The holiday season is the most exciting time of the year, mainly because of all the time off from work and school that you and your family can get. It is also why this period is the most popular time for family getaways.
But since the holidays tend to be a bit crowded in some places, you may want to plan your trip to Qatar right before or immediately after this season. Either way, you’ll need to research places that provide genuine family fun and runs throughout the year.
In this article, you learn about five year-round activities and destinations that provide wholesome family entertainment in Qatar.
Snow Dunes
When you’re in a desert city like Doha for quite some time, you may start to wonder what it’s like to play in the snow. That’s where Snow Dunes comes in.
Dubbed the best snow park in Qatar, this popular destination allows you and your family to experience snow in the desert. With indoor temperatures getting as low as -4 degrees Celsius, you can indulge in a frosty vacation without leaving Doha.
At Snow Dunes, there are so many cool activities (pun intended) you can try:
- Snow Slide – a duo-racer slide that kids love.
- Snow Storm – a more thrilling slide for pairs but the faint of heart.
- Dune Dash – a 50-meter snow slide that runs across the entire park.
- Snowy Mount – a snowy expedition for the whole family.
- Whine Dunes – a dune-bashing experience across snowy hillocks.
- Castle Climbing – an endorphin-pumping aerobic wall climbing activity at below-freezing temperatures.
How to Get There
You’ll find Snow Dunes in Doha Festival City Mall.
If you go by bus, you can reach it via the 156A, 170, and M145 buses from Al Daayen, Qatar. Upon reaching the mall, you only need to walk for 16 minutes until you get to the snow park.
Active Times
Snow Dunes is open between 10 a.m. and 2 a.m. the following day on Saturdays through Thursdays. It opens a bit later on Fridays, at 1 a.m., but still closes at the same time.
Virtuocity
Is your family the geeky bunch? Perhaps you and your children bond best over online video games? Virtuocity is the perfect place to be.
Hailed as the most exciting gaming hub in Qatar, this destination has an entire gaming arena where gamers from all over the world compete.
It houses some of the best virtual reality, video gaming, and escape rooms under one awesome roof. It also has an in-house store offering plenty of geeky stuff – from gaming consoles and accessories to smart home devices and gaming fan merchandise. Talk about geek paradise.
How to Get There
Like Snow Dunes, Virtuocity is located in Doha Festival City. You’ll find it on the mall’s ground level, which you can reach via the 156A, 170, and M145 buses.
Active Times
Virtuocity is open from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday to Wednesday and 1 p.m. to 12 midnight on Thursday and Friday.
Angry Birds World
Are you a big fan of the flightless, slingshot-powered birds of the Angry Birds franchise? If so, then you’ll surely enjoy a trip to a theme park designed around their unique and exciting world.
Angry Birds World is the best theme park in Qatar that houses dozens of rides, interactive games, and attractions designed for the whole family. Depending on what ticket you buy, you may even get a chance to get first in line – no need to wait.
Guests at least 125 centimeters in height can even get a chance to get propelled 60 meters into the air via a giant slingshot. This two-person bungee-style ride is a spine-tingling experience designed for the bravest of the flock.
Other rides and attractions include:
- Angry Coaster
- Raft Battle
- Blast Bomb
- Red Alert
- Angry Birds Go!
- Trampoline Universe
- City Studio
How to Get There
You’ll find Angry Birds World at Doha Festival City Mall’s two lowest floor levels. It also has an outdoor area located along Al Shamar Road.
Active Times
The indoor area of the theme park follows similar opening hours as that of the mall, which is from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., from Saturday to Thursday. It also opens on Fridays at 1 p.m. and closes at the same time.
Meanwhile, the outdoor part of the theme park is open from Saturday to Friday between 1 p.m. and 2 a.m.
Bounce
Let your youngsters experience the thrill of the streets safely at Bounce Qatar. This indoor trampoline-filled destination is hailed as the home of freestyle, where guests can express themselves through movement.
What’s great about this place is that everyone is welcome – even little kids. In fact, you can already bring your young children to the park as soon as they start walking (with adult supervision, of course).
Bounce Doha also runs activities and programs regularly, which include:
- Slam Dunk
- Freestyle Academy
- Dodgeball
- Bounce Fit
- Super Tramp
- Big Bag
How to Get There
You can find Bounce Doha on the second floor of Tawar Mall, along Al Markhiya Street, Al Duhail South. To get there, you can take the Metro via the M1 transit line or board one of the M107, T607, and T610 buses.
Active Times
Bounce Doha is open between noon to midnight on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. on weekends. Note that this schedule is valid as of this writing but may be subject to change.
Al Thuraya Planetarium
Want your kids to try something special on your trip to Qatar? Why not head over to Al Thuraya Planetarium?
This famous attraction offers aspiring astronauts and young-at-heart enthusiasts a chance to explore off-planet sceneries while learning all about Earth Science.
Covering a staggering 2,240-square-meter area in the Katara Cultural Village, this planetarium got its name from the seven sisters star cluster. It is currently housing a gallery and museum showcasing astronomy equipment like telescopes and models of the planets surrounding the Earth.
Al Thuraya also hosts shows within its 200-seat dome regularly. If you’re lucky (or have planned early), you can let your family witness 2D and 3D tutorial shows featured in state-of-the-art digital projectors.
How to Get There
Heading to the Katara Cultural Village is easy. You only need to take the M1 transit line or ride the 777 or the M142 bus.
If you want to head there early, you may also take the M135 bus, which stops nearby at around 5 a.m.
Active Times
Al Thuraya Planetarium is open between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday. You may also check the Katara official Instagram page or website for detailed schedules of upcoming planetarium shows.
Plan Your Next Trip Early
Planning early is the key to the success of any travel endeavor. If you’re gearing up for a family, make sure you plan as early as possible to get a good pick of the best activities in Qatar.
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