Joanna James
As one of the Middle East’s safest and most popular family holiday destinations, Doha is a dream come true for those with active and curious kids of all ages. Here’s a rundown of fun and engaging attractions every family should experience during a tour of the Qatari capital.
As an entertainment epicentre that doubles as a cultural highlight, a tour of Katara Cultural Village will be an unforgettable experience for the whole family. Lined with concert venues, amphitheatres, art galleries and cultural showcases, this vast compound can best be described as a tribute to Qatari heritage. While the interactive exhibits and retail opportunities will entice adults and older children exploring the venue, the live performances hosted at the cultural village are likely to keep smaller kids entertained. Open from 9 am to 4.30 pm, it is an inexhaustible tourist attraction that requires time to explore and experience.
A stone’s throw away from travellers based at Al Najada Doha Hotel Apartments By Oaks and other similar resorts in the area, Souq Waqif is another must-visit point of interest for families. Transporting visitors to a bygone era when labyrinthine bazaars were the only retail hotspots in the Middle East, exploring this conventional marketplace is a cultural experience in its own right. Considered one of the best venues to sample local treats and buy traditional items such as spices, perfumes, textiles and carpets, this vibrant thoroughfare is spread out over a large area that’s difficult to cover in a single day.
Providing a cool and misty mountain distraction to families occupying plush furnished apartments in Doha, Snow Dunes Theme Park is one of the city’s most underrated family activity hubs. Occupying the Doha Festival City Mall, this indoor snow-themed leisure park not only offers kids the chance to live out their winter wonderland fantasies in the heart of the desert but also enjoy bumper car and merry-go-round rides with an icy twist.
Families holidaying in the capital of Qatar can’t afford to miss the city’s stunning and activity-filled beaches. Al Farkiah Beach, which is less than 45 minutes away from the heart of the city, is famed for its picnic facilities and shady confines. Deemed the most family-friendly beach in Doha, the venue is open to women and kids every Wednesday and Sunday, similar to most public beaches in the capital. Al Wakrah Beach is another coastal paradise located close to several Doha playgrounds where kids and adults can frolic from sunup to sundown.
Ranked among the city’s main activity hotspots for children, KidzMondo Doha is an interactive recreational park with a truly unique approach to edutainment. Creating a model city in miniature, the theme park offers children the chance to roleplay various careers from pilots and doctors to dancers and chefs in an environment that’s both immersive and true-to-life. Ideal for families with children who are aged above 4 years, the theme park allows children to develop valuable life skills using hands-on exercises while enjoying themselves.
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.
