The real trick comes with overnight layovers. The airport is generally clean and safe. Keep reading for some suggestions on how to best spend your transit time in Doha, and don't miss out on a possible FREE hotel!
For any off-site hotel or adventure, be sure to check your visa status! Visit Qatar Visas
The Orchard has real trees and water features and is a lovely place to spend some time. You can even find a patch of fake grass and catch some sleep!
Discover Qatar Transit Tours
Discover Qatar Transit Tours offers an array of 3, 4, and 5 hour city tours for a reasonable price during your transit layover. Head out on an air-conditioned bus and see the city! You have the chance to get off the bus a few times during the tour. Minimum of a 6 hour transit time / layover.$33 (QAR 115) for the group tours to $128 (QAR 467) for a private tour.
Book ahead of time on the website, or book last-minute at the Discover Qatar Transit Tour desk at Hamad International Airport, located in Duty Free Plaza South, behind the escalators (go through passport control and outside baggage claim). The desk also serves as the meeting point for the start of all tours.
In-Airport Massage Package
For 3-6 hours layovers, Discover Qatar Transit Tours even offers an in-airport option for $86 (QAR 305) that gives you a choice of 3 massages plus access to the pool, gym, jacuzzi and shower. Not the worst option that it includes the pool and a shower!Where to Sleep at the Hamad International Airport in Doha
Discover Qatar Stopover Program - Massive Hotel Discount
For confirmed Qatar Airways or code-share or oneworld ticket holders with a layover of at least 12 hours, you can get incredibly discounted hotel stays in Doha, up to 4 nights!Choose your class of hotel:
Standard: starting from USD 14 / QAR 52
Premium: starting from USD 24 / QAR 88
Premium with Beach Access: starting from USD 31 / QAR 113
Luxury: including breakfast, starting from USD 83 / QAR 304
Book your stay at least 3 days before you travel from the Discover Qatar Stopover Program. Unlike the Complimentary Transit Accommodation, this is available if you booked your ticket using points.
Be sure to see if you quality for a heavily discounted or a FREE hotel from Qatar Airways! Check the Discover Qatar links provided in my post.
Qatar Airways' Complimentary Transit Accommodation
If you have a mandatory layover of 8 - 24 hours and are flying Qatar Airways, you can request FREE hotel accommodation from Qatar Airways' Complimentary Transit Accommodation.This is NOT available if you booked your ticket using points. You only quality if there is no earlier flight option (price does not come into play), so you might be denied. However, I have heard from one traveler that they purposely chose a more expensive connection even though there was a less expensive earlier option and they got approved, so sometimes they just use their discretion.
Sleepover (formerly Sleep 'n Fly)
There are sleep pods in the airport, but man, they are expensive! Like $200 USD for 5 hours. :( I have also read they are uncomfortable. That's all I'll write about those.Rest Areas
There are free quiet rooms to rest/sleep(?) throughout the airport. They get pretty crowded, are separated by gender, and have the A/C blasting. You might get a little rest here if you can score a lounger, but don't count on being very comfortable.There is also a lot of seating without armrests at the gates, and there are areas in The Orchard with fake grass where you can lie down and relax.
Quite Rooms are gender-specific and aren't perfect for a night's sleep, but not a bad place to relax.
Lounges
The Qatar Airlines Al Safwa First Class Lounge is exclusively for first class travelers. If you are flying QSuites, you have access to their Al Mourjan Business Lounge which is nice, but does not have quite rooms (hotel-style bedrooms equipped with a full bed, television, clothes storage, and an ensuite bathroom with a walk-in shower) like the Al Safwa does. However, QSuites passengers may have the option to pay for entry into Al Safwa for 600 Qatari riyals (around $165). Check your booking management page to see if you have the option to purchase entry to the lounge.The quiet rooms at the Qatar Airways Al Safwa First Lounge are assigned strictly on a first-come, first-served basis, sometimes resulting in a multi-hour wait, and are only available for a maximum of 6 hours.
You can pay for access to the Qatar Airways Al Maha Lounges. I've heard they are a bit of a zoo, but you can get a shower and food.
Off-Site Hotels
Decide if you have enough time to make it worth it. I'm a bit of a freak about having enough time at the airport before my flight. ;) By the time you get through security, get to your hotel, get to sleep, then get back to the airport and get back through security to get your connection, you may have gotten only a few hours sleep. But that's up to you and how much time you have! Other travelers, including myself, don't feel that an hour hour layover is enough time to warrant an off-site hotel stay.Most hotels are 4+ miles from the airport and are close to $80-$100/nt
Hyatt Regency Oryx - $95
Again, make sure you're eligible for visa-free entry at Visit Qatar Visas!
Overview - What To Do During a Long Daytime Layover in Doha
Visit The Orchard, peruse the shops, take a tour, nap in one of the Quiet Rooms.Overview - What To Do During an Overnight Layover in Doha
#1 apply for a free transit hotel or a discounted hotel (depending on the length of your transit time).#2 get an off-site hotel (depending on the length of your transit time).
#3 go the "backpacker" route and sleep in The Orchard, Quite Rooms, or on a seating bench. The sleep pods are way over-priced.
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