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In 2022, Skytrax named Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar as the world’s number one airport. After touching down in Qatar, I read the plaque emphasizing their award, and it came as quite a surprise to me. That is until I walked further into the airport and found out why.

Blinding lights, the constant movement of large sums of people, and the enormous space all would have led me to think that I was in a gigantic mall or an indoor city rather than inside an airport, not to mention the fact that there’s an entire forest inside the complex or the fact that I was only able to explore one terminal of the airport when there are three in total.

I am tempted to call Qatar a stop in and of itself on a trip that took me across southern Africa for the sole fact that this airport is a wonder of its own. That and the fact that over the course of two stops in Qatar, I spent over 14 hours wandering the C terminal. Needless to say, I had a lot of time to occupy, and the Qatar airport had a lot of entertainment to occupy that time. Here are just a few of the things you can do to bide your time at Hamad International Airport.

Have Something to Eat

There is no shortage of things to eat in Doha. Almost any food craving can be quenched with a little walking and researching what restaurant best suits your needs. There are so many places to eat, in fact, that the airport has gigantic screens that look like directories in malls that are interactive maps of all of the places to eat in the airport.

You can search through different types of food, and you will be supplied with an almost endless list of venues throughout the terminal. There are even two Gordon Ramsey restaurants and lots of high-end dining establishments.

For those of us with smaller budgets and less refined tastes, there are also quick, cheap, and simple food options, such as a shawarma wrap that my partner and I enjoyed on my first stop in Qatar. There are also trendy or less-serious options to eat such as an Oreo Cafe with every different iteration of the classic Oreo cookie.

There are also convenience shops on many of the corners between gates to get snacks or drinks, but you may have to do some walking to come across one. Needless to say, with the constant barrage of restaurants and dining areas, you will surely find somewhere good to eat.

Go Shopping

If you have expensive taste, the Hamad International Airport is the airport for you. I’m not sure who exactly the target audience is, but I suppose a lot of high-end fliers come through Doha.

There are designer stores of every designer brand that tower over you with shining chandeliers and bright adornments. Imports from all over the world were displayed in the gigantic and squeaky-clean windows, with brands like Gucci, Burberry, Fendi, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino, etc. If you were flying for an international business trip (and you happen to have excessive amounts of money), you could arrive at the airport with nothing and leave with a designer suit, a new bag, glasses, and anything else you might need to impress some CEO.

An entire passageway on the second floor is riddled with a maze of perfume and makeup shops. The aromas of twenty different fragrances all hit you at once as if you were in the middle of a department store. Strong, shiny black, pink, and green perfume displays rise from the floor to the ceiling. Walking in it you could completely forget that you were inside an airport.

The airport also had almost everything you need if you were to go grocery shopping, including pharmacies and tech stores. If you’re not feeling well in this airport, you won’t be stuck settling for an Advil, you have a plethora of options at multiple fully-stocked pharmacies. And if you lose your phone? No problem. Just buy a new one and maybe even a computer too.

If that wasn’t enough for you to satisfy your consumer taste, you can even get a Lamborghini. I was as surprised as you are when I was walking through an airport and there was an entire car on display. And for those who don’t drive, you can buy or play at a completely immersive car simulation with a seat, multiple surrounding screens, pedals, and a steering wheel.

This airport is basically an entire city, so if you’ve got money to spend (unlike me), then you’ll be in consumer heaven.

Wander Around

As a traveler on a budget, wandering around is what I spent most of my time doing at the Hamad International Airport. Luckily, there is plenty to do even if you don’t plan on spending large sums of money.

My personal favorite is the enormous indoor jungle that spans through the heart of the C terminal. Towering trees and a wide curving glass structure cover the distance up the three floors and sprawl out over the ceiling.

A winding path and suspending bridges traverse the forested area while travelers walk back and forth pushing their bag carts and eating their meals on the benches scattered throughout. Placed nicely on a patch of turf in the park area were little huts for tired travelers to nap or relax in. They were, of course, always occupied, so I didn’t get the chance to enjoy the calm privacy of the little enclaves, but next time I go I think they’ll be worth the wait.

There are also several other amenities across the gargantuan space to fill your time. There are prayer rooms, smoke rooms, quiet rooms for sleep, and tons of open space to walk around. They even have carts to put your bags in so you don’t have to carry your bags with you everywhere you go.

Another thing that I appreciate about the airport in Doha is the art. Placed in odd spaces all around the grounds are larger-than-life statues of different things. For example, a huge wooden KAWS statue and the famous giant yellow teddy bear with a lamp through its head.

Conclusion

In conclusion, you could basically live at the Doha airport. As the center for Qatar Airways, this goliath of an airport deserved its accolade of Best Airport in 2022. Whether you like fine dining or good eats, luxury brands or expensive perfume, artworks or great sights to see, the Hamad International Airport will have something for you. I am lucky enough to have gone the cheap route with my flights and be blessed by a large enough layover (something I never thought I’d say) to explore what just one-third of this amazing airport has to offer.