Doha, Qatar

Qatar’s capital and largest city displays a broad sea-front corniche lined with impressive, towering, and strikingly modern architecture. View it from the sea with a ride on a traditional dhow. Notable highlights include the I.M. Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art, which houses the largest collection of Islamic artifacts in the world. Modest dress is requested for visits here as well as at the serene State Grand Mosque. The teeming Souq Waqif is a contemporary incarnation of the central market area that has served the city for centuries. Many shops close for a few hours in the afternoon, so a morning visit is suggested. Next to it is the newer Falcon Souq, where not only birds of prey, but also all the equipment and accouterments of Arabia’s immensely popular hobby of falconry are on display and for sale. The unique, eclectic Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum displays one man’s massive collection of everything from cars to stamps and Islamic treasures.