Are you planning a trip to Oman and would like to explore the country’s capital? We would like to introduce you to the most beautiful sights in Muscat, so you don’t miss anything. Muscat is located in the north of Oman on the Arabian Gulf and combines tradition and modernity in an exciting way.

Nestled between impressive mountains and a beautiful coastal landscape, the capital impresses with its unique architecture and a lively atmosphere, which we really liked. For many, Muscat is the starting point for a round trip – and the city should definitely be on your list too!

• Muscat Sights with Map
  • 1. The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
  • 2. The Royal Opera House
  • 3. The Sultan’s Palace (Al Alam Palace)
  • 4. Mutrah Fort
  • 5. Mutrah Souk
  • 6. Mutrah Corniche
  • 7. Bait Al Zubair Museum
  • 8. Qurum Beach
  • 9. National Museum
  • 10. Fort Al-Jalali
  • 11. Al-Riyam Park
• Excursions around Muscat
  • 1. Daymaniat Islands
  • 2. Bimmah Sinkhole
  • 3. Wadi Shab
  • 4. Wadi Al Work
  • 5. Oasis city of Nizwa
  • 6. Birkat al Mouz
• Hotel tips for Muscat
• Restaurants & Cafes in Muscat
• Getting from A to B
• Entering Oman
• Little Oman FAQ

Muscat Sights with Map

Some great sights await you in Muscat, as well as cool cafes, great restaurants, and bustling markets. We recommend spending at least 2 to 3 days exploring the city. This way, you can admire the highlights at your leisure and take one or two excursions. Alternatively, you can also book a guided tour to quickly see the city’s most important sights.

• Muscat: Half-Day City Tour with Audio Guide*
• Guided Tour of the Top Muscat Sights*
• Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour of Muscat*

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1. The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

One of the most important buildings in Oman is the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, which is not only an architectural masterpiece but also one of the most important religious sites in the country. The mosque is one of the largest in the world and boasts a large men’s prayer hall (seating 6,500 worshippers), a small women’s prayer hall, five minarets, a library, and two large archways. Beautiful flowerbeds, palm trees, shrubs, and hedges were also planted around the area.

In the large men’s prayer hall, you can marvel at a huge chandelier with approximately 1,000 lamps, an impressive dome, and the 22-ton carpet, which is the largest prayer rug in the world. It measures 70.50 m × 60.90 m and was crafted by 600 weavers over a period of three years. Incredible, right? Before the mosque opened in Abu Dhabi, it was the largest prayer rug in the world. Today it is the 47-ton carpet in the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

Visitor Information

The mosque is open to non-Muslims every Saturday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. You do not have to pay an entrance fee. However, there are strict dress codes for both men and women. Women must cover their hair and wear long clothing. Most men on site were wearing shorts and T-shirts, but long trousers would be more appropriate.

You can borrow clothes outside the mosque if you are not appropriately dressed. You can also book a guide for 5 rials to lead you through the complex. Before entering the large men’s prayer hall, you must remove your shoes, which you can store in a shoe locker. Eating, drinking, and smoking are prohibited throughout the entire complex.

2. The Royal Opera House

Another top attraction in Muscat is the Royal Opera House. It opened in 2011 and is one of the most beautiful buildings in the metropolis. The bright facade was clad with pink limestone from the desert. All around are upscale restaurants, the Opera Galleria with its museum shop, and several luxury boutiques.

Inside, an impressive entrance area awaited us with marble floors and valuable wooden wall and ceiling paneling. The theater hall, which seats 1,100 guests, was decorated primarily in red and gold. At the back of the seats, you’ll find a small monitor with subtitles in English and Arabic. Currently on the program are: STOMP, Swan Lake, La Boheme and many more.

• Address: Royal Opera House, Al Kharjiyah Street
• Opening hours: Sat.-Thurs. from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Admission price: Adults 3.15 OMR, Children 1.05 OMR
• Tours: Guided tours of the Opera House

3. The Sultan’s Palace (Al-Alam Palace)

Just outside of Old Muscat is the Sultan’s Palace (Al-Alam Palace), which is primarily used for official ceremonies and state receptions. Sultan Qaboos had this palace built in the 1970s. Unfortunately, you cannot visit the palace, but photos of the building are permitted. Particularly beautiful are the manicured flowerbeds all around, the elegant boulevard, the white marble, the carvings, and the gold and blue columns on the building’s facade.

4. Mutrah Fort

The Mutrah Fort is located in the old part of Muscat. This fortress was built by the Portuguese during their occupation in the 1580s and served as a robust defense against attacks by the Ottoman army. Today, you can gaze out over the harbor from above and enjoy the magnificent view. Also on site is the charming Fort Café, where you can get a selection of coffee, tea, and snacks.

• Address: Mutrah Fort, Al Bahri Rd, Muscat, Oman
• Opening hours: Daily from 8 am to 11 pm (perfect for sunset)
• Entrance fee: Adults 3 OMR, Children 2 OMR

5. Mutrah Souk

One of the top Muscat attractions is the famous souk in the old part of Muscat. Over 200 years ago, the Mutrah Souk was a lively trading center for goods that arrived in the port by ship. Today, you can find spices, cosmetics, herbs, clothing, household goods, souvenirs, decorative items, jewelry, fine fabrics, and much more here. The vendors will immediately approach you and try to sell you their wares. Bargaining is, of course, the order of the day here.

• Address: Mutrah Market, near Mutrah Corniche
• Opening hours: daily from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. & 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Entrance fee: free

6. Mutrah Corniche

Outside the market is the beautiful promenade of Mutrah. Here you can stroll leisurely, enjoy the view over the harbor, and with a little luck, spot turtles in the bay. You can also marvel at the Sultan’s enormous yacht, which is usually moored in the harbor. This mega yacht has a length of 155 meters, making it the seventh longest in the world (as of 2023). The yacht belongs to the Sultanate of Oman and is made available to the Sultan as a royal yacht.

7. Bait Al Zubair Museum

If you want to learn more about the life and history of Oman, you should pay a visit to the privately run Bait Al Zubair Museum. It not only exhibits Omani handicrafts, traditional clothing, weapons, and artifacts, but also numerous works of art. The complex consists of six separate buildings and a garden with a miniature Omani village, an aflaj system, and a selection of native plants and trees.

• Address: near Al Alam Palace
• Opening hours: Sat. – Thurs. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Admission fee: Adults 3 OMR, Children 1 OMR (children under 10 free)

8. Qurum Beach

The approximately 4-kilometer-long Qurum Beach is especially worth a visit in the early evening. This is when locals come to the beach to play football, jog, or jump into the sea. Picnics are also popular on the beach. Along the beach, you’ll find a few cafes and restaurants, as well as parking lots, hotels, and shops. We ended the evening comfortably here at the Slider Station restaurant.

9. National Museum

The list of Muscat attractions is endless. The National Museum only opened in 2016 and is intended to be the cultural flagship of the Sultanate. Here you can gain fascinating insights into the country’s history – from the beginnings of settlement on the Omani peninsula around two million years ago to the present day. 5,466 exhibits and 14 permanent galleries await you on almost 4,000 square meters.

• Address: Opposite Al Alam Palace (Al Saidiya Street)
• Opening hours: Sat. – Thurs. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Fri. 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Admission price: 5 OMR per person (children under 6 free)

10. Al-Jalali Fort

During your tour of Muscat, you may also come across the Al-Jalali Fort. This was also built by the Portuguese in the 1580s and served as Oman’s main prison with space for 200 inmates as late as the 20th century. Today the complex houses a private museum about Omani history.

• Address: JH8X+P4V, Al Bahri Rd, Muscat
• Opening hours: temporarily closed
• Entrance fee: not specified

11. Al-Riyam Park

On your way from Al-Alam Palace towards Mutrah Fort you will also pass the beautiful Al-Riyam Park. Here, high up on a hill, stands a bizarre monument resembling a giant white incense burner (Google Maps: “Riyam Censer”). From up there, the sea and the old town are literally at your feet. Visitors and locals alike enjoy picnicking under the shady trees in the park.

• Address: JHCH+P3P, Muscat, Oman
• Opening hours: 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
• Admission price: free

Excursions in the surrounding area of Muscat

There is also a lot to see and experience around Muscat. The capital is not far from numerous highlights, making several day trip destinations ideal. We’ve listed the best day trips around Muscat for you:

1. Daymaniat Islands

You shouldn’t miss the tour to the popular Daymaniat Islands. This small archipelago is located about 18 kilometers off the coast and offers great snorkeling and diving spots. We saw numerous reef sharks, turtles, and colorful fish there. We were also able to go ashore on an island and discover beautiful beaches. If you travel to the country between June and October, you might be lucky and even spot whale sharks in the sea.

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2. Bimmah Sinkhole

Another attraction around Muscat is the so-called “Bimmah Sinkhole”. This is a type of natural crater created by the collapse of the rock covering the island. This “hole” is connected to the sea via a cave system, which makes the water in the crater clear and turquoise, but also salty. Swimming is permitted there. The crater has a diameter of about 40 meters and a depth of around 20 meters.

• Address: Dabab Sinkhole هوية نجم, Dibab, Oman
• Opening hours: daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays until 9 p.m.
• Entrance fee: free

3. Wadi Shab

The Wadi Shab is one of the top sights in Oman. From Muscat, it only takes about 90 minutes by car to reach the starting point. Wadi Shab is known for its impressive gorge, turquoise pools, imposing rock formations, and lush vegetation. From the parking lot, you’ll take a small boat across to the other side of the river (cost: 1 OMR per person). From there, you’ll hike for about 45 minutes through the incredibly beautiful gorge before reaching the natural rock pools.

You can sunbathe and swim at the natural rock pools. If you’re still up for a little adventure, the trail continues about 300 to 400 meters further along the waterway (so you’ll have to swim) into a small cave with a waterfall. Shortly before the cave, you have to go through a very narrow crevice. Water shoes* are highly recommended for this tour. These allow you to walk unhindered through the gorge and also through the water.

4. Wadi Al Arbeieen

If you have your own 4×4 vehicle, a trip to Wadi Al Arbeieen might also be of interest to you. This wadi is also just 90 minutes from Muscat (the starting point is the Wadi Al Arbeieen Resort) and scores highly for its seclusion, idyllic setting, and unique scenery. We were amazed!

An impressive mountain landscape awaits you, surrounded by green palm groves, rocky formations, and steep cliffs. The natural rock pools, where water collects from the surrounding mountains, are particularly beautiful. So don’t forget your swimsuit!

5. Oasis Town of Nizwa

During your trip through Oman, a trip to Nizwa is a must. The oasis town is one of the oldest cities in the country and awaits you with several highlights. Explore the imposing fortress (Fort Nizwa) and then stroll through the beautiful souk. Here you can find everything your heart desires, including spices, handicrafts, jewelry, dates, and many local products. Day tour from Muscat to Nizwa & Book Al Hamra here*.

• Opening hours Nizwa Fort: daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Special feature: closed on Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Admission: Adults 5 rials, children discounted

6. Birkat al Mouz

Birkat al Mouz is a small, exciting place with green gardens, banana plantations and an old, largely abandoned mud village, which forms a great contrast to the rest of the town. Stroll through the ruins and take cool photos at your own risk.

Particularly impressive is the traditional irrigation system that channels water from the mountains to the plantations. Tip: From the terrace of the Bait AlSabah Heritage Inn & Cafes* you have a great view of the ruins – we stayed there and can recommend it!

Hotel Tips for Muscat

In Muscat, there’s accommodation to suit every budget, although prices in Oman are generally a bit higher. We stayed at the really cool Aloft Hotel Muscat* and can 100% recommend this hotel. It features modern, spacious rooms, a lobby with billiards and board games, several restaurants and bars, as well as a pool and a fitness room on the top floor. From the airport it is only a 10-minute taxi ride to the hotel.

Other beautiful hotels in Muscat:

• Royal Tulip Muscat*
• Fraser Suites Muscat*
• Avani Muscat Hotel & Suites*
• W Muscat*

• Grand Millennium Muscat*
• Levatio Hotel Muscat*
• Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah*
• Hormuz Grand Muscat*

Restaurants & Cafés in Muscat

Bella Vista Café: This small café is located near the Mutrah Promenade. Here you can get incredibly delicious cakes and great coffee.

Slider Station: If you prefer international dishes, you might find what you’re looking for here. Located directly on Qurum Beach, you can get salads, burgers, pasta, and more.

Rozna Restaurant: If you want to try traditional Omani cuisine, you should try the Rozna Restaurant. You’ll be served typical dishes in a beautiful location.

Pizzeria Belucci: Looking for a really good pizza? You can get fresh, delicious, and above all, authentic pizzas at Pizzeria Belucci.

Ramssa Omani Restaurant: Another address for authentic Omani cuisine. The menu includes meat, fish, rice, and salads.

Getting from A to B

Muscat is not a city that is easy to explore on foot. Most of the sights are spread out throughout the city, so you’ll often need a car. Example: From our hotel (Aloft Muscat), it was 26 km to the fortress in Mutrah and 14 km to the Royal Opera House. As you can see, the distances here are a bit longer.

But you can get from A to B quite quickly by car. If you don’t want to drive yourself, we always recommend a taxi. We always ordered a taxi via an app and paid an average of just a few euros per trip. It always worked out great. Plus, you can see the cost right away and don’t have to negotiate.

• Marhaba
• OTAXI
• Mwasalat

Many travelers also book a private driver for the whole day. Numerous taxi drivers offer this service and have various tours in their repertoire. Another option is the Mwasalat buses in Muscat, which also serve the most important sights in Muscat. Prices vary depending on the zone and length of the trip (200 Baisa for 1 zone, 300 Baisa for 2 zones, and 500 Baisa for 3 zones). More information here: Mwasalat Bus.

Entry into Oman

There are a few important things to consider when entering Oman, especially regarding the length of your stay. If you only want to travel to Oman for up to 14 days, you do not need a visa as a German citizen. However, for a 15- to 30-day trip, you must apply for the 26B Tourist Visit Visa in advance. Fortunately, this is easily done via the Royal Oman Police website.

• 26B Tourist Visit Visa (single entry) – 20 OMR (approx. €47)
• 36B Visit Visa (multiple entry) – 50 OMR (approx. €117)

Little Oman FAQ

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