A mini guide to Muscat with lifesaving tips.

”Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.”- Gustav Flaubert

Ever since I moved to Qatar, everyone around me repeatedly told me that I have to go to Oman as it is the jewel of the Gulf. Oman is quite big, but the places that seem to interest visitors most are Muscat and the surrounding area and Salalah in the south (which seem to be really beautiful during the rain season). Muscat as the capital of Oman and a city with good flight connections makes a rather nice city break. Surrounded by desert and mountains, with access to a sea, it gives quite a few interesting options for visitors.

A mini-guide to Muscat with lifesaving tips.

I’ve been trying to find words to describe Muscat, but somehow I find it difficult. Most of the cities I have been to have a main square or area, which is commonly called a city centre and which is usually a place where all the attractions can be found. Muscat, however, is a big city with places of interest spread over a large area.

While we expect and are used to (well, I’m talking for myself being from Europe) having most of the attractions in one place, in Muscat you need to travel from one end to another. I’m not sure if I have ever mentioned it, but on my travels, I walk as much as possible only taking transportation if I am too tired or the distance is too big to walk. We did the same in Muscat. With a lot of optimism, we walked one day from Mutrah to the Sultan’s Palace hoping for a lovely walk. It was hot, but the walk along the sea shore was picturesque, which in my hopeless positive thinking should be rewarding. This area is taken care of with lots of flowers and green areas, quite pleasant to look at. If only my new shoes did not start killing me! Anyways, as much as you love walking, it can be tricky in Muscat.

Lifesaving tips for Muscat

- Travel in Muscat is very expensive when it comes to tourism.
- The city does not have a developed tourism approach. What we usually expect is to find at least a small information point upon arrival, at the Muscat airport there is none.
- It is difficult to find any information in the city, so prepare yourself a bit more than you would normally do.
- Get a sim card as soon as you arrive, and access to maps and the internet will be a lifesaver.
- Book a car in advance and pick it up at the airport. It may cost you cheaper than taking taxis.
- Taxis available at the airport charge a horrendous amount of money. We were asked to pay around $190 (70 OR) for a ride to Mutrah, which cost us a small part of that price to go back to the airport from the city.
- Taxi drivers will try to overcharge you, a normal city fare should not be more than 5 OR (12$), we normally paid 3 after negotiating.
- Moving around the Gulf is quite easy, but no matter where we travel to, we tend to choose good airlines that are known to be on time or not lose luggage. We booked our flights with OmanAir, which has frequent flights to Muscat and good connections to many other places in the Gulf or Africa from the UK. You may search for different flight options through Expedia.

If you find this article useful, could now download it on GPSmycity and have access to it and the map offline, which is super useful while travelling.

What to see in Muscat

Fish market in the morning (Mutrah)

What do all markets have in common? There is the place where life happens and where you can observe what are the locals really like. I love markets and always visit them on my travels. The fish market in Mutrah is quite something. We spend there longer than I thought. Observing the life happening there was one of the moments that made the trip even more memorable.

Souq in Mutrah (morning or evening)

Also in Mutra, get ready to transport yourself into a typical commotion of an Arab country. The souq affected all of our senses with the sparkling gold everywhere we look, the fragrance of spices and loud haggling. It is closed in the middle of the day and you could visit it in the morning together with the fish market, however, it is especially charming at night.

Sultane Palace

Before going to the palace I imagined a big and overly adorned building without much possibility to get close to or take photos. I was positively surprised that the building was somehow modest (compared to palaces of royal families in other countries), yet beautiful.

The surroundings gave a perfect opportunity for a relaxing stroll, that many local families take advantage of. It was also possible to get to the very gate of the palace really close to the building and take photos.

Oman National Museum

The museum is just across the street from the palace. The museum is fairly new, but it is a great place to learn some of the country’s history. We quite enjoyed it.

If you enjoy walking and stay in Mutrah, you can get there in around an hour. You can also take a bus number 4, which costs 200 baisa (0.50 $).

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

It was my first experience visiting a mosque. This one was a gift to the people from the Sultan and it really is a magnificent piece of work. It is as beautiful on the inside as on the outside. If you are there, pay special attention to the chandelier, it is really quite an incredible one.

The mosque is open to visitors every day, except Fridays, between 8 and 11 am. The entrance is free and you will need to cover up a little bit: shoulders. knees and head for women.

Dolphin watching and snorkelling

The waters near Muscat are clear, which makes is a perfect spot for some water adventures. When I mentioned to my friends that I’m going to Muscat, nearly every person said that dolphin watching, snorkelling and diving are a must. Depending on the time you have, you can put it on your list to complete this wonderful trip.

Practical stuff for Muscat

My hotel picks for Muscat

We stayed in Muscat for a few days. At the beginning of the trip, we decided to stay in Mutrah, the heart of the traditional part of Muscat. Choosing a hotel there was strategic, as it is located within a walking distance to many places that interested us, like the palace, souq or the fish market. As you might know, I quite like Sheraton chain and every time I stay with them, I do not regret it. I think Sheraton Oman is a nice choice in Mutrah. At the end of our trip, we stayed in Intercontinental Hotel in Qurum near the beach. After returning the car we wanted again to be close to the places that interested us most after a week of road-tripping and staying in this area gave us an opportunity to be near the sea, walk on the beach and eat out. There is not much to do there though, but it was perfect for us at the end of the trip when we wanted to chill out at the poolside for a while and Intercontinental has a lovely, big space for that.

Book your flight to Muscat

Travelling to Oman is becoming much easier than in the past with excellent connections from Europe. Compare prices and best flight options with CheapOair.

Don’t forget the insurance

This might sound like common sense, but you cannot imagine how many people get into trouble for not having insurance. I always have my international health insurance, but depending on the destination and activities I plan to do, I buy additional insurance. One of the best ones on the market is provided by World Nomads as they offer sports and natural disaster coverage.

Rent a car

If you are staying only in the city, most likely you won’t need a car at all (although for us it was incredibly useful). But there is so much to see outside Muscat, that having a car is a must unless you join a tour. Check my 10-day road trip guide to Oman for inspiration. Try Discover Cars as they compare not only the most known car rental companies but also local ones, which are sometimes cheaper.

Tours and excursions

In case you want to join a tour (I think tours are great if you are travelling solo), there are so many different options through Get Your Guide.

10 days in Oman. How to plan a perfect road trip guide and itinerary.

A quick guide to museums in Qatar

Living in a desert. All you need to know.

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