6 min read
From June to September the middle of the day is for air conditioning. A practical list of museums, classes, climbing, skating and spa options in Doha, drawn from 25 North's indoor listings.
In the hottest months, most visitors and residents shift outdoor plans to early morning or after sunset and spend the middle of the day inside. Doha's malls, museums and studios are built for exactly that, and almost everything below is air-conditioned.
The listings here all show indoor in 25 North's own data. Prices and opening hours come from each listing and can change, so confirm before you go.
The Museum of Islamic Art guided tour runs about two hours, and the building is one of the best places to spend a hot afternoon. FANAR, the Islamic cultural centre near Souq Waqif, offers a free 45 to 60 minute guided tour with Arabic coffee, and the Qatar National Library has a free heritage tour in Education City. In Msheireb, Liwan Design Studios offers free public tours of a restored former school.
The Al Thuraya Planetarium at Katara is a free 30 to 45 minute dome show on set days.
Pottery classes run at Clay Encounters (Old Doha Port and The Pearl) and MUD Pottery Studio (The Gate Mall), cooking classes at The Cooking Academy, and Arabic calligraphy at Embrace Doha in Souq Al Wakra. Paint the Town runs paint-and-sip sessions at rotating venues for ages 16 and over. Check the age limit on each listing: classes range from 5 and up to 18 and over.
Boulder Qatar is an indoor climbing gym at iCONIC 2022 with a day-pass price listed, Gondolania Ice Arena has 90-minute skating sessions at Villaggio Mall, and Padel In has an indoor court at City Center Doha. Skydive Qatar's indoor wind tunnel lets first-timers fly year-round, and the Trocadéro Mini Le Mans Karting circuit at Place Vendôme uses electric karts.
For recovery, there is the Solo Float Center at The Pearl, yoga at Niya Yoga Studio, and hammam treatments at ESPA at Mondrian Doha, Cleopatra Spa in Al Salata and the Anantara Spa on Banana Island. These are for adults (16 or 18 and over depending on the venue).
Escape rooms (Enigma, GAME OVER, Adventure Rooms, Escape Hunt and Scavenger Escape) all run about an hour. Bowling at Qatar Bowling Center is listed at QAR 8 to 12 a game, and Virtuocity and Megapolis offer arcades, VR and racing simulators. For children, see our guide to Doha with kids.
When is it too hot to be outdoors in Doha?
Daytime temperatures are highest from roughly June to September, so outdoor activities are usually best in the early morning or after sunset in those months. Winter is much milder.
What are the best free indoor things to do in Doha?
The Al Thuraya Planetarium, the FANAR cultural centre tour, the Qatar National Library heritage tour, Msheireb Museums and M7 are all listed as free.
Can I do these activities on my own?
Most can be booked individually. Some classes and escape rooms have minimum ages and group pricing, so check each listing.
Museum of Islamic Art, guided tour
About two hours
FANAR Cultural Tour & Mosque Visit
Free guided visit
Qatar National Library Heritage Library Tour
Free heritage tour
Al Thuraya Planetarium
Free dome show
Clay Encounters Pottery Class
Pottery wheel
The Cooking Academy (TCA)
Hands-on cooking
Boulder Qatar
Indoor climbing
Gondolania Ice Arena
90-minute skating
Skydive Qatar Indoor Skydiving
Indoor wind tunnel
Solo Float Center
60-minute float
ESPA at Mondrian Doha
Hammam spa
Enigma Escape Rooms
One-hour rooms
Virtuocity Qatar
Gaming and VR
Before you rely on this
Prices, opening hours and admission rules are taken from each listing's own page and change often, especially around holidays and Ramadan. Check the venue before you go.
Fold this into your trip
North can build the rest of the plan around this once it knows your dates and priorities.
Talk to NorthMore from the journal