Al Jassasiya Rock Art Site

Located to the northeast of Qatar, Al Jassasiya is the most impressive of Qatar’s dozen rock-carving sites. It comprises a total of 874 carvings, known as ‘petroglyphs’, the earliest thought to date from Neolithic times. What may appear to be a deserted sandstone quarry is a heritage site packed with mystery. Discovered around 1957, the rocky desert scape has distinct carvings stretching across an area 700 meters wide. The Al Jassasiya rock carvings feature various shapes, including rosettes, fish, ostriches and cup marks. Carvings of dhow boats, which remain in use, offer a direct link to a long-ago past. The cup marks are believed to represent vessels used to store pearls or play ancient board games known as Al Haloosa or Al Huwaila. The site is located in the North of Doha, an easy drive around 60 km away. You can drive north on Al Shamal Highway until you reach Exit 66. Take a right and continue at the intersection where you take a left turn. After about three kilometres, you will see the large fenced area that is Al Jassasiya, which you will have to walk into from this point.

• Web:

  visitqatar.com/intl-en/things-to-do/art-culture/heritage-sites/al-jassasiya-rock-art-site

• Address:

  Al Jassasiya

• Opening hours:

  Sat–Thu 9am–5pm, Fri 12:30pm–5pm

• More info:

  Near the Al Jassasiya rock carvings, the Al Jassasiya beach is a hidden oasis, with mangroves providing a green backdrop to the white of the sand and the crystalline, shallow water.

Al Rekayat Fort

One of several desert forts from the 19th century, Al Rekayat Fort on the northwest coast of Qatar was built to protect water resources. Remnants of a village can be found nearby. Named after the Arabic word for ‘well’, Al Rekayat Fort contains a five km-deep freshwater well from which villagers painstakingly drew water. The fort is unusual for its low height (only three metres). Each corner of the central courtyard features a staircase leading up to one of three rectangular and one cylindrical watchtower, with expansive views of the rocky landscape juxtaposed against the sparkling waters of the Arabian Gulf.

• Web:

  qm.org.qa/en/visit/heritage-sites/al-rekayat-fort

• Opening hours:

  Sat–Thu 9am–5pm, Fri 12:30pm–5pm

Al Riwaq Gallery

Located within MIA, Al Riwaq Gallery hosts exhibitions by the Qatar Museums network and has featured several groundbreaking exhibitions by artists such as Mohamed Al Mahdi, Damien Hirst, and Jaffar Al Oraibi.

• Web:

  www.qm.org.qa/en/visit/museums-and-galleries/al-riwaq

• Address:

  MIA Park, the Corniche, Doha

• Phone:

  +974 4452 5555

• Subway:

  Nearest metro station: National Museum, 1.5km walk

Al Zubarah Archaeological Site

Adjacent to the walled coastal town of Al Zubarah, this 20th century fort is the youngest and most prominent feature of the Al Zubarah Archaeological Site, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A pristine example of a typical Arab fort, its one-meter-thick walls warded off invaders and helped keep rooms cool during the hot summer. This important site houses residential palaces, mosques, courtyard houses, fishermen’s huts, streets, double defensive walls, a harbour, a canal, and cemeteries.

• Web:

  www.qm.org.qa/en/visit/heritage-sites/al-zubarah

• Address:

  Madinat Ash Shamal, Al Zubarah

• Opening hours:

  Winter: Sat–Thu 9am–5pm, Fri 12:30pm–5pm. Summer: daily 2pm–sunset

Dahl Al Misfir

Located west of Doha, in the centre of the peninsula, Dahl Al Misfir is one of Qatar’s most exciting natural sites. At 40 meters deep, it is considered the largest and deepest, yet accessible cave in Qatar. Formed largely of fibrous gypsum, it sometimes gives off a faint, otherworldly glow. Dahl Al Misfir is believed to have been formed 325,000 to 500,000 years ago during the mid-Pleistocene Era. Known for emitting a moon-like glow, this phosphorescence is the result of gypsum deposits found in the centre of the peninsula. These give rise to the geological phenomena known as ‘desert roses’ (clusters of roughly rose-shaped gypsum crystals).

• Web:

  visitqatar.com/intl-en/highlights/iconic-places/dahl-al-misfir-attraction

• Address:

  Rawdat Rasid area

• Opening hours:

  There are no fixed hours to visit Dahl al Misfir. However, visitors are advised to visit during daylight as there is no electricity in the cave.

• More info:

  Gypsum deposits give off the faint glow Dahl Al Misfir is known for, lending the site an eerie beauty.

Falcon Souq

Visit The Falcon Souq at Souq Waqif to explore Qatar’s national bird up close. Not only will you be able to photograph them, but you will also have the opportunity to have the majestic bird sit on your arm - under professional supervision.

• Web:

  www.swfh.com

• Address:

  Al Souq Street, Doha

• Phone:

  +974 4417 6949

• More info:

  Falcon Souq is in Souq Waqif, between Al Asmakh and Al Ahmed streets, within walking distance of the Corniche. It has its own entrance with a gilded plaque identifying the location