Top things to do in Muscat
Oman’s low-key capital has been transformed over the past five decades but retains a pleasantly relaxed atmosphere, as well as many reminders of its long and cosmopolitan history. Here is a break down of the best areas and what sights to see in each.
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Oman’s understated capital, Muscat, provides a pleasant mix of traditional and modern. The city has boomed dramatically since the accession of Sultan Qaboos in 1970, transforming from a modest cluster of small, self-contained towns and villages into sprawling modern metropolis you see today. This has undoubtedly become the heart of the nation.
Old Muscat
Towards the southern end of the city stands the original settlement of Muscat, known as ‘Old Muscat’, with its neat huddle of buildings, ancient and modern, clustered around a rocky hoseshoe bay. A pair of hoary old Portuguese forts stand proudly on either side of the bay: Al Mirani to the west and Al Jalali opposite. Both are quite unlike the traditional Omani fort – each essentially just a narrow building perched on top of a sheer sided rock outcrop. Neither fort is open to the public although you can get a good view of Al Jalali from across the harbour. Look out too for the names of various ships on the cliffs ringing to the east side of the bay, painted onto the rocks by the crews of visiting vessels – like a kind of maritime visitors’ book. Discover Old Muscat with Insight Guides' Best of Oman trip.
Nestled between the two forts lies the striking Al Alam Place, one of six official royal residences of Sultan Qaboos, built in 1972 in striking contemporary Islamic style, with towering columns in blue and gold. It’s not open to the public, although you can walk right up to the main gates for a good view of the façade.
Close by is the National Museum which showcases 6,000 years of Omani heritage and history in numerous themed galleries covering the countries land, people, wars and religion.
Bait al Zubair, a museum made up of three old traditional houses set around a garden, is well worth a visit to get a feel of what life was like in Oman before modern conveniences. It displays an excellent selection of weapons, jewellery, house hold items and old photographs and a re-creation of a typical Omani village.
Old wooden ship in the harbor of Muscat. Photo: Shutterstock
Mutrah
Mutrah itself is the old commercial heart of the city, busier and considerably more built up than Old Muscat, and arranged around a sweeping corniche with the huge gantries and quays of the Sultan Qaboos Port opposite. Mutrah Souk is the most popular tourist attraction here and probably in the entire country. Although modernised it remains one of the most authentic souks in Arabia; the alleyways are laced with the smell of frankincense and sandalwood. A tour of Mutrah is included in Insight Guides' Best of Oman trip.
Ghalya’s Museum of Modern Art features typical Omani houses from 1950 to 1975, showcasing life in the country in times when people lived without electricity or tap water. The museum also includes a modern art gallery with works by Omani and international artists.
Further along the corniche is Bait al Baranda, an attractively restored old Muscati mansion which now houses a modest museum devoted to the history of the city. Just past here is Muscat’s lively fish market, particularly busy early in the morning when the new catch arrives on the slab and the city’s restaurateurs descend to make their daily purchases.
South of Old Muscat
Haramil is home to the Marina Bander ar Rawdah from where many fishing charters and dolphin watching trips depart. About 3 miles south of here you will reach Bandar al Jissah, a beautiful bay ringed with rocky cliffs and a much-photographed ‘rock arch’ which features on many boat tours of the capital. The formally unspoilt beach has now been taken over by the vast Shangri-La Barr al Jissah Resort. However, turtles still continue to nest here from November to March - a sight you will need to stay or dine in the hotel to witness. An alternative view of the bay can be taken in from the Oman Dive Centre beachside restaurant.
Royal Opera House. Photo: Shutterstock
Ruwi
Ruwi is the city’s main commercial and business hub with a string of large scale banks along the central Markaz Mutrah al Tijari Street. The Old Bait al Falaj Fort is home to the Sultan’s Armed Forces Museum which is much more interesting than it might sound. It holds a wide-range of exhibits on Omani history and impressive displays of weaponry.
Souk Ruwi Street is packed with brightly illuminated shops selling gold, textures and electronics and Ruwi Roundabout is home to many cheap curry houses – it is one of the liveliest places in the city.
Qurm to Ghubrah
Qurm is one of the main shopping areas with a dozen or so small-scale malls clustered around Qurm Roundabout on the main Sultan Qaboos Road.
North of Qurm proper you will find Shati al Qurm (Quam beach). It is a long swathe of golden sand which runs for several miles passing many of the city’s most upmarket hotels. The beach is accessible to the public. The Qurum Natural Park and Children’s Museum are close to the beach and offer some light entertainment for children. Discover the many beaches of Oman, with Insight Guides' Oman Beach Holiday.
The Royal Opera House is situated in the Shati Al-Qurm district. It is an impressive modern building that looks stunning day or night, inside and out. It is surrounded by enjoyable gardens and the Opera Galleria shopping centre, with numerous cafes and restaurants to stop for refreshments.
The Natural History Museum in Khuwair offers a good overview of the country's various regions and their associated flora and fauna, perfect if you are interested in the natural world. The museum houses various stuffed animals and pickled snakes and a complete skeleton of a sperm whale sits in Whale Hall.
Ghubrah is home to the majestic Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque - a must see. This is one of the largest and most spectacular mosques in the Gulf, constructed in a minimalist modern Islamic style and dressed in vast quantities of white and red-brown marble. Inside there is room for an estimated 20,000 worshippers in the two prayer halls and surrounding courtyard. The interior of the main prayer hall is the epitome of opulence. The carpet is the worlds second largest and a Swarovski crystal chandelier hangs from the centre of the ceiling; it is 14 metres tall. This is the only mosque in Oman that is open to non-Muslims.
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