Destination Doha: An F1 fan’s guide

The Qatar Grand Prix runs under floodlights at the Lusail International Circuit, where a main straight of more than a kilometre funnels the field into Turn 1.

Beyond the track, Doha sets its heritage against a modern skyline. The Corniche curves for 7km around Doha Bay towards the Museum of Islamic Art, designed by I. M. Pei, while Jean Nouvel’s National Museum of Qatar takes its shape from the desert rose. In Souq Waqif, traders still gather on the site of the city’s century-old market.

From browsing a falcon market to exploring a museum shaped like a desert rose, there is plenty to fill the days around the Qatar Grand Prix.

Introduction to Qatar

Race Dates – 27–29 November 2026, with the Grand Prix held on Sunday
Time Zone – UTC+3
Language – Arabic
Currency – Qatari riyal (QAR)

Good to Know – The riyal is the only currency used in the country, and ATMs are widely available. Bargaining is widely expected at Souq Waqif and other traditional markets. Business pauses for Friday prayers in the morning, when the Doha Metro also shuts down. Visitors are expected to respect local culture by avoiding excessively revealing clothing in public, and it is generally recommended that men and women keep their shoulders and knees covered.

Race weekend falls in Qatar’s winter season, which runs from November to February and brings sunny skies and mild temperatures of between 15C and 20C. Pack lightweight clothing and sun protection.

Attractions in Doha

Wander Souq Waqif

Built on the banks of the Wadi Musheireb, Souq Waqif is a maze of mud-daubed buildings and winding alleys, with sections given over to gold, spices, textiles and handicrafts. At the Falcon Souq, visitors can see Qatar’s national bird up close, and a dedicated hospital cares for the falcons. Nearby are a camel pen and the Emiri Stables, home to the Arabian horses ridden by the heritage police on their rounds of the souq.

Stroll the Corniche

This crescent-shaped promenade follows Doha Bay, with public art along the way and traditional dhow boats offering cruises. At its southern end stands the Museum of Islamic Art. I. M. Pei came out of retirement to design it at the invitation of the Father Amir, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, drew on an ancient mosque in Cairo for inspiration, and placed the museum on an artificial island so that no taller building could overshadow it.

Visit the National Museum of Qatar

Completed in 2019, Jean Nouvel’s building takes the form of a desert rose, a crystal formation. Its interlocking discs wrap around a central court, and the galleries within trace Qatar’s history, heritage and contemporary influences.

Discover the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum

Seven gallery spaces trace a global history of sport and the Olympic Games alongside Qatar’s own sporting journey, from traditional Qatari children’s games to the stadiums of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. In the Activation Zone, an interactive gallery, visitors of any age or ability can test themselves.

Food and drink in Doha

Order machboos

Machboos, rice infused with spices and served with meat, is Qatar’s signature dish. Look out too for saloona, a thick tomato-based stew laden with cardamom, clove, ginger and loomi, the dried black lemon that is among the aromatic ingredients of Qatari cooking.

Follow your nose through Souq Waqif

Spices spill from jute sacks at the souq: saffron, zater, sumac, dried flowers and dried black lemons, alongside dates, honey, tea leaves and coffee beans. Wholesale shops here also sell the green coffee beans, cardamom and cloves that go into Arabic coffee, and will roast and grind the beans on request.

Accept a cup of gahwa

Arabic coffee – qahwa, pronounced gahwa – is a small, golden, aromatic brew simmered with cardamom. It is poured from a dallah, a distinctively shaped pot, into a finjan, a small cup without a handle, filled a third of the way and handed over with the right hand, never the left. A date or something sweet usually comes with it. When you have had enough, gently shake the finjan from side to side.

Finish with luqaimat and karak

Luqaimat, sweet deep-fried dumplings flavoured with cardamom and saffron, are a popular dessert. Pair them with karak, a strong tea made with black tea, milk, sugar and cardamom. Indian and Pakistani communities brought it to the Gulf, and it is now served everywhere from roadside cafes to restaurants. Begin at a spice stall and end with a cup of karak, and Doha’s trading history is never far from the plate.

Getting to Doha

Hamad International Airport is a major global gateway, with its own station on the Doha Metro Red Line linking Terminal 1 with the city centre. Karwa taxis and buses also serve the airport.

Entry requirements vary by nationality, so check the official guidance on Qatar’s Hayya platform before you travel.

Getting around Doha

Walk the waterfront

The Corniche promenade links several of the sights above, and Souq Waqif lies within walking distance of it. In Msheireb Downtown, next to the souq, a free tram runs on a closed loop around the district.

Ride the Metro and tram

The Doha Metro’s Red, Green and Gold lines meet at Msheireb. The Red Line runs from Al Wakra in the south, through the airport and the city centre, to Lusail in the north, while the Gold Line stops at Souq Waqif and the National Museum of Qatar. The Lusail Tram connects with the Metro at Legtaifiya and Lusail and takes the same travel card. Free Metrolink feeder buses and Karwa taxis fill the gaps.

Reach the circuit

The Lusail International Circuit sits on the outskirts of Doha. Take the Red Line to Lusail, where return shuttles for ticket holders run between the station and the circuit. Parking at the circuit is free, and taxis have a dedicated pick-up and drop-off zone. Full travel information for the weekend is published on the official Qatar Grand Prix website.