Muscat is the capital and the largest city in the Sultanate of Oman. Boasting of beautiful landscapes, Islamic architectural marvels and a kaleidoscope of rich culture, people and religion, Muscat is highly welcoming and offers plenty of bang for your buck.
Shopping at Muttrah Souq
One of the oldest marketplaces in the Middle East and the most well known in Oman, Muttrah Souk is a shoppers’ paradise, with quaint shops and stalls along the dark, winding lanes lit by antique lights. The souk is always bustling with activities and swarming with visitors looking to buy souvenirs, such as sandalwood, frankincense, natural oils, ethnic clothes for men and women, traditional Omani jewellery, Omani daggers, cutlery, antiquities, spices, food items and fruits. Shoppers are expected to bargain and can easily buy things for a song.
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque visit
The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is a stunning masterpiece of Islamic architecture, design and Islamic culture. Constructed using tonnes of sandstone, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque was a gift to the Sultanate of Oman from Sultan Qaboos to commemorate its 30 years under his rule. The mosque is open to all visitors – even non-Muslims – and can accommodate 20,000 worshippers. Visitors are advised to dress modestly when entering the mosque.
The Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera house is the first of its kind in the Arabian Peninsula and is also one of the most dramatic opera houses in the world. Officially inaugurated in the year 2011 by Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said – himself an avid music enthusiast – the Royal Opera House lies in the heart of Muscat and holds an array of symphony concerts, chamber music, plays, recitals, operas, dance musicals and ballets throughout the year.
Turtle watching at Ras Al Jinz
Ras Al Jinz is a fishing village located in the Ras Al Hadd Turtle Reserve, which is the most important nesting concentration and serves as a perfect night time turtle watching. Oman has five of the world’s seven species of sea turtles that lay their eggs on Oman’s shoreline that makes for a magnificent place to watch the whole nesting process.
Sultan Armed Forces Museum
House in the Bait Al Falaj Fort, the Sultan’s Armed Forces Museum is one of the most interesting and awe-inspiring museums that will certainly appeal to all war buffs for its vast collection of military memorabilia. The museum presents its importance in the field of military history and is the headquarters of the Sultan’s armed forces.
