Must-see attractions in Oman

  • Interior of the Mutrah souk in Muscat, the capital of the sultanate of Oman.

    Mutrah Souq

    Muscat

    Many people come to Mutrah Corniche just to visit the souq, which retains the chaotic interest of a traditional Arab market albeit housed under modern…

  • BAHLA, OMAN - NOVEMBER 28, 2017: detail of Jabrin Castle, in Bahla, Oman

    Jabreen Castle

    Hajar Mountains

    Rising without competition from the surrounding plain, Jabreen Castle is an impressive sight. Even if you have had a surfeit of fortifications, it's worth…

  • Grand Mosque

    Muscat

    Quietly imposing from the outside, this glorious piece of modern Islamic architecture was a gift to the nation from Sultan Qaboos to mark his 30th year of…

  • Oman, Nachl, Fort Nakhl

    Nakhal Fort

    Oman

    Built on the foundations of a pre-Islamic structure, the towers and entrance of this fort were constructed during the reign of Imam Said Bin Sultan in…

  • Frankincense tree at the Frankincense Museum with a group of geese under the tree. Salalah, Oman

    Al Baleed Archaeological Park

    Salalah

    Well-labelled and atmospherically lit at night, the ancient ruins of Al Baleed belong to the 12th-century trading port of Zafar. Frankincense was shipped…

  • Jebel Samhan Viewpoint

    Dhofar

    The upper plateau of Jebel Samhan suddenly ends in a vertiginous drop more than 1000 meters to the coastal plain below. Barely a ledge interrupts the…

  • Wadi Ghul Viewpoint

    Jebel Shams

    The term 'Grand Canyon of Arabia' is wholly deserved for this quintessential feature of Oman's spectacular mountain scenery. A short path leads to the…

  • Rustaq Fort

    Oman

    Two cannons mark the interior courtyard of this enormous fort – the entrance alone signals its former importance. Built on top of pre-Islamic foundations,…

  • Khor Al Sham

    Musandam

    This beautiful inlet is interesting for its stone fishing villages, accessible only by boat, and for Telegraph Island, which dots the middle of the bay…

  • Al Hoota cave, situated at the southern side of Jabal Akdhar near Al-Hamra in Oman. It is an important yet fragile underground ecosystem with the presence of rare and endemic animal species.

    Al Hoota Cave

    Hajar Mountains

    Embellished with stalactites and stalagmites, this is the only cave in Oman developed for tourism and it's something of a gem. Sensitively lit, this…

  • The Sultan's Palace. Muscat, Oman

    Sultan’s Palace

    Muscat

    If you stand by the harbour wall on Mirani St, the building to the right with the delightful mushroom pillars in blue and gold is the Sultan’s Palace. On…

  • Sunset in Muscat

    Mutrah Corniche

    Muscat

    Mutrah stretches along an attractive corniche of latticed buildings and mosques; it looks spectacular at sunset when the light casts shadows across the…

  • Bahla fort

    Bahla Fort

    Hajar Mountains

    After many years of restoration, Bahla Fort, one of the largest in Oman, makes a grand sight looming over the sprawling modern settlement of Bahla. Built…

  • Bait Al Zubair

    Muscat

    In a beautifully restored house, this much-loved privately owned museum exhibits Omani heritage in thematic displays of traditional handicrafts, furniture…

  • National Museum

    Muscat

    Housed in an imposing new building in the heart of Old Muscat, the National Museum makes a fitting consort for the Sultan's Palace opposite. The emphasis…

  • Wadi Darbat

    Dhofar

    A popular picnic site during the khareef and a great place to enjoy the jebel in any season, Wadi Darbat is a grassy plateau in the hills marked by Oman's…

  • Jaylah Tombs

    Oman

    The 90 or so meticulously crafted stone towers scattered across the Selma Plateau are tombs dating back to the Umm An Nar culture of 2000 to 2700 BC…

  • Khasab Fort

    Khasab

    With its command of the bay sadly diminished since Lulu Hypermarket was built on reclaimed land opposite, Khasab Fort nonetheless cuts quite a dash with…

  • Old Castle Museum

    Oman

    Home to an extraordinary museum, this private castle houses the personal collection of Sheikh Khalfan Al Hashmi. His great grandfather owned the 250-year…

  • Bait Al Safah

    Al Hamra

    This quirky museum is more open house than historical display. Three ladies accompany guests around their traditional house in the aged and crumbling…

  • Jami Al Hamoda Mosque

    Oman

    This aged and revered mosque is difficult but rewarding to find. The low-lying prayer hall is unique due to its profusion of 52 domes. Non-Muslims aren't…

  • Wadi Bani Khalid

    Oman

    Justly famed for its natural beauty, this wadi just north of the town of Al Kamil makes a rewarding (and well-signposted) diversion off the Muscat–Sur…

  • Sumhuram Archaeological Park

    Dhofar

    Looking across one of Dhofar's prettiest bays at peacefully grazing camels and flocks of flamingos, it’s hard to imagine that 2000 years ago Khor Rori was…

  • Empty Quarter Viewpoint

    Dhofar

    The sands of the Empty Quarter begin to curl around the road on the approach to Al Hashman, then very quickly coddle into small mounds and ergs (wind…

  • Mughsail

    Dhofar

    Oman’s most spectacular bay ends in a set of sheer cliffs that reaches towards the Yemeni border. Immediately below the start of these cliffs the rock…

  • Qasra Museum

    Oman

    Tucked into the unlit and crumbling old quarter of Rustaq, behind the fort, this unique museum is the personal project of the owner, Zakia Al Lamki. Left…

  • Bidaya Museum

    Oman

    This quirky little museum on the edge of the sands preserves the history of the Hijri Tribe, written in Arabic on goat skins. A collection of spears and…

  • Al Ghasham Museum House

    Oman

    This fortified residence has hosted royalty on two occasions in its 300-year history. Now the sensitively restored, mud-brick house has been converted…

  • Ayn Razat

    Dhofar

    The most striking of all the springs scattered across the Salalah Plain, Ayn Razat flows copiously from the hillside at all times of year and rolls across…

  • Nizwa Fort

    Nizwa

    Built over 12 years in the 17th century by Sultan Bin Saif Al Yaruba, the first imam of the Yaruba dynasty, Nizwa Fort is famed for its distinctive 40m…

  • Khor Al Najd Viewpoint

    Musandam

    Located 24.5km southeast of Khasab, Khor Al Najd is the only khor (inlet) accessible by vehicle (preferably 4WD). You can camp on the rim of this wild bay…

  • Ceramics for sale at Nizwa Souq.

    Nizwa Souq

    Nizwa

    The site of one of the oldest souqs in the country, this extensive marketplace is dedicated mostly to fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, all of which…

  • Rock Formation

    Dhofar

    This remarkable rock formation affords the opportunity of seeing a living stalactite in the making without having to clamber through a cave to do so…

  • Wadi Shab

    Oman

    Aptly named in Arabic as the ‘Gorge Between Cliffs’, Wadi Shab is one of the most lovely destinations in Oman, despite Hwy 17 slung across the entrance…

  • Sharfat Al Alamayn Viewpoint

    Hajar Mountains

    Marking the highest point along the paved road, this spectacular viewpoint overlooks the full reach of the Hajar mountain range. With little hint of the…

  • Wadi Bani Awf

    Oman

    This spectacular wadi is a major artery through the mountains and often flows year-round with spring water. It looks particularly gorgeous when mountain…

  • Damaniyat Islands

    Oman

    These government-protected rocky islands, around an hour’s boat ride off the Batinah coast, are rich in marine life and make an exciting destination for…

  • Ibra Old Quarter

    Oman

    The old part of Ibra is a honeycomb of crumbling mud-built houses of two or three storeys. There's a paved walkway of several kilometres through some of…

  • Sinaw Souq

    Oman

    Like most other souqs in the country, this market place, arranged around a central courtyard, is at its most active early on a Thursday morning. What…

  • Beehive Tombs

    Hajar Mountains

    Beside the village of Al Ayn, and arranged along a low, russet-coloured ridge, this string of tombs make a dramatic silhouette against Jebel Misht that…