After my Qatar Airways Qsuites experience, award flight availability had left me with a 22-hour layover in Doha, before my onward connection to Johannesburg.
Even with the superb choices of airline lounges at Doha, this is rather too long to spend at any airport, so I headed into the city for a short look around.
As most of the sights of Doha are compactly located, I decided against a guided tour, preferring to explore independently on foot.
I began my tour at the Islamic Cultural Centre, a short distance from my hotel.
Moving on towards the waterfront, I stopped to view the dhows and the famous Pearl Fountain.
A short walk along the Al-Bandar Corniche allowed me to photograph the outside of the Museum of Islamic Art, as well as the city skyline.
I made my way back to my hotel via a stop for coffee in the Souq Waqif, a lively market in the centre of the city.
My base for my layover was the Ramada Encore, located within walking distance of all of the sights mentioned above.
I found that one day was sufficient to gain a taste of Doha, as all of the major sights are within a short distance of each other.
This was a pleasant way to split up two long-haul flights, and if you have a lengthy layover, it is worth venturing out of the airport and having a look around.
I will, however add one note of caution. The temperature when I visited in February was a mild 25°C, allowing me to cover the distance on foot easily. However, summer temperatures can reach the high 40s, so in those months I would recommend taking a guided tour by car or bus.
