USDDid You Know?
About Doha
It is the most populous city, a multicultural city, and the capital of Qatar conveniently located on the coast of the Persian Gulf. Being the fastest growing city in the state, it has so much to offer, from fascinating culture and architecture to relaxation and adventure.
Things to do
If you’ve never been to Doha before, you should first visit a few places to find out more about its history, culture, and art - National Museum of Qatar, Museum of Islamic Art, The Mathaf, Msheireb Museums, and Katara Cultural Village where you can also relax, eat, or shop. There is also Souq Waqif, ancient outdoor market with cafes and fascinating small shops. If looking for a big fancy shopping mall, go to Lagoona Mall.
The Pearl-Qatar is an artificial island with luxury hotels and residences, restaurants, cafes, and a shopping mall. If you’re traveling with children or simply want to take a walk in a park, go to Aspire Park with a lake and playgrounds, MIA Park offering views of the city skyline, or Gondolania - an amusement park. There are also amazing sand dune adventures for those who love adventures.
Hamad International Airport
This is the only international airport in the entire State of Qatar opened in 2014. It located about 8 miles from the city center. The airport code is DOH, and it has only one airport terminal for the time being. Qatar, however, plans to build another one in the near future.
DOH, its airport code, has numerous services to offer. Whether you’re searching for a place to shop, eat, relax, or grab a drink (coffee, alcoholic beverages, etc), you will easily find a nice place to do it at Hamad International Airport, such as Soho Coffee. You can buy anything from beauty and fashion products to electronics and jewelry. There are restaurants offering global cuisine, and you can even visit an art exhibition or use their spa and fitness centre / wellness centre to relax or exercise.
How to get from Doha Airport (DOH) to the city center?
Hamad International Airport provides many airport transportation options, so you can choose among Doha Airport transfers such as shuttles, taxis, rideshare, limousines, rental cars, and public transport.
The most efficient Doha Airport transfers to the city center are taxis and private transfers - the trip will take around 20 minutes - but taxi transfers are cheaper (rates start at $11), while a private ride costs at least $30. The cheapest airport transfer to downtown is also the slowest one (it will take twice as much time), but public transport tickets will cost you only about $1. You can use Uber as well; it is more expensive than a public bus but more affordable than private cars - rates are as low as $7.
Doha Airport Transfers
Airport shuttles are usually very popular transportation options at the airports, but there aren’t many shuttle transportation providers in Doha. There are hotel shuttles and a few companies offering private airport transfers. Check out more about them below.
Sixt MyDriver can provide you with private service to/from Doha Hamad Airport in their comfortable vehicles. Considering that it is a private ride, their rates are pretty reasonable. They also offer 30 minutes of free waiting time.
- The rates from Airport DOH to the city center are as low as $30. Book your ride easily online and travel in style.
Blacklane offers reliable service and modern non smoking vehicles with 1 hour of free waiting time. The service also includes a meet-and-greet, and they can take you to your hotel or any other destination in no time.
- Their rates from Doha Airport to downtown area start from $64 (including fees and tip).
Hotel Shuttles
There are many hotels nearby offering shuttles to/from the airport. If you still haven’t booked a hotel, check out our list below to find out the best hotels and their phone numbers. Call a hotel of your choice before arrival and ask about Doha Airport transfers.
Doha Airport Taxi & Limo
Taxi transfers are probably the most popular airport transportation at DOH, and they have quite reasonable prices. You can find taxis operating at the Taxi Pavilion - go to the left end of the Arrivals hall, or simply follow the ‘Taxi’ signs. They offer a safe and convenient way of traveling.
- All taxi vehicles at DOH have a starting fare of QAR 25 ($7). The average fare for a ride from Airport Doha to the city center is around QAR 40-60, which is between $11 and $17. The trip takes around 20 minutes. Note that the price will be a little higher if you need a ride between 9 PM and 5 AM.
Also, you can book your ride in advance by calling +974 800 8294 or via the Karwa App.
Doha chauffeur-driven limos are another possible airport transfer that can take you to anywhere in Qatar. To book a ride, call Mowasalat Limousine on +974 800 5466. Upon your arrival, find the limousine at the airport arrival gate. You should use gate number 2 or 3 to leave the arrivals hall. For an on-arrival booking, go to the Arrivals hall and approach the Mowasalat Limousine kiosk.
Rideshare
App-based transportation companies offer very affordable airport transfers. If you want to use this service at DOH, you can book a ride via Uber. After booking a ride, you will get an online booking confirmation along with the instructions on where to meet your driver at the airport.
We’ve listed their lowest estimates to some popular destinations so that you could compare the prices with other transportation options. Check them out below.
Uber Doha Airport
- to downtown Doha: QAR 24 (~$7)
- to Souq Waqif: QAR 26 (~$7)
- to Pearl Qatar: QAR 38 (~$11)
So, if you need a ride from Doha Airport to the city center, this would be one of the cheapest options.
Public Transportation
Hamad International Airport is connected to several places via public transport. This is great because you can reach many destinations for a very low price. They are better than public buses in other cities because they have a storage area for your baggage. They have one downside, however - the bus takes longer to reach a destination than other Doha Airport transfers.
All buses depart from the Bus Pavilion, which is located outside the passenger terminal. To get there, follow the signs in the Arrivals hall.
The following routes serve Doha Airport:
- Route 109 (Al Ghanim - Doha Airport - Barwa Village - Al Wakra - Mesaieed); this line runs every 30 minutes, and the fares start from QAR 2.55 ($0.70).
- Route 727 (Doha Airport - Al Khor); this line runs every 60 minutes, and the fares start from QAR 2.50 ($0.69).
- Route 737 (Doha airport – Karwa City Bus Stations); this line runs every 20 minutes, and the fares start from QAR 3.00 ($0.82).
- Route 747 (Doha Airport - Souq Waqif - Al Ghanim Bus Station - Old Salata Area); this line runs every 20 minutes, and the fares start from QAR 3.00 ($0.82).
- Route 777 (Doha Airport – West Bay – The Pearl – Zig Zag Towers); this line runs every 20 minutes, and the fares start from QAR 5.00 ($1.37).
It is very important to remember that bus fares can be paid only with a Karwa Smartcard, which is available from the bus driver. There are 3 types:
- Classic Card: rechargeable card for many journeys, QAR 30 ($8);
- Limited Card: two inner-city trips within 24 hours; QAR 10 ($3);
- Unlimited Card: unlimited trips within 24 hours, QAR 20 ($5).
Rental Cars
If you pick rental cars as your Doha Airport transfer, you won’t be disappointed. They offer various vehicles, from regular sedans to luxurious cars. It is more expensive than some other airport transportation, but it is more convenient and allows you to travel at your own pace.
There are many rental agencies at Hamad Airport, and you can see some of their names and phone numbers in our list below. All of them are located on the ground floor.
