By Javier Picazo Feliu

Doha, Oct 21 (EFE).- Conventional markets, seashores, the desert, museums, the town’s skyline. Qatar is a world filled with sensations that you would be able to uncover by way of our checklist of 9 must-see locations if you’re planning to go to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. 

1. SOUQ WAQIF

If there’s a place in Qatar to return to again and again, that’s the souq. Every little thing in it’s pure magic: The road meals; the Turkish, Syrian and Yemeni eating places; the spice, animals and materials bazars. It’s the excellent place to stay the Arabian expertise and it’s proper within the coronary heart of the town. 

Our suggestion: It’s best to go at night time, when it comes alive. 

2. CAMEL RIDE IN THE DESERT

You’ll be able to change from the trendy metropolis panorama to a white sand desert in only one hour. The Qatari desert ends the place it meets the ocean, so there are a lot of actions to do, like kitesurf or windsurf, camel rides, falcon looking, dune bashing in a 4×4 by way of the desert, or having fun with a day by the ocean after which spending the night time in conventional Bedouin tents. 

Our suggestion: The sundown paints the white sand crimson. The perfect place to look at is from the Inland Sea, one of many few locations on this planet the place the ocean enters a desert. 

3. INTERACTIVE AND BEDOUIN ART

The nation has an important cultural provide and lots of the buildings that maintain museums have been designed by award-winning architects reminiscent of Jean Nouvel or I.M. Pei, which enriches the entire expertise. They stand as art-works by themselves. The desert rose: Qatar’s Nationwide Museum, the Museum of Islamic Artwork and the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports activities Museum are three good examples of this. 

Our suggestion: Get misplaced by way of Doha to find its avenue artwork, particularly within the areas of Katara, the Souq Waqif or Training Metropolis. You would discover works from famend artists like Damien Hirst, Louise Bourgeois or César Baldaccini. 

A go to to Qatar’s Nationwide Museum is completely important. It presents an interactive expertise that means that you can perceive the evolution of a rustic that turned one of the crucial trendy and technologically superior on this planet in solely 50 years.

4. DOHA CORNICHE BOAT RIDES

The Corniche avenue is a 7 kilometers (roughly 4 miles) waterfront promenade that goes from the standard souq to the trendy skyline, fashioned by lots of of skyscrapers that create a novel panorama at night time. 

The promenade can be partially pedestrianized throughout the World Cup, since a big a part of the occasion can be happening there. 

Our suggestion: It’s price strolling it throughout sundown, when the night time lights begin to rework the view. It’s also the perfect place to go for a run, the entire avenue is completely asphalted and with you’ll have the view of the ocean all alongside. 

5. KATARA’S CULTURAL CITY 

Katara, as Qatar was recognized in historical occasions, is a cultural and business heart with its personal character and among the most spectacular buildings within the metropolis. 

The Katara Cultural Village brings collectively all cultures by way of its museums, buying facilities reminiscent of Lafayette — whose constructing tries to simulate a small Versailles —, the Greek amphitheater overlooking the ocean and a couple of uniquely designed mosques, the gold and the blue.

As well as, the realm has many eating places and bars, and a seashore excellent for a dip or for doing water sports activities. It’s the excellent place to spend the day.

Our suggestion: Begin off on the Galeries Lafayette, an space with subterranean air con that comes out by way of slits at avenue stage and makes it attainable to snack or eat at any time of day with out worrying concerning the warmth.Then make your means in the direction of the ocean and uncover the monumental buildings, public artwork, retailers and eating places on the way in which to lastly attain the waterfront promenade. 

A live performance within the Greek amphitheater, which has a capability of 5,000 spectators and covers some 3,300 sq. meters, can be price a go to. 

6. THE LUXURY AND GASTRONOMY OF LA PERLA

Welcome to the Qatari Riviera. La Perla is among the most well-known districts of the capital. A synthetic island of 4 million sq. meters reclaimed from the ocean with a marina, luxurious resorts, among the greatest eating places within the nation and an array of water channels, bridges and charming little squares, which home massive buying areas and gardens. 

Our suggestion: Its round construction is ideal for a stroll across the marina to benefit from the yachts and boats, ice cream parlors, eating places, luxurious boutiques and particular gentle. The residential space, with its canals and squares, can be price a stroll. 

7. SHOPPING IN VENICE

Doha is stuffed with buying choices. From the standard markets, such because the Souq Waqif, to the buying areas of La Perla or Katara, it additionally has an enormous number of buying facilities, a lot of them with a particular allure and virtually all of them providing lots of of actions.

Amongst them is the Venice-inspired Villaggio, with canals, gondolas, ceiling decorations and an leisure space together with an amusement park.

The Mall of Qatar, the biggest within the nation, presents an unimaginable 500,000 sq. meters of leisure actions. The ‘Oasis’ space is a 30-meter-high stage with elevated tree-shaped gardens and a 360-degree rotating theater.

Our suggestion: The buying souk is exclusive. Not solely as a sensory expertise but additionally to really feel the power of the nation. The labyrinthine alleyways with falcons, gold, jewellery and spices are a must-see. Costs are inexpensive for all budgets. Discount quite a bit or attempt to get rewards within the type of items. 

Buying malls are additionally a spectacle, the place you possibly can pattern meals from everywhere in the world, be amazed by their leisure choices and benefit from the perfect retailers, from high-end luxurious to mainstream franchises. If we needed to choose one, the Villaggio and its recreation of Venice is one thing you not often see anyplace else on this planet. 

8. DESIGN, MUSIC AND CULTURE AT THE NATIONAL LIBRARY

There are few areas in Doha as stunning because the Nationwide Library, positioned within the Qatar Basis’s Training Metropolis. It’s a twenty first century agora. Not solely due to its architectural design, the work of German architect Rem Koolhaas, but additionally as a result of it’s a multidisciplinary constructing.

Right here you are able to do every part: be taught concerning the origins of the nation by way of its Heritage Library with manuscripts, atlases and maps, attend a music live performance, eat, drink espresso, play a musical instrument, 3D print your individual designs and even relaxation in a silent room. 

Our suggestion: Its vast areas, the ever-present gentle all through the massive constructing, the bookshelves of volumes in all languages, its dazzling originality and the sensation of being in an unforgettable place make the Nationwide Library a should on a visit to Qatar.

Admission is free and so are the live shows. 

9. MOSQUES IN DOHA

There are a lot of mosques to go to in Doha, and all of them have one thing particular. The 2 within the Katara neighborhood — the gold and the blue — are charming and stunning and the Nice Mosque is monumental. But when one stands out for its design and solemnity, it’s the Training Metropolis Mosque.

Situated in a fancy of 35,000 sq. meters, it was designed by Iraqi architect and calligrapher Taha al-Hiti, who needed to depart the imprint of all the standard components of Arab tradition. As well as, the complicated options the Quranic Botanical Backyard, with the crops talked about within the Quran and the indigenous flora of Qatar.

Our suggestion: The constructing is a piece of latest artwork. Inside there are courtyards of astonishing magnificence the place the white shade and calligraphic particulars rework it right into a magical, harmonious place. The Quranic Backyard is a must-see and the prayer house is in contrast to some other on this planet.

We suggest you to go at prayer time and to be very respectful with a view to perceive the significance of worship whereas admiring the great thing about an awe-inspiring and distinctive constructing. EFE

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