If you’ll be spending time at Qatar’s Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Qatar with your kids, don’t stress! It’s actually a fun place to pass a few hours (or more).
Our family (with 3 kids) has spent four long layovers at the Doha Airport, and unlike most layovers with kids, I don’t mind them (dare I say I even look forward to exploring at the airport?!).
Let’s take a look at:
- Doha Hamad Int’l Airport Basics
- What to See & Do With Your Kids at the Doha Airport
- Sleeping/resting options at the airport
- A few tips based on our experience at Doha Hamad Int’l Airport
Doha Hamad Int’l Airport – Basics
Location: Qatar
Airline Hub: Qatar Airways
Hours: Open 24-hrs!
Website: Hamad International Airport (has maps)
Family Services: playgrounds, family toilets, parents’ rooms
What To Do at Doha Airport With Kids
Look for the Airport’s Art
You’ve probably seen photos of some of the enormous art on display in the Doha Airport. Some of the easiest to find:
- Wooden elephant – ‘Small Lie’ by American Artist KAWS (aka Brian Donnelly)
- Lamp/bear – ‘Untitled’ by Swiss artist Urs Fischer
- Golden rings – ‘Cosmos’ by French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel
- Bronze cartoons – ‘The Playground’ by American artist Tom Otterness; these make up the playgrounds in the C concourse (more on that next)
Get the Wiggles Out in a Play Area
Doha Airport is doing it right when it comes to play areas. Our favorite is the play area located across from gate C1. You can sit on the edge with your stuff while your kids play, or find a seat at one of the tables with charging stations right in front.
Good To Know: There are a lot of kids here, and if you’re like me and get nervous about losing your kids in crowds, know that there are some tunnels and places they can be ‘hidden,’ but that the area is enclosed by two sides, so you just have to keep a lookout on the front area.
There are five play areas in the airport – 3 in Concourse C (by gates C1, C3, C8), and 1 each in Concourses A & B.
Go Shopping
You can shop ’til you drop, or just window-shop. You’ll find anything you could ever want or need here, including clothing, souvenirs, and toys. Some fun places for kids to check out include:
- Hamley’s Toy Shop – just like London, except this one is only one-story
- Paris Saint-Germain Team Shop – soccer fans will enjoy browsing the team shop (Qatar Airways is the PSG sponsor through 2028); you can even get custom jerseys printed (we bought much-appreciated a birthday present here on a layover!)
- Capi Electronics – There are multiple branches of this electronics chain at the Doha Airport. They’ve got little robots and toys out in front of the shops that kids can play with and interact with. One of the branches even has a Robosen Robot Company display and toys.
Find Your Dream Car
Look for your favorite car amongst the displays of cars you’ll see throughout the airport. My boys were thrilled and needed their photos taken by most of them. You could probably fill up an hour hunting and looking at cars.
Sleep
Don’t worry – you don’t have to huddle up in a corner of the airport and use your coats as pillows. There are multiple sleeping options at the Doha airport.
Our favorite is the family quiet room. It’s an enclosed, quiet area for families to sleep. There are lounge chairs and although it’s not dark, the lighting is low so you can get some shut-eye. My boys slept well here on one long (9+ hour) layover we had. Note that even though it’s technically a silent area, some people don’t seem to understand (or care?). There are some amazing ‘shushers’ that come through every once in awhile.
You can also check into one of the Oryx in-airport hotels (Oryx Airport Hotel or Oryx Garden Hotel).
Good To Know: There are multiple quiet rooms spread throughout the airport. Make sure you go to one for families.
Check Out the Souq
Even if you’re stuck in the airport, you can still visit the souq! The Al-Matar Souk has food (sweets and spices), souvenirs, clothing, perfumes for sale. You can also relax and play board games or take a look at the boat on display.
Walk Through the Garden
If you need a break from neon lights and shops, walk to the airport’s garden. There are places to sit and rest or even lie down. You can take take a few steps up to a walkway and see the garden from above.
Good To Know: The garden is at the end of the terminal, so you need to go out of your way to see it. It’s kind of difficult to find it, but it’s worth looking for. Even though it’s officially called ‘The Orchard,’ look for the signs for ‘GARDEN’ or ask someone (I did).
Fill Your Bellies
Doha airport has options for everyone in your family. We’ve eaten at food stands and at the food court. After a long flight, we all appreciated fresh squeezed juices.
Good To Know: I saw many options for allergies and dietary restrictions (for example, gluten-free).
Qatar Airport – Tips
Lost Items – Don’t fret if you forget something on the plane or in the airport. One of my sons accidentally left our iPad on our flight that landed in Qatar. We didn’t realize until we were about to board our next flight. When we arrived at home, I contacted Qatar Airways through its Lost and Found Department. They quickly located our item (I could also see it on ‘Find My’ before the iPad battery died) and arranged for it to be flown to an airport near us. We found the entire Qatar Airways Lost & Found team to be professional, helpful, and kind.
Stroller Substitute – In a pinch, you can use the small carts to carry tired kids. We didn’t have our stroller, and our little guy was happy to go for a ride (see the photo above). Note, I’m not recommending this for babies or toddlers as there are no seatbelts.
Everyone Chooses Something – Unless you’re all heading to a family quiet room to sleep, let everyone in your group pick something to see/do at the airport. If you feel like walking, don’t plot out your route – just move from one item to the next and enjoy stretching your legs out between them. If you don’t have as much time, or you don’t feel like walking, use the airport maps to plan the shortest route.
Have a Luggage Plan – Either get a luggage cart or make sure everyone knows what they’re in charge of. You’ll be seeing/doing a lot at the airport, and it’s easy to leave something behind.
Enjoy your layover at the Doha Airport with your kids!
If you’re on your way to the Maldives, be sure to check out my Maldives tips, reviews, and advice.
