Muscat, the capital city of Oman, is a popular tourist destination due to its rich history, culture, and natural beauty. Muscat is know for its beautiful beaches, historic forts, and stunning mosques. Some popular tourist attractions in Muscat include the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, the Royal Opera, and the Muttrah Souk, a traditional market where you can buy souvenirs and traditional handicrafts.
What to see:
If your into museums then visit the National Museum of Oman and walk to the front of Al Alam Palace (it is not allowed to go inside the palace and is protected by two big metal gates which is not so pleasant). In this area you can enjoy the view of Al Halali Fort (which again we are not allowed to enter). The walk to back side of Al Mirani Fort to enjoy the views of the Halali Fort, Al Alam Palace and Al Mirani Fort all from one single place.
Next day you can head to Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in the morning. This is the only Mosque in Oman that allows non- muslim tourists and they are only allowed to visit between 8:00 am-11:00 am. Women need to carry a head scarf and arms and legs need to be fully covered to be allowed entry. Neat visit the Royal Opera House and then head to Qurum Beach. Spend the evening at Qurum Park (specially suitable for people with kids as they have a large kids playing area).
You can also go for Dimaniyat Islands Snorkeling Tour where you visit the UNESCO-protected Dimaniyat Islands and get to see the beautiful marine life and corals.
Personal Impression:
Day trips from Muscat:
Where to Stay:
My recommendation would be to stay around Muttrah or Ruwi. Muttrah is the most touristy area of Muscat but the restaurants and hotels are more expensive. For cheaper restaurants and hotels I would recommend staying in Ruwi which is not very far from Muttrah.
Recommended Hotels:
High End:Sheraton Oman Hotel Muscat
InterContinental Muscat
Mid Range:
Naseem Hotel
Fort Guest House
How many days in Muscat?
If you plan to see only Muscat then 2 full days should be adequate. However there are a lot of other attractions that you can visit as a day trip from Muscat.
When to visit?
The best time to visit Oman would be from November to March when the temperature is mild and not too hot. Expect comfortable temperature of 20 °C to 30 °C in this period.
How expensive is Muscat?
I would say Oman in general is a mid range country in terms of expenses. Expect to pay about 9-11 OMR (25-30 USD) for a meal for 2 people in an average priced restaurant. Taxis can be a little more expensive when compared to some other middle eastern countries. Groceries in the the supermarkets are also fairly priced and there are a wide variety of fruits and vegetables available.
Transport:
The taxis are the most convenient option. There is no Uber or Lyft in Muscat, However they have their own taxi apps like Ubar and Otaxi (You would need a local Omani number to be able to use these apps). When you hail a taxi make sure that you agree on the price before hands to avoid un-pleasant situation at the end of the trip. Shared taxis cost(400 Baisa/0.4 Rial) almost the same as buses which cost (300 Baisa/0.3 Rial). Taxis normally start from 1 Rial.
There are also intercity buses run by mwasalat. However it is not possible to buy a ticket online unless you have a local Omani number because it requires an otp confirmation which does not work with foreign numbers. NB: This information is updated on January 2023.