National Museum of Qatar

Opened in 2019, the National Museum of Qatar was designed by the French architect Jean Nouvel to resemble a desert rose, the crystal formation found in the salt flats of the Gulf. Hundreds of curved discs interlock around the restored palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani, once the seat of government.

Inside, a winding route through a series of galleries uses films projected on curved walls, objects and recorded voices to tell the story of the land, its pearl divers and Bedouin families, and the rapid change since oil and gas were found.

Allow at least two hours. The galleries suit older children and adults best; younger children enjoy the building itself and the lagoon outside. The museum café and restaurant look out over the lagoon.