CRESCENT PARK

Lusail, Doha's new futuristic "smart city", is constantly opening up ultra-modern urban spaces that can be visited on foot or by free tramway linked to the metro.

The Marina. Lusail can be admired from the promenade of its marina! Here, gleaming yachts compete in luxury. It's also very photogenic under the palm trees, illuminated by colorful spotlights at night. Benches, restaurants, illuminated water features (including a beautiful fountain), children's games - there's nothing lacking in the Qatari leisure panoply. The skyline is magnificent, with the immense Katara Towers, two giant half-arches pointing skywards, and the Marina Twin Towers, resembling badly stacked cubes. Here you'll find the giant letters "I Love Lusail" for a photo shoot.

Al Maha Island. This is the latest Qatari folly to emerge from the ground, or rather from the water, as it is an artificial island located between the Katara Towers and the Place Vendôme mall in Lusail. Al Maha Island is a leisure island that attracts families to Winter Wonderland, a funfair with a Ferris wheel that lights up at night. Bagatelle Beach Club is a huge private swimming pool, while the island boasts a number of new restaurants and cafés. The drive is reserved for Qatari luxury cars that parade before the eyes of onlookers.

Al Sa'ad Plaza. Located in Downtown Lusail, this square is very Instagrammable, especially at night, when everything is illuminated. This pedestrian-friendly, connected and dynamic urban space offers spectacular views of the sea, Quetaifan Island opposite and the futuristic design lines of the district's architecture. The square connects Boulevard Lusail to the promenade, and is bounded from north to south by The Seef, a 4-tower residential complex. At the heart of Al Sa'ad Plaza is an LRT streetcar station linked to the metro, and an event space that can accommodate 10,000 people.

Lusail Stadium. This 80,000-seat behemoth hosted the FIFA World Cup Final on December 18, 2022. Its curvaceous golden architecture is inspired by the sail of a dhow, the play of light and shadow played by Fanar lanterns and the decorative motifs of Islamic art. The stadium, which was to have been transformed into a school, stores, cafés and clinic after the event, was eventually retained and hosted the final of the Asian Cup of Nations in 2024.

Crescent Park. This park is Lusail's green bubble. Opening in 2019 on 275,000^m2, it is symbolized by The Arch, the great steel arch, and uses recycled water to irrigate its green spaces and numerous trees. A small plant maze invites you to get lost in the greenery. In addition to children's play areas, restaurants and lawns for family picnics, visitors come here for the many soccer, basketball, beach volleyball and tennis courts, bike paths and comfortable wooden chairs for sunbathing.

Place Vendôme. Built on the model of Paris's most expensive district, right down to the famous column at its center, Place Vendôme is worth a visit not least for the nightly "dancing fountain show", every day and every hour from 7pm to 11pm.

Meryal Waterpark, Trocadéro, WoW and Winter Wonderland. There are four theme parks in Lusail. Meryal Waterpark is the largest water park in the Middle East, while Trocadéro, WoW and Winter Wonderland are classic parks with rides.