A visit to MIA Park is perfect for a stroll before or after a seeing the neighboring Museum of Islamic Art. The grassy area along the water offers a refreshingly cool location to get away from Qatar’s busy downtown or desert heat.
Walk the length of the park, which is set up as a semi-circle from the museum to a peninsula in the Persian Gulf. At the end of the promenade, admire the tall steel obelisk created by artist Richard Serra. From here take a dhow cruise of the bay.
Bring kids to the park for playground fun and picnics. Playgrounds are set up with facilities suited for different age groups. Enjoy bungee trampolines or rent bicycles to cruise along the waterfront.
Other family athletic options include fitness training, stand-up paddleboard lessons, kayaking and a private ladies fitness instruction one day a week.
Check the schedule on the MIA official website for Cinema Under the Stars, open-air evening screenings of animated movies and other family-friendly films. Music concerts are also offered during cooler weather.
From MIA Park, gaze across the water to the much longer half-moon shoreline of the Doha Corniche. Views of Qatar’s West Bay skyline from the park are spectacular. Have refreshments at a café or kiosk or purchase a picnic basket to enjoy a casual meal on the lawn.
From September to April, visit the MIA Park Bazaar on Fridays and Saturdays. Roughly 150 vendors set up stalls selling arts and crafts, clothing, food and accessories. Come here to find perfect gifts and souvenirs from your Qatar vacation.
Look west from the park toward the Museum of Islamic Art, which architect I.M. Pei created with an interesting design influenced by traditional Islamic styles. Step inside to see art and artifacts spanning 14 centuries.
MIA Park is open at all times. Travel to the park by car in about 15 minutes from the airport or walk from the Souq Waqif in less than 30 minutes. Parking is available at the southern end of the facilities, near the museum.
