Katara Beach

Katara Beach is a managed city beach along the shore of Katara Cultural Village on Doha's east coast, between West Bay and The Pearl. With calm water, sun loungers, water sports and restaurants a short walk away, it suits families, first-time paddleboarders and visitors who want a swim without leaving the city.

Katara Cultural Village opened in October 2010, when it hosted the Doha Tribeca Film Festival, and the beach was developed with it. It is fenced, cleaned and staffed, with separate family and men's sections. The sand runs for about 1.5 kilometres (one Gulf Times report puts it at nearly 2 km).

Paddleboarding and boat rides on sheltered water

The water is sheltered and usually calm, which makes Katara one of the easier places in Doha to try paddle sports. Visit Qatar lists boat rides, stand-up paddleboarding and water skiing, and other sources mention kayaking, pedal boats, jet skis and parasailing. Lessons are available for beginners from the water sports desk. On the sand you will find sun loungers, umbrellas, children's play zones, changing rooms, restrooms and cafés.

Modest swimwear is required. Glass, alcohol and pets are not allowed, and nobody swims after sunset.

Amphitheatre and mosque a short walk from the sand

A swim fits easily into a wider Katara visit. The amphitheatre is about 400 metres from the sand and the Katara Mosque, known for its blue tilework, about 500 metres. Galleries and waterfront restaurants line the promenade, and many visitors spend the afternoon on the beach and the evening eating in the village. Katara also hosts festivals, concerts and a traditional dhow festival during the year.

Opera house, Golden Mosque and pigeon towers

The marble amphitheatre, which mixes Greek and Arabic design, seats up to 5,000 people, and the Katara Opera House seats 550. The Katara Mosque is decorated with turquoise and purple mosaics, the Golden Mosque is covered in gold tiles, and traditional pigeon towers of brick and clay rise about 15 metres. 21 High Street is an open-air shopping street of about 38,000 square metres. The Traditional Dhow Festival has been held every year since 2010, and the S'hail falcon exhibition and the Katara European Jazz Festival also take place here.