Has anyone had a stop over in Doha . Can you leave the airport and what is there to do there ?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Yes, travelers can leave Doha's Hamad International Airport during a stopover, depending on their nationality and visa exemptions. Many expats recommend considering the extreme heat when planning to explore the city, noting that daytime temperatures can be dangerously high. Options for visitors include visiting luxury malls and enjoying hotels with bars. It’s advisable to take precautions and be aware of potential exit and entry requirements, as experiences can vary greatly.
I stopped over in Istanbul one time and was told I could get off the plane. So I get off and I’m walking around and suddenly find myself outside. So I was only out there a minute since there was nothing out there and I went back inside. Go to some check point to get on my plane and a lady tried to have me pay some departure tax. Huh? I was pleading my case and not getting very far with it, when another guy who worked there realized what was going on and let me through. Be careful if you try to go outside!
Istanbul airport is fairly new so it isn't quite developed in the area of the airport yet. The general idea in a lot of cases is to build the airport a distance away from everything to have all of the space an airport needs to function and then with time developers start to build stuff around the airport to get some of that business from people that don't want to travel far into the city. Sorry about your negative experience.
Benny ******
You're right. That was probably a whole different airport. I would hope things are different now. I know that Turkish Airlines now sets up their flights for people that want a long layover to explore the city. I had a 9 hour layover and I just stayed in the airport. They had a playground for the kids and we did a lot of walking which really paid off when we ended up having a connecting flight later down the road with only 1 hour and 30 minutes duration between flights.
It was back in 1987. I only brought it up because the other guy was talking about things that could happen. And that might not have even been the same airport that’s there now.
I actually had some fun! Wound up outside the airport was something I wasn’t quite expecting. What really got me was there were soldiers armed with automatic weapons that were patting everybody down who entered. I had never seen that before. I was more concerned with the lady not wanting to let me through since I didn’t have that much time, but it worked out ok. The airport was a nice place. I just wouldn’t recommend going outside!
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Kevin *********
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Michael *********
Im in Doha now and its around mid 40s everyday. high humidity. Uber taxis are good and easy. its too hot to walk about daytime. but there are a few very nice malls. nightime. i would go to bars in the big hotels. Its not cheap here but worth a day or 2 if you have never been here before.
you didn’t get the pint, the guy has 11h transit. I worked in that airport and spent 14 years in Doha. apart from malls, is there anything else to do??
working in Doha and being a tourist in Doha are apparently VERY different experiences. Sorry for the wasted 14 years
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Todd *********
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Michael *********
I’m in Iraq right now I can say it’s probably unbelievably hot there right about now! You don’t want to be outside for long. Going back to Thailand in August
Sri ***
As long as you are from visa exempted countries..you can leave airport