location-photo
camera
len
Nikon Z6
Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 Lens
Shutter Speed
1/125 sec
Aperture
f/5.6
Focal Length
40mm
ISO
1600

Villaggio Mall Gondola Canal

avatar
@ledoigtdansloeilfr
For a brief moment, this indoor mall in Doha will have you feeling like you're in Venice, Italy! The Venetian-style canal will transport you through the Villaggio Mall as you take in the charming sights of the shoppers walking on either side of the water. This spot is a must for anyone traveling to Doha, but it's especially alluring for those that love to shop.

Plan

Overview

Skill level

Easy
Accessbility
Public Location

Hours

Sun-Wed 9AM–10PM; Thurs & Sat 9AM-11PM; Fri 9AM-11AM, 12:30PM-11PM

Fee

Free

Pack

  • Wide-angle lens (40mm)

How to get there

N25° 15' 32.6736"E51° 26' 39.318"
This image of the gondola canal was taken inside the Villaggio Mall, which is in the Aspire Zone of Doha. You can either drive (parking near 25.258877, 51.444950 in the public lot), take a taxi or ride on public transportation to get to this location. If you're taking public transportation, you'll take the Gold Line to the Al Aziziyah stop and then head north toward the mall. Once you're in the mall, walk through the entrance and then reference the GPS coordinates to stand where I stood to get this perspective of the canal. There will be bridges over the canal and I stood on one of the bridges to get this view.

Tips

When to go

Best season

All months

Best time

Morning, Mid-day, Late afternoon, Sunset, Blue Hour, Night
You can photograph the interior gondola canals of the Villaggio Mall during any month of the year, but I suggest avoiding the Ramadan period as to not disturb the holiday.
Since you'll be indoors, any time of the day or night during opening hours are suitable.

Field tips

Symmetry will be an important element of your composition. Make sure you're standing in the center of the bridge to ensure you're capturing a well-balanced photo.
I liked incorporating the bridge in my shot to add some dimension. If you'd like to do the same, while on the bridge, it's best to get on your knees and then shoot in between the two columns.
Vertical format is what I prefer at this photo location because in one image, you can photograph the canal, the boat, the architecture and the interior "sky".
Wait for the gondola to cross the bridge and then snap a photo from the back so you can feature the classic Venetian hat of the gondola driver.

Current weather

Doha
Clear
72o
F
Sat
79o
65o
Sun
78o
64o
Mon
79o
66o
Tue
77o
64o
Wed
76o
65o

Blue Hour

02:44
72o
Clear

Sunrise

03:09
72o
Clear

Golden Hour

13:12
72o
Clear

Sunset

13:46
72o
Clear

Do nearby

The Gondolania is definitely worth a visit while you're nearby, but please note that pictures taken from a camera are not allowed without authorization. You can, however, take photos on your mobile phone.
I recommend taking photos of the Villaggio Mall canal during the early afternoon and then walking over to the Torch Hotel to see the sunset over Doha from the top of the tower.

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