What's the best time to visit Qatar?
The best time to visit Qatar is from November to March, when temperatures range from 64°F to 77°F, providing a pleasant and cool climate. During this period, you can enjoy outdoor activities, sightseeing, and cultural events, although it’s also the peak tourist season with higher hotel prices.
March marks the start of Ramadan when the country becomes quieter, making it an excellent time to experience the top-tier Qatar experience without the crowds.
Want to experience the beauty and cultural haven of Qatar soon? See the best time to visit Qatar for every type of trip, from the overall best season to when it’s cheaper or less busy to visit.
Whether you’re interested in the peak Qatar experience or just looking for the seasons to avoid, you’ll find all the info you need below as we look at the best time to visit Qatar.
The Overall Best Time to Visit Qatar
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Overall, the best time to visit Qatar is from November to March. During this time, you’ll have temperatures on the warm side of cool and very little rainfall to get in the way of vacation plans.
Temperatures in Qatar from November to March range from 64F (January) to 77F (November), which is a wonderfully cool alternative to the sweltering heat from May to October.
Cool breezes off the Persian Gulf make travel to Qatar especially pleasant during the late fall, winter, and early spring. This is the ideal time to sightsee, walk the city streets, and have outdoor adventures.
This popular period is Qatar’s peak season for tourism and crowds are unavoidable. But while dealing with crowds can be frustrating, you’re also getting to experience the best this country has to offer at this time of year.
Festivals, street markets, and cultural events are in full swing during the cooler peak season, giving you the best chance to get a taste of the real Qatar and its deep cultural roots.
Camel racing events are fun to catch outside of Doha from October to February, complete with modern remote-controlled jockeys! You’ll run into some of the most expensive months to visit – November and December – but prices drop dramatically in January, February, and March.
Here’s a look at the average nightly rates for hotels in Qatar during the best time to visit:
- November: $86-$227/night
- December: $147-$388/night
- January: $59-$155/night
- February: $59-$155/night
- March: $57-$150/night
On either end of this season – November and March – temperatures are slightly warmer, around 77F and 72F, which can make for really pleasant days at the beach or your hotel pool.
March marks the start of Ramadan, when things will quiet down throughout the country. It’s genuinely the best time to go if you want the top-tier Qatar experience!
Cheapest Time to Visit Qatar
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The cheapest time to visit Qatar is from April until May, offering warm to hot temperatures and lower hotel rates and airfare than you’ll find throughout the rest of the year.
In spring, April and May see average temperatures from 80F-90F with highs closer to 90F-100F. It’s hotter than spring in most areas with temperatures that feel more like summer.
April and May don’t receive much, if any, rainfall. That can be great if you’re planning on spending a lot of time outdoors and don’t want sudden showers to derail your plans. But the lack of rainfall combined with the rising heat can make Qatar much less pleasant at these times of year, which could be the reason for the cheaper prices in April and May.
April and May are also the months when sand storms are most common – triggering breathing issues, limited visibility, and making outdoor plans challenging.
April is the overall cheapest month of the year to visit Qatar with the lowest rates on hotels and airfare. Kayak found that airfare is lower in April and Google Hotels data shows hotel rates as low as $52/night this month.
Here’s a look at the average hotel rates per night throughout Qatar in April and May:
- April: $52-$137/night
- May: $54-$142/night
While April is a little cheaper than May, both months offer excellent and affordable prices on hotel rooms throughout the country. If you want to save a few bucks on your trip to Qatar, springtime is the perfect time to go.
Least Busy Time to Visit Qatar
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The least busy time to visit Qatar is September to October, the fall shoulder season. This is a time for warm weather, cultural holidays and festivals, and smaller crowds.
Temperatures start dipping around September, though it’s still pretty hot in Qatar with average temperatures around 92F and highs still hitting 100F.
In October, things cool down a bit more to 86F. Highs can reach 94F this month, but it’s a welcome break from the 100+ temperatures in June, July, and August. The real draw to visiting in September and October is the lull in tourism.
You’ll find fewer people visiting the country during this time of year. That means more hotel and flight availability and shorter lines with smaller crowds everywhere you go. It’s the perfect time of year to spend time outdoors in the mornings and evenings.
Hotel rooms are moderately priced during this less-busy time of year, with rates from $55-$62 on the low end of average. On the higher end, you could pay as much as $146-$164/night.
- September: $55-$146/night
- October: $62-$164/night
There aren’t as many festivals and celebrations happening during this 2-month period, but that’s ideal if you’re looking for a more laid-back, less-crowded Qatar experience.
Worst Time to Visit Qatar
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Hand-down, the worst time to visit Qatar is from June until August due to sweltering hot temperatures, lack of rain, and high humidity. June’s average temperature in Qatar is around 95F with highs reaching near 105F.
July and August’s average temperatures range from 95F-97F with highs around 104F-106F. In short, it’s hot-hot-hot in Qatar during this season.
Locals know it, tourists know it, and things hit a lull as people stay indoors more to avoid the punishing heat and humidity. Heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and even organ failure can be consequences of the extreme heat and humidity in Qatar during morning and mid-day between June and August.
Shamal events, which are strong, hot, dusty winds that last for a few days – are common during this time and are really unpleasant for travelers spending time outdoors.
Shamal winds can create blustery sand and dust storms that limit visibility to just a few feet and can cause breathing issues that have landed locals and travelers in the emergency room. While this isn’t the only time these events happen, they seem to be stronger when the heat is at its peak.
It’s another reason June-August is the worst time to visit Qatar. Hotel rates aren’t bad from June to August, somewhere between the cheapest and most expensive time to go.
Here’s a look at what rooms cost per night during this season in Qatar:
- June: $55-$146/night
- July: $55-$144/night
- August: $54-$142/night
August is when you’ll find better deals on hotels, but it’s not much cheaper than June and July and remains very hot. If you can, wait to visit until the fall or winter when things cool off.
Things to Consider
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Visiting Qatar can be really exciting, especially if you’ve never been to the Middle East. What else should you know to make your trip a success?
Here are our best travel tips for Qatar to help you make the most of your trip.
- Mind the dress code. There’s no official dress code for tourists, but as an Islamic country, Qatar expects tourists to cover their shoulders, midriff, and knees while out in public – even at the beach. Men and women should wear shorts that cover the knees if not wearing pants and tank tops, crop tops, and strapless tops are considered disrespectful.
- Rules change at private beaches. Some private beaches at resorts in Qatar will allow Western-style swimwear, like swim trunks and one- and tw0-piece swimsuits. Check sites like Booking.com to find top-rated resorts in Qatar with private beach areas where you may be able to sidestep the traditional beachwear rules.
- Many people speak English, too. Arabic is the official language in Qatar, but it’s very common for locals to speak English as well. You may find it easy to communicate with staff at the airport, hotel, restaurant, and souq markets in English while you’re here!
- Exchange your currency for the Qatari Riyal. The only currency accepted and used in Qatar is the Qatari Riyal (QR). You’ll need to exchange your own currency for QR at an ATM or choose an exchange facility located in a mall, hotel, or bank wherever you go.
- Stick with bottled water. While about 99% of the drinking water in Qatar is considered safe and drinkable, it’s very common for travelers and even locals to choose bottled water instead. It’s widely available throughout the country, so if you order water, make sure you ask for bottled.
Frequently Asked Questions
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If you’re thinking about visiting Qatar soon, you’ll want answers to all your lingering questions. Take a look at the most frequently asked questions from fellow travelers to learn more!
What is the most hot month in Qatar?
July is the hottest month of the year in Qatar, reaching highs around 106F on average and only dipping to 88F at night. June and August are nearly as hot as July with average daily highs around 104F-105F.
It’s one reason July is part of the worst time to visit Qatar, along with June and August. It’s hot enough to cause heat stroke and potentially organ failure with the high levels of humidity.
What is the coldest month in Qatar?
January is the coldest month in Qatar, though it’s not actually cold at all with average temperatures around 64F. Lows can hit 58F and highs may reach 71F during the month of January.
So, What’s the Best Time to Visit Qatar?
Overall, aim to visit Qatar sometime between November and March for the best experience. It’s cool, dry, the peak tourism season, and perfect for any outdoor and indoor activities you’re hoping to squeeze in.
With beautifully modern and historic architecture, beautiful beaches, and towering sand dunes across vast deserts, few locations are as incredible as Qatar. The only question left to consider is which season will be just right for your visit!