Oman Destination Guide

Oman is a land of considerable natural beauty with endless deserts, beautiful beaches and lofty mountains. It offers a variety of unique experiences from camel racing and sand skiing to mountaineering and beach walking. Jebel Shams, the highest mountain in Oman, offers excellent hiking and camping opportunities, while R'as-al-Hadd, one of Oman’s most picturesque beaches, is not to be missed. Muscat is the capital of Oman and also its largest city. It is famous as a premium shopping destination, and offers beautiful mosques, palaces, exquisitely carved gateways and old Portuguese forts, which are all highly worth visiting.

For a tiny desert city, Muscat packs a surprising punch in terms of cultural and sporting attractions, leisure activities and natural beauty.

Check out our Oman Destination Guide below for a list of things to see and do during your holiday in Oman. Our Oman tours page gives you some great options for exploring this beautiful country. For more general information on visiting Oman, take a look at our Oman Country Guide.

Things to See & Do in Oman

Muscat is a city with a distinct identity, one which has modernised with grace even as it has retained its ancient heritage. Its proximity to the sea as well as mountains gives Muscat a natural advantage as a travel destination. It's impossible to miss the rich culture of the land wherever you go in Muscat. The many historical buildings, forts and walls have their own stories to tell. There are three gates in the city, a reminder of olden times when they served to protect the city from invaders.

In the early 21st century, guidelines for architecture were developed by royal decree. As a result, new constructions incorporate nuances of traditional architecture and blend gracefully into their environs, giving the entire city its uniquely Omani character. To get a glimpse of Arab culture, visit some of the traditional mansions in Muscat, such as the Bait Zariza, Bait al Sayyid Nadir bin Faisal, Bait al Zawawi and Bait Ratnisi. The old forts found in Muscat were built by the Portuguese.

Beaches
Beaches are becoming increasingly popular in Muscat. A visit to the Qurum Beach and the beautiful resort at Bandar Al-Jissah top the to-do list for most leisure travellers. Qurum Beach is surrounded by lush palm trees, with shady picnic spots. Bandar Al-Jissah is a remote bay encircled by steep rocks – just the right place for anyone seeking solitude from the bright lights and bustle of the city.

Al Alam Palace
Al Alam Palace was built by the present ruler of Oman, Sultan Qaboos, in 1972. An elegant edifice with striking gold, white and blue pillars, the palace functions primarily as a venue for ceremonies rather than a residence. Tourists can get a fine view of the palace from Al Mirani Street while another excellent view of the palace may be had from Kabir Gate. Here the view of the palace is framed within an arcade of Arabic archways that line a boulevard.

Parks and Gardens
It would be more accurate to call Muscat a garden city rather than the clichéd “desert city”, given the startling number of gardens and parks that stud its environs. The Al Naseem Public Park is one of the largest parks in the city. A small train seating 70 passengers chugs around the entire area.

The Quram National Park is Muscat’s largest public garden, measuring 1715449 sq m. The park has been created incorporating the natural topographical features of the area. The result is a tranquil, aesthetically designed layout that provides a green, welcome respite from the hot, dry climate. Popular attractions in this park are its lovely fountain, Waterfall Hill and the charming Rose Garden.

The Riyam Park is located in Mutrah. This sprawling venue overlooks the sea and is built on several levels. It has wide, green expanses, plenty of children’s games and playgrounds make it an ideal relaxation spot for families.

Muscat Harbour
Muscat has a magnificent circular harbour that is hidden from the city by a mountain. The main promenade, the Al Mirani Street, is carved out from this mountain and runs along the waterfront. The Al Mirani fort, which was built to guard the city of Muscat from invaders, stands on top of this mountain.

Forts, Palaces and Mosques
Forts and mosques are important landmarks on Muscat’s cityscape. The Al Jalali, Al Mirani and Mutrah forts were built in the 16th and 17th century; the architectural style of these forts is a reminder of the Portuguese occupation of Muscat. The Al Alam Royal palace and Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque are significant structures on the cityscape.

Museums
Old Muscat is home to many museums which offer a glimpse into the history of Oman. Bait Al Zubair is a private museum in the house of an old Omani trader. It is located on Al Sadiya Street and has on display an array of furniture, clothing, household equipment, weapons and traditional jewellery. The Omani French Museum is located on Qasr Al Alam Street. It has documents, costumes, jewellery and pictures which illustrate the relationship between Oman and France. The Muscat Gate House Museum (Al Bahri Road) provides an insight into the history of Muscat and its royal family. Tourists can also get a panoramic view of the Muttrah Harbour and Old Muscat from the rooftop of the Muscat Gate House Museum. There’s also the Armed Forces Museum, run by the Royal Omani Army with exhibition rooms dedicated to the history of the army and the many battles it has fought.

Shopping
When you’re done with sightseeing, spare some time to browse around Muscat’s many shopping plazas. The Corniche is where all the shopping action is. Enliven your evenings taking in the cultural events that are on offer. If you’re here during December-January, you’ll be able to attend the Muscat Festival, a grand celebration of music, dance, children’s programmes and stage performances.

Things to do
Apart from its strong emphasis on preserving and promoting native culture and tradition, Muscat has several modern attractions to offer the global traveller. The areas around Seeb and Mutrah offer many options for entertainment in the form of restaurants, discos and nightclubs.

Adventure sports lovers can try their hand at watersports, caving and fishing. Sailing, jet-skiing and diving are popular water sports. You can go kayaking in Bander Al Kheran. A half-hour boat ride away from Muscat is Masirah Island where the waves are about 4-6 feet high. These are protected waters; fishing and dolphin hunting are strictly forbidden. The waters of the Arabian Sea offer excellent opportunities for underwater diving.

When you’re done with water sports, go caving at the Majlis al Jhinn, which has the largest underground chamber in Oman. While this one is strictly for the fearless and physically very fit, there are less daunting caves which can be explored by more average mortals, with professional tour guides. A hundred odd meters below the earth’s surface, you will be fascinated by the amazing rock formations carved out by natural processes, crystalline streams, long passages and pristine underground lakes.

Dolphin watching is an enjoyable activity in Muscat. There are short cruises available close to the city as well as trips to nearby areas like the Damaniyat and Quriyat where dolphin shows are organized.

Bahla, a World Heritage Site, is a small town that dates back to 3 BCE. The most important landmark of Bahla is the seven-mile long fortification that bears out the town’s antiquity. It is also renowned for its pottery. Al Hamra Village, the picturesque seaside resort, is located near Bahla.

Jebel Akhdar means “The Green Mountain” in Arabic. It stands 3000 metres above sea level, surrounded by green valleys, groves of date palms and picturesque villages like Sharijah and Bani Habib. The Al Hazm Fort, built in 1708, is a prominent tourist attraction of Jebel Akhdar. The burial site of the early rulers of Oman in the town of Rostaq is another place worth visiting. Jebel Akhdar is a popular tourist destination.

Nizwa was the capital of Oman in the sixth and seventh centuries. The oldest and largest fort in Oman is located here. It is also known for its silverware and gold jewellery.

Salalah is a fertile land with lush banana plantations and coconut groves. Surrounded by picturesque beaches, Salalah is famous for the ruins of Al-Balid, which was once a thriving city called Zafar.

Sohar is believed to be the birthplace of Sinbad the sailor and has a long and rich history of sailing. A small museum provides a glimpse into the history, geography and culture of the town.

This quiet bay is found near Qantab, en route to Al Bustan. Snorkelling is a popular activity here. When the tide is low visitors can explore the rocks that lie at the foot of the cliffs. There is a playground for children and a snack shop too.

Dhows or traditional boats offer rides from Khasab. With a convoy of dolphins following the boats, you can literally “go round the bend” while negotiating the Omani fjords or khors.

A trek up Jebel Shams or the Mountain of the Sun gives you a breathtaking view of the Grand Canyon of Arabia – Wadi Ghul. You can also pick up goat-hair carpets from the nomadic weavers of the mountains.

The Arabian Sea with its pristine beaches offers excellent opportunities for swimming and snorkelling among shoals of sardines, tuna and ray fish. Beach combers can also pick up colourful striped pebbles and top shells.

Bird watchers can drive to the deserts of the Empty Quarter, trudge across plains, climb mountains or walk through the verdant summer meadows of Dhofar to catch a glimpse of some rare birds. There are wading birds, spoonbills and flamingos at Barr Al and eagles at the Al-Ansab lagoons and Qurm National Park (the eagle capital of the world) that would delight the ornithologist.

The dry river beds or wadis of the Hajja Mountains offer excellent rock climbing opportunities. You can also climb up Oman’s highest mountain range, Jebel Akhdar, where the world famous pomegranates grow.