Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
One of the largest mosques in the world
with a capacity of 20,000, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is a
recent yet architecturally-classic building. The interior is grand
and the prayer hall is home to a handwoven Persian carpet weighing
over 21 tons on the prayer floor, while an exquisite 46-foot (14m)
chandelier hangs from the ceiling. While offering English tours,
this remains a religious site rather than a tourist destination so
visitors need to be respectful of the rules. Muslims can visit any
time of the day, but tourists of other faiths should only come
during visiting hours. Visitors are asked to dress modestly and
women are required to cover their hair.
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muscat
Richard Bartz
Old Muttrah Souk
Old Muttrah Souk is the most popular
traditional bazaar in Muscat. The market is a small maze of narrow
alleyways formed by adjoining stalls. Tourists can bargain with
stall clerks over the prices of gold and silver jewellery, antiques
and other traditional goods. The market has a less forceful air
than others, so visitors are free to wander at their leisure
without overt pressure from touts. While the Old Muttrah Souk is
popular with tourists, locals shop here too, giving authenticity to
the market and mixing ornamental souvenirs with household products
and delicious food.
Old Muttrah Souk in Muscat
Shawn Stephens
Bait al Baranda
Even for those without an interest in
Muscat's history, the Bait Al Baranda Museum presents a fascinating
story of the region stretching back some 750 million years. The
interactive exhibitions take visitors through tectonic plate shifts
to recent folk art with an adherence to detail and historical fact.
Instead of simply housing artefacts, the Bait Al Baranda's dynamic
exhibits often require audience participation. The museum is
situated in a remodelled historic building which also periodically
features local contemporary art exhibits.
Bait Al Baranda
Ji-Elle
Al Jalali and Al Mirani Forts
The Al Jalali and Al Mirani Forts were
built during the Portuguese colonial rule of Oman during the 16th
Century and are now beautiful windows into that era. Situated on
either side of a palace, they give a fortified appearance to
Muscat's harbour. The forts are examples of traditional
architecture, with Al Jalali bedecked with traditional doors, rugs
and pottery. Both Al Jalali and Al Mirani have displays of ancient
war memorabilia such as armour and weapons. Their strategic
position on a mountain overlooking the harbour gives tourists
commanding views of the city and Arabian Sea below. Opening times
can be fickle but many undeterred tourists enjoy the scenery from
outside their walls.
Fort Jalali dominating Muscat
Harbour.
Brian Harrington Spier
Qasr Al Alam Royal Palace
Qasr Al Alam Royal Palace is the working
office for Sultan Qaboos. Built in 1972, it is flanked on each side
by the ancient Al Jalali and Al Mirani Forts, making an impressive
and well-fortified greeting to ships entering Muscat's harbour.
Tourists are not allowed inside the classically-styled building for
obvious security reasons, but it remains a popular area to walk
around and photograph.
Qasr Al Alam Royal Palace
Ji-Elle
Muttrah Fish Market
An attraction that offers visitors a
wonderful taste of local produce is a trip to the Muttrah fish
market. Every day, the market turns out a vast selection of
ocean-fresh fish, squid and crab to choose from. Visit the
neighbouring vegetable market for any other fresh produce required
to put together a delicious feast.
Fish Market
dlisbona
Beaches in Oman
With a coastline stretching 1,060 miles
(1,700km) along the Arabian Sea, it is unsurprising that Oman
boasts a stunning array of beaches offering diving, kite-surfing
and jet-skiing. There has also been a huge spike in luxury beach
resorts up and down the Oman coastline, offering air-conditioned
retreats from the blazing heat. Some of Oman's best beaches
include, perfectly set up for family vacationers with picnic areas
and shady palm trees, and Qantab, with its sheltered coves and
sea-caves. Marjan Beach features small coral reefs ideally suited
to novice divers and snorkelers while also boasting a great
nightlife, with several restaurants and hotels frequented by expats
in Oman. Western swimwear is fine but cover up when you're on your
way to and from your hotel or beach resort.
White sandy Beaches of Oman
Martyna Zambrzycka Millspaugh
Despite being on the coast, the weather in Muscat can be
unbearably hot. The best time to visit the arid climate is between
December and March, when the more temperate winter season provides
less extreme temperatures with average highs of around 77°F (25°C).
February is the coolest month. The rest of the year, temperatures
can be well over 104°F (40°C). Sudden rain can cause flash floods,
although precipitation is unusual.
Traditional Omani cuisine is based around
spiced and marinated fish, and lamb and chicken dishes like soups
and curries. Typical dishes include mashuai (spit-roasted kingfish
with lemon rice), maqbous (spicy saffron-tinged meat and rice) and
muqalab (tripe spiced with cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, garlic and
nutmeg). Visitors should note that many restaurants are closed
during the day in the Ramadan period and plan accordingly by buying
food ahead of time or making reservations at hotel restaurants that
cater to tourists.
Muscat International Airport
Location: The airport is located 20 miles (32km) west of Muscat
city centre.
Time: GMT +4.
Getting to the city:
Public buses run by the Oman National Transport Company stop on
Sultan Qaboos Highway outside of the airport complex.
Car Rental:
Car rental facilities are available in the airport.
Airport Taxis:
Taxis from Muscat International Airport can be found outside the
arrivals hall. They have a convenient fare chart for major hotels.
Taxis are also available for transport to other cities inside
Oman.
Facilities:
The airport is currently being enlarged. There is a currency
exchange bureau, food courts in the arrivals and departures
sections, a large, well-stocked duty-free shop in both arrivals and
departures, and a book shop. There are public telephones, a prayer
room and left luggage facilities.
Parking
Short and long-term parking facilities are available in front of
the terminal building for a fee.
Buses are the cheapest way to get around in
Muscat. Modern buses travel major roads with specific bus stops.
For more out of the way destinations, Baiza buses are common and
zigzag through the back roads effectively, although the buses
themselves are sometimes a bit dilapidated. Taxis are widely
available and an easy way to get to and from the airport. Insist
that the driver uses their meter unless there isn't one, in which
case agree on a price before getting into the car. Taxis are
expensive but convenient when you can't find a bus or don't want to
wait in the sun, while some travellers decide to rent a car and
drive themselves around for flexible travel.
There is no shortage of things to see and
do in Oman's bustling capital. Visitors can wander the maze-like
souqs of Mutrah and wonder at the massive and beautiful palaces,
forts, and mosques that serve as reminders of the city's culture
and history.
Along with the architectural wonders,
visitors can learn about Muscat at a number of museums in the city,
including the National Museum, the Children's Museum, the Sultan's
Armed Forces Museum, the Omani French Museum and the interactive
Bait al Baranda Museum.
Muscat offers a number of active pursuits
too, and the numerous tour companies in the city facilitate
activities like scuba diving, rock climbing, camel racing,
horseback riding, turtle and dolphin watching, trekking and night
safaris.
To enjoy the natural beauty of Muscat,
travellers can take a walk in any of the city's parks, ranging from
small neighbourhood spaces to the enormous Qurum National Park,
which boasts beautiful rose gardens and manmade waterfalls, a lake
and an amusement park. Another spectacular natural site is Wadi
Shab, located about 62 miles (100km) southeast of the city and home
to vivid emerald green pools with dramatic caves and cliff
faces.
Bahla
Bahla is an ancient city in the northern
part of Oman, not far from Muscat. It was founded at an oasis for
caravans and travellers to stop at and rest on their desert
journeys, and was the capital of Oman between the 12th and 17th
centuries. The famous Bahla Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,
dates back to 1,000 BC and remains the city's most popular
attraction. Bahla has a rich tradition of pottery and you can still
see potters working at their kilns and haggling over their
wares.
Bahla Fort
Francisco Anzola
Al Hajar Mountains
The Al Hajar Mountains stretch from Muscat,
through northern Oman and into the United Arab Emirates. While they
initially appear inhospitable and arid, they are becoming an
increasingly popular destination for adventure travel. The
picturesque range offers dramatic vistas of canyons, gorges and
plateaus, while the rich colours of the igneous rock formations
make for unforgettable sights. Highway 15 winds up the mountains to
the old city of Nizwa, home to an impressive 17th-century fort and
an early-morning goat market. Nizwa makes an excellent base to
explore the mountains from, including traditional villages,
mudbrick towns and date plantations. There are a number of trekking
routes ranging from three hours to multi-day hikes, and travellers
can visit the famous rose gardens of the Saiq Plateau.
Al Hajar Mountains
Mark Hills
Nizwa Fort
Oman's most-visited tourist attraction, the
Nizwa Fort stands as a monument to architectural ingenuity. The
fort's underlying structure dates back to the 12th century, though
it was completed by Imam Sultan bin Saif al Yaarubi in 1668.
Historical interest in the Nizwa Fort is significant, representing
a major advancement in military engineering in the early days of
mortar-based warfare. Its drum-like tower reaches 98 feet (30m)
into the air with a circumference of 118 feet (36m), with 24
openings for mortar fire. Visitors to the Nizwa Fort are allowed to
freely explore the area, which consists of maze-like stairways and
corridors leading to high-ceilinged rooms and terraces which afford
great views of the city of Nizwa and its surrounding plains.
Nizwa Fort
yeowatzup
Sharqiya Sands
The Sharqiya Sands is a surprisingly
biodiverse area of 4,800 square miles (12,500 sq km) near the
northeastern coastline. In addition to its natural gifts, the area
is home to traditional Bedouin tribes increasingly marginalised as
the modern world exerts its influence over Oman. 4X4 vehicles are
required to navigate the dunes and summer heat makes the months
between April and October a dangerous time to get lost. A far more
popular option is to book a trip with one of the ubiquitous tour
organisations based in Muscat. Travellers can also enjoy the
Sharqiya Sands on the sealed road from Al-Ashkara to Shana'a, which
is still unique and memorable.
Wahiba Sands
Andries Oudshoorn
Salalah
The capital of the southern-most Omani
province of Dhofar, Salalah makes for a wonderful contrast to the
hot, dry desert conditions predominating the country's interior.
Its monsoon season between June and September, known as the Khareef
Season, causes the land to become lush and green, surprising
visitors with the sight of herds of cattle calmly grazing in
verdant fields. Its cooler climate makes Salalah a great family
holiday destination in Oman. Known for its perfume, frankincense
trees line the roads and it is unsurprising that most visitors to
the region leave with an assortment of fragrances safely packed
away in their luggage. Notable sights in Salalah are the
traditional al-Hisn Souq, Al Alam Palace and a gorgeous coastline
offering wonderful bird watching opportunities and occasional
swimming and diving.
Salalah
A Vahanvaty