The most famous museums in Doha
For many tourists, museum visits may seem tiring during a trip, but this perception is wrong. By visiting the museums of a city, you will quickly become familiar with the culture, history, and authenticity of your desired destination. Now, if this destination is the beautiful and authentic city of Doha, you must definitely choose a museum. You might be wondering why. We have prepared 8 cases of the coolest and most famous museums in Doha for you to get acquainted with and include one of them in your travel plans. Although by knowing a little about each, you will choose more than one museum. So stay with the Nabtrip travel magazine for more.
8 cases of the most famous museums in Doha.
When booking your plane ticket, make sure to include a visit to one of the museums in your itinerary; go against the usual rule for once, if possible; be sure you won’t regret it!
Doha 3-2-1 Olympic Museum
The Doha Sports and Olympic 3-2-1 Museum, which recently opened in late March 2022, is the largest museum of its kind in the world and certainly one of the most famous museums in Doha. Inside this museum, there are seven galleries that cover various sections such as the Olympics and its related history and events. Alongside that, you can also witness interesting galleries showcasing important sports events that have taken place in Qatar to date.
Currently, the museum can be divided into two sections: one called “Football for All, All for Football,” which is exclusively dedicated to the FIFA World Cup, showcasing its attractions, and another section called “Doha’s Journey,” which takes you on a journey from the first FIFA World Cup matches in 1930 to the final at the Lusail Stadium. Other sections are also under development and will be interesting in their own way. If you are a sports enthusiast or a football fan, be sure to visit this museum.
Visiting hours: Saturday to Thursday from 9 AM to 7 PM; Friday from 1:30 PM to 7 PM.
Address: Khalifa International Stadium, Aspire Zone.
Entrance fee: 100 Qatari Riyals, and it is free for children under 16.
Travel to the Night Sky at Al Thuraya Planetarium Museum!
Named after the Pleiades star cluster, the Al Thuraya Planetarium Museum is one of the most famous museums in Doha, specifically designed for lovers of the night sky and stars. Here, you can take a scientific tour of space and stars, familiarize yourself with handheld lenses and various telescopes. You will even learn interesting information about famous astronomers from around the world and the Arab world, such as Al-Battani.
Most tourists visit this museum for the programs it offers. Film screenings in the dome and shows with themes of stars, the universe, and the Milky Way galaxy are particularly beautiful and interesting.
Visiting hours: Open daily from 8 AM to 8 PM.
Address: Katara Cultural Village, althuraya.katara.net
Entrance fee: Free.
Arab Museum of Modern Art
One of the most famous museums in Doha is the Museum of Modern Art, which houses over 9,000 artworks. What’s interesting about this museum is the changing exhibitions, meaning that with each visit, you will see new and different things.
The museum’s permanent collection is housed on the upper floors, spread across five galleries that explore various themes: Women in Society, Portraits of Changing Communities, Historical Events, New Vocabulary in Post-Independence Fields, Mathematics, Mosaic, and Various Inventions. The collection is displayed in different forms within these galleries.
Currently, the museum has opened four new exhibitions, each more captivating and interesting than the other. One exhibition focuses on contemporary Qatari art, showcasing the works of former firefighters, while other exhibitions feature historical-fictional videos, works by Singaporean artist Ho Tzu Nyen, 18th-century paintings, and artworks related to the myth of Tipu Sultan. In summary, experiencing modern art in one of the most famous museums in Doha will take you to a new world.
Visiting hours: Monday to Thursday from 9 AM to 7 PM; Friday from 1:30 PM to 7 PM.
Address: Education City, Doha.
Entrance fee: 50 Qatari Riyals for adults, free for children under 16.
Museums of Msheireb
By visiting one of the most famous museums in Doha, the Msheireb Museums, you can see not just one, but four museums simultaneously. Yes, this museum is essentially four museums in one, saving you time.
By dividing into several heritage houses with different themes, you will learn about slavery in the Bin Jelmood House. Additionally, you will see the history of oil in Qatar, the transformation of Msheireb in the Mohammed Bin Jassim House, and Qatari traditional life in the Radwani House.
Currently, the Bin Jelmood House is one of the most captivating exhibitions. In this house, through displays, you will become familiar with the diverse roots of Qatar through the migration of prehistoric humans, genetic heritage, and personalized medical development.
Visiting hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 9 AM to 5 PM; Friday, 3 PM to 9 PM.
Address: Near Souq Waqif.
Entrance fee: Free.
Illusion Museum
Have you ever seen photos on the internet where a person appears smaller on one side or it looks like the photo was taken on the ceiling? If you’re interested in having these kinds of photos and want to know how they are created, pay a visit to the Illusion Museum in Doha. It is one of the most famous museums in Doha, offering numerous rooms that provide a fun and unforgettable experience along with a series of fascinating photographs for you to see.
Visiting hours: Saturday to Thursday, 9 AM to 10 PM; Friday, 1 PM to 10 PM.
Address: Arabian Gulf.
Entrance fee: 80 Qatari Riyals for adults, 60 Qatari Riyals for children under 16, and 220 Qatari Riyals for families.
Museum of Islamic Art
After being closed for renovation last year, the Museum of Islamic Art finally reopened its doors on October 5th. It is one of the most famous museums in Doha, famous and popular as much as the National Museum of Qatar. This museum is built on a beautifully revived land with Islamic architecture, attracting the attention of visitors with its impressive design and structure. Inside the museum, as the name suggests, Islamic artworks from the 7th century to the 19th century are displayed.
Visiting hours: Saturday to Thursday, 9 AM to 7 PM; Friday, 1:30 PM to 7 PM.
Entrance fee: 100 Qatari Riyals for adults, free for children under 16.
Qatar National Museum
If you can only visit one museum on your trip to Qatar, it should definitely be the Qatar National Museum. You might come across a peculiar building resembling a desert rose while passing through the Corniche area, which will appear very interesting and beautiful to you. This possibility is reason enough for your curiosity and visit to this building, but it’s better to know that this place houses one of the most famous museums in Doha, the Qatar National Museum.
The Qatar National Museum provides an overview of the country’s history, from geology and wildlife to life in the desert and the sea. The museum center also includes the reconstructed main palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani. Currently, there are two extraordinary temporary exhibitions that you can visit.
Visiting hours: Saturday to Thursday, 9 AM to 7 PM; Friday, 1:30 PM to 7 PM.
Entrance fee: 100 Qatari Riyals for adults, free for children under 16.
Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum
A true collection of curiosities awaits you at the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum, which houses the private collection of Sheikh Faisal. Over 30,000 items are on display here, and you can spend an entire day exploring and still not have enough time in one of the most famous museums in Doha.
There are 11 rooms that focus on subjects such as weaponry, fossils, and carpets, spanning from the Jurassic period to the modern era. There is even a complete Syrian house that was painstakingly transported brick by brick from Damascus in 2014.
Visiting hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 9 AM to 5 PM; Friday, 2 PM to 7 PM; Saturday, 10 AM to 6 PM.
Address: Al Samriya Estate.
Entrance fee: 50 Qatari Riyals for adults, 30 Qatari Riyals for students, free for children under 12.
An interesting tip about museum hopping in Doha
If you plan to visit a number of museums in Doha in one day, be sure to choose the Mowasalat bus. This is because free shuttle services are provided between Mowasalat: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Qatar National Library, Doha Fire Station, Qatar National Museum, and Museum of Islamic Art. This route operates during the working hours of Qatar’s museums and is fully accessible.
