How to get around in Qatar

All thanks to the FIFA World Cup, Qatar has become a dream destination to travel to for many travelers from all around the world. Many of us didn't know how beautiful Qatar was until FIFA World Cup revealed it, so here we all are desperately planning our next tour to Qatar. Before planning what to do during your trip, plan how you will get to Qatar, and then how you will be getting around this destination. Here's a small guide for you, and this is going to be useful to you.

Image by Rashid from Pixabay

Metros - the easiest

Metros in Qatar are of course the easiest way to get around the cities. If you are at Al Najada Doha Hotel Apartments By Oaks and wish to explore the attractions nearby, you just have to take the metro and enjoy your tour. The Doha Metro Network is one of the best in the world, and it offers supreme comfort to passengers. Make sure you buy your travel card if you plan a longer stay in Qatar because that doesn't just save your time, but your money as well. Digital apps such as the Qatar Rail app are also available for your service and they make your travel plans so great.

Public buses - the most affordable

In Qatar, you have Karwa public bus network. It's easy, comfy, and fast. Many public places in Qatar have Karwa smart cards with them, so you can take one and use the same for all your transportation needs. You can either choose the Classic Card, Limited Card, or Unlimited Card as per your necessity and if you want to keep a track of the timetables, you may also get the Bus app downloaded to your smartphone.

Rent-a-car services

Did you know that you can even drive a car without a Qatari license when you are there? If you are above 25 years old and have been a licensed driver for at least 01 year, then you can use the car rental service without any issue. If you have an international license, you can use the same for up to 06 months from the date of arrival to Qatar, but if it's your native country license, you can only use it for up to 15 days.

Taxis and ride-shares

Many hotel apartments in Qatar have their known taxi services. So, if you want to go somewhere from the place you stay at, just tell the receptionist about your requirement and they will do the needful. Taxi services generally have fixed rates (per Km) and thus, you can have a rough estimate of how much will have to be spent on the tour based on the distance covered. Also, Qatar has Uber and another service called Careem, so, you may also get their services to get around in the country. The option to share rides is also available in Qatar, making things much simpler and easier.

Cycling - more of a leisure activity

If your wish is to enjoy the views and travel around the Qatari cities leisurely on your own, opt for cycling. Qatar has separate cycling paths (that have general conditions) and also paths that are designed for cycling adventures. If cycling doesn't sound so comfortable to you, keep in your mind that electric scooters (e-scooters) are also available in Qatar.

Electric buses - the eco-conscious option

This is a relatively new concept to the country, but the locals have greatly embraced this concept. The government introduced e-busses to promote sustainability in the country (to reduce the carbon footprint), and this has worked out well so far. Since the officials plan to expand this initiative further in the future, these e-busses will get more popular even than metros and busses in no time.