Muscat.
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Overview

Muscat (Arabic: مسقط Masqaṭ) is the capital of the Sultanate of Oman and its most important and populous city (1.7 million in the metro area in 2021). It has been inhabited since at least 1000 BCE and for centuries was an important trading port on the Maritime Silk Road. It is home to a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society, and receives the largest number of foreign visitors to the country.

Understand

Wedged between the Arabian Sea and the rugged Western Hajar Mountains, the city referred to as Muscat is in fact several smaller towns which have grown together over time. These include old Muscat (also known as the 'walled city'), site of the royal palace; Mutrah (also spelled Matrah or Matruh), once a fishing village and home to the labyrinthine Mutrah Souq; and Ruwi, which is the commercial and diplomatic quarter of the city. The metropolitan area covers 3,500 km2, and this tripartite division can be inconvenient for the visitor especially as much accommodation is a fair distance from sights of interest.

Unlike other cities in the Gulf, notably in the UAE and Qatar, Muscat does not have an ultramodern skyline. Following the preferences of the Sultan, modern construction is required to adhere to traditional Arabic architectural styles, resulting in a more low-key urban landscape.

Municipal government website (in English)

Get in

Oman Air. Operates flights to Muscat from many airports in the Middle East, Asia and Europe. Domestically operates flights from Salalah and Khasab.

Air Arabia. 2 flights per day from Sharjah to Muscat, duration of flight is 55 min.

Air India Express. Flights from Amritsar on Wednesday and Friday (duration of flight 3hr 15min, from Delhi on W, F (duration of flight 5hr 20min), from Kochi on Tu Th and Su (duration of flight 3hr 35min), from Kozhikode on F Sa Su (duration of flight 3hr 25min), from Thiruvanantahapuram on Tu Th-Su (duration of flight 3hr 45min, or 5hr 20min if flight goes via Cochin).

Egypt Air. Offers flights from Cairo to Muscat M W-F, arriving in Muscat next morning, duration of flight 4 hr.

Emirates. 10 flights per day from Dubai to Muscat, flying time 1 hr.

Etihad Airways. 3 flights per day from Abu Dhabi to Muscat, duration of flight 1hr 05min.

flydubai. 3 flights per day from Dubai to Muscat.

Gulf Air. Flights from Bahrain to Muscat.

KLM. Flights from Amsterdam to Muscat on M W-F Su, duration of flight 8 hr 30 min.

Lufthansa. Daily flights from Frankfurt to Muscat with a technical stop in Kuwait, duration of flight 8 hr.

Pakistan International Airlines. Flights from Islamabad on M W Th Sa and Su and from Peshawar on W Th and Sa.

Royal Jordanian. Flies from Amman to Muscat on Tu Th F and Su, arriving in Muscat next morning.

Swiss. Daily flights from Zurich to Muscat via Dubai.

Turkish Airlines. Daily flights from Istanbul

Taxis can be booked at the Taxi Counter (, ). There are ATM machines inside the terminal just prior to exiting on the left side of the doors. The use of the app is now (08/2026) de facto advertised even inside the airport. Go to the -1 floor from the arrivals to get into the taxi pickup area and the airport taxi counter.

For more information have a look into the article of Oman.

By car You can reach Muscat by road from the United Arab Emirates. The journey takes about 5 hr by crossing the border in Hatta/Al Ain, some border crossings are just for Gulf Cooperation Council citizens.

You can drive from Al Ghaydah in Yemen. The journey is about 6 hr via the border crossing at Sarfeit to Salalah and then another 10 hr to Muscat.

Cruise ships stop regularly at in Mutrah. Shuttle buses transport visitors from the ship to the port entrance, and taxis are also available. However, it is a short distance by foot to the Corniche, with the route passing by the fish market (described below under 'See'). Visitors need to bring only their cruise boarding pass and their Tourist Entry Permit.

Get around

By taxi E-hailing The app O Taxi is available for Muscat so you don't need to haggle for a standard taxi.

There are maxi taxis, which are also known throughout the expat community as baisa buses. They are white minibuses with an orange taxi sign on the top. They operate between Seeb in the west and the Corniche area in the east. They only go on the highways. The best place on a highway to wait for them is at the on-ramps of a junction, near a local bus stop and/or where you see a few people waiting for one. Flag down a maxi taxi and tell the driver to which destination at a highway you want to go to. The driver will tell you either to get in the minibus or that he goes to another direction; in this case wait for the next one.

They will charge RO 8 for an airport trip if you don't haggle, but you should be able to agree RO 5.

There are also shared standard taxis in the same white orange color. They mostly go along the highways. Prices should be about 0.5 - 1 rial.

By public bus The Mwasalat company runs a few lines of public buses which cover the most important sights and the airport. Buses run every 15 to 30 minutes, are comfortable and have A/C. Enter at the front door, tell the driver your destination and pay with cash. Women are expected to sit in the front. As of Jan 2023, there were about 7 bus lines in operation, with most starting and ending in Ruwi. The routes, timetables, delays and the current position of the bus are integrated into Google Maps. Buses sometimes depart some minutes too early, which is not displayed on Google Maps.

Route #1: Ruwi-Al Mabelah - Goes to the Royal Opera House, Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and the Airport Route #2: Ruwi-Al Wadi Al Kabir Route #3: Ruwi-Wadi Adei Route #4: Ruwi-Mutrah-Al Alam Palace - Goes to Mutrah Souk, Al Alam Palace and National Museum of Oman

A 2WD is fine to see the sights within and around Muscat, but if you're planning to explore wadis and mountains you'll need a 4WD.

Road signs in Muscat can be confusing, and motorway exits are not always clearly marked. Compared with elsewhere in the Gulf (e.g. Dubai and Doha) Muscat drivers are reasonably disciplined, but visitors from outside the region may find the local driving style erratic.

Most local and international rental agencies have offices at the airport. An international driver's permit is theoretically required to rent a car, but usually agents will request only your national licence. All car hires include mandatory insurance. The cheapest car hire is about RO 15 per day for a 2WD economy car with manual transmission and sometimes no air-conditioning; for a 4WD, expect to pay double that amount.

Al Maskry Rent-a-Car. A well-established local agency.

See

Al Jalali Fort. Built as a prison in the rocky mountains in the 1580s during the Portuguese occupation, now converted into a museum devoted to Omani heritage. Unfortunately the fort is only opened to visiting dignitaries and heads of state and not open to the general public, but it's still possible to climb the steep stairs up to the top and to enjoy the view.

Al Mirani Fort. Built at the same time as Al Jalali Fort which it faces across the harbour. This fort has also been converted to a museum which is closed to the general public, but it can be freely appreciated from the outside.

Qasr Al Alam Royal Palace. This is the office of Sultan Qaboos, ruler of Oman. This beautiful palace stands on the head of a natural deep water harbour and is guarded on either side by the twin forts of Mirani and Jelali. Visitors are not allowed to visit the palace, but they are allowed to take photographs at the entrance of the palace.

Bait Al Zubair Museum. The museum features displays on Omani social history, while tours are frequently run of the neighbouring reconstructed townhouse.

Omani French Museum. This small museum has displays detailing the relations between France and Oman, with many colonial objects from the 19th century.

Muscat Gate Museum. This museum marks the location of the old city wall, and has the original city gates which were used until the 1970s. The location offers good views of Old Muscat and the palace.

Bait Muzna Gallery. A gallery representing primarily Omani artists, and a few Oman-based western artists.

National Museum. This large museum tries to illustrate the history and customs of Oman from the Stone Age to the present day. Obviously huge effort is being put in the presentation, there are many 3D printed detailed models of Omani architecture and beautifully presented artifacts. There's also a curious exhibition of (largely kitsch) presents from foreign dignitaries on the top floor.

Formerly a fishing village, Mutrah is known primarily for its extensive souq and waterfront corniche. Mutrah harbour is also where the Sultan's royal yacht is docked.

Corniche. The renovated corniche area is a popular place for a walk and also for its many not-so-expensive eating places. There are also good view of the fishing dhows in the harbour.

Fish market. Visitors can watch fishermen unload and sell the catch of the day.

Bait al-Baranda Museum. This renovated house from the 1930s has exhibits illustrating the history of Muscat. The lower level is devoted to pre-history and palaeontology, while the upper level is devoted to human history and ethnography.

Mutrah Fort. Built by the Portuguese in the 1580s, this fort is not open to the public, but visitors are permitted to climb up the hill to the outside for a good view of the area.

Riyam Park. This park also has a small funfair with rides. Great views can be had from the giant incense burner perched on the hillside. Visited in The Amazing Race 9.

Old waterfront watchtower. This restored Portuguese watchtower on the waterfront is a good place to catch views of the sunset.

Old souq watchtower. This Portuguese watchtower has also been restored, and although the tower is closed to the public, the hill can be climbed for some great views of Mutrah and the Corniche. There is no clearly-defined path to the top; the easiest access is from the northwest.

Ghalya’s Museum of Modern Art. This museum is made up of a cluster of houses with furnishings and displays appropriate to an Omani house between 1950 and 1970, i.e. before the accession of Sultan Qaboos. There is also a small modern art gallery.

Ruwi is Muscat's primary commercial district, as well as the gateway to Qantab south of the city.

Sultan's Armed Forces Museum. This curious museum is housed in a building built in 1845 as a royal summer home. The lower level has displays on Oman's history, and the upper level praises Oman's international relations and military history and weaponry; including a cluster bomb that is banned by international treaties (that Oman is not a signatory of.) An outdoor section presents some decomissioned heavy military machinery. All visitors are given a mandatory military escort.

Aquarium and Marine Science and Fisheries Centre.

Churches. 52 Christian denominations share this plot that is densely packed with their houses of worship. It gets particularly busy on Thursday nights and on Fridays if you want to peek into some of the services held in a variety of languages.

Sohar boat. This boat was built in the dhow yards of Sur, south of Muscat. In 1980 Tim Severin and a crew of Omanis sailed in this vessel from Oman to Guangzhou, China in an effort to recreate the legendary voyages of Sindbad. Severin wrote about the undertaking in his book 'The Sindbad Voyage'.

Al Ghubrah, Al Khuwair, Al Qurm, and Bawshar

As an alternative to the main CBD of Muscat, Mutrah, and Ruwi, there are plenty of places to go to and things to see along the main highway that heads northwest out of the CBD. This main road, the Sultan Qaboos Highway, goes past many areas on its way out to the airport and further still to Seeb, Sohar and eventually the northernmost tip of Oman. Heading along this road you pass the districts of Al Qurm (Qurum), Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Al Khuwair, Bausher, Al-Hail and Seeb. Each one has a number of sights and places to stay.

There is also a very long beach road from Al Qurm to Seeb, some 50 km. Situated along this are some of the large international hotel chains but, more importantly, you discover the true beauty of the Oman coast-line: kilometres of beaches, fishermen with drag nets and open space to walk for hours.

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. This is the third largest mosque in the world and most of the complex is open to non-Muslim visitors; ladies are however expected to keep their heads, ankles and wrists covered while visiting the mosque. Must-sees in the mosque include the Swarovski crystal chandelier, the second largest hand made Persian carpet in the world, and the marble panelling.

Qurm National Park. Has extensive rose gardens, a large manmade waterfall, a lake and an amusement park which is a must to visit during the Muscat Festival.

Museum of Omani Heritage. This small museum has a good collection of archaeological exhibits, and is worth visiting for the excellent views.

Oil and Gas Exhibition Centre. This private museum has six permanent displays explaining the formation of, and modern extraction of oil and natural gas.

Planetarium. A full-dome digital system, which can accommodate up to 60 visitors. Two shows a week are presented in English; call or email to confirm times and to make reservations.

Bait Al Makham. A fortified house built at the beginning of the 20th century, now restored and with excellent views from the top of the building.

Bawshar Fort. A large, photogenic ruined mud-brick fortress in a scenic location. Behind the fortress are scattered ruins and a long rampart wall, still unexcavated. Along the ridgeline in the hills are some prehistoric beehive graves.

Do

Royal Opera House Muscat. This stunning building is the venue for a wide range of performing arts, including western classical music, classical Arabian music, jazz and flamenco, and ballet and modern dance.

Muscat Festival. Held annually from late January to early February, this month-long event celebrates Omani culture and traditions with demonstrations, food, dance and music performances, and other entertainment.

Trekking There is some outstanding trekking in northern Oman, and for a taste there are a couple of easy treks within or very close to Muscat.

Trekking path C38. This short hike takes the walker away from the modern world of Muscat and also offers fantastic views of the rugged mountains surrounding the capital city. The path begins in Riyam Park, and follows a 5000-year-old trail used by miners to an abandoned village, then finally finishes near Mutrah Souq. Allow for 1.5-2 hours, with an additional 20-minute return walk along the Corniche. A decent trail map can be found here.Between Riyam Park and the highest point it is a concrete path albeit quite steep.Between the highest point and Mutrah, the trail is mostly on bare rock and only marked by painted flags which may be difficult to spot. In places it can be impassable unless you are willing to scramble up cliff faces. Bring at least 2 litres of water and wear shoes with good grip. Do not start the trek after 4pm unless you go in a group and bring torch lights, as getting lost is highly likely in the dark.

Trekking paths C52 and C53. These two easy treks offer beautiful views over the coastline. Both trails begin in Bandar Jissah. Trail map for C52; trail map for C53.

BlueZone Diving. This center offers diving trips, as well as a full range of PADI courses.

Oman Dive Center. This German-operated center conducts diving trips and PADI certification courses. The private beach is open to day visitors (RO 2 on weekdays, RO 4 on weekends), and it is possible to stay overnight in one of their beach bungalows (RO 49-176, depending on season and size of party; breakfast and dinner included). There is no public transportation to this area, so visitors will need to take a taxi or rental car.

Omanta Scuba. Conducts diving trips and a full range of PADI courses, as well as dolphin-watching tours. Diving destinations include the Damaniyat Islands, Fahal Island and Bhandra Kharan, with other destinations depending on demand.

Mountain biking With many excellent trails nearby, Muscat has a fast-growing mountain bike community. Bike Oman organizes weekly mountain bike excursions on Thursday, most of which begin within a 20-45 min. drive from Muscat. During the summer they organize weekly night time rides, usually on Mondays.

Oman Bicycle Shop. Mountain bikes can be rented here by the day, weekend, or week.

On private beaches (i.e. those attached to hotels) western swimwear is acceptable. On public beaches, however, visitors should be mindful of Omani conservative norms. Women are advised to stick with one-piece suits, and men should wear longer swimming shorts (not speedos); keep shoulders and knees covered unless you are actually on the beach. Women may find a parasol helpful to hide from prying eyes.

Beaches with a sign 'Family Beach' are closed to single or bachelor men.

Qurum Public Beach. No facilities except open showers. Clean and well-maintained, with places offering jetskis for rent near the Intercontinental. This beach gets very busy on weekends.

Marjan Public Beach. This beach is quiet during the day, and more lively in early evenings. There are some small, excellent coral reefs just a short distance from the shore, suitable even for novice snorkelers. Clown fish, parrot fish, sea cucumbers, and occasionally sea turtles and rays can be spotted here.

Al Ghubrah Public Beach. This is a family-oriented beach, with picnic benches and shaded areas.

Seeb Public Beach. This is a long stretch of beach, with some sections quite busy, and some sections accessible only with 4WD.

Al Bustan Public Beach. Named after the hotel, this beach has a good view of the mountains behind.

Bird watching There are some good areas for avian enthusiasts, within and around the city.

Al Ansab Wetlands. Nearly 300 avian species have been spotted here, some during migrations and others living here year-round. Guided tours bookable on website.

Buy

Mutrah Souq. The maze-like souq (marketplace) is often described as the best in the Gulf region. The souq has many shops for jewellery, traditional Omani handicrafts and Omani food at reasonable prices. Some specific items to look for include Arab hand-embroidered mussar (shawls intended to be worn as turbans, RO 10+), garments, nuts, spices, incense, and earthenware. A few shops accept credit cards.

Amouage Perfume Factory. Amouage perfume is the most expensive perfume in the world, and visitors can learn about its production. It is recommended (but not required) to call beforehand to ensure that someone is available to show you around.

Jawahir Oman Jewellers. Sells prized Omani silver, crafted into contemporary jewellery and gifts in a Muscat workshop.

Omani Heritage Gallery. This gallery is operated by a non-profit group which encourages cottage industries.

Souq al Jumaa. A bustling flea market with everything from jewellery, camping gear, carpets and even cars. There is a section with clothing, and food stalls are also nearby.

Mall of Oman. It's the biggest shopping mall in Oman.

Markaz al Bahja Mall. Oman's answer to Dubai Mall

City Centre Muscat. Contains a lot of shops including a large Carrefour Hypermarket.

Oman Avenues Mall. Oman Avenues Mall is the second largest shopping mall in Oman. Offers shopping, dining, kid zones and entertainment to locals and international tourists.

Qurum City Centre. Contains Carrefour.

Sabco Centre. A collection of about half a dozen medium sized shopping centres which is very popular with locals. The actual Sabco Centre has a small souq-like collection of shops that contains many of the handicrafts that are available in the Mutrah Souq. There is also a Godiva Chocolates shop . Opposite the Sabco Centre is the Omani Craftsman's House that only sells guaranteed Made in Oman crafts at fixed (but relatively high) prices.

Lulu Hypermarket. All Lulu's branches have delis offering takeaways.

Lulu Hypermarket. This location is particularly convenient if you're looking to stock up before heading to the mountains.

Carrefour Hypermarket. There is another Carrefour located in Muscat city centre (see listing above).

Tailors There are numerous Indian-run tailors.

The Raymond Shop. Customs suits costing from RO 50-60 each in fabrics from pure wool, wool blends, Cashmere, Mohair, Angora and linen.

Money changers Oman-UAE Exchange Centres - LuLu Hypermarkets, Ghala and Ruwi Global Money Exchange - Ruwi Travelex - Seeb International Airport Purshottam Kanji - Ruwi Mustafa Sultan Exchange - Many outlets throughout Oman

Eat

For inexpensive Indian food, there are many restaurants catering to Indian guest workers in Al Khuwayr. In Mutrah you can walk down the waterfront in the Corniche area to catch a cool sea breeze, and treat yourself to some sandwiches and Halib (tea with milk) or Sulaimani (black tea) at one of the wayside restaurants.

Al Haikal Restaurant. Pakistani food.

Saravana Bhavan Restaurant. South Indian vegetarian restaurant.

Dhaka Restaurant & Coffee Shop مطعم و مقهى دكا. Bangladeshi

Al Tarboush. Fast Arabian/Lebanese-style food available for takeaway or eat-in on the first floor.

Ofair Traditional Restaurant. Serves traditional Omani food.

Abu Naseha Coffee Shop مقهى ابو نصحه.

Mazahbi Salalah Restaurant مطعم مظابي صلالة.

Muscat Light Restaurant & Coffeeshop. Ideal place for a break during a walking tour of Old Muscat.

Old Turkish Restaurant & Coffee Shop مطعم و مقهى التركي القديم.

Turkish House. The most popular Turkish restaurant in Muscat, with excellent fish dishes. Take-away and delivery available in the Al Khuwair area.

Ubhar Restaurant. Exceptional, traditional Omani dishes with a modern twist, very highly rated.

Automatic. Cuisine - Lebanese. Try the Hummus (chickpea paste), Fatoosh (salad), Mutabel (eggplant paste), Falafel and mint tea. Even the waiters are not sure why the restaurant is named automatic. There is a branch of Automatic located on the side of the Sabco Centre facing away from the central car park. There are also branches in Ruwi, Al Khuwair and elsewhere in Muscat.

Al-exandria. The best Rotis (Indian Bread). Try the chicken Jalfrezi and Paneer aloo (potato).

Bin Ateeq. This place is mentioned in various guidebooks as the only 'authentic' Omani restaurant in town - and its fame means that this is now popular with tourists. The food is acceptable, if a bit pricey.

The Chedi Pizza Restaurant. Offers less expensive food than the other Chedi outlets, with the same understated chic ambience.

Al Khiran. Famous for their Friday brunch buffets.

Bait Al Bahr. Traditional Omani seafood. Reservations strongly recommended; smart casual, nonsmoking.

The Chedi. Four open kitchens featuring international cuisine.

Mumtaz Mahal. Indian cuisine. Smart casual dress, reservations and credit cards accepted.

Taj Samarkhand. Indian Peshwari cuisine.

Spinney's. A Lebanese-based grocery store chain, has take-away options.

Al Fair Supermarket. A chain of supermarkets sells a wide range of items.. Many of them are on the main Sultan Qaboos highway making them easy to spot.

Lulu's. Oman's favourite supermarket chain with a branch off Sultan Qaboos Street in Al-Khuwair.

Drink

Every road, street corner or little collection houses, huts or businesses has a 'Coffee-Shop' – basic but worth a go. Fresh fruit juices are delicious and available from a number of stalls and cafes in Muscat. Expect to pay between RO 0.500-1.500 for these juices depending on type and size.

Al Ahli Coffeeshop. Also has fresh fruit juices.

Fast Food N Juice Centre. You can watch the world go by from the outside tables.

Starbucks Coffee. Located on the beach road that goes between the Crown Plaza Hotel and the Intercontinental Hotel. It is so close that if you cross the road, you are on the beach. The larger drinks are about RO 2-2.2, but the view through the glass wall of the waves coming into the beach is excellent.

Left Bank. Known for good drinks as well as good food. Reservations recommended if you come here for dinner. Expensive.

Sleep

Budget Hostels can be found in different areas of the city. In Gubrah, around the Al Maha International Hotel, there are many hostels, many very affordable restaurants, two hypermarkets, the Oman Avenues Mall and the highway with a local bus stop, taxis and shared standard taxis. These hostels in Gubrah have got a good rating on Google Maps and booking.com, mostly due to their friendly owners; if you have high demands regarding cleanliness, they might not be a good choice for you . Guest Houses. There are a number of guest houses (Isteraha in Arabic) spread around Muscat which are quite affordable and acceptable in general. Corniche Area There are five hotels on the Corniche waterfront in Mutrah that all charge RO 15. Al Fanar Hotel, which is very rundown at the end of the waterfront, charges RO 10. Naseem Hotel, opposite the Corniche, charges RO 27 for a twin-bed room (as of Dec 2016).

Aywa Guesthouse. Guesthouse has a terrace, lounge, and kitchen.

Delmon Hotel Apartments. Includes breakfast and free Wi-Fi.

Marina Hotel. Has good views of the harbour, but with two nightclubs is quite noisy at night. Free wi-fi available only in lobby.

Ruwi Hotel. A tired and run-down hotel that is more the standard of a third world backpacker establishment, but has an interesting bar.

Al Waffa Hotel Flats. Despite bit strange reception entry, the hotel has nice big & clean rooms with toilet, shower, fridge and SmartTV. Excellent location. RO 20/night for 2 persons.

Crown Plaza Hotel. Has a grand view north up the beach towards the Intercontinental.

Haffa House Hotel. Non-smoking rooms, gym onsite, free Wi-Fi, luggage storage available.

Somerset Panorama Muscat. This property offers studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments. Amenities included are housekeeping, food delivery, laundry & dry cleaning services.

Muscat offers a considerable range of luxury hotels, including those listed below.

Al Bustan Palace Hotel. Built to house a regional conference in the mid-1980s, the hotel is famous for its brunches. Worth visiting just to check out the lobby and hotel grounds.

The Chedi. Five star luxury with traditional Omani architecture.

Crystal Suites. 78 rooms, each a 32” LCD TV, DVD player. Amenities include a restaurant serving Mughlai and Afghani dishes, an open to sky Atrium with children’s play area and dining facilities, and ballrooms for wedding receptions and functions.

Grand Hyatt. This is an opulent building designed by a Yemeni prince in what seems almost a parody of Arabian palace styles.

InterContinental Muscat. On the beach, with onsite restaurant and bar, gym, tennis court, outdoor pool, and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.

Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa. Part of the international luxury chain. In Bar al Jissah, which is about 30 minutes outside central Muscat. The hotel can be challenging to find, so make sure you have a good map if you are driving. The Shangri-La is on a beautiful section of the coastline.

Hormuz Grand Muscat. A Radisson Collection Hotel. Near the airport.