Luxury hotels in Muscat

Muscat guide

Muscat: the Grand Mosque and the Muttrah Corniche

A serene mosque, a frankincense souk by the harbour, dolphins at sea and the mountains of Oman.

The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, with its vast prayer carpet and crystal chandelier, is Muscat's most cited sight; it is open to visitors on weekday mornings, with modest dress required. The Muttrah Corniche and its souk, scented with frankincense, are best in the late afternoon.

The Royal Opera House, a dolphin-watching boat trip and the coves of the coast complete the capital. Nizwa's fort and the mountain villages of Jebel Akhdar, and the dunes of the Wahiba Sands, are classic excursions. October to April is ideal.

Nizwa and Jebel Akhdar

Nizwa, about two hours from Muscat, was once Oman's capital, and its seventeenth-century fort with a great round tower is one of the country's most cited sights. On Friday mornings, the livestock market by the souk is a lively spectacle of local life.

Above it, Jebel Akhdar, the Green Mountain, rises to about 2,000 metres, with terraced villages where roses are grown for rose water in spring, and dramatic canyon views. A four-wheel drive is required on the mountain road.

Wadi Shab and the Wahiba Sands

Wadi Shab, about two hours south of Muscat along the coast, is the most cited natural excursion in Oman: a walk up a canyon of turquoise pools, then a swim through narrow passages to a waterfall hidden inside a cave. Wear shoes that can get wet.

Inland, the Wahiba Sands, a sea of orange dunes, are explored by four-wheel drive, with dune driving, camel rides and nights in desert camps. Ras al Jinz, nearby, is one of the region's main nesting beaches for green turtles.