We organised a trip to Muscat to visit friends who had moved to Oman for work. It was our first visit to the Middle East, and we were instantly captivated by the City and its surroundings. Oman is a very understated country compared to some of its neighbours with low-rise white houses backed by barren rocky mountain ranges and fronted by the turquoise Sea of Oman. Here are some ideas to help you make the most of what Muscat has to offer.
Table of Contents
Practicalities of organising a trip to Muscat, Oman
Passports and visas
Those with a full British Passport can travel to Oman from the UK for a stay of 14 or fewer days, without a visa (currently). You should double check this before travelling to ensure that the FCDO guidance has not changed.
Please note that your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive.
Best time to visit Oman
Muscat does get extremely hot in the summer months and so the shoulder seasons of Spring and Autumn, plus during winter, are the best time to visit Oman.
We have visited in October, February and April and had wonderful dry and sunny weather each time, without it being too hot. That said, apparently the summer months are good for a visit further south to Salalah or into the mountains where it is cooler.
Where to stay in Muscat, Oman
Where to stay in Muscat will depend on your budget but there is plenty of choice. There are many big brand hotels in Muscat based around Qurum Beach (such as, Crowne Plaza Muscat, InterContinental Muscat, W Muscat).
If you fancy a real splurge, then further along the coast to the east is the fantastic Ritz-Carlton Al Bustan Hotel – a stunning circular white building, backed by rocky mountains with lush gardens at the front overlooking the Sea of Oman.
Respecting traditions
What should I wear in Oman?
Please dress conservatively in Oman, particularly in public areas. Women should wear loose clothing with upper arms and shoulders always covered, and long trousers or skirts to cover legs (below the knees). Remember to carry a scarf suitable for covering your head whenever necessary.
The golden rule is to avoid any clothing which exposes the body, and which might draw unwanted attention from others. That said, in the international hotels, it is usually fine to wear shorts and swimwear by the pool or at the hotel beach.
Can you drink alcohol in Oman?
As Oman is a Muslim country then alcohol is only available in some licensed hotels and restaurants, so yes, you can drink alcohol in Oman but definitely not in public places.
Check whether your chosen hotel or restaurant is licensed before booking, if this is important to you.
What to see on your trip to Muscat
Learn about Omani Culture at a museum in Muscat
The Bait Al Zubair Museum, Muscat
We visited the Bait Al Zubair Museum on our trip to Muscat and thought it provided a perfect starting point for learning about Omani culture. This medium-sized museum hosts several exhibits about the history, geography and cultural heritage of Oman, including sections on the daily life of Omanis (local food and cooking), traditional dress and jewellery, and weapons including the famous Omani daggers (khanjar).
The museum houses a traditional barasti hut (house made of palm fronds over a wooden frame), which you can enter once you’ve left your shoes outside. Our children enjoyed their visit to the Bait Al Zubair Museum and spotting the painted Arabian Oryx around the museum; it was not too overwhelming in size for younger children.
The National Museum of Oman, Muscat
The National Museum of Oman opened in 2016 in a beautiful purpose-built building next to the Sultan’s Palace. It showcases Oman’s heritage from its earliest settlement 2 million years ago, through to the present day and you will need more time for a visit here than to the Bait Al Zubair Museum. There is some overlap in what they offer, so you only need to pick one in a single visit to Oman. Save the other for next time!
Take in some stunning Arabic architecture
The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muscat
The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is an architectural gem built in 2001. It is a huge and impressive complex of prayer halls, white buildings, arches and intricate, decorative tiling, all set within beautiful, manicured gardens, providing an extremely serene place to explore. The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is the largest mosque in Muscat and one of the few allowing non-Muslims inside.
At the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, you can visit the separate prayer halls for men and women, the Women’s Prayer Hall being smaller and less elaborate.
The Men’s Prayer Hall has a huge single-piece hand-woven carpet which apparently took 600 weavers and 4 years to make – you cannot walk on the carpet, so they have blue-carpeted walkways to follow. In addition, the centrepiece of the Men’s Prayer Hall is an enormous chandelier (14 meters tall) covered in Swarovski crystals and requiring over 1,100 light bulbs.
It is essential to dress respectfully (men and women alike) at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. In addition to the guidance above, women should ensure that their forearms and wrists are covered. Men should wear long trousers and long shirtsleeves.
Royal Opera House, Muscat
Time allowing, take a tour of the Royal Opera House, Muscat, and its contemporary Omani architecture. Commissioned by Sultan Qaboos who loved classical music, it opened in 2011 as Oman’s premier arts, music and culture venue. You could even see a performance whilst you are staying in Muscat.
Enjoy some new and old style shopping
Old Muttrah Souq (Mutrah Souq)
Muttrah is the old commercial centre of Muscat and sits on a beautiful, curved sea-front with a promenade which is perfect for a wander (the Muttrah Corniche). There are lots of seagulls and some very impressive boats moored in the Sultan Qaboos Port, including the Sultan’s huge super-yacht, all overlooked by Muttrah Fort on the hill.
The Muttrah Souq is a great place to get lost in for an hour or so. As you enter, look upwards and notice the carved timber roof with colourful lanterns lighting the way through the soul. This is the place to pick up your souvenirs – clothing, slippers, pashminas, lanterns, carpets, frankincense and other spices.
We did not find the shop owners to be too pushy – yes, they want you to come in and have a look around, but it didn’t feel too pressurised. There are some good bargains to be had in the jewellery shops if you are prepared to haggle. I picked up some unusual antique padlocks, one shaped as an owl and one as a turtle, which make for a lovely reminder of our visit.
If you can arrive very early in the morning, then visit the Muttrah Fish Market to see the fishermen bring their catch straight from the boats into the market for sale and is where the locals buy their fresh fish. You will find a bustling marketplace with lots of sellers and different types of fish.
The Mall of Oman or shops in Qurum
As a contrast to the Muttrah Souq, enjoy some modern shopping in the Mall of Oman which is full of top retail brands, or alternatively head to the neighbourhood of Qurum (Qurm). This is an upscale suburb of Oman and the heart of modern Muscat with a high concentration of shops, upmarket hotels and restaurants.
After checking out the shops, enjoy a lemon and mint drink to help you cool down which are very popular in Oman, before heading to Qurum Beach or back to your hotel pool to relax.
Head to a viewpoint overlooking Muscat
Finally, drive up to one of the viewpoints overlooking the city of Muscat. Coming from an area of the UK which is very green (due to the amount of rain we get), I initially missed the greenery of trees in the rocky landscape of Oman.
However, it did not take long to fall in love with the majesty of the mountainous landscape and the warm and welcoming people of Muscat, Oman. Add in the Call to Prayer echoing around the valley below us and you have one of the most magical and evocative moments of our trip to Muscat.
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