Top Historical Places To Visit In Doha, Qatar On Your Travel

Located on the east coast of the Qatar Peninsula and home to almost one-fifth of Qatar's population, Doha is a city that has a unique charm about it. From gorgeous beaches full of water sports attractions to some of the finest hotels and restaurants in the world, this is a city that has it all for your travel.

But now here's a thing, while restaurants and beaches are among the prominent Doha attractions, the historical sites in the city feature right up there with the very best. In fact, Qatar is a country that heavily promotes art and culture and has a soft spot for its rich historical journey.

So in case, you're a traveler wondering about the best place in Doha for a historical adventure, here's our round-up of the best historical sites you can visit in Doha, Qatar on your next travel.

Top 10 Historical Places You Can Visit In Doha, Qatar

The places mentioned below are located in the capital city of Doha, Qatar, and offer a real historical delight to the visitors.

1. Barzan Towers

Now if you think about the best place in Doha on your travel to this city Barzan Towers have to be on your list. Rooted in the village of Umm Salal Mohammed, the Barzan Towers were built between 1910-1916 and have been restored recently. The towers have an immense religious significance for the Qataris and are used as observatories for predicting the lunar calendar every year.

Not only this, but the legend has it that the Barzan Towers served as high grounds for looking out and protecting any fare off water sources. The history also has it that the towers were built as watchtowers for any approaching ships near the seas since they are located close to the seas.

Talking about attraction, well, the towers are 15 meters high and offer a mesmerizing view from the top to the visitors who travel to get a sight of it. As the temperatures within the towers can get extremely hot, all these towers were equipped with air conditioning in 2003 when they were restored.

But hang on? Do you know about the most preferable time to travel to this best place in Doha? Well, as the natives and other travelers put it in their words, 2 pm to 7 pm is the best time to visit Barzan Towers.

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2. Al Wajba Fort

Another best historical place in Doha that offers a great historical delight is the Al Wajba Fort located 15 kilometers from Doha on the Western side. The fort was built in the late 18th century and has immense historical importance for Qatar since this was the very site where the Qatari forces defeated the Ottomans in a battle in 1893.

Visitors coming to this fort can not only relive its historical significance but can also get a sight of its architectural beauty. Considered as one of the oldest forts one can find in Qatar, Al Wajba Fort was once used as a residence for His Highness Hamad Abdullah Al Thani and has previously served as a residence for various sheikhs in the history.

Talking about the main attraction of this place? Well, apart from the architectural beauty that is highly evident, the fort is widely renowned for its 4 watchtowers that are standing well in contrast to the rest of the fort which is flat.

3. Al Koot Fort

Another best historical place to visit in Qatar that also happens to be one of the most popular examples of the early 20th-century architecture in the country is the famous Al Koot Fort. Located right at the heart of the city of Doha, the Al Koot Fort is also known as the Doha fort and serves amongst the prominent Doha attractions today.

As history has it, the fort was earlier used as a police station for security purposes in the nearby Souq Waqif. Not only this, but the fort has also served as a jail in the city which only adds up to its popularity.

Talking about the structure of the fort, this structural marvel has four towers in total which include one rectangular tower along with three other circular towers. However, in case the visitors wish to see the fort from the inside, well, that's not possible since the fort is closed for public and you can only watch it from the outside.

Nevertheless, if you're headed to the nearby Souq Waqif for a traditional experience of shopping in Qatar, why not take a moment to gaze at this historical marvel?

4. Al Jassasiya Rock Carvings

Something that an archaeologist would be fascinated to see, the Al Jassasiya rock carvings on the northeast coast is another best place to visit in Qatar. The carvings are known as petroglyphs and are a staggering 874 in total.

First discovered in 1957, these carvings date back to the Neolithic times, and are thus a must-visit on your travel in Qatar. As for the designs of these carvings, visitors can expect to see various different designs and patterns ranging from footmarks and cups to rosettes and ships.

Although there are many such carving sites that are located in Qatar, there are none better than Al Jassasiya.

5. Souq Waqif

Think of shopping in Qatar at a historical site like the old Qatari way, and Souq Waqif comes to your mind. Rooted at the heart of Doha and one of the most popular Doha attractions when you think of shopping here, Souq Waqif is a traditional market located at the site of an ancient trading ground where animals and other things were traded for a nomadic way of life.

Today, however, it is a market where visitors like to visit on their travels and shops for virtually everything. Whether you think of handicrafts, jewelry, traditional Qatari clothes, and so on, Souq Waqif has everything.

What's more? There are various restaurants and cafes in the area that serve modern as well as traditional Qatari cuisines to travelers. Tourists can either opt for indoor seating restaurants or savor the amazing view of the waterfront from outdoor seating arrangements at restaurants located near the waterfront. So why not pay a visit to Souq Waqif to relive the old-world charms of Qatar?

6. Qatar National Museum

Now, are you one of those people who like to explore historical museums and understand history? Well, Qatar is the country for you. A destination that heavily promotes art and culture, Qatar has preserved its rich history and its love for its old culture and the historical journey is evident from the museums you find here.

Besides, speaking of museums, the Qatar National Museum is again one of the best places to visit in Qatar in case you wish to gain knowledge about the enthralling history of this country.

The museum has a vast collection of Islamic artifacts and relics. What is fascinating is that it displays the various fishes in Qatar at its Maritime museum. Apart from these attractions, visitors can even see the traditional boots mooted at a small lagoon or head over and catch a glimpse of the former residence of the Sheikhs.

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7. The Weaponry Museum

I know what you're thinking, where did the weapons come from? Well, if you're one of those who have a liking for weapons, then the Weaponry Museum located in the suburbs of Doha is the place you've got to visit on your travel to Qatar.

A museum that displays the legendary weapons of kings and sheiks, the Weaponry Museum at Doha displays a collection of various ceremonial swords, one of them includes a gold-encased dagger owned by the well-renowned Sheikh Ali Bin Abdullah Al Thani.

What's more? Travelers visiting the museum can also see the original dagger that belonged to the widely popular Lawrence of Arabia, or the sword belonging to King Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia.

Hence, if you're interested in the old days' weapons or just want to see what the notable personalities from history used as weapons for combat, the Weaponry Museum is the place for you in Qatar.

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8. The Sheikh Faisal Collection

Now here's a thing, Doha is a city whose fascination for cars has grown over the years. A city that loves luxury vintage cars, there are many exhibitions that are held in Doha. But hang on, what if I tell you that there's a whole museum where you can head over to catch a sight of some of the most luxurious vintage cars that remind of the old days in Qatar?

Well, if you're on your travels in Qatar then visiting the famous Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum has to be on your list. This is a museum that has a collection of more than 300 vintage cars and was given by Sheikh Qassim bin Faisal to his son H.H. Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al-Thani.

The collection of cars and other findings in this museum is so large that you need at least 2-3 hours to explore it fully on your travel. In fact, if we were to take a fair estimate, there are more than 3000 unique pieces apart from the car collection in this museum.

9. The Al Zubarah Museum

Located 100 kilometers west of Doha and a square-shaped fort that has now been turned into a museum, there are four towers in 4 corners of the fort. While the first three corners have circular towers, but the final fourth corner has a rectangular tower.

For tourists on a trip to Qatar, this tower is a unique and amazing attraction. As history has it, the Al Zubarah Museum was earlier served as a coast guard station and was used by the military personnel until the mid-1980s. Due to its thick walls and architectural brilliance, this museum has a true marvel to watch for the visitors.

Suggested Read: Al Zubarah UNESCO Heritage Site Qatar: Exploring The Historical Heritage Of The Country

10. Marroub Fort

Last but not least best place in Doha, the Marroub Fort is located on the west coast of Qatar and certainly amongst the finest ones you would find in this part of the world. The fort was built earlier during the Abbasside period on the same site of an older fort and carries a huge significance when it comes to recognizing the Abbasside style of the time.

What's more? It is interesting to note that just to the northern side of the fort, there are about 250 lined up together that resembles an arch. So, if you long to experience what the Abbasside style was like, why not head over to this place and see for yourself?

Now here's a thing, we've listed some of the well-known historical places in Doha, Qatar above that are a true delight to any history lover on a trip to Qatar. Let's shed some light on the different ways of reaching Doha now.

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How Can You Reach Doha?

Being connected with virtually every destination around the world and one of the largest transit gateways for overseas travelers in the world, Qatar has direct and indirect cheap flights available from virtually every corner of the world.

While there are no tourist waterways or railway tracks to reach Doha, air and road travel remain the only two means of travel to this country. Tourists can easily book a flight to Qatar online or contact their travel agent from the same.

As for road travel, there are direct buses available to Qatar from Saudi Arabia which are generally renowned for their comfortable journey. However, customs can take up to 4 hours and can lead to delays.

Being one of the most historically defined cities in the world, Doha has enough historical museums and other adventures to surprise you. A city that races towards modern architecture and ways, Doha has preserved its rich history, and along with that, the history of Qatar. So if you're someone on your travels in Qatar and thinking of knowing the history of this country, Doha welcomes you with open arms.

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