The city of Doha is quite compact and the modern road network - including the ring roads - makes it fairly easy to get from one side of town to the other. One thing you will quickly get used to is the number of roundabouts across the city. These roundabouts often have names, based on the sculptures that adorn them or on their location, and will commonly be used when giving directions. Also worth noting is the fact that there doesn't seem to be any single residential area in the city that is seen as more desirable among the expat community (except perhaps the new West Bay development). This is because smart apartment buildings and self-contained complexes of luxury villas can be found almost anywhere around town. Also, when it comes to area names, residents tend to use the names of nearby buildings or landmarks to describe a location, rather than the actual name of the area. The following is a description of some of Doha's main areas, to give you an idea of what you're likely to find and help you get your bearings.

The corniche is arguably the most picturesque area of Doha and a great place to explore whether you've got just half an hour or a whole day. Just east of the 'proper' start to the corniche, on Ras Abu Aboud Street, are a number of hotels and clubs including the Doha Marriott Gulf Hotel, the Oasis Hotel and Beach Club, the Doha Sailing Club and the Doha Club. Near the Museum Roundabout is the Al Nasaa restaurant complex with its notable architecture featuring traditional windtowers. Beyond this same roundabout (with its large urns, or perfume bottles) is the Qatar National Museum. Based around the restored palace and former home of the ruling family, the museum is currently close: for renovation but is rumored to be opening t: again later in the year. Beside the museum is" small grassy park area which, while short of facilities, does provide some welcome shade. Across the main road (AI Corniche Street) is the port area, which is undergoing development also. The construction work is in aid of the new Museum of Islamic Arts, which is being built on its own jetty of reclaimed lane When it opens in 2006 the museum will be home ,c the world's largest collection of Islamic art are artifacts; see p.8. On from the 'water pot roundabout is the start of the attractive pedestrian' stretch of the corniche that loops in a semi-circle e the way round to the unmistakable Aztec pyramid-shaped on Hotel. With its views across Doha Bay this is always a popular destination for walk.,; and joggers. Another jetty leads to the large wooden dhow in the world, and the popular who restaurants. At the entrance to this jetty, on the corniche, is the familiar pearl sculpture the features in many visitors' photo albums Continuing westward you'll see the imposinI building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs across the road and the impressive Emiri Diwan building just" beyond. With its lush landscaped gardens and cascading water feature, the massive Diwa' building is the official home of Qatar's govern men' Worth keeping an eye on is the plot of land next ,c the Ministry of Interior, as this is the proposed is,,, of the new Photography Museum. The design fo' this museum features a futuristic wing-like roc' that will open and close to control the amount light that can enter.

If you keep heading in a north-west direction past the Ministry of Interior you'll reach Rumeilah Park (sometimes known as Al Biddah Park) which' features a variety of attractions and facilitie5 making it very popular with families, especially the evenings and at weekends. The park has restaurants, toilets, children's play areas, and the" impressive Heritage Village which was built t: resemble a traditional Qatari hamlet. The village often hosts workshops of local arts and crafts, an: local musicians sometimes perform here. Looking out to sea from here gives a good view of Palm Island, which can be reached by dhow from near the Sheraton. The island is a favorite spot for families, as it has a beach, watersports, a child's play area, plenty of shade and a (licenced) restaurant.

The Qatar National Theatre and the National Council for Culture, Arts & Heritage are next to Rumeilah Park, and next door is the site for the Qatar National Library. Once completed, the bold and futuristic library building will be an unmissable landmark on the corniche. Just over the main road, on a small area of land jutting into the sea is the Balhambar restaurant famous for its traditional Qatari cuisine. Balhambar has been undergoing renovation but should be open again soon, and at the moment the restaurant is almost obscured by the giant 'Orry the Oryx' mascot counting down the days until the start of the 2006 Asian Games. Carrying on around the corniche you'll pass some striking examples of Doha's architectural achievements, with commercial and residential towers enjoying commanding positions overlooking the sea.

The other end of the corniche is marked by the landmark Sheraton Hotel. There is a pleasant grassy park beside the water just before you reach the Sheraton, with a shop and cafe, children's playground, bathrooms, and plenty of space to sit and relax and enjoy a picnic. This is also the place to catch a dhow over to Palm Island - they leave every ten minutes and the journey also takes about ten minutes.

The many sights and attractions along the corniche make it a very popular destination, and the parks and roads around them can get very busy and congested in the evenings and at weekends (although they do have lots of car parking). At most times though, the traffic moves smoothly along the dual-carriageway AI Corniche Road.

Musheirib and the area that extends inland from the port is known for being the traditional shopping district. There is a mix of old and modern buildings and at the moment a fair bit of construction and development going on. This is not a residential district as such, although there are some old villas and many of the shops have low-rent apartments above them. With such a variety and quantity of shops this is a popular area, where expats and locals alike can enjoy rooting around for bargains if they have the time to spare. Single women should be warned though that this is a very 'male' area, and they may feel uncomfortable and find themselves on the receiving end of unwanted stares and attention. On Fridays this area can be heavily congested as it is the main day off for most workers, and evenings can be busy too, with parking sometimes proving problematic. The recent introduction of parking meters on some of the main streets mayor may not alleviate matters. As with many stores and businesses in Qatar the opening hours are usually 09:00 or 10:00 - 13:00 and then again from 16:00 - 22:00. Friday opening is often in the afternoon only.

Heading east along Wadi Musheirib Street, from the junction with AI Diwan Street, there is a big selection of electronics shops and plenty of stores selling lamps and light fittings (their electricity bills must be huge). This street comes out at the busy roundabout with a wooden dhow in the middle. Not surprisingly this is often called Dhow Roundabout, but you may also hear it referred to as Arab Bank Roundabout. Just off the roundabout, behind a large mosque, is the Najada Shopping centre, and within its courtyard is where you'll find the famed Windtower House. One of the last surviving original examples of such a building in the capital, this is also often referred to as the Ethnographical Museum, although its days as a museum seem to be over. The house is definitely worth a photo though.

On Qasim bin Mohammed Street, towards the corniche, stands the Doha (or AI Koot) Fort. The fort is open to the public (mornings only) and displays locally produced handicrafts. It's possible to climb the stairs and walk around the fortifications. Yet another heritage site that has been closed for renovation (including the repositioning of the main door) the fort will hopefully be open for business again soon.

Behind the fort are the traditional shopping areas of central Doha, known in the Middle East as souks.

Souks are bazaars or markets that sell virtually everything. Qatar's first souk, Souk Waqif, still exists today. It is full of old-world character and makes for an interesting shopping experience, and you can rest assured that shopping in the souk is safe and most of the retailers will be quite friendly. It is also a great place to practise your bargaining skills. You should never accept the first price you are quoted unless there is a sign in the shop that says they have fixed prices. Take a leisurely stroll through the souk before you come to any conclusive purchases.

Souk Waqif

This is the original souk in Doha. It used to be the weekend market where the Bedouins would come to town to trade their meat, wool, milk and other goods. This is an interesting souk as it can be seen as a bit of a maze with various alleys that sell everything from perfume, national clothing, luggage, tents, spices, incense, oils, sweets, rice, nuts, dried fruits, and herbs. One can find beautifully embroidered 'bukhnoqs', the head coverings worn by Qatari girls that are adorned with gold and silver thread. The 'thobe al nashl', also embroidered in gold is worn by women and girls on special occasions. Head scarves and 'abayas' or black cloaks that the ladies wear can also be found here. One can also purchase the heavyweight camelhair cloaks that are worn by men in the winter. As you pass by the shops you can actually watch the embroiderers at work.

The perfume shops sell everything from essential oils to imitation French fragrances. Several shops actually spill over into the alleys forcing you to walk through their tight spaces. Along with the perfumes, make sure you smell the various types of Arabian oil called 'oud' which is a sweet smelling agar wood. Frankincense from Oman as well as 'bokhur', or the fibrous balls of white musk, sandalwood oil, and rose oils can also be purchased here. Make sure to pick up a typical Arab incense burner for all these purchases!

The spice traders give the souk such an aromatic sense. There are several colorful whole and ground spices on display in boxes and sacks. Spices are usually sold by weight.

The Gold Souk

Behind AI Ahmed Street you'll come across several tiny jewellery shops. They sell imported and locally made gold. If there is something that you want and the store does not carry it, they will actually bring it to you from another shop to tryon. It is a feast for the eyes walking through the gold souk with all the hanging gems in the windows. Most of the gold is 21 carat so it may be more yellow in tone than the gold you are used to in your home country, but it is certainly of a high quality. Rest assured that all the gold in Qatar is tested and marked, so you can be sure that you're buying the real thing. If you are looking for silver jewellery there are a couple of shops that sell it. You can also have jewellery repaired here as most of the shops have their own workshops and you can even get them to create a unique piece from your own design for a very reasonable cost.