Stuck on a Dubai layover in the United Arab Emirates? Dubai is the fastest-growing transit hub in the world, and has one of the nicest airports. The Dubai International Airport is located roughly 3 miles outside Dubai, which makes the city an accessible destination for those stuck on long layovers. If you’re trying to determine whether you can leave the airport during your layover in Dubai, click here for useful tips.

The Dubai airport is lined with palm trees and offers upscale shopping and restaurants. For the tired traveler, inside the hotel is the five-star, Dubai International Airport Hotel. You can pay by the hour (starting at $40) or the entire night (from $200) and offers a health club, business center, 24 hour laundry and room service. For additional Dubai hotels of varying price points, click here.

The Dubai International Airport also has many services including a Women’s Lounge & Children’s Play Area located between gates 12 and 14, internet kiosks near Gate 9 and Gate 23, a medical center on the ground level of the Concourse, post office near Gate 18 (open 24 hours), four prayer rooms in Arrivals and the main Concourse, and banking and currency exchange located near Gates 8, 18 and 22.

There are also many lounges to keep you occupied during your Dubai layover. There’s an International First Class Lounge between Gates 114 and 112, a Business Class Lounge beside Gate 108, and lounges for the following airlines: Air France, Gulf Air, Emirates, British Airways, KLM and Star Alliance between Gates 21 and 26. In addition there are two Quiet Lounges in the Sheikh Rashid Terminal near Gates 9 and 23 free of charge.

If you’re planning on seeing some sights during your Dubai layover, keep in mind that Dubai has some strict laws. The slightest amount of any illegal substance can land you in jail for many years, even life. In addition, don’t walk in front of somebody when they are praying, don’t drink alcohol in the street or in any public place (alcohol is only allowed in hotels or private clubs), avoid passionate displays of affection in public, and women should not dress suggestively to avoid any hassle.

Also, immigration can be long, as well as taxi lines. Give yourself plenty of time for delays. Depending on what city you’re coming from, you may also need to get a visa, and pay permissions to enter the country. (You can check out Visa Requirements in the widget on the right hand column of this page.)

Tickets for Big Bus Tours are valid for 24 hours and you can hop on and off whenever you’d like. One ticket covers both routes, which includes the Red Route (Dubai Creek, Al Fahidi Fort & Dubai Museum, the Souks (bazaars) and a few shopping malls) and The Blue Route (5-star hotels & the fanciest shopping malls.) Both tours offer live commentary or a choice of eight digitally recorded languages. See website for more info.

Old Souqs
Although many people head straight to the modern mall, check out the Old Souqs along the creek in the older part of town that is what made Dubai the trading capital it is. On the Deira side of the Creek, don’t miss the Gold Souq which has over 300 outlets including all the gold jewelry you can imagine seeing as well as drain covers with diamonds on them. Also on this side is the Spice Souq which has spices from all over the Middle East. On the other side, check out the Bur Dubai Souq with textile and souvenir shops.

Shopping & Skiing
The Mall of the Emirates is a shoppers’ paradise, and for those who prefer to hit the slopes, the mall features the first indoor ski slope in the Middle East. For $40 per person you can get a lift ticket good for 2 hours, ski rentals, ski pants and jackets and even socks (gloves and hats are not provided). You can ski, snowboard and toboggan here, down the over 1300 foot slope. The mall is open 7 days a week from 10am to 10pm.

Burj Al Arab
The Burj Al Arab looks like a giant sail and claims to be “The Best Hotel in the World” with a rating of 7 stars. It is the world’s tallest dedicated hotel, with all the rooms hosting incredible views. The inside of the hotel has a dancing fountain, two massive fish-tank walls, and a soaring atrium. To visit the Burj Al Arab, you need to be staying there, or have advance reservations to eat at one of the restaurants or to have a drink at one of the bars (tip – the most budget friendly option is to book afternoon tea). Photos are only allowed in the lobby area.

Desert Safari & Camel Racing
If you have a very lengthy layover in Dubai, you might want to check out the camel racing and desert safaris offered outside Abu Dhabi city. Camel races are usually held early on Fridays or on national holidays. Safaris are half a day, and offer overnight options to stay in a Bedouin tent. Wadi-Driving explores the wadis or dry beds of streams that flow from the Hajar mountains. Dune driving allows you to try your hand at sand driving, with four-wheel-drive vehicles provided, and an expert guide. Or, try Sand-Skiing down the dunes of the Dubai desert. You can also sign on for a Desert Feasts which follow the safari with evening with an Arab barbecue under the stars.

Have a suggestion for a Dubai Layover? Leave a comment below!

by Layover Guide Contributor, Karine Nissim

My husband made a bold statement today, while we sat in our Dubai hotel sipping kiwi, mango, orange, and pineapple mocktails. He said, that there was no other city like Dubai. Certainly there are other desert cities, beach cities, flashy cities, but after listening to his argument I agreed. Where else can you ski indoors, swim with dolphins, dive with sharks, hobnob with the internationally rich and famous, build and build on such an extraordinary scale, ride a camel on the beach, go on a desert safari, and of course shop ‘til you kaplotz??

This is my top ten list of things to do on Dubai holidays:

1. Pretend to be rich by going for Friday Brunch at some of the awesome hotel resorts like Madinat Jumeirah’s Al Qasr’s restaurant. Such a scene!

2. Jump out of a plane over Palm Island – An artificial Island in the shape of a Palm Tree…because, well it’s a pretty awesome photo op.

3. Go to the biggest mall in the world, watch the highest fountain show in the world, walk to the tallest building in the world, to ride the fastest elevator in the world to have a drink in the highest cocktail lounge in the world. At.Mosphere at the Burj Khalifa where mini-sliders cost $80 and liquid “gold” pours out of the faucet in the restroom. As it turns out, the “gold” is also anti-bacterial.

4. Ski indoors…because it’s INDOORS!

5. Buy an island on the artificial archipelago “The World” for like 7 billion dollars.  I hear Guam is still available. Or at least, just take a gander at them.

6. Dive with sharks in the mall. Apparently if you feed them Rolexes and gift cards, they’re pretty cool.

7. Go to Atlantis’s aquarium, swim with dolphins at Dolphin Bay, and go to awesome water park Aquaventure.

8. Souq it out! Fabric, gold, spices and souvenirs galore. There’s nothing like haggling with Indians, for Malaysian goods, next to British tourists, over pink camels in the United Emirates. Seriously. The only thing stopping me from coming back with a Genie in a bottle thingy of Shaq-like proportions is customs and an aversion to lifting heavy things.

9. Desert Safari, camels on the beach, and sheesha smokage – because when in Rome…act like a tourist.

10.  Burj Al Arab, essentially because if you don’t you will have missed what Dubai is really all about. Obscene wealth and vision.

What did I miss? What’s on your list of top ten things to do in Dubai?

CLICK HERE for the full Layover Guide to Dubai

By Karine Nissim

Dubai is spectacular. A spectacular spectacle.

That this opulence emerged from a Bedouin sensibility and a drive to turn dwindling oil returns into something that can be seen and applauded by the world, is interesting. That this vision is encapsulated by building the tallest monument, with the fastest elevator, outside the biggest mall, with the highest fountains… in the WORLD…is remarkable. An arresting experience.

The Dubai Mall, is more than a mall.

The mall is a monumental landscape for literally the biggest monument.  You’re in the mall, you’re thinking, “Okay, I get it. You are really big. You have an awesome aquarium – cool, you have an ice skating rink, even cooler, you have a wing dedicated to high end chocolatiers – ridiculoso… but I’m tired!!” And then you see an exit, and walk towards it, hoping maybe just maybe, there’s a bench where you can rest your weary feet.  But instead you see hundreds of people, a big fake lake, dozens of restaurants, and oh…the TALLEST building IN THE WORLD thrusting itself into the heavens!!

Imagine Vegas and Disney injected with real money, oil money; but with this aesthetic theme of austerity and precision. The largeness of Vegas. The wonder of Disney World without the saturated colors and bad food. The sky is murky, the people are brown, their clothes are black or white and their dwellings are gray, and silver and gold and mirrored…with cranes perched on top of them.

With the rapid development and the rapid decline of construction from the economic crisis, Dubai is unfinished. It’s a cleaner, newer, rich look. Not fun, not cute, just slick…and unfinished.

Each building is taller than the next, sharp lines, unusual shapes and flickering lights, like diamonds speckling the sky. Opulence is the thread that is woven through the pronounced architecture.

Hundreds of people mill outside the mall, fathers and their little girls, and gaggles of covered women sitting around the fountain waiting for the show.

I find myself recharging and finding peace from the aforementioned show, a stupendous waterworks extravaganza that makes the Vegas Bellagio fountains look like a pissing contest between two gremlins.  There’s something about staring at an illuminated mind bending skyscraper, fountains reaching divine heights that dance to reverberating music; that tells a story. Like a Hollywood Western with a tribal Arabic beat. I felt something. Something real. The world just felt right.

I also experienced a celebrity sighting at the mall.  It was VERY exciting.  King Abdullah of Suadi Arabia, caused such a stir, you would think it was Britney Spears.  It would be like seeing Obama at the mall. (Apologies for the poor iPhone photo quality, if I had to carry my real camera with me all day, I might have kaplotzed.)

Moment of irony: women, covered, COVERED I say, head to toe, except their eyes, which are also covered…by glasses.  It’s really a sight, and even more interesting, is these women are shopping, actively shopping for high-end clothes.  I mean, I was in Bloomies, and there they were next to me, rummaging the racks, because as it turns out, they were regular clothes in their own home. Kinda crazy to imagine wearing designer clothes that few people can see.

Where your handbag distinguishes you from one another, not your face, it was a welcomed experience to see a young women revealing her face in the bathroom …I couldn’t stop staring.

An entire wing of the mall dedicated to high end chocolatiers, who’s treats are as artful as they are sweet.  Seriously beautiful craftsmanship.  These little chocolates are darling.

Maybe it was all the shopping, maybe it was the Indian Palace combo #4 at the beautiful food court, or maybe the heat has finally gotten to me, but between the sprays off the fountain jets and the sweet family life congregated in celebration of commerce and beauty, I found myself at peace,  I was home.

Wait, of course I was at home.  I was at a mall.

Karine Nissim is a Los Angeles photographer, director, producer and blogger. You can follow her journeys to Dubai and beyond on her blog — Karine’s Blog About Everything And Nothing.

Dubai is the perfect place for Europeans to grab cheap holiday deals – on clothing and airfare!

For the full Layover Guide to Dubai, click here!

Stuck on a United Arab Emirates layover at the Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH)? The airport is one of the fastest growing in the world, and currently being expanded. It is located roughly 30 kilometers from the city center of Abu Dhabi which makes the city an accessible destination for those stuck on long layovers. If you’re trying to determine whether you can leave the airport during your Abu Dhabi layover, click here for useful tips.

In addition, the Abu Dhabi airport is roughly a two-hour drive from Dubai, which makes it a viable place to visit for those on very long layovers.  For the full Layover Guide to Dubai, click here!

If you’re stuck inside the Abu Dhabi airport during your layover, there are many options to keep you busy during your wait. The airport has a number of amenities and facilities including 24-hour duty free retail, which permits the following allowances:

• Alcohol: 4 liters or one carton / 24 cans of beer
• Cigarettes: AED 2,000 or 2x 200 carton(s)
• Cigars: AED 3,000 (max.)
• Tobacco (other): 2 kg (max.)
• Gift items (inc. perfume): AED 3,000 (max.)

The airport also offers a business center within the Airport Hotel [Tel: +971 2 5757377], medical services and a pharmacy in terminal 1, Meet & Assist service, a post office open from 7:30am to 9:30pm in terminal 1 ground floor near staff tunnel, and telephone cards available at Duty Free outlets at AED30 and AED 40. The National Bank of Abu Dhabi is located in terminals 1 and 2, and ATMs are available in terminals 1, 1A, and 2 in the landslide and transit area. There is also free Internet access at various lounges throughout the airport.

Passengers can relax at one of the Abu Dhabi airport’s many lounges which includes the Ghazal Lounge in terminal 1, the Al Dana Lounge in terminal 2, the Etihad Premium Lounge in terminal 1, the Al Dar Lounge in terminal 2, and the Terminal 2 Premium Lounge. Most lounges allow passengers to pay an hourly rate – all rates can additional location information on the airport lounges can be found here. The Abu Dhabi airport also has a fitness center located within the Airport Hotel (non hotel guests can use for an hourly charge of AED23 per person).

If you arrive at night or are looking for a place to rest, there is a small 30-room transit Airport Hotel located in the terminal 1 transit area near the Departure Immigration Hall. If you are looking for a place to stay in Abu Dhabi, click here to find a comprehensive list of hotels of varying price points.

If you are planning on leaving the airport to explore Abu Dhabi on your layover, there are a number of transportation options.  The airport offers car rental, there is a 24-hour airport shuttle, taxis and limousine taxis. Bus 901 which arrives outside terminals 1 and 2 and operates between the airport and the city at one-hour intervals at AED3 per trip.

Layover Guide’s Suggestions Of Things To Do On An Abu Dhabi Layover:

Sheikh Zayed Mosque

The largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates and the eighth largest mosque in the world, the Sheikh Zayed Mosque is named after the first Emirates President and opened in 2007. Large enough for 40,000 people, there are 57 domes made from white marble.

Marina Mall Tower

Opened in 2009, the Marina Mall Tower offers incredible views over the city and the Corniche. At the base of the tower is a skating rink and ski slope, and the mall has over 300 stores for all your shopping needs.

Yas Marina Circuit

The Yas Marina Circuit offers a number of motorsport activities including Karting, driving race cars and passenger experiences. Race from their collection of cars including Aston Martins.  To read more about the connecting hotel, the Yas Hotel, click here.

The Corniche

The Corniche is a stretch of 4 miles along the coast of Abu Dhabi from the Sheraton Hotel to the Hilton Hotel. Along with fountains and gardens, refreshments and many activities from wakeboarding to volleyball.

Heritage Village

Heritage Village is a museum that shows the history of the area. With mud-brick houses, gardens, ancient tombs and camel rides, you can see how people used to live in the nomadic cultures.

None of these interest you? Click here for more things to do on your Abu Dhabi layover.

Everything seems to be expensive nowadays, but you can still find cheap holidays that offer great value for money. Visit the site and check out the wide range of destinations.

Stuck on a layover at Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED)? The airport is located roughly 19 km (12 miles) north of the city of Jeddah, which make the city an accessible destination for those stuck on long layovers. If you’re trying to determine whether you can leave the airport during your Saudi Arabia layover, click here for useful tips.

If you’re stuck inside the King Abdulaziz International Airport during your layover there’s plenty to do. The airport hosts a number of restaurants in the South Hall and Departure Hall, shopping, and bank services (Al Rajhi Banking Establishment and the National Commercial Bank).

The Hajj Terminal is considered one of the largest in the world, specifically built to cater towards foreign pilgrims arriving for the annual Hajj in Makkah. The Hajj Terminal offers many services and facilities, including 120 shopping stores, restaurants, fast food stands, a medical center, and a mosque that can accommodate 80,000 travelers. In addition, there are many locations for prayer in the airport. The main mosque in which the Friday Prayer is performed is located in the court of the South Hall.

If you arrive at night or are looking for a place to rest, there are many hotels nearby in Jeddah. For a comprehensive list of hotels of varying price points, click here.

If you’re planning on leaving the airport during your Saudi Arabia Jeddah layover, there are transportation options including limousine companies and private taxis

Things To Do In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia During Your Layover:

Balad

This vibrant marketplace in Jeddah is a shopper’s paradise with a combination of many specialized markets including gold and silver, spices, electronics, textiles and much, much more.

King Fahad’s Water Spring

The Jeddah Corniche and King Fahad’s Water Spring is a great area to rest and relax during your layover. Here you can check out the impressive sculptures, take a walk, and view the King’s Fountain, which is the largest fountain in the world.

Floating Mosque

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Jeddah is the Floating Mosque. One of the sacred sites in the city, the mosque is located next to the Red Sea and gives the illusion that it is floating.

Makkah Gate

The Makkah Gate in Jeddah is one of the oldest remaining gates in Saudi Arabia, and one of the main entrances for Hajj pilgrims.

Biet Nassif

A prominent renovated structure in the Old City is Biet Nassif, one of the most popular houses in Jeddah. Now a museum, the house was owned by a merchant clan who settled in Jeddah Nassifs, the Nassif House is located at Suq al Alawi, one of the main city streets.

Click here for more suggestions of things to do on your Jeddah, Saudia Arabia layover.

Sometimes all you want to do on a layover, is get a good night’s sleep.

The 5-star Dubai International Hotel has 88 rooms ranging from Royal Suite to Deluxe. It is located on the arrivals level of Sheikh Rashid Terminal.

The hotel has a G-Force health club and spa, an Interactive television through which you can receive high speed Internet access, many restaurants.

The Royal Suite, the most expensive room in the hotel, occupies a floor area of 85 meters squared, with marble floors, a separate living room, office area and a guest bathroom.

But expect to pay $41 to $62 an hour for rooms.

The Dubai International Hotel is a great place to spend an overnight layover or begin holidays in Dubai.  For the full Layover Guide to Dubai, click here!

Stuck on a Jordan layover at Amman Queen Alia International Airport (AMM)? The airport is the hub for Royal Jordanian Airlines, and is located in Zizya area, which is roughly 20 miles (32km) south of Amman, the capital city of Jordan, which makes Amman an accessible destination for those stuck on long layovers. There’s also the spectacular ruins of Petra and the Dead Sea, for even longer layovers. If you’re trying to determine whether you can leave the airport during your Jordan layover, click here for useful tips.

If you’re stuck in the airport during your Jordan layover, there’s plenty to do. The airport offers shopping – both duty free and regular – in Terminals 1 and 2, and restaurants and bars including World News Cafes, Pizza Hut, Popeyes, Cinnabon, Blue Fig and Starbucks.

Additional facilities include wireless internet system throughout the Amman Airport (Wi-Fi cards are available from the 4 World News cafes and public telephones), banking services and ATMs in both terminals, and a medical center open 24/7. There is unfortunately no luggage storage facilities available at the Jordan Amman airport.

Lounges are available in both terminals for all business, first class and frequent flyers. The lounges includes business services.

If you arrive at night, or are looking for a place to rest, there are many hotels near the airport, and in Amman. For a comprehensive list of hotels of varying price points, click here for hotels right by the airport, and click here for hotels in the capital city, Amman.

As for transportation from the airport, there are Airport Taxis and Express buses available, in addition to Rent-a-Car offices. Taxis are available 24/7 and prices are fixed. For booking please call: Tel. 962 6 (4451302). Buses travel from the airport to Abdali and depart roughly every half hour from 7am to 10pm, and every hour from 10pm to 7am. Ticket costs JD. 1.500 and an additional JD. 0.250 for each piece of luggage. There are also private transfers available from a number of travel companies that can pick you up from the airport and take you to a number of destinations, including this one.

Layover Guide’s Suggestions For Things To Do On A Jordan Layover:

Petra

Located roughly 100 miles from the airport, Petra is only feasible for those on long layovers. But if you have the time, few sites are more spectacular! In Petra you’ll have the choice of walking the Siq, taking a horse or camel, or taking a buggy. One day entry per person is roughly 21 JD. For more info on Petra, click here.

Dead Sea

It’s approximately an hour or so drive from the Amman Airport to the Dead Sea (and a half hour from Amman). If you have the time, it’s worth a visit. The Dead Sea is the lowerst body of water on earth with a high percentage of minerals and natural salts that will keep you floating in the water. It is also known for its therapeutic qualities.

Mount Nebo

At over 2600 feet high, Mount Nebo is the presumed death and burial place of Moses. Located near Madaba, Jordan, in addition to the sanctuary, check out the Old Diaconicon Baptistery, the 5^th 7^th Century Basilica, and more.

Bethany Beyond The Jordan

Bethany Beyond The Jordan is located next to the Jordan River and although the excavation began in 1996, they have already uncovered more than 20 churches, caves and baptism pools.

None of these interest you? For tons more suggestions of things to do during your Jordan layover, click here!

Have a suggestion for a Jordan layover? Leave a comment below!

Stuck on a layover at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY) in Lebanon? The airport is roughly 6 miles from the city center of Beirut, which makes the city an accessible destination for those stuck on long layovers. If you’re trying to determine whether you can leave the airport during your layover, click here for useful tips.

If you’re stuck inside the airport during your Beirut layover, there’s plenty to do to. The airport has restaurants and cafes including a full service restaurant called Akle in the arrival zone. There is also a great deal of duty free shopping where you can purchase anything from electronics and food to beauty and luxury items. For more information, click here.

The airport also has two lounges, MEA’s Cedar Lounge and LAT Lounge. Both lounges are located in the second level of the departure area.

Additional services in the airport include baggage wrapping, pay phones, prayer rooms, banking, and disabled facilities. The airport also offers postal facilities and public Internet WiFi and kiosks. Internet cards are available at the airport duty-free zone, at 5$ for 30 minutes of access and 10$ for 75 minutes of access. Click here for more information on airport WiFi. A Tourist Information Center is available in the Arrivals Hall.

If you arrive at night, or are looking for a place to rest during your Beirut Layover, there are many hotel options at varying price points. The airport suggests these hotels, and you can also find a good comparison of Beirut hotels and pricing here.

If you’re planning on leaving the airport to explore Beirut, certified taxis are available in front of the terminals (they are marked with an airport logo on the side) and regular taxis are also available (rates are negotiable). Car rental from a number of companies is also available – click here for more information.

LayoverGuide.com’s Suggestions For Things To Do On A Beirut Layover:

Jeita Grotto
One of the top tourist attractions in Beirut, you can explore these spectacular underground caves by boat. There’s also a cable car that will take you to an upper grotto.

Churches of Harissa
Looking for a gorgeous view, take the cable car up the side of the mountain to the Churches of Harissa. From here you’ll have an amazing view of Lebanon and on clear days you can see all the way to Cyprus.

Temples of Baalbek
Only for those on long layovers, you can travel roughly 55 miles from Beirut to Baalbek where you’ll find the Temples of Baalbek, a complex of ruins on the top of a hill in the Bekkaa valley.

Al-Omari Mosque
Considered the city’s Grand Mosque, Al-Omari Mosque is one of the oldest and biggest mosques in the city. It was transformed from a church in 1291.

None of these interest you? For more suggestions of things to do on your Beirut Layover, click here.

Have suggestions for a Beirut Layover? Leave a comment below!

Stuck on a layover at Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) in Israel? The airport is located roughly 9 miles from Tel Aviv which makes the city an accessible destination for those stuck on a long layover. If you’re trying to determine whether you can leave the airport during your layover, click here for useful tips.

If you’re stuck in the airport during your Tel Aviv layover, you can find plenty of things to do to help occupy your time. The airport has duty free and regular shopping as well as restaurants and cafes (for a list of all the shops and eateries in the airport, click here). The airport also has banks, ATM machines, and foreign currency exchange counters.

There are a number of lounges at the Tel Aviv airport that you can visit during your layover including the Arbel Lounge in the Eastern Gallery Level 1, the King David Lounge in Concourse D, Dan Lounges in Concourses B and C, and the Metsada Lounge in Terminal 1.

If you’re looking to store your luggage while you explore, there is a Baggage Storage facility free of charge at the Western short-term parking lot on the Ground Level – click here for more information.

There are a number of transportation options to Tel Aviv if you’re planning on leaving the airport during your layover. Taxi stations and dispatcher’s counter are located at Terminal 3 on Level G of the Multi Level Road. Public transportation and bus services are located in the three-story bridge on the second floor, next to Gates 21 and 23. In addition the train station is located on Level S of the Landside Building , adjacent to the Greeters’ Hall (click here for more train information including schedule and fares). Car rental and shuttles are also available at the airport.

LayoverGuide.com’s Suggestions Of Things To Do On A Tel Aviv Layover:

Carmel Market
Carmel Market (known at Shuk Ha’Carmel) is Tel Aviv’s biggest marketplace. This lively venue filled with vendors and tons of goods from dried fruit to jewelry and cosmetics, it’s a fun stop on a Tel Aviv layover.

Diaspora Museum
At the campus of Tel Aviv University is the Diaspora Museum that follows the movement of Jews over the last 2,500 years. Here you can trace family records, and learn about various Jewish communities worldwide.

Nachalat Binyamin Mall
Filled with cafes and restaurants, the Nachalat Binyamin Mall is a great place to grab a bite. Tuesdays and Fridays have outdoor artist markets and crafts on display. A great place to pick up gifts and souvenirs.

Old Jaffa
With great views of the coastline, Old Jaffa is a nice place to stretch your legs on a long layover. The 4000 year old port town has cute, narrow streets, shops, parks, churches and a market square.

None of these interest you? Click here for more suggestions.

Have a suggestion for a Tel Aviv layover? Leave a comment below!

Stuck on a layover at Doha International Airport (DOH) in Qatar? As the only commercial airport in Qatar, it is located roughly 2.5 miles southeast of the city center, which makes Doha an accessible destination to those stuck on a long layover. If you’re trying to figure out if you can leave the airport during your layover, click here for useful tips.

As far as Visas, if you’re looking to leave the airport and explore Doha on a long layover, due to changes in Visa on May 1, 2010, it is recommended that all passengers get a Visa prior to arrival. (Depending on your country of residence, you may still be able to purchase a Visa on arrival for a tour around Doha for 100 QR per passport – click here for more information). For Visa application, you can contact the Qatar Airways stations in your country to get more information. Only citizens of Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Sultanate of Oman, Saudi Arabia and the residents in the Gulf Cooperation Council of Arab States who are businessmen, medical doctors, engineers and similar prestigious positions and transit passengers do not need visa. Visas and their cost differ depending on nationality.

If you’re stuck in the airport during your layover, you’ll find that there is plenty to do to keep you occupied during your wait. The airport offers restaurants and cafés in the departure halls, duty free shopping in the arrival and departure halls and the premium building on a1500 SM, and a kids playarea in the departure hall, child care in the ground and first floor of the transit hall. There are three mosques in the airport – a mosque for men in the departure and arrival halls and a mosque with adjacent prayer room for women in the departure hall.

WiFi with high speed on your personal computer and digital personal assistance is available in all places of the airport. After the recent expansion of the airport two sites equipped with a number of computers have been opened to provide free of charge net services.

Banking and currency exchange are available at the airport (click here for more information and locations). In addition, medical advice and medical care is available at the airport – click here for more information.

The airport hosts a number of lounges. A Gold Lounge is available for Privilege Club Gold members in the Main terminal, a Silver Lounge is available for Privilege Club Silver members in the Main terminal, and the Oryx Lounge is available for First and Business Class passengers for free, and for all other passengers admission is available for QAR 140 (USD 39).

If you’re looking for a hotel room to spend your layover, there are a number of hotels of varying price ranges close the airport. For a list of hotels in Doha, click here.

If you plan to leave the airport during a long layover in Oman, there are a number of transportation options. Orange and white taxis that operate on a meter are located in front of the airport. A number of luxury hotels in Doha such as the Sheraton, Marriott, Ritz, Carlton, Intercontinental and the Four Seasons provide airport shuttles. Limousine cars are available from the airport to any place in Doha for charges that range between 30 and 75 QR. You can also rent a car (most international licenses are good for up to 7 days). There are also public buses available that travel to different stops in Doha – click here for a listing of bus times.

LayoverGuide.com’s Suggestions Of Things To Do On A Qatar Layover:

Doha City Tour
If you have limited time but want to get a good scope of the city, a tour might be your best bet. There’s many to choose from – click here for a list of tour companies in Qatar. And you can also take a dhows boat trip/tour around the bay.

Shop Til You Drop!
Doha is a great place to shop, with large malls and everything is tax free! Popular shopping malls in Doha include City Center, Landmark, Hyatt Plaza, and the Royal Plaza.

The Islamic Museum
Open since 2008, The Islamic Museum showcases Islamic art, artifacts and history. In particular there are many artifacts that Al Thanis (Qatar’s royal family) has been collecting for years.

For more suggestions of things to do on a Doha, Qatar layover, click here!