• Flights
  • Hotels
  • Flight+Hotel
  • Cars
  • Holidays
Select your outward journey date
Select your return journey date

Oman

  • © Pankaj & Insy Shah / age fotostock

    Muscat, Oman

Oman in pictures - Muscat

  • Muscat

    In thirty years, Muscat has witnessed unprecedented development. The capital of the Sultanate of Oman has indeed changed from being a small maritime town into a city with ultra-modern buildings. Although modest regarding the size of its population (650,000), Muscat extends over a considerable area (its districts cover roughly 18 miles from west to east) and almost every district is aligned by rows of white houses on both sides of the expressway, which passes through the capital. Skyscrapers are absent from the landscape, but gardens can be seen quite frequently and Muscat also has three impeccably green golf courses despite the scarcity of rainfall in the region. The commercial port, the souk and the fish market are located in the district of Muttrah, at the bottom of a cove adjacent to the Old Muscat. You can walk around these two areas, as the distances to cover are not very large. Go to Muttrah early in the morning to observe the fishermen drawing in their fish nets, then stroll along the cornice to admire the wood covered galleries on the first floor of the houses, as well as the blue minaret of the mosque adjacent to the entrance to the souk. Housed in a covered but airy street, the souk unites a myriad of small shops offering incense, floral waters, powders of fragrant wood, silver jewellery, traditional coffee services, khanjars (daggers with a curved blade) and various fabrics. At the eastern end of the road, there is a monumental incense burner which forms (along with the boutre and the coffee pot with a long spout) one of the emblems of Muscat. It dominates the entire cove of Muttrah and offers a pleasant view over the city and the mountains. If you continue along the sea, you will reach Old Muscat, whose port is guarded by two forts built by the Portuguese in the 16th century. Behind that lies the palace of Sultan Qaboos, and a little further away you will find two museums which are well worth visiting if you want to learn more about the history and the traditions of the country: the Franco-Omani Museum and the Museum Bait Al-Zubair.
    Discover Muscat
previous picture following picture

In brief +

Weekly budget
unconfirmed
Flight budget
unconfirmed
Flight duration
 
Time difference
+2h / +3h
Visa
Yes
Vaccinations
No
Currency
Omani rial
Language(s)
arabic

Oman :

map Oman

Destination overview

FCO travel update: there are no travel restrictions in place for Oman.

The Sultanate of Oman is comprised of villages and mountain fortresses, palm groves (which grow at altitude), nomad camps within sand valleys, cities and towns, palaces and hotels. You would think that it had come straight out of a fairytale. Even though the country has Dubai for a neighbour, it has managed not to cover the land in skyscrapers, for the time being. On the tranquil beaches, tourists will be able to observe sea turtles, if it's the right season, digging in the sand and laying their eggs on the same beach where they were born.

pros

  •  An authentic, well-preserved destination.
  •  Omanese people's sense of hospitality.
  •  The luxury hotels are amazing.
  •  Absolutely no insecurity.
  •  A place where the desert, the mountains and the sea meet.
  •  The country is ideal for 4x4 self-drive tours.
  •  The cultural wealth and numerous forts.

cons

  •  Distances are long from one site to another.
  •  It is not a good idea to go in the summer, when it is far too hot.

Oman Travel guide

Oman Holidays in Oman, All you need to know!

Our Editorial team's advice

Taking pictures in the cities is not a problem, as long as you don't aim the lens directly at people (men or women). In the villages, you must be even more discreet and avoid taking pictures of street activity, just stick to landscapes and monuments.
When visiting public places, wear decent clothing: women must avoid wearing short skirts and revealing cleavage. You should also refrain from kissing on the mouth in public (in Muscat, some visitors got into trouble with the police who judged their behaviour disrespectful and gave them a fine).

Oman : Reasons to go

Compare All our Oman Holidays' Offers with Easyvoyage

  • Flights
  • Hotels
  • Flight+Hotel
  • Cars
  • Holidays
Select your outward journey date
Select your return journey date

Advertisement

Oman : Places to visit

Oman in pictures

  • Muscat© Pankaj & Insy Shah / age fotostock

    Muscat, Oman

  • SalalahZoonarV Blinov / age fotostock;

    Salalah, Oman
previous picture following picture full screen
  • Muscat, Oman
  • Salalah, Oman
  • Sur, Oman
  • Musandam, Oman
  • The plain of Batinah : The Batinah Plain - Oman
previous picture following picture

Oman in pictures

close
    previous picture following picture
    close
     

    Hotel reviews Oman

    Have you been to this destination before? Where did you stay? We want to hear about it, so post your review on the EasyOpinions forum for us! Be the first to give your opinion

    Package holidays in Oman

    Put your dream holiday together using our holiday price comparator. Compare 575556 holidays from tour operators in just a few clicks.

    Best Travel Deals Oman

    Our video on Oman

    Our expert Oman

    Neil Kreeger Section editor

    only a third of the story is completed, watch this space!

    Weather Oman

    • Salalah 30°C | 34°C 4 day weather forecast 34°C 34°C 32°C 32°C

    Ideal Weather Search

    May

    Hotel Prices Oman

    average nightly price

    Package Prices Oman

    JUNE : Oman price for a week

    Feature Oman

    Venture off-road in Oman

    Venture off-road in Oman

    Oman is becoming known as one of the safest and most authentic of the Gulf countries and with its fairly recent sealed roads, it is now possible to explore a lot more of the country than ever before. However, despite the developed infrastructure, most visitors still prefer to stay within the comfort of a beachfront hotel in Muscat, and while Muscat ...

    More Details

    Search Now

    • - Find the best bargains
    • - Consult trip reviews in advance
    • - Book the latest deals
    Found a travel blog you like? Share it with us! Contact us