In partnership with Visit Qatar
Whether you're drawn by history, cuisine or wellness, there's something for everyone in this culture-rich Gulf state.
If you're looking for a holiday centred around art, sport, wellbeing and world-class cuisine, Qatar's got you covered. Across the country, opulent hotels and futuristic, international stadiums stand alongside history-rich landmarks and museums, marrying a directive towards 'bigger and better' with a careful preservation of heritage.
This merging of old and new shows up beautifully in the local food scene, where longstanding cafés sit alongside glossy temples of fine dining. While filming with 50 Best, chef Mohamad Orfali – owner of Orfali Bros and three-time winner of Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants – went in search of the finest food Qatar has to offer. "The passion and dedication of local producers and chefs have shown me how food is an expression of culture and tradition," says Orfali.
Curiosity piqued? Qatar has something for everyone, and piecing together an itinerary that satisfies every craving is half the fun. Whether it's the rush of sand and sky on a dune buggy or the soothing release of a quartz bed massage, let this guide inform your travels across the Arabian hub.
For food lovers
Wander the souq
Chef-owner Shams Al Qassabi explains how she started Shay Al Shoumous
If you're a food-focused traveller, Souq Waqif should be your first stop. Browse the narrow alleyways of souvenir and scent shops, then let the spice stalls lure you in with saffron, preserved black limes and other delicacies to enrich your culinary experiments back home. Armed with an appetite, head to Shay Al Shoumous for a traditional Qatari breakfast. This local café is run by Shams Al Qassabi, the first woman to own a stall in the souq, where you'll be proffered silky scrambled eggs, freshly baked za'atar topped breads alongside punchy, moreish dips. "It's more than just a breakfast – her food touches my soul," says Orfali. "I love her story, and the food is very simple, but so delicious."
Get hands on at an all-organic farm
Mohamad Orfali explores Heenat Salma Farm
Many assume that Qatar's dry climate makes growing quality produce impossible. A half hour's drive north of Doha, Heenat Salma farm proves otherwise. Set across 50 hectares, the estate is home to more than 150 varieties of fruit, vegetables and herbs – grown using organic and regenerative practices. After wandering the grounds and getting hands-on with harvesting, take part in everything from family-friendly cooking workshops to traditional sadu weaving (a Bedouin weaving craft known for its bold geometric patterns).
Savour next-level Indian food
Calacatta Oro marble columns, brass fretwork screens and crystal chandeliers adorn the dining room at Jamavar
Doha isn't just about hearty, local eats, there are also world-leading restaurants like Jamavar, set within the iconic Sheraton Doha. Here, Indian dishes are given a new lease with Qatari ingredients, such as local, tandoor-charred hamour fish dressed with Kashmiri red chillies and avocado and mint chutney, alongside the restaurant's signature, Raan-È-Jamavar, a slow-cooked lamb leg rubbed in a house spice blend.
For sports fanatics
Meet falcons up close
Flacons wear leather hoods to help them stay settled in transit and training
Falconry is deeply rooted in the region's history, a Bedouin hunting tradition stretching back 5,000 years. Today, it's more of a sport and symbol of prestige, with the most prized birds valued at $250,000. Head out into the desert, get some gloves on and watch the birds launch from your hand at incredible speeds when diving to capture their next meal. "It was great to try something so traditional," said Orfali, buzzing from the experience.
Surf desert dunes
Four-wheel-drive ATVs allow passengers to trek off-road and into the dunes
No desert visit is complete without a dune bashing escapade through its sandy swathes. Set off from Doha in a 4x4 for a full day of adrenaline, taking on steep ascents and ridges, stopping to sandboard down dunes and ride camels, before kicking back with tea and snacks in a traditional desert camp.
Marvel at world-class athletes
The annual Qatar ExxonMobil Open tournament is played on outdoor hard courts
Calling all sports fans: Doha's fixtures calendar is action-packed. Events in 2026 are set to attract world-class talent with the Qatar ExxonMobil Open taking place from 16-21 February. More of a speed-seeker? There's the frighteningly fast MotoGP in April, and the gentler, but no less entertaining, camel racing at Al Shahaniya track.
For wellness devotees
Escape to a desert sanctuary
Sea-view villas with private pools overlook the Unesco-protected Al-Reem Biosphere Reserve at Our Habitas Ras Abrouq
Looking to shed all trace of the daily grind? Look no further than Our Habitas Ras Abrouq. Reached by a narrow desert track, this resort is a lesson in serenity. With beachfront yoga overlooking glistening waters, guided meditation and state-of-the-art padel courts (if your heart rate needs lifting), there's more than enough on offer to make checking out the hardest part.
Take a forensic approach
Zulal Wellness Resort is just an hour's drive away from Doha's city centre
Repair and revival are at the heart of Zulal Wellness Resort. Stays here are centred on guests' specific needs, offering burnout treatment, body transformation programmes, facial skin imaging, alongside holistic packages that include knot-blasting massage and grounding walks in nature. Expect thoughtful extras such as embroidered pyjamas, a "wellness minibar" replenished daily and ultra-luxe facilities such as an Arctic cave and a Himalayan salt room.
Indulge in locally inspired treatments
The Mandarin Oriental Doha's quartz sand bed moulds to the body to relieve tension and improve circulation
If you're in the market for yet more stillness, you'll find zen in spades at the Mandarin Oriental Doha. The city has no shortage of gorgeous spas, but here you'll see treatments brought to life by local influences. From the Singing Sand Dunes treatment, which involves massage on a quartz sand bed alongside the gentle hum of singing bowls, to the Arabian Journey, featuring a date seed scrub and oud oil tension release, peace of mind is guaranteed.
For the culturally curious
Discover troves of Islamic art
IDAM's modernist dining room was designed by Philippe Starck (Image: Pierre Monetta)
Designed by architect I. M. Pei, the Museum of Islamic Art's geometric structure is set out over water like something gently landed rather than built. Inside, you'll find pieces from Islamic history dating back 1,400 years, from seventh century Qur'ans to the richly embroidered sitara, a door textile that once draped the Kaaba (a holy shrine near the centre of the Great Mosque) in Mecca. Stay for dinner at IDAM, where Alain Ducasse's modern European menu leans on Qatari produce in dishes such as the signature beetroot pie, which uses local vegetables grown year-round.
Journey through Qatar's history 
The National Museum of Qatar is built around the restored palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani, the former Emir of Qatar
Dive deeper into the country's past at the National Museum of Qatar, where the desert rose-shaped building is as much a draw as the archives within. Inside, artworks and artefacts trace Qatar's history, while a steady rotation of events – from exhibitions on sea turtles to family friendly screenings – keeps the space feeling lively.
Admire desert sculptures
The East-West/West-East sculptures in the Brouq nature reserve are set across a kilometre of desert (Image: Richard Serra)
Venture an hour into the desert to see the East-West/West-East sculptures by American abstract artist Richard Serra. Emerging from the sand, these four towering steel plates, each 14 metres high, stretch across empty space but aligned along cardinal lines. Walk through the shadows they draw and see how the sculptures appear to shift with the landscape, best caught as daylight breaks and falls.
Join Mohamad Orfali on his tour of Qatar with 50 Best.
