Whether you're looking for a remote coffee shop on the beach, contemporary museums and art spaces, unusual sports activities, or natural escapes, there are many hidden gems in Qatar to visit that are often unknown and worth discovering while you are living here or visiting.

Tucked away in Al Ruwais, about 10 minutes from the famous Al Zubarah archaeological site, Arsan Café sits in a beautifully restored old Coast Guard building right on the water. While most visitors to the area focus on the UNESCO site and Olafur Eliasson's art installation, this vintage waterfront café remains relatively undiscovered. The setting is perfect for a quiet coffee break with sea views, offering a welcome respite after you've finished exploring the nearby, more crowded attractions.

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Located in Al Shahaniya, Heenat Salma Farm offers a peaceful retreat from city life throughsustainable desert farming and wellness activities. The farm runs seasonal vegetable harvesting tours for QAR 50, where you can hand-pick a kilo of organic produce to take home. For a longer escape, stay overnight in their lodge to fully experience the farm lifestyle.

The kitchen executes farm-to-table dining properly by serving four daily set menus — breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner — as well as Friday brunch. The menus change based on seasonal produce, and they can accommodate dietary restrictions if you mention them when you make the reservation. If you follow a plant-based diet, explore our recommendations for vegan restaurants in Qatar.

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If you are feeling creative, looking for inspiration, or working on your next artistic project, Cass Art, the UK's leading art supplies retailer, is the place to go. Located at the heart of Fire Station — Doha's creative hub — with a mission to fill the town with artists and enthusiasts, it stocks a wide range of high-quality art materials at reasonable prices. Before you leave, wander through Fire Station's gallery spaces or grab a coffee at Café #999, and let the atmosphere fuel your next project.

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Next time you stroll in Old Doha Port, you have to try one treat from Gelati Dino in the Mina district — its Italian-approved gelato is definitely worth trying. Try pistachio for an intense, nutty delight or limone siciliano for an exotic twist — and enjoy it in the shop or on the go.

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Looking for a hands-on activity? Clay Encounters, Qatar's first pottery studio, offers private and group pottery classes for all skill levels and ages at two locations — The Pearl and Old Mina Port. Beyond learning wheel throwing and handbuilding techniques, the courses focus on community building while you create your own ceramic pieces to take home. It's a perfect way to unwind and try something creative.

Google Maps: The Pearl, Qatar and Old Doha Port

After a 45-minute drive from Lusail, Semaisma Beach is a wide, open, ladies-only public beach that offers shaded seating and clean facilities. It's considered remote to ensure its privacy, so to get there, start from the Semaisma public beach, pay QAR 50 per car to pass through the family beach, and continue until you reach the security gate. Once you enter, the sea is all yours to swim, pack a picnic, bring a book, or let time slow down and recharge away from the city.

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Known for generations and coming all the way from Damascus, Abou Shaker Juice hides in a little corner in Souq Waqif next to Najd Boutique Hotel, offering a unique menu of fruit salads and fresh juice to satisfy your cravings with guilt-free treats. If you are looking for something different, try the Qishta platter, which comes with cut fruits, honey, and nuts. Ask about the portion size before ordering — they are often bigger than expected.

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Hidden in the heart of Education City, the Qur'anic Botanic Garden is the world's first garden to cultivate plants mentioned in the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah. Each plant tells a story about faith, history, and life, from figs and olives to saffron and aloe vera. 

The garden offers yearly educational and community programs, such as the Young Botanist Program and the Term and Verse Competition, inviting visitors of all ages to learn about Qatar's wild flora and its environmental and cultural significance.

Within the garden sits the lesser-known Botanical Museum, where Arab and Islamic heritage and traditions come to life through photographs, wall paintings, heritage collectibles, plant models, and traditional agricultural tools, offering a unique glimpse into the region's rich botanical tradition.

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Although Maktaba means "library" in Arabic, this particular Maktaba on Onaiza Street is anything but traditional. It's a multilingual children's library serving ages from birth to 18, where families can browse books in Arabic, English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Turkish, and Greek. Beyond the growing collection, they offer educational workshops and daily story times that bring the community together. Stop by and you might leave with a book or a new friend.

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While Qatar's desert and water activities are more popular, the sky-high adventures are just as exciting. At Al Bidda Park, you can take a hot air balloon ride with Asfary for unrivaled panoramic views of the city, the Corniche, and the West Bay skyline at sunrise or sunset.

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