Ten things to get you going in Qatar

New to Qatar? Wondering the best places to hangout and have fun??

May it be the rumbling waves roaring on the shore, the cultural performances by entertaining artistes, the artistic work of artisans or just the view of high soaring buildings at the sea line. Qatar has it all and many of such reasons are why every heart is proud to belong to this land. And so will you devote yourself to this place once you are out and around.

So, let’s get counting the Top 10 places in Qatar to visit on a weekend or maybe just when you’re bored.

#10 – Malls – Malls are the ultimate place one tends to drive into. These are not only to shop but also a great spot for a family hangout. Qatar has a number of them and there are many more coming up. The count of malls starts from the oldest mall in Qatar, which is, The Mall, ranging up to The City Center, Villagio, Ezdan Mall, Lagoona Mall, Hyatt Plaza, Doha Festival City and with two new yet to open called the Gulf Mall and the Mall of Qatar. The Doha Festival City sports the Snow Play Center where you and your family can amuse yourselves in the snow and have a ball!

#9 – Restaurant Chains – If you are a foodie, then you must surely set your eyes on these. Food chains have been on the rise ever since fast-food joints like McDonalds, KFC, Subway, Tacobell and others have walked their way into every nation. And boy, don't we love ‘em!

Other than these eateries one could also taste the relish of different cuisines including Indian, Chinese, Thai, French, Japanese, Korean, Italian and you name it. The following list could be of help if you’re in search of the above mentioned cuisines -

• The Village, Zaffran, Deccan Diwan etc.                   - Indian Cuisine.

• Ginger Club, Baan Thai, Jasmine Thai etc.               - Thai Cuisine.

• P.F Chang’s, Food Chef, The Noodle House etc.       – Chinese Cuisine.

• Caluccio’s, Lo Spaghetto, Paper Moon etc.                – Italian Cuisine.

• Le Notre, Eli France, The French Olive etc.               – French Cuisine.

• Oishi Sushi, Sushiminto, Chopstix etc.                       – Japanese Cuisine.

• Yee Hwa, Korean Garden.                                            – Korean Cuisine.

#8 – Parks and the Zoo – Parks are the best place a child would desire to play around in. Qatar has some of the biggest and spacious parks which are located very close to almost every housing location. Not only children but also health conscious persons are often spotted around the corner to get a breath of fresh air. Some of the best parks around Qatar which you could visit are: Barzan Olympic Park, Aspire Park, Al Soudan North Park, MIA park, Abu Dhalouf Park etc. The Zoo is another attraction that could get children and animal lovers buckle up their shoes. The Zoo is due to reopen in the year ’17 with renovations and surprises up the block!

#7- Beaches – Having a long walk on the edge of a beach is one romantic way to spend an evening with a partner or just by yourself. Some beaches that one could spend time at are: The French Beach or the Maroona beach, Wakra Family Beach, Ras Abrouq, Al Ghariya beach etc.

#6 – Museums – Those who would be interested in exploring the history and cultures of various places, here’s your chance! The Museum of Islamic Art is displays a wide range of Art from various countries including Qatar, Syria, Morocco and even India. The Museum exhibits the Islamic architectural style of places around the world.

Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art is another museum which gathers tourists interested in viewing the Arab perception on modern and contemporary art. This one-of-its-kind institution in Qatar spots a collection of more than 6,000 artworks. National Museum of Qatar has got the recent buzz about it. This upcoming project is a new paradigm with the idea of “Heritage meets Innovation” where the present as well as the future shall be on display.

#5 – Aqua Park – Love riding down the slides past the water waves? Aqua Park Qatar is your destination! Covered with 15 exhilarating water rides, this place will get you adrenaline-charged with all the swirls and splish-splashes. Don’t miss the chance - this is the place to be. Do not forget to include your family or friends for the feast.

#4 – Katara Cultural Village – In order to emphasize the importance of diversity in human development, the Katara Cultural Village was built as the most multi-dimensional project in Qatar. Katara hosts international, regional and local festivals, workshops, performances and exhibitions. It is a place to bring together people to experience the cultures of the world. Come 2016 and Katara will spot sites like The Valley, The Children’s Mall and the Katara Hills for people to indulge into more of fun.

#3 – Souq Waqif – Transliterated as “the standing market”, Souq Waqif is the hot spot for tourists in Qatar. It houses a number of restaurants and Shisha Lounges and has notable sales in traditional garments, spices, handicrafts and souvenirs. Souq Waqif is also most preferred for film shoots.

#2 – The Pearl and the Lusail City – The Pearl Qatar is an artificial island constructed and made available for freehold ownership by foreign nationals. On the sides of the Pearl is the Riveria Arabia or the Porto Arabia which is destined to become the cruising base for the region.

Lusail City is the newest planned city in Qatar. It is an on-going project and is planned to have marinas, residential areas, island resorts, commercial districts, luxury shopping and leisure facilities, including two golf courses, an all giraffe zoo and an entertainment district. One must look forward to the Qatar International Boat Show 2015 this winter which will be held here to witness Middle East’s Premier Yachting Lifestyle event.

#1 – The Corniche – People who love the shores could spend their time by its side. The Corniche is a loved spot where people gather to experience the Dhow ride and also nurture their health with the exercising equipment there. Not only is it a soothing experience but viewing the tall buildings by the sea line is a definite delight to the eyes.

So, here’s the agenda of indulging and engaging oneself in Qatar. All in all, Qatar has various ways to engage people and keep them entertained. What else can you think of?