Layover in Doha at night? My best tips for spending 7 hours at the airport
Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar is a popular layover airport between adventures for many passengers. During the day, I strongly recommend getting out in to the city to experience Doha if you are stopping by for more than 5 hours. But what to do if you have a layover in Doha at night? Well in the name of research, I took a whole night on my way from Sydney to Helsinki to try to keep myself entertained at the Hamad International Airport in Doha without leaving the airport to explore the city.
If your layover is more than 12 hours, you might want to look into the option of booking a 4-5 star hotel for a nominal booking fee. If your layover is more than 8 hours and there is no better connection available, you may be eligible for a free hotel night with transfers. More on that in the next chapter.
On a 7-hour layover, I rather not spend my money on a hotel and instead will choose just spending a night at the airport trying to kill time.
I have now travelled Qatar Airways twice with a midnight layover and figured it's time to write down my best tips for you guys on what to do if you have to spend a night layover at the airport in Doha! I actually ended up running out of time, haha!
Layover in Doha at night? Read my best tips!
I want to share my 7 best tips with you guys for a layover in Doha in the middle of the night in case you also want to skip booking a hotel room or won't have enough hours to be eligible for a free stay.
Qatar Airways offers 4-5 star hotels for a nominal booking fee of around 23 euros / night for those with a longer than 12 hour stopover up to four days. Read more here. If your layover is over 8 hours and a maximum of 24 hours with no better connection available, you might be eligible for a free hotel stay with transfers and entry visa arranged. Read more and check here first.
1. Enjoy a little nap at the Oryx hotel inside the airport
Oryx hotel is located on the airside of the airport in Doha and while you can make a booking for a night, you can also make bookings by the hour. On my layover from my trip in Vietnam, I booked a room for three hours to have a little nap. Might not be the cheapest option for a nap, but it could also not get more comfortable than that on a long journey between two long haul flights.
On this trip I also planned to go for a two hour nap before finding other ways to entertain myself at the airport, but the rooms were already fully booked and there was only a very expensive suite left. So I skipped my nap this time.
If a high quality nap is what you are after, I do recommend booking in advance!
2. Work, eat and drink in one of the many airport lounges in Doha
There are several airport lounges in Doha to enjoy. Some of the airport lounges are only accessible for First and Business Class passengers, but some you can also pay an entrance fee to get in.
On my return from Sydney I flew Business class and spent some hours enjoying my time at Al Mourjan Business Lounge. This lounge is only for Qatar Airways and oneworld Business class passengers. The lounge is huge with a lot of space to chill, eat and work. I didn't know they had upstairs before and got to enjoy a good breakfast buffet there while responding to some work emails!
On my trip home from Vietnam, I was travelling in economy and paid an entrance for six hours at Oryx Lounge, where I got to enjoy some snacks and drinks. This lounge wasn't that impressive, but still a good spot to spend some time and relax in.
Then there is the luxurious Al Safwa First Lounge that is only for the First Class passengers and I wonder if I'll ever get enjoy it, haha! Fingers crossed!
Read more about the lounges at Hamad International Airport here.
3. Vitality Wellbeing & Fitness Centre: swim & workout at the gym
Vitality Wellbeing & Fitness Center is my absolute favorite thing at the airport in Doha for a night layover! You can find the spa and fitness center on the fourth floor of Oryx Airport Hotel. The spa is open for all passengers daily between 6am and 2am. Not many things are as refreshing after a long flight as a good swim, a dip in the jacuzzi and a refreshing shower. I went for a little swim and would have loved to go to the gym, but had forgotten to pack any workout gear into my carry-on.
The entrance fee to Vitality Wellbeing & Fitness Centre is 175 QAR. With this, you can enjoy the facilities such as pool, showers, jacuzzi and the gym. You will also get slippers and a rope to use. If you are staying at Oryx Airport Hotel, you will be able to enjoy a free entry.
There is (of course) a golf simulator, hydrotherapy tubs and a squash court at the fitness center, as you can expect from a world class airport, right?
Read more about Vitality Wellbeing & Fitness Center here.
4. Treat yourself with a massage
Vitality Wellbeing & Fitness Centre is a spa offering facial treatments and massage for tired travellers. I had to pamper myself in the name of research and booked a 1-hour classic massage. They would have also had a special jet lag massage, might try that next time!
My 1-hour massage cost 390 QAR, but it also included the entrance to the pool and gym! So if you have a bit of time and extra money, I highly recommend spending a few hours like this.
Find the spa menu here. I was able to book a massage upon arrival during my stay.
For a quick massage on-the-go, be relax store offers short 15-minute neck and foot massages right next to the boarding gates!
5. Enjoy the many restaurants at Doha airport
As someone who spends a lot of time in airport lounges around the world, I often miss the restaurant selection at airports. Doha offers delicious dining opportunities from traditional Arabic cuisine to American fast food. On my last trip, I noticed my favorite cafe had closed down, but they have since then opened Harrods Tea Room that looked lovely! There are generally so many new interesting restaurants and cafes, that I recommend to just explore the airport on foot and see what tickles your fancy.
Aside of some more Arabic options to enjoy local culture, you will of course also find your typical Starbucks and Burgerkings at the airport in Doha.
Read more about the restaurants at Hamad International Airport here.
6. World’s best airport shopping at Hamad International Airport
What better way to spend time than tax free shopping? Well, to be honest I don't really do a lot of airport shopping! But if luxury bags and make-up is what you are after, Hamad offers you a lot of options for that from Dior to Louis Vuitton and everything in between. In 2024, Hamad International Airport was awarded as world’s best airport for shopping by Skytrax.
I mostly shop for dates (not the kind with men, but the sweet treats haha). Nothing in the world as delicious as dates. And my favorite souvenir to bring home is always a bit of local flavours! I did though also get a new memory card for my camera and almost some new headphones – maybe next time.
7. Quiet rooms: rest before departure
Aside of lounges and airport hotels, the airport in Doha also offers quiet rooms for those in transit. Quiet rooms are perfect for the budget traveller wanting to rest but save some money while at it! I haven't personally tested these, but had some of my Instagram followers recommend these to me! Quiet rooms are calm and quiet areas with dim lighting making it comfortable for winding down between flights. There are also separate quiet rooms that are just for men or just for women across the terminal.
You can use these maps of the airport terminal layout to find your way or ask the staff. There should also be signs for quiet rooms to help guide your way.
Want to go explore Doha and leave the airport?
If your layover is longer than just an overnight at the airport, I can strongly recommend exploring Doha and making your way out of the airport to the city. If your stop in Doha is longer than 6 hours you will be able to join a transit tour and explore the city. Over 100 nationalities can enter Doha visa free. Find out here if you can enter without a visa. If you need a visa, you can get one for QAR 100 at Discover Qatar Transit Desk at the airport directly.
Discover Qatar has directly created a few options for a day trip in Doha, which you can see and book through here. If you are already less than 48 hours away from landing at the airport in Doha, you can also try book a tour from Discovery Qatar tour desk near the duty free shopping.
Another option is to just use a local taxi or Uber and make your way to Souq Waqif and explore on your own as long as you can ensure making your way back to the airport well on time to also get through security. I would walk around the old parts of Doha and just get into the spirit of the city, do some bazaar shopping and enjoy a lovely Arabic meal before heading back to your onwards adventure.
You can also find more tours below for your adventure in Doha and book directly:
Good to know before visiting Doha, Qatar:
Country: Qatar, in the Middle East
Currency: Qatari Riyal
Prices: Average or a bit below
Tipping: Recommended to tip 10% or 15-20% for great service, but not required
Language: Arabic (even if not everyone speak English, it’s spoken enough to manage)
Population of Doha: 2,3 million
Dress code: recommended to dress modestly, preferably hiding shoulders and knees
Safety: Doha is considered the 3rd safest city in the world and is also safe for solo female travellers (caution is of course smart everywhere)
Public transportation: use a taxi, Uber or a metro
Weather: The climate is extreme and summers can be HOT (during July it can easily be 40+ celcius), ideal time to visit is between December and February
Where to stay in Doha: you can find great hotel deals for staying in Doha through Booking.com check the search box below:
What are your best tips for spending a night at the airport?