On my second day in Doha, my adventure continued with a visit to the National Museum of Qatar, a must-see attraction in Qatar that beautifully tells the story of the country’s history and culture. Since I had explored Souq Waqif the evening before, the focus was on other things to do in Doha, including the famous Villaggio Mall gondola ride.
*If you prefer watching instead of reading, check out my vlog from the National Museum and the rest of the day below!
Getting to the National Museum of Qatar by Metro
Getting to the museum was simple thanks to the Doha Metro. It’s on the same line as Souq Waqif and my hotel, so I didn’t even need to switch trains. Just like I mentioned in my Souq Waqif blog post and vlog, there are English signs everywhere, so it’s really tourist-friendly. Once you exit the metro building, you will be directly inside the museum compound, where you’re greeted and driven to the main building in a cart (if you are lucky), which already feels like a mini tour before the real experience begins.
First Impressions of the National Museum
Even from the outside, the National Museum of Qatar is breathtaking. Designed to look like a desert rose, the architecture makes an instant impression. Before going in, I stopped at the Gates of the Sea, an artwork installed in 2019 by a Lebanese artist. It felt like a symbolic portal placed in front of the museum, although often ignored by a lot of visitors.
Tickets cost 25 QAR for adult foreign nationals, which was about $7 then. Once inside, I was blown away. The interior was even more magical than the exterior. Every section of the museum is carefully curated to preserve Qatar’s culture and history while blending in modern design. The galleries are so detailed that you don’t even need a tour guide; you can take your time and absorb the stories at your own pace.
From historical artefacts to immersive exhibitions, every room had something to captivate me. I particularly enjoyed how intentional everything was, from the lighting to the displays. After exploring the main gallery, I walked outside to an open area where a kind couple helped me snap some pictures.
Next, I headed over to the automobile section. There were only three cars on display, but I think car lovers would still appreciate those.
Walking to Flag Plaza
After leaving the museum, I asked around for directions to Flag Plaza and was told it was within walking distance. So, like a true explorer that I am, I followed the direction and the other people heading that way and found myself at the plaza.
To be honest, I was underwhelmed. It was simply just flags, no interactive displays or digital information. If you’re short on time in Doha, you actually won’t be missing much by skipping Flag Plaza unless you really want photos with the flags in the background.
The fun part about exploring Doha is that everything feels connected. Without realizing it, I had walked all the way back to Souq Waqif from the flag plaza. From there, I decided to take the metro again, this time to Villaggio Mall since it’s also on the same line.
Visiting Villaggio Mall in Doha
Villaggio Mall is one of the most famous malls in Qatar, known for its Venetian-style design and gondola rides. Inside, there’s even an artificial sky, so it feels like daytime no matter what time of day you go.
By the time I arrived, the mall was buzzing with people. There were lots of shops, a theme park for kids, and other activities. But the real highlight was the gondola ride. Tickets cost 20 QAR (for single occupancy and 10 QAR per person for double occupancy and the ride lasts about 10 minutes.
The gondolas glide across a canal inside the mall, and while it’s short, it’s definitely one of those Instagrammable experiences. Just one tip, don’t dip your hand in the water like I did. It was freezing cold, and I spent the rest of the evening trying to warm up!
Ending the Day with Indian Food
After leaving Villaggio Mall, I took the metro back. On the busy street where I was staying (Al Jazeera Street), I found an Indian-Chinese-Arabic fusion restaurant just beside my hotel. The staff greeted me with a complimentary orange juice shot while I browsed their huge menu. I eventually settled on:
- Tamatem Signature chicken sizzlers (20 QAR)
- Mutton Dum Biryani (20 QAR)
- Tamatem signature milkshake (16 QAR)
Total was 56 QAR (about $15) and they were delicious and I left satisfied.
👉 I vlogged this entire day, so if you want to see the museum interiors, the gondola ride, and all the little details, check out my YouTube channel and don’t forget to like and subscribe for more travel videos!
