Doha Metro Guide

The three lines

The network is built around three colour-coded lines — Red, Green and Gold — all meeting at the central Msheireb interchange station. The Red Line is the longest and busiest: an 18-station, roughly 40km route running from Al Wakrah in the south, through the city centre, up to Lusail in the north, and serving the airport area along the way — for most visitors, this is the line you'll use most. The Green Line runs from Al Mansoura toward Al Riffa/Mall of Qatar, with useful stops including Education City, Hamad Hospital, Al Shaqab and Qatar National Library. The Gold Line runs east–west from Ras Bu Aboud to Al Aziziyah and is the line for the National Museum, Souq Waqif, Sport City and Al Aziziyah for Villaggio Mall. Visit Qatar says another Metro line is planned, but it is not part of the operating network a visitor should rely on today.

Fares and travel cards

Fares are simple and don't depend on distance travelled. In Standard/Family class, a single journey costs QAR 2, with a daily cap of QAR 6 regardless of how many journeys you take that day. A more premium Gold Club class is also available, at QAR 10 per journey with a QAR 30 daily cap, offering more spacious, quieter carriages. Children under 5 travel free.

For pay-as-you-go travel, the normal option is a reusable Standard Travel Pass. Qatar Rail's current fare policy prices the card itself at QAR 10 before travel credit; licensed retailers may sell it as a QAR 30 pack with QAR 20 of credit already loaded. A Standard journey is QAR 2 and daily capping stops further Standard/Family journey charges once you reach QAR 6. Tap in and tap out for every journey, even after the daily cap has been reached.

Free Metrolink feeder buses and MetroExpress

Two extra services extend the metro's reach at no extra fare. Metrolink is a network of free feeder buses connecting metro stations to surrounding neighborhoods within roughly a 2–5km radius depending on the route. MetroExpress is a different on-demand feeder service for selected Metro and Tram areas. Routes, pickup zones and booking rules can change, so I use the current Qatar Rail/Karwa information rather than treating an old feeder map as permanent.

Getting from the airport

Hamad International Airport connects directly onto the Red Line, so if you land without checked luggage that needs a taxi and want the cheapest, simplest route into the city, the metro is a genuinely good option straight off the plane — see our flights to Doha guide and Doha layover guide for more on making the most of an arrival with time to spare. If you're travelling with a lot of luggage or arriving late at night, a taxi or ride-hailing app is usually the more comfortable choice — see our Doha travel guide for the wider picture on getting around.

Key stations for visitors

A handful of stations do most of the work for a typical visit:

• Msheireb — the central interchange for all three lines, and a short walk from the restored Msheireb Downtown Doha heritage district.
• Souq Waqif — puts you right at the market, on the Gold Line.
• National Museum — on the Gold Line for the National Museum of Qatar and nearby waterfront.
• Several West Bay stations — serving the main hotel, business and skyline district on the Red Line.
• Katara — for Katara Cultural Village and its beachfront area.

See our full things-to-do guide for how these connect to specific attractions.

Operating hours

The metro runs daily, with shorter hours on Fridays to reflect the day's prayer schedule, and it's common for Qatar Rail to extend operating hours during Ramadan and around major public events to accommodate changed travel patterns — always worth a quick check of the official Qatar Rail app or website (qr.com.qa) for the exact schedule on the day you're travelling, particularly around Ramadan, since our Ramadan in Doha guide covers what else changes during the month.

Accessibility

The system was built with accessibility in mind: stations and trains include elevators, ramps, step-free access throughout, and dedicated spaces for wheelchairs and strollers on board — a genuine advantage over many older metro systems worldwide, and one reason it's a comfortable option for families and travellers with mobility needs alike.

Practical tips

• Standard-sized suitcases are fine on the metro; if you're carrying multiple large or oversized bags, a taxi or ride-hailing app will generally be more comfortable than navigating gates and escalators with them.
• Dedicated Family carriages (part of Standard class) are reserved for women and children — men travelling alone should use the general carriages.
• Download the Qatar Rail app before you arrive to check live timings and plan routes, and the Karwa app if you plan to use MetroExpress or need a taxi for the gaps the metro doesn't cover.
• Fares and services do get updated by Qatar Rail and Mowasalat (Karwa's operator) from time to time — this page reflects the current fare structure as of publication, but it's worth a quick confirmation on qr.com.qa, the official Qatar Rail site, if the exact fare matters to your budgeting.
• Eating, drinking and smoking are not permitted in stations or on trains, in keeping with the system's very clean, well-kept feel — plan to finish that coffee before you tap in.
• Trains run frequently during the day but can space out later at night, so if you're heading back from dinner or an evening out, it's worth checking the last-train time for your line rather than assuming service runs as late as, say, London's or New York's.

The Lusail Tram — a related but separate system

Worth knowing if your trip includes Lusail (north of central Doha, home to Lusail Stadium and Lusail Boulevard): it has its own Lusail Tram network, with connections to the Doha Metro at Legtaifiya and Lusail. Tram phases and routes are still evolving, so check the current Qatar Rail map on the day rather than planning around an old construction timetable.

A brief history, and where the network is headed

The Red Line opened first in 2019, followed by the Green and Gold lines, as part of Qatar's major pre-World-Cup transport build. The system proved central during the 2022 tournament and is now normal everyday infrastructure rather than an event-only network. Future expansion is planned, but for a practical trip I stick to the current three-line, 37-station map published by Visit Qatar/Qatar Rail.

Park & Ride, if you do rent a car

If you do rent a car for a day trip (say, out to the desert or Zubarah Fort) but still want to use the metro on other days, several stations offer free Park & Ride parking — useful for avoiding central Doha traffic and parking fees on the days you don't need the car. Capacity varies by station, so it's worth arriving reasonably early if you're relying on a specific one being free, particularly around weekends and major events.

Frequently Asked Questions