Most visitors arriving at Hamad International Airport will just want to jump into a taxi and quickly get to where they are going. But if you are not too tired, can easily handle your luggage and have a little more time on your hands. You can elect to take a bus for a fraction of the cost. Getting around Qatar can be very affordable using the Karwa bus service.
Bus tickets cost between QAR 2.50 and QAR 7.00 but can only be paid for by cash (local cash). Single journey tickets can be bought on the bus.
You can also buy Smart Cards at a machine located in the Bus Terminal at Hamad International Airport. The machine accepts local currency or a credit card.
KARWA SMART CARD
Public transport smart cards are needed to ride Karwa public bus. Top-up amount in multiples of Qr.10. Buy and top-up Karwa smart card at ticket vending machines at Hamad International Airport, Doha Bus Station, The Pearl Qatar and Qatar Mall, also partner merchants.
Three types of Karwa smart card:
- Classic Card, (Cost: QR.30): Rechargeable card for long term.
- Limited Card, 24hr (Cost: QR.10): Good for two journeys within 24-hrs of purchase.
- Unlimited Card, 24hr (Cost: QR.20): Good for unlimited journeys within 24-hrs of purchase.
Sample Exchange Rates | 0.21 | 0.27 | 0.24 | 14.44 | |
QR | GBP | USD | EUR | PHP | |
Limited Card, 24hr | 10 | 2.08 | 2.75 | 2.41 | 144 |
Unlimited Card, 24hr | 20 | 4.16 | 5.49 | 4.82 | 289 |
For more information and to check the information being given in this article is still up to date and correct, please go to www.mowasalat.com or call Qatar (+974) 443 66 053
nice article thanks! I must say that this was quite a frustrating experience for me unfortunately. I bought a 10 QR smartcard at the vending machine but when I got on the bus it said Insufficient credit and was kicked off the bus.
Then I look at the receipt and it said the cost of the card is 10 QR and the “Recharge balance” is zero. So I paid 10 QR for a blank card? Makes no sense. I had read the 10 QR card was good for two jouneys.
A bad non-intuitive system overall. By contrast Dubai is so much better.