters, three single rings, and two double rings. Resynchronize, unwind, and shoot a photo on Instagram. 

Location: Shadows travelling on the sea of the day. 

Book QR499 hot air balloon flights with the Qatar Balloon Festival

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Book your spot before March 10

Hot air balloons flood the sky every morning at the Qatar Balloon Festival, which also features a variety of other entertainment.  

The Qatar Balloon Festival is making the once-in-a-lifetime experience more affordable by returning for a third year and offering discounted tickets.  

You may reserve a seat in a hot air balloon for QR499 per person between now and Friday, March 10 by going to the Asfary website here.  

You don’t want to pass up this opportunity, as airfares often cost QR999 per person. 

The actual Qatar Balloon Festival will take place from Thursday, January 19 through Saturday, January 28.  

At dawn during that time, a large number of hot air balloons will be launched. See it for yourself if you like? The precise launch locations won’t be made public until the evening before, so keep an eye on @qbfestival on Instagram.  

At the Old Doha Port, the festival will feature tethered balloon flights, live music, food trucks, and the renowned nightglow presentation from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.  

On the website for the Qatar Balloon Festival, you may discover more details.  

Flights in hot air balloons: QR499. Mon Jan 2 – Fri Mar 10. Several places, asfary.com.  

Qatar Balloon Festival: January 19th through January 28th, 4pm to 10pm. www.qatarballoonfestival.com, Old Doha Port. 

Disney Princess – The Concert is coming to Katara Amphitheatre

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Broadway stars will perform alongside the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra 

Disney aficionados, we have exciting news: a performance in Doha will feature more than 30 songs from the Disney Princess franchises.  

Between Thursday, January 26 and Saturday, January 28, Katara Amphitheatre will host a star-studded lineup of artists, including Susan Egan, who provided the voice of Meg in the 1997 film Hercules, and Hiba Elchikhe, who portrays Princess Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin.  

The princesses and their prince, Adam Josef, will sing songs from movies including Frozen’s Let It Go and Moana’s How Far I’ll Go with the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra.  

You’ll hear both humorous and touching anecdotes from the cast’s time on stage and television throughout the course of the evening. 

Prices for tickets, which are currently on sale through Virgin Megastore, range from QR125 for bronze seats to QR750 for VVIP.  

“We are happy to bring this extremely remarkable performance to Qatar’s inhabitants and visitors while giving a unique experience of the play with the live orchestral accompaniment of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra,” said Sheikha Hessa Al-Thani, head of marketing and planning at Qatar Tourism.  

This outdoor performance offers a fantastic evening for individuals of all ages and will undoubtedly round out our schedule of amazing activities this winter.  

If you intend to go, dress in your finest royal garb.  

125 QR (bronze), 250 QR (silver), 375 QR (gold), 550 QR (platinum), and 750 QR (VVIP). Thu Jan 26–Sat Jan 28 starting at 7:30 p.m. The Katara Amphitheatre, 

Katara Cultural Village, tickets.virginmegastore.qa.

Curiosa launches new Friday brunch

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Feast features all of the Latin American restaurant’s signature dishes 

Have you yet had a chance to experience Curiosa by Jean-Georges at the Four Seasons Doha? Booking a table for the new brunch at the Latin American restaurant is the best way to immediately rectify that.  

The lavish feast is served every Friday from 12:30 to 4:00 while live music is playing. It will take you through the best dishes on the menu.  

Naturally, the event will start with traditional appetizers like guacamole, tuna tartare, and shrimp ceviche as well as smoky ones like chicken tacos and sizzling shrimp in garlic oil.  

A squash empanada filled with smoked mozzarella and topped with pear salsa will also be available for you to sample. We assure you that this is sufficient justification for making a reservation. 

For the main course, meat lovers will delight in the grilled octopus, prime beef rib-eye, and arroz con pollo served with patatas bravas and Mexican street corn.

After all that, if you still have room, you may satisfy your sweet taste with fruit popsicles, tres leches cake, and cinnamon churros.  

The cost of Curiosa’s brunch is QR330 with soft drinks or QR598 with house cocktails, which include blended drinks with Mexican and Brazilian influences.  

For those between the ages of five and twelve, the kids package costs QR160.  

You might want to check out the happy hour if you can’t make it down for brunch.  

A tray of appetizers and two house beers are available between 6 and 8 o’clock on Sunday through Thursday for QR145.  

We like the sound of either (or both).  

(Soft drinks) QR 330, QR 598 (house beverages). Every Friday from 2:30 to 4:30. The Corniche, The Four Seasons Doha, and curiosadoha.com (4494 8600).

Jason Statham movie filmed partially in Qatar

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Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre features shots of the Museum of Islamic Art

We weren’t overly surprised to find that Guy Ritchie’s most recent film would feature the I.M. Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art, one of the most stunning structures in the city.  

The action comedy Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre, which was largely filmed in Doha, is currently playing in theaters all around the world.  

Spy Orson Fortune, played by action hero Jason Statham, is entrusted with finding and preventing the sale of a lethal new weapons technology used by billionaire arms dealer Greg Simmonds, played by Hugh Grant.  

Along with Josh Hartnett, who plays a movie director, other notable actors include Aubrey Plaza, Cary Elwes, and Bugzy Malone who will play Statham’s team. 

In January 2021, filming was taking place in Qatar, where Statham was seen in the courtyard of the Museum of Islamic Art as well as nearby on a speedboat.  

After departing from Qatar, the movie was also filmed in Farnborough, England, and in Turkey.  

After The Gentlemen and Wrath of Man, Hollywood film studio MIRAMAX has collaborated with Guy Ritchie on Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre.  

By visiting operation fortune.movie, you can learn more about the movie.  

In Qatar, are you looking for a place to view the movie? Read through our list of the top movie theaters in Doha. 

5 of Doha’s most Instagrammable restaurants

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Doha, Qatar is a city that is best known for its glitz and glamour. The city is filled with tall buildings and beautiful architecture, but it’s also home to some of the most luxurious restaurants in the world.

B-Lounge

The outside patio of B-Lounge is one of the city’s most popular spots when the weather cools off (metaphorically, that is). This Instagrammable restaurant is lovely both during the day and at night, and it also offers delicious pan-Asian cuisine. Because B-Lounge is known for its sushi, we hope you’ve been practicing with chopsticks. The Friday brunch is a must-try where you may sample maki rolls, sashimi, and other dishes including dim sum, sweet and sour chicken, and more.

The picture: Take a seat on the outdoor patio located below and smile with The Ritz-Carlton marina in the background.Sat. through Thurs. noon to midnight; Fri. 1pm to midnight. West Bay Lagoon, The Ritz-Carlton Doha, and loungedoha.com (5080 4421).

Bayt El Talleh

From its vantage point above Katara Hills, the Instagrammable restaurant Bayt El Talleh provides stunning views of the surrounding neighborhood, including the renowned Children’s Mall and Galeries Lafayette. You can choose from set menus for breakfast, lunch, and supper, and you’ll be able to sample traditional Lebanese foods like hummus, vine leaves, fatayer, and lamb kofta. The image: If you’re feeling camera-shy, take a picture of the stream outside the restaurant. If not, reserve a seat on the terrace outside for an unforgettable view.Open from Saturday through Thursday from 9 am to 11 am, 1 pm to 5 pm, and 6 pm to 2 am; on Friday from 1 pm to 5 pm and 6 pm to 2 am. The Katara Hills (4408 1777).

BiBo

The first BiBo restaurant outside of Spain, which was launched in Doha in March 2020 by renowned Andalusian chef Dani Garca, has been making appearances on Instagram feeds ever since. Every dish is exquisitely cooked and presented with style, and the surroundings, which are centered around an art deco-style bar, are breathtaking. Try the tableside-made guacamole or one of the restaurant’s specialty dishes, the black calamari croquettes, which are served in a white porcelain hand. The shot is to pull up a seat at the bar, but make sure you look the part. daily from 6.30 p.m. until midnight. The St. Regis Doha, Al Gassar Resort, and grupodanigarcia.com (4424 4870).

BOHO Social

Will the bohemian movement ever fade from interior design? That remains to be seen, but if you adore that bohemian vibe, you should head straight for the Instagrammable restaurant BOHO Social. There are rattan chairs, including one that can be hung, a lot of foliage, and dishes that are almost too lovely to eat. You may start your day with millennial favorites like aça bowls, croffles, avocado toast (of course with an avo rose), and eggs benedict. The desserts are not to be missed, especially the hot Lotus, which consists of a blondie-Lotus cheesecake topped with churros and Lotus macarons and is drizzled with sauce. The picture: Although we don’t set the regulations, we’re rather certain that you won’t be permitted back if you don’t take a photo on the peacock chairs.

Glass House

It’s no surprise that the Al Aziziyah Boutique Hotel has some incredibly charming (and Instagrammable) eateries given that it was meant to resemble a Victorian mansion. The place feels more like a greenhouse, with plants hanging from the ceiling, so we think the moniker Glass House is a little misleading. You may anticipate international alternatives including pizza, burgers, sushi, and more since this is Al Aziziyah’s all-day dining establishment.The shot: Get close to the center of the room and luxuriate in the light, making sure to get both the foliage and the crystal chandelier in the picture.Daily hours are 6.30am to 11am, 12.30pm to 3pm, 3.30pm to 6pm, and 7pm to 10pm. Aspire Zone’s Al Aziziyah Boutique Hotel (4445 5535).