Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Begin at Ras Abu Abboud St Flyover, where a small park with ornamental wind towers introduces the 'herit-
age' zone of the corniche. The collection of white-washed, traditional-style buildings on the far right belongs to
the exquisite five-star Al-Sharq Village Resort & Spa . Have breakfast there and you won't want to bother with
the rest of the promenade. Sip coffee instead in the traditional Halul Coffeehouse ( Click here ) and watch the wind
rustling the Washington palms amid the national maroon and white flags that decorate this part of the corniche.
The traditional Qatari building on the opposite side of the main road is the newly refurbished National Museum
( Click here ) ; when complete (predicted by the end of December 2014), the new buildings comprising the museum
complex, inspired by the desert-rose, promise to be a remarkable feat of engineering.
Continue into the 'sea' zone of the corniche, passing Doha's busy port marked by the monumental anchors on
the shore and the cream-coloured flour mills at the end of the jetty. Notice also the first of the corniche's unique
contemporary buildings - a brooding black glass construction with dramatic overlapping planes like a storm at
sea. In contrast, looming from the water at 1.3km, the marble-clad Museum of Islamic Art ( Click here ) rises out
of the Gulf like an iceberg, with far more hidden beneath the surface than is hinted at by its understated exterior.
Continuing the nautical theme, at 1.8km, look inland for a ministry building shaped like a ship's bridge. The
dhow harbour is the next point of interest, the entrance of which is marked by the famous pearl monument
OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP (2.3km), a popular spot for photos. Enjoy the spectacular view of West
Bay from the end of a jetty full of lobster pots and lazy dhows, moored up between night-time fishing trips. It's
hard to believe that this remarkable skyline of futuristic towers was built entirely on land reclaimed from the sea.
If you've had enough of the sea, turn inland on Grand Hamad St towards the elegant spiral-tapered building
(Qatar Islamic Cultural Centre) for must-see Souq Waqif ( Click here ) or walk along the 'garden' zone of the cor-
niche, where water cascades down the steps of the Diwan Building OFFLINE MAP GOOGLE MAP
(2.7km), an enormous grass lawn defies the elements and winter petunias decorate the approach to the Ministry of
Interior. Rumeilah (Al-Bidda) Park (Al-Corniche) is next on the left, offering leafy shade for a halfway nap.
The honeycombed post office (5.1km) marks the start of the 'highrise' zone at the northwestern end of the cor-
niche. Have lunch at Al-Mourjan Restaurant ( Click here ) for a close-up view of the newly built West Bay towers.
From here to the end of the corniche is a cluster of spectacular buildings including the Ministry of Justice
OFFLINE MAP , with a pair of scales over the doorway, the Ministry of Education OFFLINE MAP , fea-
turing a mosque dome set in the glass frontage, the candy-twisted Al-Biddar Tower that defies gravity and the
snow-flake clad World Trade Centre among many other show-stopping towers. Reward your efforts at the end
of the corniche with coffee and cake in Al-Dafra Park next to the Sheraton Doha Hotel & Resort, or smarten up
for dinner at the top of the Sheraton pyramid. The stunning views from Al-Shaeen Restaurant allow you to retrace
the route you've just travelled from the comfort of an armchair.
Sights
Doha's main sights are along and just off the corniche. Note that some attractions can only
be visited by prior appointment. This is most easily facilitated through a tour company.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search