Your essential guide to Doha

EXPLORE

Souq Waqif is the beating heart of Doha: an ancient marketplace, carefully restored to its former glory. Wander its narrow alleyways, meet Qatar’s last pearl diver, and absolutely do not miss Al Aker. In the heart of the souq, this Palestinian dessert spot makes the finest knafeh in the country: syrupy pastry and sweet cheese, topped with pistachio.

SEE

Seemingly rising from the sea, the Museum of Islamic Art is one of the city’s great landmarks. Designed by superstar architect IM Pei, it’s full of austere beauty, with its origami-like dome and stacked geometric façade. Its treasures run from Ottoman equine armour to gilded manuscripts and Qur’ans, while its 62-acre park has unrivalled city views.

TASTE

Only harvested for a couple of weeks a year, fragrant sidr honey is the Middle East’s answer to manuka. Sample it in an exquisite Malika honey cake at Mandarin Oriental, Doha, or invest in a jar to take home.

STROLL

Msheireb Downtown Doha, where the hotel is set, is perhaps the most sustainable city district in the world. It’s a masterpiece of modern urban planning, from the main square’s huge retractable roof to the sleek electric trams. Don’t miss M7, an agenda-setting cultural centre, or the Modernist-inspired Msheireb Mosque.

STROLL

In the cooler months (November to April), head to Torba Market – a sustainably-minded farmers’ market, held every Saturday at Ceremonial Square. Along with crates of farm-fresh heritage vegetables, there’s plenty to sample as you stroll, from crêpes and burritos to rose petal-sprinkled lemonade. Look out for crafts by local makers, along with creative workshops.

DISCOVER

A hub for high-flying universities and research institutes, the Education City campus is dotted with dramatic architecture. Don’t miss the calligraphy-inscribed mosque, its minarets sweeping skywards, or the vast, open-air Ceremonial Court, framed by latticed panels. The Qatar National Library is another landmark, designed by maverick genius Rem Koolhaas.

DRINK

If Qatar has a national drink, it’s karak; slow-steeped tea laced with condensed milk, sugar and cardamom. Originally introduced by traders from the Indian subcontinent, it’s become a national obsession. The place to try it is Chapati & Karak, where they’ve taken it up a notch by adding ginger, and pairing it with excellent chapatis.

SHOP

In this city, the best luxury shopping malls are destinations in their own right. A 20-minute drive from the hotel, Alhazm scales opulent new heights, inspired by Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Think Tuscan marble walls and temperature-controlled gardens dotted with ancient olives trees, along with a succession of sleek flagship stores and upscale eateries.

EXPLORE

It’s a powerful feat for public art to look as if it’s always been there. It’s even more powerful when the piece in question is on the scale of Richard Serra’s East-West/West-East: four 14-metre-high steel sheets, standing deep in the desert. The effect at sunset is haunting, though you’ll need a 4x4 to get there.

PLAY

Sport’s taken seriously here, not least since the World Cup, with talk of a possible Olympic bid. The enormous 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum celebrates all things sporting, from Muhammad Ali’s boxing glove to Tony Hawk’s scuffed skateboard. Don’t miss the Activation Zone, where you can put your own prowess to the test.

SEE

Commissioned by an 18th-century maharaja, the Baroda carpet is a marvel, glimmering with gemstones and seed pearls. It’s one of the star exhibits at the National Museum of Qatar, whose pieces tell the country’s story, starting with a 400 million-year-old fossil. The Jean Nouvel-designed building is a triumph, too, with its space-age interlocking discs.

GAZE

It’s impossible not to be awed by the Qatari desert, sculpted by the wind and criss-crossed by ancient tracks. The hotel’s concierge can arrange a Desert Safari, taking in a swaying camel ride, dune bashing and sandboarding, with lunch at a luxury camp.

Don’t miss the Royal Camel Parade, a captivating display of Qatari heritage and traditions. Every day, at 8am and 4pm, the Palace Guards and royal camels parade on the lawns in front of the majestic Amiri Diwan, the governmental palace. Set opposite Souq Waqif, the city’s famous traditional market, it’s just ten minutes’ walk from the hotel.

- The concierge team at Mandarin Oriental, Doha.

Survey the city’s skyline from the hotel’s rooftop pools, edged by curtained cabanas, then head to the serene Spa. Its two-hour Arabian Journey experience is exceptional, calling on local ingredients such as date seeds, oud oil and pearls.

A ten-minute stroll away, Al Bidda Park spans more than 400 acres. Look out for the resident hoopoes, with their jauntily striped wings, stroll the park’s green lawns, or make for an awning-shaded playground. At the far end of the park, check out Fire Station, a coolly contemporary arts space with an airy, Italianate café.

Just outside the city centre, meanwhile, an entire quarter has been created to showcase Qatar’s love of the arts. Katara is a maze of gallery-filled lanes, centring on a seafront amphitheatre. With its car-free streets and hilly parks, it’s one of Doha’s most peaceful spots.