Besides serving as a base from which to explore the country’s beautifully rugged hinterland, Muscat, the capital of Oman is home to Al-Alam Palace, a few mosques and a small souk. Enjoy it all, with your hotel taken care of by HotelTravel.com.
Accommodation tends to be in the mid to upper range, with cheap guesthouses and hotels largely unavailable. Among the most luxurious hotels in the city are: Al-Bustan Palace Hotel, known as the most luxurious hotel in Oman, and the Grand Hyatt Muscat – a hotel that is nothing short of an Arabian palace. Hotel standards are usually excellent, with cleanliness and service being top-notch.
As the capital of Oman and the country’s largest city, it is no wonder this Middle Eastern gem attracts visitors year-round, who come to explore its mystical Arabian treasures.
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.
Muscat Festival: a celebration of Muscat heritage, this event is one of the biggest of the year, featuring all aspects of Omani culture including handicrafts, folklore and history. The festival is educational as much as it is cultural, with theatre performances, educational seminars and poetry and literature readings.
There are several buildings and places of interest which should be incorporated on any tour of Muscat, with the most prominent landmarks being the Grand Mosque and Al Jalali and Al Mirani forts. While only the former is open to the public, visitors will enjoy the fantastic views of the Portuguese-era forts. In addition to the city’s architectural wonders, holidaymakers can enjoy an array of museums as well as the city’s colourful souks, with Mutrah Souk being the most significant.
Most visitors to Oman will arrive at Seeb International Airport, situated about 30kms from Muscat. The airport offers convenient links to most other major Middle Eastern and Asian centres, with connecting flights available from some of the more prominent air hubs. Transport within the city is via local buses, private taxis and shared taxis, know as baisa. It is also a feasible option to rent a car in Muscat, with the city’s roads being in excellent condition.
Normal business hours throughout Oman are from 08:30 to 17:30, with some businesses closing for lunch. Thursdays and Fridays are holidays for most people, as the western weekend, always falling on Saturday and Sunday, does not apply.
Out of season, so without warning prior to booking only the pool bar was open until 3.00 but was too hot for comfortable drinking. The Hotel bar did not open until the evening when it was said it was ...
