Owais Crawford
With its glitzy architecture and international influence, Doha, the capital of Qatar, has become a popular destination for travellers. Hamad International Airport, a central transit hub with flights connecting all continents at all hours, is an attraction in itself. From its high-end shopping experience to its art installations and dining options, there's plenty to do at the airport during a layover. Travellers can also easily access the city centre, which is a 20-minute drive or an hour-long metro ride away, and explore the Souq, the Museum of Islamic Art, and the Katara Cultural Village.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Lounges | Two airport lounges allow access to all travellers, regardless of airline or flight class. |
| City Tours | Qatar Airways offers a free city tour of Doha, including the Katara Cultural Village, the Museum for Islamic Art, and the Souq Waqif. |
| Shopping | The airport has a wide range of shopping options, including designer stores, duty-free shops, and gold jewellery. |
| Dining | Various dining options are available, such as Middle Eastern, international, and Western cuisine, with restaurants like Emporio Armani Ristorante and Gordon Ramsay Burger. |
| Wellbeing and Fitness | The Vitality Wellbeing & Fitness Centre offers a gym, pool, hydrotherapy tubs, and shower rooms. |
| Transport | Doha's city centre is accessible by bus or taxi from the airport. |
| Accommodation | The Oryx Airport Hotel and Sleep n' Fly cabins provide accommodation options within the airport. |
| Attractions | The indoor tropical garden, The Orchard, and art displays at Hamad International Airport are notable attractions. |
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What You'll Learn
Eat at Emporio Armani Ristorante, Gordon Ramsay Burger, or Caviar House
If you're looking for a place to eat during a layover at Doha Airport, Emporio Armani Ristorante, Gordon Ramsay Burger, or Caviar House are all great options. Emporio Armani Ristorante, located in the Place Vendôme Mall, offers luxury, style, and design as part of the Armani lifestyle. Unfortunately, I could not find more information on Emporio Armani Ristorante in Doha.
For burger lovers, Gordon Ramsay Burger brings you a range of classic to unique Ramsay-style premium burgers, fries, hot dogs, and shakes. Their signature burger, the Hell's Kitchen Burger, blends different cuts of beef to create a powerful flavor. Accompany your burger with a side of Hellfire Chicken Wings, Kettle Chip Nachos, Beer-Battered Onion Rings, or the Chipotle Dawg, paired with a local brew.
Caviar House and Prunier is another restaurant option at Doha Airport. While it generally isn't very busy, the seafood, wine, and beer are top-quality. Enjoy fresh caviar and oysters, or opt for a delicious breakfast. Their chardonnay, coupled with the Salmon Gravlax, is a highly recommended combination. However, one review mentions that the salmon sashimi did not seem fresh, possibly due to it being pre-cut earlier in the day.
If you have a long layover, you might want to consider other options at Doha Airport, such as the indoor garden/forest area, huge sculptures, or the sleep and fly lounges. Additionally, if your layover is more than 12 hours and you're flying with Qatar Airways, you may be entitled to lodging from them.
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Visit the indoor garden/forest area
If you're looking for a peaceful escape from the typical airport experience, look no further than The Orchard, Doha Hamad International Airport's indoor tropical garden. This lush oasis spans over 6,000 square meters and is filled with an impressive collection of more than 300 trees, 25,000 plants and shrubs of 120 different species. The natural light-filled space is a spectacle to behold, with its greenery, walkways, and mezzanines illuminated by sunlight streaming through a column-free canopy of high-performance glass.
The Orchard is exclusively for international travellers and is easily accessible to all airport visitors within 10 minutes. It offers a tranquil atmosphere where you can relax, take a leisurely stroll, or find a quiet spot to rest. The garden features a refreshing 575 square meters of "moving water" that enhances the overall ambience.
In addition to its natural beauty, The Orchard also provides a unique shopping experience with 11,720 square meters of retail space. You can explore a variety of international fashion brands and duty-free options. If you're feeling hungry, there are also food and beverage outlets nearby, offering a range of dining options to suit your tastes.
For those seeking a more extended respite, the airport offers the Al Mourjan Garden Lounge, which overlooks The Orchard. This lounge provides a peaceful environment with quiet rooms for travellers looking to rest or relax before their next flight. Whether you're looking for a quick break or a longer layover experience, The Orchard and its surrounding amenities have something for everyone.
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Take a free city tour
If you have a long layover at Doha Airport, you can take a free city tour to explore some of Doha's major tourist attractions. Qatar Airways and the Qatar Tourism Authority have partnered to offer transit passengers a free tour of Doha. The aim of this joint initiative is to promote Qatar as a tourism destination and provide transit passengers with a unique experience of Doha. The tour is approximately three hours long and takes passengers on a journey through the city's key landmarks, including:
- The Museum of Islamic Art
- The Corniche
- West Bay area
- Katara Cultural and Heritage Village
- The Pearl Qatar, an artificial island built on a former pearl diving site to honour Qatar's heritage as one of the significant pearl traders of Asia before the oil boom
- Souq Waqif Market
The tour is conducted in an air-conditioned coach with an English-speaking guide providing information and insights about Doha throughout the duration of the tour. To book the free city tour, passengers with five to twelve hours of transit time can visit the Doha City Tour counter at Doha International Airport. Booking is done on a first-come, first-served basis and is subject to seat availability on the coach.
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Shop at the duty-free stores
Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, is a bustling hub with plenty of amenities to keep travellers entertained during layovers. One popular option is to shop at the duty-free stores.
The airport has a wide variety of duty-free shopping options, from newsstands and convenience stores to international fashion brands. Travellers can browse a range of products, including cosmetics, fragrances, jewellery, and electronics. For those with a sweet tooth, Chocology offers delicious samples of local Qatari sweets and treats.
The duty-free area also features luxury brands and designer boutiques, such as Emporio Armani, where travellers can indulge in some high-end retail therapy. Whether you're looking for a special gift or simply treating yourself, the duty-free stores at Doha Airport offer a convenient and enjoyable shopping experience.
Additionally, the airport hosts an outpost of Qatar Museums, showcasing local and international works of art throughout the terminal. So, while strolling from shop to shop, passengers can also enjoy a cultural experience by admiring the various artworks on display.
For those looking to relax and unwind, the Vitality Wellbeing & Fitness Centre, located near the iconic Lamp Bear sculpture, offers spa treatments and gym facilities. And, if you need a place to rest and freshen up, the Oryx Airport Hotel provides overnight rooms and shower facilities, ensuring you feel refreshed and rejuvenated before your next flight.
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Relax in an airport lounge
Hamad International Airport in Doha offers unparalleled facilities and luxurious experiences in its airport lounges. If you're looking to relax in an airport lounge during your time at Doha Airport, here are some options:
Qatar Airways Lounges
Qatar Airways offers exclusive lounge access to its Silver, Gold, and Platinum tier members through its Privilege Club Lounges. These lounges are meticulously designed and conveniently located throughout the airport, offering a relaxing space to recharge and rejuvenate. The Premium Lounges promise a pampering experience with signature dishes and premium service.
Al Mourjan Business Lounge
The Al Mourjan Business Lounge is located in the impressive Northern expansion of Hamad International Airport. It offers surroundings that rival five-star hotels and is meticulously designed to provide a serene and luxurious retreat for First Class passengers.
Third-Party Lounges
Doha Airport also has third-party lounges that allow access to any traveller, regardless of airline or flight class. You can pre-book a pass online, use your lounge membership, or pay at the door to access these lounges. Some of these lounges include the Oryx Lounge, Platinum Lounge (South), Gold Lounge (South), and Silver Lounge (South).
Oryx Airport Hotel
If you're looking for more than just a lounge, the Oryx Airport Hotel, located inside the transit zone, offers a Vitality Wellbeing & Fitness Centre, shower facilities, and a gym. This can be a great option if you want to freshen up and have a more active layover experience.
Remember to check the latest information on lounge availability and access requirements, as well as any COVID-19 related restrictions, before your travel.
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Frequently asked questions
Doha Airport has a lot to offer. You can visit the indoor tropical garden, The Orchard, which offers a soothing lush green environment with a selection of plants, trees, and water features. The airport also has an outpost of Qatar Museums, where you can view international and local works of art. For food, you can choose from Middle Eastern, international, and Western cuisine. Emporio Armani Ristorante and Gordon Ramsay Burger offer a more upscale dining experience, while Burger King and KFC provide quick bites. If you want to do some shopping, there are about 50 designer stores, a vast duty-free selection, and many international fashion brands.
Yes, there are two airport lounges in Doha Airport that allow access to any traveller, regardless of airline or flight class. You can pre-book a pass online, use your lounge membership program, or pay at the door. The lounges offer comfortable seating, a quiet ambiance, Wi-Fi, business facilities, entertainment options, and food and beverage counters.
Yes, there is the Oryx Airport Hotel located inside the transit zone, close to the Lamp Bear. You can rent a room overnight or opt for one of the Sleep n' Fly's cabins.
Yes, there are several tours available that offer an introduction to the city of Doha. Qatar Airways has partnered with the Qatar Tourism Authority to offer transit passengers a free tour of Doha. The tour includes highlights such as the Katara Cultural Village, the Souq Waqif, and the Museum for Islamic Art. You can book this tour at the Discover Qatar desk.
