After more than ten hours in the air from Manila, Rosed and I landed in Doha late at night. We had about three hours before our flight to Zurich. That’s not enough time to leave the airport, but it’s plenty to walk around Hamad International Airport, and Hamad rewards a walk.
First stop: food
Our first stop was Burger King. After a long flight, a Whopper and fries tasted better than they had any right to. We parked our bags on an airport trolley next to the table, sat down and finally breathed. It isn’t fancy, but when your body clock has no idea what time it is, something familiar helps.
The Lamp Bear
You can’t miss it. In the middle of the main hall sits a giant yellow teddy bear with a desk lamp over its head. It’s the Lamp Bear, a sculpture by the Swiss artist Urs Fischer, and it’s probably the most photographed spot in the airport. Of course we took our selfie too. Even late at night, there was a small line of travellers waiting for theirs.
The Oreo Cafe
Further along we found the Oreo Cafe, with a big “World First” sign and a colourful screen above the shop. It’s a fun stop if you have kids with you, or if you’re just a kid at heart like us.
The Orchard, Hamad’s indoor garden
The part that surprised us most was The Orchard, an indoor tropical garden in the middle of the terminal: tall palm trees and thick green plants under a huge glass roof. After hours in a plane cabin, standing among real plants felt like a reset.
Inside the garden is a bronze lion with a small bird perched on its back, set inside a curved white enclosure. It’s one of the bronze wildlife sculptures from Wildlife Wonderscapes by the artist duo Gillie and Marc. We took a few photos there before heading upstairs.
Nearby, we also passed one more landmark, a large grey low-poly statue of a man with his arms folded, looking down at the travellers below.
Tips for a short layover at Hamad
- Three hours is enough to eat, walk and take photos, but keep an eye on the boarding time on the screens.
- The Lamp Bear, the Oreo Cafe and The Orchard are all inside the terminal, so you can enjoy them during a transit stop without leaving the airport.
- Grab a trolley for your carry-on bags so your hands are free while you walk.
Next stop: Zurich.
Want the full journey? Read our trip from Manila to Zurich via Doha.