Getting between Doha sights by metro and taxi - Montenegro Travel Guide

Intro

Most of Doha’s main attractions line up along the Corniche – from National Museum of Qatar and Museum of Islamic Art to Souq Waqif and the West Bay skyline. A bit further north you have Katara Cultural Village, The Pearl Island and Lusail Marina Corniche.

The easiest way to move between them is to combine the Doha Metro (plus Lusail Tram) with Karwa/Uber taxis. The metro gives you a fast backbone across the city, and taxis cover the last short stretches.

This guide shows how to tie everything together into simple metro + taxi routes so you can see the main sights in one to three days without overspending on transport.

Key Takeaways

For visitors, the most useful lines are the Gold Line through the old city and the Red Line along the Corniche and up to Lusail.
Key hubs for switching and walking around are Msheireb, Souq Waqif, National Museum, West Bay / DECC, Katara, and the Lusail and Lusail Tram stations.
Most hops between attractions take 10–30 minutes by metro plus 5–10 minutes on foot or by taxi.
A metro ride costs around 2–5 QAR, with a daily cap of roughly 6 QAR in Standard class. A short taxi ride in the centre is usually 12–25 QAR.
The logic is simple: use metro for distance; use taxis to get “door to door”. For a couple of moves per day this works perfectly.
For metro maps, taxi apps and navigation, it is best to set up an eSIM via eSIM Qatar as soon as you arrive.

How the main sights are laid out

You can think of central Doha as three visitor zones.

1. “Museum arc” and old town

These sit within 1–2 km of each other along the Corniche. In cooler hours you can easily walk the whole stretch and then ride back by metro or taxi.

2. Modern centre and beaches

West Bay business district and malls
Msheireb Downtown – regenerated downtown area next to the historic core
Katara Cultural Village

The Red Line links these areas very well via DECC, West Bay, Corniche and Katara stations.

3. Lusail and The Pearl

The best way here is Red Line to Lusail / Legtaifiya and then Lusail Tram or a short taxi hop.

Using the metro as your base

Lines that matter for sightseeing

Red Line – runs from Doha and southern Doha through the centre to West Bay, Katara, Lusail and the Lusail Tram.
Gold Line – follows the historic corridor: National Museum → Souq Waqif → Msheireb and on to the west.
Green Line – less critical for a short visit; mainly for Education City and Villaggio Mall.

The key interchange for visitors is Msheireb, where all three lines meet.

Standard class fares are about 2–5 QAR per ride with a day cap at around 6 QAR and a week cap near 20 QAR.

Metro stops near big attractions

National Museum of Qatar – National Museum station (Gold Line), about a 5-minute walk.
Souq Waqif – Souq Waqif station (Gold Line), directly serving the market.
Museum of Islamic Art – best reached from National Museum or Souq Waqif and then a 20–30 minute stroll along the Corniche, or a short taxi ride.
Msheireb Downtown – Msheireb station on all three lines; from here you can walk to the old city and the Corniche.
West Bay and City Center Mall – DECC and West Bay stations on the Red Line.
Katara Cultural Village – Katara station (Red Line), 5–10 minutes on foot or a very short taxi ride.
The Pearl Island, Lusail Marina Corniche, Place Vendôme Mall – via Red Line + Lusail Tram or taxi from Lusail / Legtaifiya.

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Karwa and Uber: filling the gaps

Karwa – turquoise official metered taxis you can hail on the street or via the Karwa app.
Uber – app-based with upfront estimates and digital payment.

For short “station → attraction → hotel” hops, a taxi in central Doha typically costs 12–25 QAR for 3–5 km, depending on traffic and time of day.

Use this simple rule:

metro for the long stretch between districts;
taxi for the last 1–3 km or when the heat is too intense for walking;
full-length taxi rides only when you need true door-to-door convenience.

Sample metro + taxi routes between sights

1. Museum day: National Museum → MIA → Souq Waqif

Suggested flow:

Take the metro to National Museum (Gold Line).
Visit National Museum of Qatar.
Go to Museum of Islamic Art:
– walk along the Corniche for around 30 minutes in pleasant weather;
– or take a Karwa/Uber for a 5–10 minute ride.
Enjoy the museum and MIA Park with West Bay views.
Continue to Souq Waqif:
– walk 20 minutes;
– or use a short taxi hop.
Ride back to your hotel by metro from Souq Waqif or Msheireb.

You only really need a taxi on the longest or hottest walking stretch, for example National Museum → MIA.

2. Old town + Msheireb + West Bay

Start at Souq Waqif and explore the market.
Walk or ride one stop on the Gold Line to Msheireb to see Msheireb Downtown.
From Msheireb change to the Red Line and ride to DECC or West Bay for skyscrapers and malls.
If tired, grab a Karwa/Uber from the mall back to your hotel or to Corniche / Souq Waqif.

Here, metro covers most of the distance; taxis are just for comfort between station and seafront.

3. Katara + The Pearl Island

Take the Red Line to Katara and walk around Katara Cultural Village.
Then either:
– taxi to The Pearl Island (10–15 minutes, roughly 15–30 QAR);
– or ride to Legtaifiya and change to Lusail Tram for stops around The Pearl/Marina.
Return via tram/taxi → metro → your area.

4. Lusail and Lusail Marina Corniche

Ride the Red Line to Lusail or Legtaifiya.
Change to Lusail Tram for stops closest to Lusail Marina Corniche or Place Vendôme Mall.
Walk or taxi the last stretch depending on weather.

When a pure taxi ride makes more sense

There are times when skipping the metro is reasonable:

At night when the metro has stopped or runs on limited hours.
In extreme heat for a very short hop of just a few stops where walking from stations would be uncomfortable.
If you are travelling “door to door” with small kids and big luggage.
When your hotel is far from any station and you simply want to go straight to Souq Waqif or Museum of Islamic Art.

Prices (Updated: November 2025)

All amounts are in Qatari riyals (QAR), rounded from current official and cost-of-living data.

Public transport

Single metro / tram ride: about 2–5 QAR.
Standard class daily cap: roughly 6 QAR.
Weekly cap: around 20–30 QAR.
Monthly pass based on statistics: about 90–180 QAR.

Taxis (Karwa and similarly priced Uber rides)

From official tariffs and fare statistics:

City starting fare: roughly 7–15 QAR.
1 km in town: about 5–15 QAR, depending on time and vehicle.
1 hour waiting: approximately 30–90 QAR.
Short inner-city ride between attractions (3–5 km): usually 12–25 QAR.

Food and coffee between stops

Simple lunch in an inexpensive place: roughly 15–65 QAR.
Regular cappuccino: about 6–30 QAR.

Tips

For short city breaks, staying near Msheireb / Souq Waqif or along the Red Line makes getting around much easier; see Best Budget Hotels in Doha – Comfort Without Overpaying and Apartments and Villas in Doha – A Great Alternative to Hotels for area ideas.
Set up eSIM Qatar on arrival so you can use metro and taxi apps on mobile data, not just hotel Wi-Fi.
Plan long walks (for example, along the Corniche between museums) for early morning or evening to avoid midday heat.
If there is a direct metro connection between two sights, start with metro first and only then add a short taxi leg from the station.
Keep at least 20–30 QAR on your travel card – usually enough for a full day of city trips.
When using public Wi-Fi in malls and cafés to check routes or book rides, protect yourself with a VPN – details in Why You Should Never Use Public Wi-Fi Without a VPN.

FAQ

Can I see all the main central sights using only metro, without taxis?
Almost. National Museum of Qatar, Souq Waqif, Msheireb, West Bay and Katara are very well connected by metro. Taxis are mainly useful for Museum of Islamic Art, The Pearl Island and Lusail if you prefer not to walk too far.

How much time should I plan between museums and the souq?
Typically 10–20 minutes by metro plus 10–20 minutes on foot. Walking from National Museum of Qatar to Museum of Islamic Art along the Corniche takes around 30 minutes.

What is cheaper – several metro rides or one taxi ride?
If you make three or four moves in a day, metro with a day cap is almost always cheaper. Taxis only win for a single short ride or when a group shares the cost.

Do I need a separate ticket for the Lusail Tram?
No. The same travel card is valid on both the Doha Metro and Lusail Tram in Standard class.

How should I travel from Doha if I want to start sightseeing immediately?
A practical plan is Red Line from Doha to Msheireb, drop bags at your hotel, then Gold Line to National Museum of Qatar and Souq Waqif. For night arrivals or heavy luggage, start with Karwa to your hotel and use metro later.

Is it realistic to see the National Museum, MIA and Souq Waqif in one day?
Yes – that is a classic “museum day”: morning at the National Museum, afternoon at Museum of Islamic Art and park, and evening in Souq Waqif.

Recommended Services

eSIM & mobile data for maps, taxis and metro apps: Airalo, Ubigi, Yesim, Esim4travel, Holafly, GoMoWorld, iRoamly, Saily, Voye
VPN for secure public Wi-Fi in cafés, malls and hotels: NordVPN, Proton VPN, Surfshark
Doha tours that often include transfers between sights: Get Your Guide, Viator
Private transfers and taxis if you do not want to combine metro and taxis yourself: Kiwitaxi, Welcome Pickups
Car rental for day trips beyond Doha: Localrent, Economybookings

Summary

For sightseeing in Doha, the smartest strategy is to let the metro do the heavy lifting and use taxis just to bridge the gaps.

With the Gold and Red Lines, you can comfortably cover National Museum of Qatar, Museum of Islamic Art, Souq Waqif, West Bay, Katara Cultural Village, The Pearl Island and Lusail in a day or two while keeping daily transport costs to just a few dozen riyals.

Add an eSIM, a travel card and the Karwa/Uber apps, and moving between Doha’s main sights becomes as simple as changing from one metro line to another.