Doha transit - time for a look around?

I’ve got about 4 hrs in Doha on a Friday afternoon during Ramadan, and travelling J with QR. Onward flight leaves about 8pm. Accept I won’t have time to really do much, but would it be enough time to jump in a taxi for a drive around town just to see what it’s like? Or is the traffic likely to be such it’s not worth it?

Remain in the excellent Al Mourjan Lounge

The traffic might be less of a problem than immigration. My recent experience there made LAX look good!

To be honest there's not a lot to see. In my opinion.

Thanks all for your comments - seems the lounge might be better use of time!

Having stopped over for 2 nights in Sep 2017 the lounge is the way to go.

Outside will be dry and hot. You will be discouraged from drinking or eating anything in public. The outside hotels and the airport lounges will not be serving any alcohol.Traffic may be less during Ramadan on a Friday afternoon than otherwise. I'd consider to visit the airport fitness centre, gym and/or have a swim in the pool, relax poolside and take a shower there (in the fitness centre), The Al Mourjan showers are sweat boxes! No exhaust fans - and the water from the cold water tap will be hotter than water from the hot water tap during your transit- due to the outside sun heating the water in the water storage tanks.

I did this in July last year during a 9hr stopover. Spent around 3 hours outside of the airport seeing the city via taxi (of which there is not a lot to see at street level) and stopped at a couple of shopping malls. If your stopover is early in the morning, a lot of shops don't open until 10 or11 am. As the others have said, the weather is generally unbearable for most of the year, 40-45 degrees and very high humidity.

Transit visa however is only granted if the stopover is a minimum of 5 hours long.
https://transitvisa.qatarairways.com/transitvisa/online/qrvisa/applyVisa/search

Enjoy the airport though, it is fantastic.

Note that Australian passport holders no longer need a visa to enter Qatar (previously you had to pre-arrange one or pay for a visa on arrival at the border), so no need for a 'transit visa' as such: you can just enter the country.

the most boring city I've ever travelled to. There's good food at Lebanese restaurants but that's about it for me.

My wife and I transited in late may last year. Travelling in first allowed free tour to some cultural places as well as the spectacular building designs. Yes it was hot but we felt it was worth it ..... once.

4 hours is not enough for it, but the Museum of Islamic Art is well worth exploring if you find yourself in Doha.

I have a STPC overnight stay in Doha next Month (arrive 1700 depart 0900) and staying at the Oryx Rotana