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Muscat isn’t like so many cities in the Middle East. Rather than offering gleaming skyscrapers and indulgence, the capital of Oman is a place of history, culture, and traditional hospitality. You only need to look at the main things to do in Muscat to discover that.
While there’s a whole lot more of Oman to experience beyond just Muscat, there’s no better place to start than the capital. Explore the history and culture of Oman and Arabia in a relaxed, welcoming way with these excellent attractions and sights in Muscat.
How to get to Muscat
Before we get too into why Muscat is worth visiting, let’s talk about how to get there first.
While Muscat isn’t one of the Middle East’s most famous airport hubs, it has grown in popularity with the expansion of Oman Air. You can get flights from across Europe and Asia with them, and they codeshare with plenty of major airlines, so there are more options than you might expect to get here.
But maybe you’ll already be in the region and don’t need to worry about cross-continental travel. You can pick up short flights from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha to make the quick leap over.
Another way to reach Muscat if you’re in the UAE is to just drive. The trip from Dubai to Muscat takes around 5 hours, and you can do it by yourself, hop on a bus, or take a private transfer.
If you are flying in, an airport transfer is a convenient way to reach your hotel without worrying about taxis after a long flight.
How to get around Muscat
Look at a map of Muscat, and you quickly see one challenge of visiting the city.
Muscat is a sprawling city that follows the coast, with one end quite far from the other. Many of the main attractions are nowhere near each other, or nowhere near the main hotel areas.
Unlike Dubai or Doha, Muscat doesn’t have a metro. The city does have a bus network, which can be learned about here.
But I think most travellers will rely on two options: rideshares and sightseeing tours.
In Oman, we used Otaxi, which is the country’s main rideshare service — there is no Uber.
Otaxi worked quite well for getting around Muscat, even when we went out to Al Seeb Port for our boat tour to the Ad Dimaniyat Islands. I wouldn’t call it a cheap way to get around (fares started from around 4 OMR), but it’s good value for money.
Alternatively, you can take a city sightseeing tour. If you’re short on time and want to hit the Muscat highlights, this is the way to do it.
We took this half-day city tour of Muscat, and it was well worth it. Our guide took us to several of the main things to do in Muscat and introduced the city so we could explore on our own later.
Where to stay in Muscat
The sprawl of Muscat not only affects your sightseeing but also complicates your decision about where to stay.
And unfortunately, the main sightseeing areas and hotel districts don’t necessarily overlap.
While there are many things to do in Mutrah and near the palace, accommodation options are limited in these areas.
Instead, you’ll find many more places to stay in areas such as Al Khuwayr, Al Ghubrah South, and near the beaches. These areas may seem less exciting, but they’re well serviced by restaurants, cafes, and supermarkets — and they hold most of your options.
During our time in Muscat, we stayed at City Seasons Hotel Muscat, a comfortable, spacious 4-star hotel. This hotel is about as central as you can get in Muscat and offers friendly staff, a rooftop pool, and a street lined with restaurants.
Other well-rated places to stay in Muscat, if you like to weigh your options, include:
Alternatively, travellers who prioritize luxury over convenience should look at the Jumeirah Muscat Bay Oman or Al Bustan Palace.
Top things to do in Muscat
Whether you choose to explore Muscat on your own or with a city tour, you need to know the main things to do in Muscat.
Even with a short amount of time in the city, you can cover a few Muscat highlights. That’s not to say a few days in Muscat will go to waste, as there’s plenty to see in the city and beyond. Below are the Muscat attractions I’d start with, and then you can look at smaller attractions such as the Bait Al Zubair Museum and Muscat Gate Museum, which can be added in if you have time.
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
One of the main Muscat attractions, but not one of the city’s oldest, is the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.
This large, modern mosque was completed in 2001 as the grand mosque of Oman. It’s the country’s largest mosque and is set within landscape gardens with water features and plenty of greenery.
Entry to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is free for tourists, just make sure to come during the morning visiting hours.
As neat and elegant as the external spaces of the mosque and its minarets are, nothing compares to what you see when visiting inside. It’s hard not to be awed by the interior of the main prayer hall, which combines traditional design elements with luxury craftsmanship.
Everything inside is taken to the extreme, from the massive carpet covering every inch of the space to the 600,000 Swarovski crystals that make up its gargantuan chandelier.
Regardless of your faith, I think all visitors can appreciate the detail and effort that has gone into its design.
Royal Opera House Muscat
Another exquisite new landmark in Muscat worth visiting is the Royal Opera House Muscat.
Many of the new additions to the city seem to emphasize culture and the arts in Muscat, which makes sense given Muscat’s status as the capital of Oman.
This premier concert venue was finished in 2011, and you don’t need to wait for a performance to see what makes it so special. Visit the opera house, and you can book a place on a short guided tour of the venue.
Waiting for the tour to start, you stand inside its magnificent foyer, which feels like the main attraction all on its own thanks to its ornate coffered ceiling. In little displays around the lobby, there are also displays of traditional instruments, which may be of interest to musicians.
The tour simply brings you into the main concert hall, where you can see the same design elements applied to the balconies and boxes. What fascinated me was how they designed the space to expand or change to accommodate the needs of different performances.
If you have an interest in architecture, music, or the arts in general, I think it’s worth the price of admission.
Mutrah Corniche
Travellers seeking the older parts of Muscat must come to the neighbourhood of Mutrah.
This old part of the city sits along a beautiful waterfront, the Mutrah Corniche, which gives Muscat a nice and traditional cityscape.
Along it, you can see older buildings and the blue tiles of the Masjid Al Rasool Al A’dham, as well as some of the forts around Muscat. As for the harbour, you’ll find a variety of boats and ships, but most eye-catching is the Sultan’s enormous megayacht.
It’s also along the Cornich that you can find the entrance to the Mutrah Souq. This small market is worth a wander through if you plan on shopping, and it feels a little more low-key than those in places like Dubai or Istanbul.
You can also find stores along the Corniche, most notably Omani sweets shops, where you can try and buy Omani halwa, a sweet, jelly-like dessert.
For nice evening views of the waterfront, go for dinner at the Bait Al Luban Omani Restaurant. It’s a little pricey, but it’s a special place.
Mutrah Fort
Most Muscat attractions related to the city’s past are old forts, mainly around Mutrah Port.
Many of these forts, including the “Portuguese Forts” of Al Mirani Fort and Al Jalali Fort, aren’t open to the public. But Mutrah Fort is, and it offers one of Muscat’s best views.
Sitting just above the corniche, this fort has a perfect view of Mutrah and the rocky hills that surround it. You can enjoy the view at any time of day (after paying 3 OMR), but visiting at sunset is best.
There’s a little cafe up in the fort, but it’s from the tower that you get the best panoramas. Expect it to be busier at sunset, but with good reason.
The National Museum
Many of the top things to do in Muscat offer wonderful views and scenery, but don’t tell you much about the city or country.
That’s why you shouldn’t miss the National Museum – Sultanate of Oman. This excellent museum is the place to go to learn all about Muscat and Oman.
The museum sits across from the Al Alam Palace, a landmark you can only see from behind its gate and walls. But while the residence shuts you out, the museum brings you into Oman’s interesting and extensive past.
I knew very little of the country’s history beforehand. So it was great to get this opportunity to learn about Oman’s great maritime history and how the Omani Empire once stretched all the way to Zanzibar.
The museum also does a great job of giving context for modern Oman. Here, you can learn about the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, who significantly shaped 20th-century Oman. We often heard praise for the sultan’s efforts, but the National Museum gave a much-needed overview.
Don’t let the 5 OMR ticket price put you off visiting. You can easily spend 1-2 hours here, and it’s a good place to avoid the hot afternoon sun.
The Ad Dimaniyat Islands
Visitors have many day trip options from Muscat to explore Oman. But one you can only reach from Muscat is the Ad Dimaniyat Islands.
Take a boat out to these islands just off the coast, and you’ll find prime opportunities for snorkeling and the chance to swim with sea turtles. All you need is half a day — and swimwear — to enjoy a different side of the country.
We were lucky enough to see quite a few turtles while snorkeling. It surprises me that Oman isn’t more famous for this fun opportunity to see them.
If you like swimming or seeing wildlife, I’d prioritise this day trip, especially since you can fit other activities in the rest of the day.
