What To See And Do in Muscat, Oman

The capital of Oman is called Muscat and I was here one day when I was cruising with the cruise ship Costa Diadema. We arrived early in the morning and had a full day to spend in Muscat. In this blog post I share the most important things to see and do when you visit Muscat in Oman and if you, like me, have limited time and want to spend time on the right sightseeing things.

Attractions in Muscat, Oman

Muscat Corniche

Stroll along the Corniche in Muscat downtown. It is a walking route that is shaped like a horseshoe and is located next to the water and is pleasant to walk on. When you go here you will pass the Mutrah souq among other things and here are a lot of restaurants to stop by at the longest walk. Notice the nice mountains that are in the background, really cool to see!

Mutrah Souq

The souq in Muscat is called Mutrah souq and is definitely worth a visit. This old market today consists of small cozy alleys with stalls selling antiques, traditional fabrics, aromatic spices, fresh goods, souvenirs and clothes. There is no constraint but actually fun to go here and see how it looks like. Expect to be “accumulated” by salespeople who want to entice you into his particular store. Should you buy something then bargain hard! The locals call this market “souk Al Dhalam”, the shady market.

Al Alam Palace

The Al Alam Palace is located in Old Muscat and overlooks the Gulf of Oman. This is the Sultan’s official palace and no visitors are allowed to enter here, only stand outside but it is worth it, a must to visit! The palace was built in 1972 and is a nice example of modern Islamic architecture. The Sultan of Oman’s official residence is often used to welcome guests visiting the country. The Sultan doesn’t live here everyday, but if Oman’s flag sway at the palace entrance, Sultan Qabus is at home. Look to the right as you approach the palace, and you can see parts of the old city walls and watchtowers that line the mountainside.

Al Mirani Fort and Al Jalali Fort

The historic fort of Al Mirani dates back to the 16th century and defines the cityscape of Oman’s capital. The Al Jalali fortress was once a prison and is now converted into a museum and built by the Portuguese during the colonial period in the 16th century. Come at sunset to catch the best view from here, there is a really nice view over old muscat!

Al Zawawi mosque

Al Zawawi Mosque is located in Al Khuwair and opened in 1985. This mosque was built by the Al Zawawi family in memory of one of their family members. The Al Zawawi Mosque is located on a square in the ministry district of Al Khuwair and consists of a central golden dome where the Quran is inscribed on metal plates along the walls of the entire mosque and has a minaret next to it.