Layover in Doha

When direct flights are "complicated," transit hubs come to the rescue! A flight, a few hours of waiting at the airport, and then another flight. And if a layover in Istanbul is the most popular option when traveling to Europe, Doha often becomes an intermediate point for those flying to Asia. Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, and the eternal island of Bali – all await tourists flying via Qatar and Doha in particular. We tell you how to get into the city, where to relax at Hamad International Airport, and what to do during an overnight layover.

About the Airport

If you've booked Moscow – Doha tickets or are flying with a layover in Qatar, you will land at Hamad International Airport. Previously, Doha International Airport operated instead, but it clearly couldn't handle the increased passenger traffic. So, in 2014, a new player took its place. Hamad is designed to serve 29 million passengers annually, and it hasn't reached these numbers yet. However, it secured second place in the ranking of the world's best airports in 2025 according to Skytrax.

Hamad has one terminal, five levels, and five concourses – A, B, C, D, E. The number of gates in each varies. In A – 10, B – 10, C – 70, D – 9, E – 8. The numbering can sometimes be confusing (for example, where is exit A2?), so the airport even has its own separate navigation app (App Store). We highly recommend downloading it. In the central area of the first floor, there is the famous yellow teddy bear sitting in a lamp. If you lose your companions in Hamad, arrange to meet at this huge toy; you won't go wrong.

By the way, 24-hour shuttles also depart from there, circulating between the concourses. With their help, you can reach zones D and E in just a minute and a half. If you need to kill some time, use the moving walkways, which are also abundant here.

Types of Layovers

Hamad is the "home base" for Qatar Airways. It is highly probable that this airline will operate transit through Doha. Therefore, when making a layover, it's best to follow its rules. Although there are other airports in Qatar for domestic flights, you are unlikely to need them. So, we will only consider international flights.

Qatar Airways divides layovers into short and long. Short ones are less than 8 hours; anything over that is long. If both flights are operated by Qatar Airways, baggage is checked once, and there's no need to re-check it or go through re-registration – convenient!

To distribute passengers to the correct destinations even faster, Hamad has introduced color-coded trousers envelopes for boarding passes. Both are issued at the departure airport.

Green means you have less than an hour between flights. Such passengers are met by a special bus and taken to their next boarding gate.

Orange – a layover of an hour or more. If necessary, airport staff will escort you to the check-in area for your next flight.

Yellow – a long layover. This envelope is usually issued if the layover is more than 3 hours. In this case, you'll have to manage on your own. Only then does it make sense to leave the transit area and go into the city.

Documents Required to Enter the City

Can you leave the airport and go into the city if you have a layover in Doha? Yes! Tourists from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and many other countries will only need a passport to enter the city. At passport control, you will receive a free 30-day visa, and you won't need to arrange anything in advance. So, this is an excellent option for visa-free travel from Russia.

How to Get from Doha Airport to the City Center

It's all standard here: metro, buses, taxis, private transfer.

Metro

The most convenient, fastest, and cheapest option. The Red Line passes through Hamad Airport, and all the city's main attractions are located along it. Just 15-20 minutes, and you're in the center of Doha.

Qatar's metro is a young project, so its creators adopted the best practices from around the world. What was the result? Automated transport without drivers (computer-controlled) and cashiers (tickets sold at vending machines), with clear navigation, a speed of 100 km/h, and the highest level of safety.

You can buy a ticket on Kupi.com even without a foreign bank card. There's an exchange office before the metro station where you can exchange dollars and even rubles for local riyals. You need to keep your ticket until the end of your journey because it's scanned both when entering and exiting the metro.

Tip: If you download the Qatar airport app, it will help you plan a route from any point to the metro entrance and clearly show it on the map.

Buses

If for some reason the metro doesn't suit you, follow the signs to the Bus Pavilion. At the station, there's an exchange office, ATMs, and restrooms. Bus number 747 goes to the city center. All buses are operated by Qatar's state transport company Mowasalat. Tickets are sold at vending machines for cash.

Taxis

This mode of transport also works in Doha. Although with some caveats. The taxi stand near the terminal can again be found using signs or the app. All cars are equipped with meters; the day rate applies from 05:00 to 21:00, and the night rate from 21:00 to 05:00. There aren't many cars in the city, so waiting times can be long. Various cashless payment options are available, such as MasterCard, VISA, Apple Pay, Google Pay.

Transfer

Perhaps the most comfortable option. The cost depends on the hotel's distance and the car class. And on holidays, during night and morning hours, prices will increase additionally.

What to Do During a Layover at the Airport

But it's not always desirable, and more importantly, not always possible, to go into the city between flights. Hamad Airport understands this well, which is why it has everything for relaxation during a layover.

Shopping

Qatar is a wealthy country. And this luxury atmosphere is also evident at Hamad Airport. For example, the central hall of the first floor around the Lamp Bear is dotted with boutiques of designer brands – Armani, Fendi, Loro Piana, Louis Vuitton, and so on. Prices here are even higher than in any mall in Doha.

Dining

Cafes and restaurants are also primarily located on the first floor. There's Yo! Sushi with authentic Japanese food, Le Petite Belge with Belgian accents, and the well-known Starbucks, Costa Coffee, KFC, Burger King. On the second floor, you can only get coffee at Le Petite Camion.

Relaxation

Qatar Airport has several lounges: Platinum, Gold, and Silver Lounge for Qatar Airways Privilege Club members; Al Safwa, Al Mourjan Business Lounge, Mariner Lounge, and so on. They are located in different parts of the airport so that passengers can find a convenient lounge closer to their gate.

Although Qatar is in a desert, a huge garden flourishes luxuriantly at its airport. It was created here specifically for the FIFA World Cup. The tropical garden The Orchard is located under a dome and covers more than 5,000 square meters. It is the best place for those wishing to relax and unwind among 300 trees and 25,000 plants. It is located on floor G near gates C 54-61.

In addition, Qatar Airport has children's play areas, showers, smoking rooms, and even a golf simulator.

Overnight Layover in Doha

A waiting lounge is good, but a much more pleasant option is to stay at the Oryx Airport Hotel on the third floor in the airport's transit area. It has a total of 100 rooms of various comfort categories, and all guests get access to a gym, a 25-meter swimming pool, a squash court, and a spa center. The price for a night in a Superior room starts from 1,150 QAR.

A sleep at the sleep 'n fly Sleep Lounge will be slightly cheaper. Bookings start from two hours, with prices from $75. You can book a couple of hours for rest in advance or stay for the whole night. The lounge, located in the northern part of the transit area, has shower facilities, so we recommend choosing it.

If you don't want to spend money, try your luck and find a free spot in the "Quiet Rooms." They are located in different parts of the airport; it's easiest to find the closest one to you through the app.

But perhaps the luckiest are Qatar Airways passengers whose transit stop in Doha is between 8 and 24 hours. In this case, they are entitled to a hotel room with free accommodation, round-trip transfers, and an entry visa at no additional cost. However, to take advantage of these privileges, you must submit an online request no later than 72 hours before your flight's departure. If you purchased your ticket less than 72 hours before arriving in Doha, contact the staff at the transfer desk immediately upon arrival.