Getting around Qatar

The Doha Metro

For most visitors the metro is the only system they need. Its three driverless lines opened in stages during 2019 and run on some 76 km of track, underground through the centre and above ground on some outer stretches. Trains are frequent, spotless and strongly air-conditioned, and signs are in Arabic and English.

Carriage classes

Each train has three classes. Standard takes up most of it. Family class is reserved for women, children and families, so men travelling alone should stay out. Gold Club, a small premium section with roomier seats, needs its own travel card. Platform markings show where each class stops.

Travel cards and tickets

Tap your card at the gate on the way in and again on the way out. Visitors can choose limited-use paper tickets, for a single journey or a whole day, or the reusable Standard travel card, topped up at the ticket machines in every station. The metro's tickets are also accepted on the Lusail Tram. Ticket types and conditions change, so check the operator's current information rather than an old forum post.

Stadiums by metro line

Seven of the eight World Cup stadiums have a metro station nearby or a feeder link from one. Only Al Bayt, up the coast in Al Khor, is a road trip. On match days, read our matchday guide for crowd timings.

Trams

Three separate tram systems fill gaps the metro leaves, each useful in its own district.

Lusail Tram

Opened in January 2022 and still being extended, the Lusail Tram serves the new city north of Doha, including the marina and the central district, on several colour-coded lines. It connects with the Red Line at Lusail and Legtaifiya stations.

Msheireb Tram

An air-conditioned loop of about 2 km and nine stops circles Msheireb Downtown Doha, the rebuilt quarter beside Souq Waqif. It opened at the end of 2019, meets all three metro lines at Msheireb station and is handy on a hot afternoon.

Education City Tram

Run by Qatar Foundation since December 2019, this tram without overhead wires links the campuses of Education City, the Qatar National Library and Education City Stadium on about 11.5 km of route. It connects with the Green Line at Education City and Qatar National Library stations; service can change during academic holidays.

Buses

Metro feeder buses, the "metrolink" network, run short routes from many stations into the surrounding neighbourhoods, covering the last kilometre or two. The wider public bus network reaches places the rail lines do not, including towns outside Doha. Routes and payment differ between the two, so plan with the official journey planners and allow for rush-hour traffic.

Taxis and ride-hailing

Licensed, metered taxis wait at the airport, outside big hotels and shopping centres, and near the major sights. Ride-hailing apps are widely used too, and many visitors prefer them because the destination is fixed before the car arrives.

Addresses can be tricky. Many buildings carry a blue plate with zone, street and building numbers, and a dropped pin or a well-known landmark usually works better than a street name. Around big events, road closures push pick-up points away from the stadiums.

Driving

A hire car makes sense for trips beyond Doha, to Al Zubarah on the north-west coast or up to Al Khor. Traffic drives on the right, and the main highways are wide, fast and well lit. In the city, junctions are large and lane discipline varies, so give yourself space.

Rules of the road

Many roundabouts have given way to traffic lights, but some remain: slow down, choose your lane early and watch for drivers cutting across. Speed and red-light cameras are very common, seat belts are compulsory and handheld phones are banned at the wheel. Licence rules for visitors depend on nationality and length of stay, so check the official requirements of Qatar's traffic authorities before you travel.

Driving in the heat

From May to September a parked car becomes an oven within minutes. Use a sunshade, carry water, keep the tank well above empty and never leave a child in the car. Dune trips, such as Khor Al Adaid, are best left to an experienced driver in a proper four-wheel drive; see our travel tips.

Walking and the heat

Doha is more walkable than its highways suggest, if you choose the hour well. From November to March, the Corniche, Souq Waqif, Msheireb Downtown Doha, Katara Cultural Village and Lusail's marina are pleasant on foot, especially from late afternoon. The Corniche alone curves for several kilometres around Doha Bay.

In the hot months, walk early or after dark, keep to shaded arcades and take the metro or a taxi for anything longer than a few hundred metres at midday. Maps mislead: a hotel that looks close may sit across an eight-lane road, so use marked crossings, footbridges and underpasses. Our sights guide suggests which districts to combine.

From the airport

Hamad International Airport has its own Red Line station, linked to Terminal 1, and central Doha is a handful of stops away. Follow the metro signs from arrivals, get a ticket from the machines and ride to Msheireb to change to the Green or Gold Line. With heavy luggage, a taxi from the official rank outside arrivals may be easier. Landing late? Check the last train, because operating hours vary by day of the week.

Accessibility

Metro stations were designed to be accessible, with lifts and step-free routes to the platforms, and tram stations are too; staff will help if you ask. Pavements in older parts of Doha can be uneven, so a taxi may be easier for longer trips, though accessible vehicles usually need to be requested in advance.

On-board etiquette

Let passengers off first, offer your seat to older passengers, pregnant women and anyone with a disability, and keep Family class and Gold Club for those entitled to them. Eating and drinking are not allowed on trains. Dress modestly, keep calls quiet and ask before photographing other passengers. Friday service traditionally starts later in the day, after midday prayers, so check timetables before an early Friday trip.

Frequently asked questions