By air
Muscat International (MCT), ~30 km
Middle East · Oman
Muscat, Oman
Forts, a grand mosque and a corniche
Getting there
Best time to visit
October to April — mild
Don't miss
The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
The Mutrah Souq
The Royal Opera House
Al Jalali Fort
Things to do
The Grand Mosque
The Mutrah Souq
Dolphin-watching boat trips
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Mostafameraji · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Modest clothing, sun protection
A quieter corner
Bandar Khairan's bays by boat
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Muscat?
October to April, when it's mild. Pack modest clothing and sun protection.
What are Muscat's must-sees?
The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, the Mutrah Souq, the Royal Opera House and Al Jalali Fort. Add a dolphin-watching boat trip.
Is there a quieter side of Muscat?
Take a boat out to Bandar Khairan's bays, Muscat's hidden gem. Back on land, try shuwa, halwa and Omani coffee.
How far is Muscat's airport from the city?
Muscat International (MCT) is about 30 km away.
About Muscat
- Coastal
- Mountains
Where it is
Muscat is the capital and largest city of Oman, strung along the Gulf of Oman in a series of bays and coves between the rugged Hajar Mountains and the sea, from the old walled town to Seeb.
History
Muscat has been a port on the Indian Ocean trade routes since antiquity. The Portuguese held it from 1507 and built the Al Jalali and Al Mirani forts that still guard the harbour, until the Omanis drove them out in 1650. Under the Al Said dynasty it became the capital of a maritime empire that reached as far as Zanzibar, and after 1970 Sultan Qaboos bin Said transformed it into a modern capital.
People
Muscat's Omanis include Arab, Baluchi, Lawati and Swahili-speaking families, the legacy of centuries of Indian Ocean trade, and large South Asian communities live and work in the city. Arabic is the official language; men wear the white dishdasha with an embroidered kumma cap, and guests are offered Omani halwa, dates and cardamom coffee.
Known for
- The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
- The Mutrah Souq and Corniche
- The Royal Opera House
- The Al Jalali and Al Mirani forts
- Dolphin-watching boat trips
Did you know?
The main prayer hall of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is covered by a vast hand-knotted Persian carpet that took about four years to make.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.