As summer temperatures continue to soar in Qatar, it is common to flock indoors to beat the heat. With parks and beaches largely off-limits during the day, you might be stuck for ideas on how to keep your little ones busy and having fun. Have no fear! There are plenty of places to go, from indoor amusement parks to museums. So, here’s a rundown of kid-friendly ways to have a blast while beating the heat.
1- Summer Camps
These supervised educational summer camps provide a daytime schedule packed with activities. Drop your kids off and relax as they spend their days living it up while learning new skills.
#IAMEVO Summer Camp
#IAMEVO camps are offering the chance to participate in sporting activities throughout the summer. They will be running a multi-sports camp plus a fencing and archery camp for children aged four to 11 from 26 June until 11 August.
Cost: QR 750 per child per week with a 20% discount for school staff
Location: Doha College, Al Wajba; SEK Doha, West Bay; Park House, Abu Hamour
Website: evosportsqatar.com
Call: 4407-6772
Acorn Nursery Summer Camp
For the younger set, Acorn Nursery offers an extensive play-based summer camp for children aged zero to four from 3 July 2022 to 18 August 2022.
Cost: QR 900 per week, QR 200 per day
Location: Acorn Nursery, Abu Hamour
Website: acornqatar.com
Call: 4038-7684
Caboodle Pamper and Play
From 15 July to 30 August, children aged two to eight can join Caboodle Pamper and Play’s summer camp. Activities will centre around art, movement, and just having fun! A delightful, educational experience for all.
Cost: QR 900 for the first child, QR 750 for additional children
Location: Caboodle Pamper and Play, Doha Festival City
Call: 4407-6772
Fitness Factory X STEM Xplorers Summer Camp
This collaborative effort between Fitness Factory and STEM Xplorers offers seven fun-filled weeks of education, entertainment, creativity, and fitness in their summer programme for kids aged four to 12, from 26 June 2022 to 4 August 2022.
Cost: from QR 680 weekly
Location: Tower 20, Porto Arabia, The Pearl-Qatar
Call: 3399-6665
2- Trampoline Parks
Trampolining is a great way to release energy and add an extra spring to your child’s step. Check out these parks for powered-up bouncy fun.
BOUNCE Qatar
BOUNCE Qatar is the home of freestyle jumping. It hosts an extensive trampoline park with around 3,000 square meters of interconnected indoor trampolines, adventure features, padding, and airbags.
Looking for an added thrill? BOUNCE Qatar also incorporates X-Park, the adventure obstacle course for adrenaline hunters, and FREERUN, where the only limit is your imagination.
Cost: from QR 80
Location: Tawar Mall
Website: bounce.qa
Call: 4408-6500
Jumping
This 2,000-plus square metres of fun is Qatar’s newest trampoline park house. Located in Place Vendome, it contains over 100 interconnected trampolines under a single roof for your kids to bounce to their hearts’ content.
Cost: from QR 100
Location: Place Vendome
Website: jumpinotrampoline.com
Call: 4006-0269
Jump Qatar
Over 700 square meters of joy await at Jump Qatar. There is something for everyone at Jump, from its velcro wall to a ninja obstacle course, and it also offers free jumping and an extensive foam zone.
Cost: from QR 60
Location: Mirqab Mall
Website: jumpqatar.com
Call: 4447-9713
Rebound Qatar
Trampolines, a foam pit, basketball, a velcro wall, zorb ball, and wall climb, oh my! This 600-square-metre trampoline park is a great place to have fun and keep active indoors.
Cost: from QR 100
Location: Gate Mall
Call: 5037-2142
Rush Qatar Action Park
This 2022 addition is the newest indoor action park for children aged four to 14. There’s a lot to do with its trampolines, biplane, motorised ninja course, net course, and football cage that is perfect for friendly competition.
Cost: from QR 100
Location: Gate 3, Mall of Qatar
Call: 4028-5990
Trampo Extreme
Jump to your heart’s content across this indoor playground’s connected trampolines, foam pits, monkey bars, and dodgeball zone. Additionally, Trampo houses extensive soft play, a variety of clip’ n’ climb walls, and an enormous rope course in the form of a sky trail.
Cost: from QR 70
Location: Aspire Zone
Website: trampo-qatar.com
Call: 4499-8888
3- Amusement Centres
If jumping around doesn’t sound like your kids’ cup of tea, consider this diverse range of entertainment centres.
Angry Birds World
This indoor theme park, designed around the early 2000s phenomenon of Angry Birds, contains rides, attractions, games, and live shows that suit children of all ages.
Cost: from QR 100
Location: Doha Festival City
Website: angrybirdsworld.qa
Call: 4042-0444
CurioCITY
This adventurous playground caters to the curious minds of children up to age 12. CurioCITY aims to help children learn about science, engage them in physical activities, and familiarise them with the routine activities of life.
Cost: from QR 120
Location: La Croisette 18, Porto Arabia, The Pearl-Qatar
Website: centerofplay.com
Call: 7723-3233
Doha Quest
Widely known as Doha’s first indoor theme park, Doha Quest hosts over 30 rides and attractions. It is also home to two Guinness World Records title holders: the “Tallest Indoor Rollercoaster” and the “Tallest Indoor Drop Tower Ride”.
With so many unique rides, from 3D Experiences to thrill rides and family attractions, there is definitely something for everyone.
Cost: from QR 150
Location: Doha Oasis, Msheireb
Website: dohaquest.com
Call: 4410-3444
Escape Hunt Qatar
The pressure is on—the clocks are ticking, and adrenaline is pumping. You and your time are against the clock to solve the clues and escape. Do you have what it takes? Find out at Escape Hunt Qatar.
Cost: from QR 150
Website: escapehunt.com/qa/qatar
Location: Al Thumama
Call: 3355-5566
FunVille
FunVille offers a safe and secure indoor play area for children aged one to 10.
Cost: varies—pay per attraction via a rechargeable card
Location: Barwa City, Al Asmakh Mall, City Center Mall
Website: qatar.funvillearabia.com
Gondolania Theme Park
Iconic to Villaggio Mall, this complex boasts an ice skating rink, a bowling alley, a Venetian-inspired gondola boat ride, and the Gondolania Entertainment centre, which features soft play, rides, and games.
Cost: varies—pay per attraction via a rechargeable card
Location: Villaggio Mall
Website: gondolania.com
Call: 4403-9800
Jungle Zone
This jungle-themed amusement centre contains rides, attractions, games, and soft play for children of all ages.
Cost: varies—pay per attraction via a rechargeable card
Location: Hyatt Plaza Mall
Call: 4499-9699
KidzMondo
This international edutainment concept puts kids in charge of a kid-sized city, taking on different real-life roles in corporate-sponsored businesses. Your children will be learning through play via various age-appropriate activities in a dynamic setting.
Cost: from QR 90
Location: Mall of Qatar
Website: kidzmondodoha.com
Call: 4482-6222
KidZania
This 5,500-square-metre child-sized city needs no introductions. In this city, children aged one to 14 take on the roles of firefighters, doctors, chefs, and so much more while enriching their minds with every step.
Cost: from QR 95
Location: Aspire Zone
Website: doha.kidzania.com/en-qa
Call: 5037-2142
Snow Dunes
Cool down in the snow in Qatar’s first snow dunes. There is plenty to do with 12 super cool rides and attractions for all ages and abilities.
Cost: from QR 180
Website: snowdunes.qa
Location: Doha Festival City
Call: 4042-0444
Xtremeland
Xtremeland offers a wide range of entertainment options: an amusement park, rides, games, and even a giant, soft play-based toddler haven called “Toddler Land”.
Cost: varies—pay per attraction via rechargeable card
Location: Mall of Qatar
Call: 5037-2142
4- Gaming Centres
These fun-filled centres are the perfect treat for the gamer in your life.
Megapolis
This state-of-the-art indoor entertainment centre offers an exhaustive range of activities for guests of all ages, including classic arcade games and virtual reality (VR) adventures.
Cost: varies—pay per attraction via a rechargeable card
Website: megapolisqatar.com
Location: Medina Centrale, The Pearl-Qatar
Call: 4437-8444
Virtuocity
This 1,100-square-metre hub of pure gaming pleasure houses 200 gaming stations, six escape rooms, 10 VR cubes, and six VIP rooms.
Cost: from QR 150
Website: virtuocity.qa
Location: Doha Festival City
Call: 4042-0444
5- Museums and Libraries
You can always count on Qatar’s cultural sector for enlightening and entertaining experiences. Keep this (completely non-exhaustive) list of institutions handy for educational days out.
3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum
The world’s second-largest Olympic museum, the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, combines informative exhibits with interactive sporting game opportunities.
Cost: free for residents
Location: Khalifa Stadium, Aspire Zone
Website: 321qosm.org.qa
Call: 4452-5200
Al Thuraya Planetarium
Named after the Pleiades star cluster, the Al Thuraya Planetarium will take you on a journey through time and space.
Cost: free
Location: Katara
Call: 4408-2067
Fire Station
Home to various exhibits throughout the year, Fire Station has hosted the works of several big-name artists, including Picasso, Ai Weiwei, and the late Virgil Abloh. You can keep up with ongoing displays and current artists in residence through its website.
Cost: free for residents
Location: opposite Al Bidda Park
Website: firestation.org.qa
Museum of Illusions
You simply won’t believe your eyes—visit and experience the impossible! This museum provides an intriguing visual, sensory, and educational experience through a variety of illusions.
Cost: from QR 60
Location: Gate Mall
Website: museumofillusions.qa
Call: 4020-6237
National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ)
This cultural giant brings the story of Qatar and its people to life. Currently, the Pipilotti Rist: Your Brain to Me, My Brain to You exhibition is running until 20 December 2022. You can also find other family-oriented activities at NMoQ, including storytelling sessions, workshops, and tours.
Cost: free for residents
Location: Doha Corniche
Website: nmoq.org.qa
Call: 4452-5555
Qatar National Library
With over 120,000 print books in the collection—mostly in English and Arabic—visitors are almost guaranteed to find something to set their imaginations alight. Citizens and residents are eligible to become library members and can borrow up to four books at a time.
Cost: free
Location: Education City
Website: qnl.qa/en
Call: 4454-0100