Joanna James
Souk Waqif is a dazzling tourist attraction in Doha that sure will engross you in its many delights. If you are ever in Doha, here's a summary of what you can do and see at the thriving market place.
With over 40 shops selling high-end jewellery, the Gold Souk specialises in traditional Arabic jewellery. There are stunning pieces of earrings and necklaces as well as various types of gems and high-quality watches. The shop windows are filled with beautiful ready-made items, but you can get anything of your choice custom made –
You can even get a pendant made with your name engraved on it in Arabic calligraphy.
The souk is bursting with showy clothing items – be it scarves embellished in embroidery, decorated robes or cloaks – you can buy whatever you want at Souk Waqif. The souk has many cobbled alleyways filled with retail items which you might find a bit overwhelming – however, if you take your time and walk around, you can find what you are after. You might even find things that you didn't know you could buy. Also, don't forget to haggle a bit and strike a good bargain. In case you've bought more than you can carry, there's always help at hand for a few bucks.
Souk Waqif is as famous for gastronomy as it is for shopping. If you are a gourmet, you are in the right place. There are hotels and diners all around the market place. You can dine at a hotel like Al Bidda Boutique Hotel to sample different flavours of Arabic cuisine.
If you are someone who loves experimenting with different spices – you must head to the part of the market where they sell spices. There are piles of colourful spices stacked against the storefronts; you will find that there are ones that you didn't even know existed. A few of the things you can buy at the spice section are tea leaves, nuts, saffron, dried flowers, pickled lemons, sumac, honey and various confectioneries. If you are looking for something like a souvenir for you to take home as a reminder of your trip to the middle east, you can ask one of the vendors for a jar full of different aromatic spices.
You must be curious as to what the Qataris are like, if this is the case, you can head to the souk late in the afternoon or the evening to watch them spend time leisurely while smoking shisha – which happens to be a popular activity in Qatar. You can choose an outdoor table at a café for you to sit and enjoy a cup of sweet tea and watch people go on about their day.
You could find some of the best boutique hotels In Doha Qatar near the souk and will make things easier especially if you are planning to go for more than one round of shopping. Also, Doha is well known for its hotels with panache – they boast the perfect blend of luxury, comfort as well as a taste of Bedouin culture.
Your whole trip will be worthless if you miss out on this one. This is the most singularly alluring aspect of Souk Waqif. The history of falconry in Qatar goes back a thousand years – even now it is in high demand. The Falcon Souk is located at the edge of the market which is visited by both locals and foreigners. Inside the building, you can see an array of falcons perched on wooden stands. These birds of prey are sold at auctions at unbelievably high prices – but don't be disheartened, you can have one of them on your arms for a few seconds as long as you are supervised by a shopkeeper.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
