Muscat Activities

While Muscat is devoid of the abundance of manmade attractions aimed at children that you will find in other world cities, the city nevertheless has plenty of wide open spaces that will appeal to young ones as well as miles of accessible coastline.

Bandar Jissah 
Within easy driving distance of Muscat is Bandar Jissah, a great beach resort that offers plenty to see and do. Ideal for children that enjoy playing in the sand, the beach also provides the perfect opportunity for adults to get out of the city and relax. Popular among locals, particularly on the weekends, here you can go swimming, take boat ride around the harbour, or visit the diving centre situated nearby; visitors are advised to swim in a T-shirt, as swimsuits and shorts may be considered offensive by some of the locals.

Kalbuh Park
Situated on Bahri road in Muttrah, this park is ideal for families with young children. It is a lovely, lush green expanse with a beautiful vista of the city and the Watchtower. Entry to the park is free and it is open from Saturday to Wednesday, from 16:00 to 22:00 and on Thursday, Friday and public holidays from 09:00 to 12:00. During Ramadan the park is open from 16:00 to 02:00. Pets are not allowed inside the park.

Muscat has an impressive heritage, with evidence of the city’s previous occupants still evident in the city’s architecture, mosques and fortifications. The city boasts several worthwhile museums that give insight into the city’s sometimes turbulent past, while the souks offer all manner of Arabian delights as well as a colourful and vibrant shopping experience.

Al Jalali Al Mirani forts 
Although these two impressive fortifications are closed to the public, they deserve mention, as they are without doubt the city’s most prominent landmarks. Residing on the mountain overlooking the city, both date from the city’s Portuguese period in the late 1500s. The forts are now occupied by the military, although photographs of the exterior can be taken.

Grand Mosque
No visit to Muscat is complete without a visit to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, one of the most formidable mosques in the Middle East and the third largest mosque in the world. The complex is open to non-Muslims on appointed days, when visitors can admire the largest woven Persian carpet in the world, which is housed within. This modern structure was only completed in 2001 and the project took nine years to build. Visitors to the mosque must cover their legs, while women must also cover their heads and wear loose fitting, long sleeved clothing.

Muscat Gate Museum
Muscat Gate Museum on Al Saidiya street makes for a fascinating daytrip, giving visitors and insight into the city’s rich history. Situated on the site that was the one-time boundary of the city, the museum is worth a visit not only for its informative displays, but also for the wonderful views of the city and the coastline from the top. The museum is open from Saturday to Thursday

Mutrah Souk 
This is the place to come if you want to experience the vibrancy and buzzing atmosphere of an Arabian market. The maze-like souk is the oldest market in Muscat. Overlooking Mutrah Harbour, the market encompasses a fish market as well as selling many unique Omani souvenirs.

Oman-French Museum
Focusing on the relationship between France and Oman, the museum is part of a complex that encompasses a mosque and another museum, Bayt Al-Zubair, which explores Omani social history. Situated on Qasr Al Alam street, The museum is within proximity of the Al Jalali and Al Mitrani forts and offers views of the harbour of the sultan. The museum is open from Saturday to Thursday and there is an entrance fee that includes entrance to both museums.

Watchtower
This novel landmark, built in the shape of an incense burner and located on Al Bahri Road in Muttrah, attracts many families, who come to climb the tower and enjoy the views from the top. Situated opposite Kalbuh Park and near Riyam Park, visitors can combine these three attractions. The series of stairs that lead to the top of the Watchtower can be tiring to climb in the heat, but rewarding for those who make it.

Shopping in the city is a delight as well as being a unique experience for those who have never been exposed to Middle Eastern markets and the treasures they contain. Authentic souvenirs include: frankincense, with Oman being one of the world’s biggest producers; mandoos, dowry chests used by women to keep their valuables, often ornately decorated antiques; Sterling silver goods including jewellery, jewellery boxes and decorative coins; Amouge, said to be the world’s most valuable perfume, sold in crystal bottles decorated in gold or silver.

Aside from the Mutrah Souk, the most authentic shopping experience in the city, other shopping hotspots include City Center Mall, hosting a wide range of western dining options, clothes shops and a supermarket; Bhaja Shopping Mall, three floors of department and popular chain stores, dining options, a cinema and ten-pin bowling.

Although the items for sale in the city’s modern shopping centres have a price tag, visitors who go shopping in the souks are expected to bargain. While you should respect that the traders are trying to make a living, bartering is a way of life here and tourists will gain respect for giving it a go while it also being a necessary process if you do not want to be overcharged every time. The initial asking price given by a trader is always well over what they are willing to settle for. The city’s souks are full of vibrancy and it is here you will find everything from rugs, books and souvenirs to crafts, incense burners and local foods.

Dining out in Muscat can cost you next to nothing or an arm and a leg, depending on your tastes and budget. No visitor to the city should leave without having tried some traditional Omani dishes. While there are places to eat at on nearly every corner, the large shopping malls are a great place to head for a large selection of tourist-friendly dining establishments, while many major hotels also offer excellent restaurants. Meanwhile, the souks offer a delectable selection of local dishes and fresh produce as well as offering a great shopping experience, while the waterfront is lined with popular dining establishments.

Popular cuisines include: Indian, with everything from chicken jalfrezi to paneer aloo available along with tasty Indian breads such as nan and rotis; Lebanese, including hummus, mutabel and falafel; and Pakistani, offering varieties of curries and breads. Western fast-food chains exist, mainly in the large shopping centres and include Subway, McDonalds and Pizza Hut, while you will also find coffee chains such as Starbucks and Costa.

If you are interested in trying some Omani specialties, Omani halwa will tickle the taste buds of anyone with a sweet tooth. Its ingredients consist of water, white and brown sugar, wheat starch, rose water, saffron, cardamon, almonds and nutmeg. You can find locally made halwa at many of the city’s souks, while the popular Barka Halwa Factory also sell freshly made halwa. Popular savoury dishes include meat or grilled fish served with rice; kebab-style barbequed meat and vegetable known as mashakeek; shwaa, barbequed meat that is covered in spices and banana leaves before being left to cook under the earth for three nights; and many varieties of bread including rikhal, chapatti and paratta. Omanis are also big fans of coffee, with qahwa being the locally drunk, bitter variety.