A Magician’s Paradise — Doha

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Honeymoon Destination, Doha - Wedding Affair
Afloat on Kaleen, Jasmine closed her eyes. Aladdin's warm breaths brushed through her rosy cheeks as he opened his words in a whisper, "To grant your wish of finding a mirage of magic cradled in a desert, I have found the place — Doha."

If fairy tales and fables could be true, imagination could fill our lives, and we would live surrounded by only happiness. Doha is just that place that takes you for a luxurious honeymoon amidst whimsical skyscrapers, souqs and golden beaches to explore. A marvel of the man-built structures in a place no one could imagine centuries ago, Doha portrays a brilliant skyline overlooking the melange of rich cultural influences and modern buildings. The desert city is home to some of the most famous mosques in the world and a magical man-built island called Pearl Qatar.

Eagle View Of Doha
An Eagle’s View Of Captivating Doha

A Cultural Hub

Dhow Festival
Dhow Festival In Progress At The Amphitheatre
Katara Cultural Village
A Couple Heading To Concert, Katara Cultural Village

Qatar is the pivot where a blend of the Middle East and Asia occurs — making the peninsular country rich in warm cultures. While an array of museums, galleries and mosques await a glance from their bewitched visitors, Doha proudly represents its take on modern architecture, nestling traditions from ages. Katara is one such must-visit place if your soul is an explorer of cultures and religions. With a long beachline on one arm and magnificent Katara twin hills on the other, the village is the capital’s place for quenching your thirst for art and local food. The Katara and Golden mosques expel majestic architecture while the whopping 5,000 seater amphitheatre and the Al Thuraya Planetarium take a swirl around modernism. The National Museum Of Qatar’s desert-rose-inspired architecture is yet another spectacle that exhibits Qatari history under one roof.

Destination Entertainment

Qatar National Convention Centre
The Nutcracker Being Staged At Qatar National Convention Centre

Accept it; you have always wanted to dress posh and attend an Arabian horse race? Well, this is your chance while you are at the Racing & Equestrian Club in Doha during October and March, when the public is welcome to attend at no cost. If you are travelling other months, worry not since Doha has plenty to offer for entertainment to its visitors at the Qatar National Theatre, Qatar Opera House and many more. While public display of affection is a serious offence in this country, you can always cosy up sipping brews and liquors in the city’s night-clubs, including Backyard, Belgian Cafe, Sky View or even with punchy manual-brews at Flat White.

If you want to gorge on delectable Tex-Mex and enjoy big sips of margaritas while listening to a live band playing their best, you can head to Paloma at the InterContinental Doha Beach & Spa, an IHG Hotel.

Calming Seas And Souls

Dining At A Private Beach, Doha
Dining At A Private Beach
Four Seasons Beach
Sunbeds Await Your Arrival, Four Seasons Beach

On the day of your visit to the Katara Village, you can pack yourselves some sunblock, hats, sandcastle buckets and a change of clothes as you make sandy footprints at Katara Beach, spine-ing the village. There is much to explore here other than dipping your souls in the calming sea with watersports such as parasailing, wakeboarding and much more. Four Seasons Beach, Umm Bab Beach, Sealine Beach and Inland Beach are others worthy of an exploration. However, remember, whenever hitting the beach in Qatar, this may not be the best place to carry your sassy swimwear. Women are not allowed to take a swim unless completely covered, so you may want to buy a Burkini after all or wear fully covered clothes worthy of a fun day.

Katara Beach
Colours Galore At The Katara Beach
Couple Jet-skiing
Couple Jet-Sking In Love

A Shopaholic’s Paradise

The Giant Gift Box, 21 High Street
The Giant Gift Box, 21 High Street
Villagio Mall, Doha
When In Venice In Doha, Villagio Mall

Doha is a shopper’s paradise. The 21 High Street holds a giant gift box right at its entrance, meaningfully is the place to be if you want to shop your heart out with ultra-luxe labels. Venice-inspired Villagio Mall provides shoppers with the comfort of being indoors while taking a mock-Gondola ride under the European-style facades. This place also has Gondolania, an indoor theme park when your quench is complete with the shopping and dining.

Food At Paloma
Guests Enjoying Food At Paloma

On the other hand, if you want to shop like Carrie Bradshaw’s Abu Dhabi local visit from STC2, Souq Waqif is the place — with traditional shops specialising in local handicrafts, essential oils, clothing, spices and even sparkling gold. The best of home-grown produce is often exhibited at the open-air Torba Farmers Market.

Doha Corniche
The Dusk Setting Upon Doha Corniche

To sum up your beautiful memories at Doha, you can always take an evening stroll gazing at the Qatar Corniche — promising to return another time while carrying a bit of Qatari sand for your sand-timer back home.