What to do on a layover in Doha’s Hamad International Airport?

Terminal 1, Hamad International Airport, Doha, Qatar

Introduction

Hamad International Airport is one of the world’s leading airports, with plenty of connections with multiple Qatar Airways flights – and it’s often the case that there is time to kill between flights during a layover.

Hamad International has a huge range of things you can do whilst you wait for your next flight – and I thought I’d put a few of these together, in case you find yourself at a loose end!

Visit the Spa!

It may sound an unusual thing to do at an airport – but Hamad International has a great spa with only a gym, hot tubs and swimming pool – but also a number of treatment rooms!

On my visit, the cost to use the pool was around $40, or if you wanted a treatment it was $120 with free spa access.

Although the pool is mixed sex, inside each of the changing rooms is a hot tub and treatment room.

Naturally, there are also showers. When checking in, you’ll be given code for the locker, and inside it you’ll find amenities such as slippers, toothbrush, toothpaste and a razor.

All in all, I found the spa to be a nice and extremely quiet place to relax and kill some time. However, I did find the water in the swimming pool and the air conditioning to be fairly cold! Also, with the hot tubs in separate changing rooms – it may be a slightly lonely place!

Visit The Orchard!

One of the amazing new spaces in the North of Doha’s Terminal 1 is The Orchard – which is an indoor garden. The garden is free to visit, and has many shops and restaurants around it.

When I visited, they were still doing lots of works to finish it, but when it’s finished it will be pretty cool!

Statue-seeing!

Hamad International is well known for its commissioning of unusual statues and sculptures. A walk around the airport offers some great sightseeing of sculptures – and of course plane spotting!

Shopping

Like many airports in the Far East, Doha has some very exclusive shops – and is a great chance to explore some duty free shopping!

Visit a Lounge

Doha has some fantastic lounges. Whilst many are open only to those traveling in premium classes, it is possible to pay to enter some lounges – and they have great food, drink, sleeping ares and showers. Here are some of the lounges in Doha that I’ve reviewed:

• The Al Maha Lounge – for Priority Pass, Diners Club, Dragon Pass and lounge other holders. Paid access is around $50.
• The Al Mourjan Lounge – for those traveling in Business, First Class or OneWorld Sapphire/Emerald Members. Paid access is also possible for around $100.
• The Al Mourjan Lounge North – for those traveling in Business, First Class or OneWorld Sapphire/Emerald Members. Paid access is also possible for around $100.
• The Platinum Lounge – for those traveling in Business Class with a “P-Fare” who are OneWorld Sapphire or Emerald Members.

All lounges have showers and extensive food and drink options.

Other things

I’ve no doubt there is a ton of other things to explore in Hamad International that I didn’t find – I’ll update when I do!

But, be in no doubt – if you have a long layover in Doha, it’s certainly something to embrace!