Muscat Travelers Recommend

Muscat stands out from many other Arabian cities for its dramatic mountain backdrop, old-style architecture, and well-preserved cultural heritage. With some smart planning, visitors can soak up its highlights and old-fashioned charms in 24 hours. Here are our tips for the ultimate morning, afternoon, and evening in the Omani capital.

Morning: See the Sights on Land or Sea

Most Muscat tours run in the mornings and provide an overview of the city with a guide for background. Tours typically start with the modern Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque—a mix of glittering domes, minarets, and courtyards. From there, it’s on to Old Muscat to see its two Portuguese-built coastal forts and Bait Al Zubair Museum before time at Muttrah Souk to shop for specialities such as jewelry and perfumes. Private tours offer flexible itineraries, so you can tailor your sightseeing to suit you. Alternatively, if you’re eager to get out on the water, choose a snorkel or dolphin-spotting cruise on the Gulf of Oman.

Afternoon: Delve Deeper

This afternoon, absorb the city’s stunning coast-and-mountain setting from the upper deck a hop-on hop-off bus. Take photos as you listen to the audio commentary, and disembark at your choice of the eight stops. Hop out to visit Old Muscat, shop in Ruwi’s malls, or kick back on the sands of Qurum Beach. Alternatively, view Muscat from the water on a scenic boat trip. Sail by jagged cliffs, the majestic Al Bustan Palace hotel, and Muttrah Corniche.

Evening: City Lights and Sunset Cruises

Muscat comes into its own at dusk as the lights of its souks, streets, and forts glitter against the shadowy Hajar peaks. Make the most of the scene on a private city-lights tour that includes stops for photos, a visit to Muttrah Souk for last-minute shopping, and dinner at a local restaurant. Another option is to take a sunset cruise aboard a traditional Arabian dhow boat. Sink into cushions on deck and sip cold sodas as Muscat’s sights glide by and the sun descends behind the mountains.

Muscat has plenty to keep intrepid travelers and sightseers happy, with everything from aquamarine seas and traditional Arabian architecture to expeditions into Oman’s mountains and dunes. With three days to play with, here are your options for enjoying the city and heading farther afield.

Day 1: Hit the Sights and Sea

Cover Muscat on a hop-on hop-off bus tour around its coastline, old quarter, and bayfront Muttrah district, or take a city tour that visits the 2001-built Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muttrah Souk, 16th-century Al-Jalali and Al-Mirani forts, and more. Some city excursions include a cruise on the Gulf of Oman. Alternatively, set sail on a dedicated dolphin-spotting or deep-sea-fishing trip, or go snorkeling to view the gulf’s underwater world. This evening, combine dinner at a local restaurant with a city lights tour. Grab your camera to capture the Omani capital at its most enchanting, with the illuminated houses of Muttrah strung like a necklace under the Hajar Mountains. 

Day 2: Explore Oman’s Interior

Muscat is perfectly positioned for exploring Oman’s interior, either on single- or multi-day excursions. Adventure lovers can journey south to the Wahiba Sands, whose high dunes invite dune-bashing drives. Tours often include stops at other spots such as the wadi river canyon Wadi Bani Khalid. Other options include 4WD and hiking trips to Wadi Bani Awf and Snake Gorge. Trek the narrow canyon beds past waterfalls and pools, swim through caves, and picnic under date palms. Alternatively, choose a 2- or 3-day expedition farther into central Oman. Many trips cover multiple attractions, combining Wahiba Sands with turtle-watching at the Ras Al Jinz turtle sanctuary and time at the idyllic gorge Wadi Shab.

Day 3: Mountains and Forts

If you’ve already visited the Wahiba Sands, set aside today for Oman’s northwestern Hajar Mountains. History buffs will love the 17th-century forts at Rustaq, Nakhl, and the former capital of Nizwa. Many fort tours also cover Jebel Shams, Oman’s tallest mountain, to see what’s called the Grand Canyon—a gargantuan, millennia-old river gorge—before continuing to the pottery town of Bahla and Fanjah oasis. For scenery over history, head for Jebel Akhdar, often known as the Green Mountain. Zigzagging roads lead to this high mountain plateau, from which you can absorb unforgettable views of villages, fruit orchards, and rose farms clinging to the slopes far below. Back in Muscat, top off your trip with a sunset cruise. Admire the Omani capital’s floodlit minarets and forts as you sail the darkening waters on an Arabian dhow—a truly atmospheric finale to your 3-day stay.

With two days in Muscat, you can enjoy the city’s landmarks, crystal-clear waters, and cultural attractions and still have time to explore Oman’s Hajar Mountains, forts, and time-warp villages. Here are some suggestions for an unforgettable 48 hours in this delightful Arabian city.

Day 1: Muscat Must-Sees

**Morning:**Get to know Muscat on a city tour, admiring must-sees such as the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, the Al-Jalali and Al-Mirani coastal forts, and Muttrah Corniche. Alternatively, catch a hop-on hop-off bus to explore more freely, or join a cruise on the Gulf of Oman, looking for wild dolphins or snorkeling in the aquamarine waters. 

**Afternoon:**Some Muscat tours, including many snorkeling and dolphin-spotting tours, include lunch and extend into the afternoon. If you’re free, though, continue your sightseeing on a hop-on hop-off bus—a standard pass is valid for the entire day—or join an afternoon boat trip that spotlights Muscat’s rugged cliffs and steep-sided, hidden bays.

**Evening:**Come dusk, head out on an evening city tour. Muscat looks magical as multicolored lights illuminate its buildings and locals come out to stroll, eat, and shop. Most Muscat-by-night tours include time to shop at Muttrah Souk and finish with dinner at an Omani restaurant.

Day 2: Historical Forts to High Peaks

**Morning:**Oman’s northern interior beckons with mountains, towns, and forts built by its sultans and the Portuguese. Take one of the many full-day tours that showcase the sights and scenery. If history is your thing, head for Nizwa, the former capital, to discover its fort and souk before continuing to Jabreen Fort and the pottery town of Bahla. Alternatively, trace the loop of forts at Al Hazm, Rustaq, and Nakhl.

**Afternoon:**Continue your day trip this afternoon, heading deep inland. If you chose Jebel Shams, ride up this 9,824-foot (3,000-meter) mountain and marvel at Oman’s Grand Canyon below—a deep-sided gorge zigzagging to the far horizon. Several full-day tours highlight this natural wonder and round out the itinerary with stops at Nizwa and nearby villages.

**Evening:**Make your final night in Muscat memorable with a sunset dhow boat trip along the coast east of the capital. Watch the sun disappear below the mountains, enjoy the evening air, and view Muscat’s twinkling lights from the boat deck over fresh dates and soda.

The cultural epicenter of Oman, Muscat is home to museums as varied as the city itself—you’ll find tributes to everything from art and history to traditional crafts. Here are some of the best to add to your itinerary.

Bait Al Zubair Museum

Located at the heart of the Old Town, the Bait Al Zubair Museum is one of the most-visited Muscat attractions; it houses the extensive private collection of the Al Zubair family. Inside, a series of colorful exhibitions showcase traditional Omani crafts, furniture, weaponry, household items, and clothing, as well models of an Omani-style village and souk.

Land of Frankincense Museum

Those exploring the Al-Baleed Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, will want to stop at the park’s Land of Frankincense Museum. You can learn all about the fascinating history of the ancient Islamic city and the importance of frankincense, one of Oman’s most lucrative exports, and see archaeological finds from Al-Baleed, Sumahram, and Wabar. 

Sultan's Armed Forces Museum

Housed in the imposing Bait Al Falaj Fort, the Sultan's Armed Forces Museum is one of the most comprehensive military museums on the Arabian Peninsula. It showcases an enormous collection of military artifacts, weaponry, and vehicles, most notably a bulletproof Cadillac once belonging to Sultan Qaboos bin Said. 

The National Museum

The National Museum, which opened in 2013, chronicles Oman’s cultural history and heritage and showcases a wide collection of artifacts relating to the Sultanate of Oman. The museum also includes exhibitions on Omani arms and armor, currency, prehistory and ancient history, among many topics. 

Natural History Museum

The focus shifts to Oman’s geological wonders and biodiversity at the Natural History Museum, where highlights include a taxidermy display including Arabian leopards and wolves; a gigantic sperm whale skeleton; and a botanical garden filled with native flora.