Souq Waqif
Points of Interest & LandmarksScenic Walking AreasFlea & Street Markets
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  • goodguyjas
    London, United Kingdom1,218 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful old market area with bags of atmosphere and lots of places to eat. Loads of little alleys to wander along
    Hectic market area with labyrinth like alleys with shops lining every spare space. There is also an abundance of restaurants and cafes here. The area comes alive at night and the atmosphere is exhilarating with the crowds out. I like the fact there is no hard sell from most vendors and you feel safe wandering around. In fact you are generally left alone. So many shops but tourists are well catered for along with those looking shoes, bags, perfumes, clothes and materials. The alleys are great to wander along. You might feel a bit lost but generally you get back to something you recognise without too much problem. It is not massive but big enough. Loved seeing all the pet birds and parrots. So exotic. Along with all of this you also get all the foods and lovely smells from the spices. Great area to escape the modern city across the harbour and see the old days with a modern twist.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 10 October 2023
  • Navigate47064972873
    Bengaluru, India3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must visit when in Doha
    Easily one of the best experiences Doha has to offer. This place is a must visit for anybody looking for pocket friendly souvenirs, clubbed with a very wide range of divine cuisine. We had to return a second time to complete some missed shopping and culinary experiences.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 12 October 2023
  • Meremale60
    Upper Coomera, Australia618 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stop Over
    Everyone suggested we needed to check out these markets, so jumped off the hop-on-hop-off bus and checked them out. It was early morning however all the markets were open, just not many people. Great for souvenir shopping and other market stuff like material, clothes, footwear etc snd as you would expect cheaper than the malls.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 20 October 2023
  • morgandmindy
    Larbert, United Kingdom42 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Old world souk
    Old world souk. Rather than the new fabricated ones of other cities. Worth a visit. Do try local cuisine at one of small cafes. Delicious and prices are excellent. Great for spices, honey and Qatari Knick knacks. Amazing if you love a pot or pan!! Great for a wander about at night. Visit the art souk as amazingly talented artists and architecture.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 24 October 2023
  • William J
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Souq Waqif: A Must-Visit Traditional Market in Doha, Qatar
    Souq Waqif is a traditional market in Doha, Qatar, that has been in operation for centuries. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city, and for good reason. The souq is a labyrinth of narrow alleyways lined with stalls selling everything from traditional Qatari garments and spices to souvenirs and handicrafts.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 2 November 2023
  • Adrian B
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A step back in time
    One of the most striking aspects of Souq Waqif is its authentic atmosphere. As you wander through its winding alleyways, you'll be immersed in the sights, sounds, and scents of a bygone era. The market is teeming with small shops, stalls, and boutiques that sell a wide array of items, from traditional garments and spices to handicrafts and artwork. Exploring the souq is like taking a step back in time, and it offers an excellent opportunity to experience Qatari culture up close.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 8 November 2023
  • Michael Flake
    Mesa, Arizona29 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful Experience especially at night
    Great way to City the old city Souq! We went here and found some great stores and restaurants with good food and stores! I’ll add more stores to visit. So much to see and experience
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled on business
    Written 9 November 2023
  • Elza K
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Souq Waqif: A Traditional Market Experience in Doha
    One of the best things about Souq Waqif is its atmosphere. The souq is always bustling with activity, and it is a great place to experience Qatari culture firsthand. Visitors can haggle with vendors, sample traditional food, and simply wander around and soak up the sights and sounds.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 10 November 2023
  • Bozeman-Dublin
    Trim, Ireland11,334 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Utterly Captivating
    Utterly captivating with its pulsing energy, soft evening lighting and the sounds and smells of a thriving market. The smell of incense, herbs and spices was intoxicating. The calls of the vendors, the colours, the cosy little cafes and shops, the alley of perfumemeries, the little square full of bird sellers. It's just a wonderful place and I went there on each of my four days in Doha. Best time to go is early evening as night falls, its cooler, the buildings are beautifully lit and the place has a lovely energy.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 10 November 2023
  • Komator
    Barcelona, Spain902 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Modern Souq
    When you think of a souq in an Arab country, you imagine a place full of people, with history, vibrant... This is not the case with the Souq Waqif in Doha. It's a very modern place with very new and organized shops, modern restaurants, and cafes. Nevertheless, it's interesting. There is an area where birds and falcons take center stage. Another section is dedicated to jewelry. When the heat and sun subside, the restaurants and cafes fill up with people, both locals and tourists.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 11 November 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles9 180 reviews
Excellent
5 416
Very good
2 918
Average
706
Poor
83
Terrible
57

Alan V
Charlotte, NC13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
The Souq was the high point of a wonderful trip to Qatar. Perched in the older section of Doha, the Souq was rebuilt after a devastating fire and the market has become one of the premier places to visit in the gulf countries. There are literally hundreds of merchants selling a wide variety of wares ranging from authentic spices to handmade crafts. There is even a section which hosts expensive Falcons (yes, the birds), complete with a medical facility for injured raptors. There are dozens of restaurants with a wide variety of food, ranging from Italian, Turkish, Lebanese, etc. A large open square has live entertainment almost every night and there is even a subterranean movie theater with numerous screens and all the latest cinema offerings. The nearby Metro stop makes for an easy connection fom virtually anywhere in DOHA and the countless boutique hotels make for a convenient place to stay. I left with a rug from Iran, a handmade lamp from Egypt and some beatiful scarves. A nearby Jewelry district had an amazing collection of offerings. Prices were negotiable but I had a hard time getting more then 30-35% discount. Still taht was enough and I couldn't have left any happier. The Souq opens as early as 7:30 for coffee shops and stays open as late as 11:00 for shops and far later for restaurants and entertainment venues. The weather in Jan. was pleasant but it was the best time to go.
Written 11 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Wade R
Cape Town, South Africa16 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
I visited Doha in December of 2019. During my 10 day stay, I visited the souk twice. I found that I hadn't allowed enough time to fully explore the souk on my first visit and hence had to return a second time.

Both visits were a really amazing experience for me, I loved the vibe and ambiance in the market - it was something out of a movie! There are lots of middle eastern and Indian restaurants to enjoy and for those that enjoy smoking shisha, they are readily available. There are of course lots of vendors, selling all kinds of things from jewellery to hand-crafted leather goods to birds! This is a really great place to get your gift shopping done.

The vendors are very friendly and welcoming and are also open to bargaining. I really enjoyed engaging with the vendors, learning some arabic words and getting suggestions on where to eat and where else to visit around Doha.

Overall, if I were recommending an itinerary for someone visiting Qatar, this would be a must-do.

I would allocate an entire evening to the souk. vendors start opening around 4/5pm and close at 10/11pm. I would advise arriving around opening time, before the market gets very busy, to enable you to get a good look at everything there is to see, and still allowing time for dinner before the restaurant kitchens close.
Written 2 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Leo P
Qatar33 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
Souq Waqif is situated at the heart of the city Doha, and is one of the most precious and beautiful part of the city.The architectural excellence and the detail of this venue takes us bck to the old days when things were not commercialized.
The rustic and rawness of the place is truly recommended for every new travellers to understand Qatars history in terms of Souq.
A set of Restaurant were built in to convene ppl coming to shop.
The main stretch of Souq Waqif is the sheesha bars,which is layed in an array of rows along the street.
Ppl sitting and talking, socializing is something which is a site to be seen.
I certainly recommend the Souq to everyone new travellers and to repeat travellers,as authenticity is the best piece of life.
Written 17 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DizzyBlonde23
Halifax, UK505 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Friends
On a recent visit to Doha our hotel was located directly adjacent to the market so did spend most of our 3 days in Doha walking around different sections of the market. Although not a true and old authentic market it is one of the main visitor spots in Doha.

It was interesting seeing the authentic stores selling spices, local products etc in the market as well as getting lost and finding random stores such as a taxidermy store where it was interesting watching the trader at work with an antelope of some kind! There are lots of souvenir/toy/gimmicky stalls too but we did avoid these.

There are also a number of bars, cafes and restaurants and we enjoyed sitting out at lunchtime/on an evening with a dessert/ice cream and a drink watching the world go by.

We had a tour of the market with a guide from our hotel one evening and it was nice to have him explaining areas such as the spice and falcon souks as well as taking us to see the camels and horses (of which the horses seemed well cared for albeit a bit skittish of people!)

The disturbing aspect of the market for me (as a pet owner and animal lover) was the animal market. Now I know people treat animals differently in Middle Eastern, Asian countries etc and don’t hold them in the same regard as the Western world but still found the blatant disregard of them abhorrent and sad. There were animals of all kinds from fish to birds to dogs to exotic animals such as terrapins, lizards etc. Although the animals did have food and water (via a water bottle) most of them were in barren cages with no mat/flooring (so they were just on the bars) as well as a lot of cages with faeces in them located on top of other animals, in direct sunlight and with lots of people and noise.. It was also a smelly area. The saddest sights (amongst many) I saw were numerous kittens with their eyes stuck almost shut, an extremely young puppy that looked to be near the end hidden in a small cage at the back of a shop and a mother dog in a barren cage with young puppies. I would have rescued them all if I could! None of the staff had any clue about any of the animals (which were also very expensive) and just wanted to give them to people (by grabbing them) to pose for photos with. On taking a closer look at some of the dogs and cats (which the clerks gave me for a closer look) they were shaking, skittish and matted with overgrown claws.

Would have avoided the animal market but the entrance was near our hotel so had to go through that part of the souk to access the other areas.

Would recommend parts of it to first time visitors (especially the outside areas at night) as it is a good place to soak up the atmosphere and people watch but sadly the animal market spoilt it for me and my friend and even now we’re sad thinking about the poor animals there.
Written 16 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lina M
Dubai, United Arab Emirates113 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019
We visited Souq Waqif at night..before you enter the souq area there are cafe's with live arabic music. If you are a shisha smoker then you will be pleased..the old souq area has endless rows of shops selling fabric,t shirts boukhor and perfumes We bought alot of beautiful fabric at bargain prices. If you are visiting Doha you should pass by this place in the evening.(too hot during the day).
Written 16 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SML027
New Orleans, LA35 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Solo
An absolute treat for the senses, you must visit the Souq when visiting Doha. It’s a beautiful town square with shops and restaurants and cafes and vendors ranging from ice cream and candy shops to fine jewelers. It’s open late so you can enjoy the beautiful lights and walk around before or after dinner, and such a lively and vibrant atmosphere to really give you the feel of the exotic city. I didn’t realize as a westerner that alcohol is prohibited in this area, even in restaurants - but still enjoyed a beautiful view as I had my dinner in one of the rooftop restaurants, swapping a lovely mint tea for my usual glass of wine. The shopkeepers were patient and nice as I was on the last night of a long journey and had absolutely no room for more gifts but spent time perusing the shops and taking in the local makers and their wares. I would have loved to have spent 3 days making my way around the winding alleys peeling into every door, but for now will be glad to have had the short experience of an overnight layover and recommend to anyone else to do the same.
Written 22 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Meikko
Davao City, Philippines9 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020 • Friends
This is the-go-to place of every resident and tourist of Qatar. This is the place where you can find various restaurants from cheap ones to quite expensive. You can also find cheaper items like traditional clothes, animals, and the like in the inner part of souq. Apparently, summer time is not the best time of the year to do some walk around.
Written 31 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cynthia H
Sarasota, FL22 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
What a wonderful afternoon I had wandering and shopping in the ancient "standing market"/Souq Waqif!! It is a "must see" if you are in Doha. Just the fragrances of the spices and cooking foods was enchanting. Seeing the selection of birds, fresh foods, household goods and clothing (traditional and contemporary) etc....takes you back to ancient times and gives you a feel for what it must have been like for many people living in this part of the world. Even today, in this robe filled market, you can see porters with carts following behind families doing their bulk shopping in the market. Put COSTCO to shame :)
I felt safe as a solo women traveler walking about a 1/2 mile and back from my hotel to enjoy the market. In some cases be ready to bargain with the shop owners is you are buying multiple items. There are some fascinating items to be had.
Written 22 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

lovesusa
Stockton Heath, UK646 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
We went here in the evening and it was perhaps a bit much at that time as it was so busy and cramped. Weren't bothered at all unlike some Souqs we have visited. There is a small area here where falcons are bought and sold - very expensive falcons I might add.
Written 26 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Isha Sharma
Doha, Qatar179 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2020 • Friends
If you had a trip to Doha & you had not been to Souq Waqif; oops you actually missed the main attraction in tbe city. Souq Waqif is basically a well built market presenting rural insights. Here, you will find fancy to the most traditional restaurants serving international & local delicacies and small road side shops to buy some soveniers. I would recommend to visit this market in the evening, so as to protect yourself from the sun & witness the most of it as it’s a happening place after the sunset.
Written 29 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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