Sultans Armed Forces Museum
Sultans Armed Forces Museum Housed in the Bait Al Falaj Fort, the Sultans Armed Forces Museum is one of Muscat’s most fascinating museums, devoted to preserving Oman’s long military history and chronicling the development of its international relations. Since opening its doors in 1988, the museum
Qurum Beach
Qurum Beach The most popular beach lining the coast of Oman, Qurum Beach is known for its soft golden sands, water activities, and restaurant scene. It is popular with families and active visitors with its long, flat paths for walking and jogging. Walking in the sand is also possible at low tide.
Oman Oil and Gas Exhibition Centre
Oman Oil and Gas Exhibition Centre Run by the Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), the leading gas and oil company in Oman, the Exhibition Center contains both a museum and an adjacent planetarium. Developed in 1979 to showcase the wonders of the universe and the developments of modern science, it wa
Bait Al-Baranda Museum
Bait Al-Baranda Museum Converted from a 1930s house, this museum details the history of Oman and the Muscat region. Covering topics from the geology of the country and plate tectonics to Oman’s military and political history, a visit to Bait Al-Baranda (translates to ‘villa with a verandah’) is a
Wadi Ghul (Oman’s Grand Canyon)
Wadi Ghul (Oman’s Grand Canyon) From 3,000 meters at the top of Oman’s tallest mountain, Jebel Shams, to the flat area just below the summit, you can see 1 kilometer straight down into Wadi Ghul, Oman’s Grand Canyon. From this area, called “the balcony,” the drop is so far and the canyon so vast i
Tiwi
Tiwi The road to Tiwi, both a town and a beach, winds scenically through narrow canyons, along the coast and through the Eastern Hajar Mountains. Wadi Tiwi is a spectacularly deep gorge carved out of the mountains, ranging from its steep cliffs down to the valley and the sea’s edge. Crystal clear
Ruwi
Ruwi Ruwi is one of three towns or districts that make up the Muscat area. It is considered the commercial hub and main business district of the capital. With its neon lights, many shops and busy streets, Ruwi has an urban feel that is pulsing with energy. At the same time, there are still many ol
Rustaq
Rustaq Rustaq was once the capital of Oman, and you can still see many traces of its historical legacy. In a city of low buildings, most no taller than the palm trees which abound here, the pre-Islamic-era Rustaq Fort makes a majestic sight. Its thick walls enclose a mosque long known as a center
Quriyat
Quriyat Quriyat (also spelled Qurayyat) is a small coastal town near Muscat. The city’s past is defined by the violent resistance to Portuguese invasion, though these days it’s more of a quiet fishing village. The main draw for most visitors is the Quriyat Fort, which sits right in the middle of t
Nakhal
Nakhal Nakhal is a small town in the Al Batinah Region of Oman. The name translates to “palm,” many of which line the streets of this desert oasis. It is one of the more scenic towns in the country, set against the jagged peaks of the Jebel Nakhal Mountains of the Western Hajar range, and there is
Jebel Shams
Jebel Shams Jebel Shams is Oman’s highest peak, and at around 10,000 feet (or 3,000 meters) it makes a cool contrast to the baking coast. The regular road runs out about two-thirds the way up, so from there on in it’s 4-wheel-drive or, for the adventurous, hiking. Either way you’ll have stunning v
Jebel Akhdar
Jebel Akhdar The name Jebel Akhdar means “green mountain,” but this scenic area is less of an individual mountain and more so the incredible limestone massif centered on the Saiq Plateau, 2,000 meters above sea level. The region falls in the northern section of the Hajar Mountains, with cooler tem
Ibra
Ibra Known as the gateway to Oman’s Sharqiya region, the city of Ibra is one of Oman’s oldest cities, well known for its impressive horsemen and camel-racing celebrations. Ibra sits 87 miles (140 km) south of Muscat on the ancient caravan route through the Omani interior and is surrounded by hills
Dibba
Dibba Bordering the United Arab Emirates, Dibba is known for its lively port and the dramatic scenery of the area’s coastline. Taking a traditional Arab dhow ship is a great way to see the fjords which characterize the area; their lack of vegetation gives them an unearthly quality quite apart from
Dhofar
Dhofar Waterfalls, green fields and verdant valleys: not what you’d normally associate with the Arabian Peninsula, but they’re all here in Oman’s monsoonal southern province Dhofar. The coastal capital Salalah enjoys excellent beaches, cooling breezes and a lively souk, where you can pick up frank
Barka
Barka What was once a major sea port and trade center of the gulf is now a sleepy town called Barka on the Omani coast. There is a large fish market and an old souk to explore, as well as the impressive Barka Fort, sitting right on the ocean. Dating back to the 17th century, the fort was built to
Al Mudayrib
Al Mudayrib On the old caravan route through Oman, the ancient settlement of Al Mudayrib is surrounded by 18th-century watchtowers dotted around the hills. In town, see the 10 remaining sablas, originally built by wealthy Omani merchants with the riches they made during colonial times in East Afri
Al Hazm Castle
Al Hazm Castle Al Hazm Castle is an impressive structure—one of the best examples of Islamic architecture in Oman. It is known as one of the most famous historical landmarks in the country. Built by Imam Sultan bin Seif II (whose tomb is still within the fort walls) in the early 18th century, it w
Al Hamra
Al Hamra Al Hamra is one of the oldest, best-preserved towns of Oman, having been established in the 17th century during the Yaarubi dynasty. With winding stone streets and rows of traditional mud-brick homes, it’s easy to get lost in its back alleys and feel as if you’ve entered another time and
Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House Muscat’s dazzling Royal Opera House has won over a wealth of fans since opening its doors back in 2011, claiming the title of the Gulf’s first opera house and cementing Oman’s reputation as a burgeoning arts hub. With its dramatic colonnaded façade, gold-inlaid marble interiors a
