AK and I have been best friends since college. Somewhere along the way we became the kind of friends who plan a girls’ weekend around a Formula 1 calendar. Doha was our third race together. She flew in from Detroit, I flew in from Seoul, and we met in the middle for four days of racing, souq-wandering and a two-bedroom suite we definitely did not pay cash for.
We also brought a built-in rivalry. I’m a McLaren girl through and through. AK followed Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari, so she showed up in red. If you’ve ever wondered whether the Qatar Grand Prix is worth flying halfway around the world for, here’s the honest version: what it cost, how to actually get to the track (learn from our mistakes), and what to do in Doha when the cars aren’t running.
Trip at a glance
| When | Qatar Grand Prix weekend, Nov 28–30, 2025 (I was in Doha Nov 27 – Dec 1) |
| Who | Me and AK, college best friends, our third F1 race together |
| Race tickets | 3-day pass, Main Grandstand: $595 per person |
| Hotel | W Doha, 5 nights for 168,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, upgraded to a two-bedroom suite |
| Flights | Qatar Airways nonstop from Seoul (me); AK flew in from Detroit |
| Getting to the track | Doha Metro Red Line to QNB Lusail, then the free shuttle bus. Metro was free with our race tickets |
| Visa | US passport: free visa on arrival |
Getting there and where we stayed
I flew Qatar Airways nonstop from Seoul and paid cash. It’s one of the easiest long-haul routes out of Incheon, and you land at Hamad International, one of the nicest airports anywhere. My flight landed before sunrise, and by 5:30am I was cruising down the Corniche with the West Bay skyline still lit up.
W Doha on points
We booked the W Doha for 5 nights at 168,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, about 33,600 points a night. AK arrived a day before me, so the booking started the night before I landed. Bonus: when I showed up at 5am, there was already a room to collapse into. If you’re flying in on an overnight flight, book the night before your arrival. Trust me.
I was a Platinum Elite Bonvoy member, and at check-in we were upgraded to a two-bedroom suite. On a girls’ trip that’s the dream setup: your own bedroom and bathroom, plus a shared living room for pre-race outfit debates. Platinum status doesn’t guarantee a suite, but it’s always worth asking politely, especially when you’re staying a few nights.
The W leans hard into race weekend. It’s been a Grand Prix partner for years (it was the official hotel partner in 2024). A full-size F1 show car in W Doha livery sat in the lobby, and F1 touches were everywhere, down to the race posters in the elevators. We didn’t get any extra race perks from staying here, but it put us in the mood every time we walked out the door.
The location in West Bay is great too. Breakfast at the hotel (the avocado toast with poached eggs was a solid start after a red-eye), a public beach a short walk away under the skyscrapers, and a Barry’s within reach for a pre-race sweat.
Race weekend at Lusail
Tickets: the Main Grandstand is worth it
We bought 3-day passes in the Main Grandstand for $595 each. You sit right across from the pit lane, so you see every stop, every tire change and every team scrambling, plus the start/finish straight and the podium. Watching the pit crews live is something TV never captures. The races run at night under the lights, so the evenings were warm but comfortable, and we never felt cooked in our seats.
Getting to the track (learn from our Uber fail)
On the first night we took an Uber from the hotel. Big mistake. Our driver couldn’t get us anywhere near the track, so we got out on the side of the highway and walked in. Not the glamorous F1 arrival we pictured.
From then on we took the Doha Metro, and it was smooth. Ride the Red Line to QNB Lusail station, then hop on the free shuttle bus to the circuit gates. Even better: your F1 ticket gets you a free 3-day metro and Lusail Tram pass for race weekend. Pick it up at the goldclub office in any Doha Metro station. The metro also runs extended hours (until 1:30am, and 2:30am on Sunday), so getting home after the concerts is easy.
My advice: skip the Uber, take the metro. If you do take a car, know that only Karwa taxis can pick you up at the circuit afterward.
Inside the circuit
Food prices were reasonable for an F1 race, honestly cheaper than I expected. Our go-to was Nando’s: quick, filling, and the best option we found. Free drinking water was available too, which matters in Qatar.
Your ticket also covers the post-race concerts. The 2025 lineup was Seal on Friday, Cheb Khaled on Saturday and Metallica on Sunday. Between the fan zone, the photo walls and the giant helmet installations around the circuit, there was plenty to do between sessions.
Our 15 seconds of fame
At one point a TV crew came down our grandstand and we ended up on live TV for a few seconds. We both completely froze. Two grown women with 3 F1 races under our belts, and we had the worst stage fright of our lives. I’m still not over it.
The race: a McLaren heartbreak
This was the race McLaren fans won’t forget, and not in a good way. Oscar Piastri won Saturday’s Sprint, and on Sunday McLaren looked in control. Then a Safety Car came out early. Almost everyone pitted, and McLaren kept both cars out. Max Verstappen took the lead and won the race, Piastri finished second and Lando Norris fourth. That pushed the championship to the Abu Dhabi finale. From our seats across the pit lane, we watched it unfold stop by stop.
AK didn’t have it any easier: Lewis went out in Q1 and finished outside the points. Two heartbroken fans, one very loud grandstand, and still one of the best nights we’ve had at a race.
Doha beyond the track
The on-track action starts in the afternoon, so race weekend leaves your mornings free. Here’s how we spent ours.
Day 1 (Thursday): arrival, beach, souq and a sunset dhow
I landed on Thanksgiving morning, so this was not a turkey-and-pie kind of Thursday. After breakfast at the W, we went straight to the beach. Swimming in calm, turquoise water with the West Bay towers right behind you is a very Doha experience. Lunch was Yemeni food at Bandar Aden Restaurant (مطعم بندر عدن) near Souq Waqif, which I wouldn’t recommend. In the late afternoon we boarded a traditional wooden dhow for a sunset cruise along the Corniche. AK booked it online through GetYourGuide or Klook. Sunset cruises run about QAR 150 (around $40) and last about two hours. Watching the skyline light up from the water was one of my favorite moments of the trip.
We ended the night in Souq Waqif. Strings of colorful flags, lantern-lit alleys, spice and perfume stalls, kunafa at Al Aker Sweets that we couldn’t walk past, and an art gallery with a hallway of hanging lanterns that stopped us in our tracks. Duck into the galleries around the souq. They’re easy to miss and absolutely worth it.
Day 2 (Friday): Barry’s, the National Museum and Old Doha Port
I started the morning with a class at Barry’s Doha. If you work out on vacation like I do, it’s the same Barry’s you know, with a “Happy Friday” smoothie at the end. Then we went to the National Museum of Qatar. The building is shaped like a desert rose and is worth the visit for the architecture alone, even before you step inside.
Next we walked over to the Mina District at Old Doha Port, a little neighborhood of pastel buildings, painted streets and seafront restaurants. We had a long lunch by the water at Bayt Alwaldah Restaurant (مطعم بيت الوالدة): hummus, fattoush and warm bread with sea views. Then it was off to Lusail for the first night at the track (the infamous Uber night).
Day 3 (Saturday): The Pearl, then Sprint Saturday
We spent the morning at The Pearl, Doha’s man-made island of marinas, Mediterranean-style promenades and very fancy shopping. We also found a giant F1 helmet installation on the way back. In the afternoon we took the metro to Lusail, walking past Lusail Stadium, where the 2022 World Cup final was played, on the way to the shuttle. After Sprint and Qualifying, we finished the night with late drinks at Tropicana 360, a rooftop with sweeping views over the city.
Day 4 (Sunday): race day, then straight to the airport
We kept Sunday slow with one more beach morning before heading to Lusail for the main event. After the podium we went straight to Hamad International for my late-night flight. If you have time to kill there, the indoor garden under the glass dome (the Orchard) is gorgeous, even at 1am.
Tips for a girls’ trip to Qatar
- We felt very safe. Two women out late at the track, on the metro and in the souq, and we were comfortable the whole time.
- Pack conservative, breathable outfits. Even in the heat, loose pants, jeans and midi or maxi dresses felt right. Shorts didn’t feel comfortable. Covering your shoulders and knees is the easy rule.
- Bring a layer for the track. Evenings at Lusail get cooler than you’d expect.
- Skip ride-hailing to the circuit. The metro plus free shuttle is faster and less stressful, and it’s free with your ticket.
- Go cashless. The circuit is mostly card-only, and you’ll want a power bank since your ticket lives on your phone.
- Plan drinks around hotels. Alcohol in Qatar is mostly served at licensed hotel bars and restaurants.
- Use your mornings. The racing starts in the afternoon, so you get time for the beach, museums and the souq without missing anything.
- Visa: US passport holders get a free visa on arrival. Check the rules for your own passport before you go.
What it cost (per person)
We split the hotel down the middle, so the whole weekend came to $1,322 each for the race ticket and my flight from Seoul, plus 84,000 points, before food and fun.
| Item | Per person |
|---|---|
| F1 3-day pass, Main Grandstand | $595 |
| W Doha, 5 nights (two-bedroom suite upgrade) | 84,000 Bonvoy points (half of 168,000) |
| Doha Metro and shuttle, race weekend | Free with race ticket |
| Sunset dhow cruise | About QAR 150 (~$40) |
| Round-trip flight, Seoul to Doha (Qatar Airways) | $727 |
Final thoughts
The Qatar Grand Prix is one of the easiest F1 races to plan around a points stay. The races run at night, the metro gets you to the track for free, and Doha fills your mornings with beaches, museums and souqs. Race number three with AK gave us a McLaren heartbreak, a Ferrari heartbreak, a two-bedroom suite and a few seconds of very awkward live TV. I’d do it all again.
Next up: we’re already arguing over which race will be number four.
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