8 Picture-Perfect Places in Muscat
Oman, so overlooked, yet so bloody gorgeous. I constantly had to stop and take photos, whether it was architecture, water or nature.
These are some of my favourite places, and those that made me grab my camera the most.
1. Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
I think it would be very rude to not start with the obvious. But blimey, this mosque gave me goosebumps. It’s breathtaking, and photos don’t do it quite enough justice. The architecture is incredible, particularly the enormous central dome, intricate details and the huge prayer hall.
Good to know though is you must be completely covered, head to toe and absolutely nothing transparent. My skirt was slightly see-through from below the knee and I was made to borrow something.
Best time: Morning, when visitors are permitted.
2. Muttrah Corniche
One of my favourite views in Muscat, especially with the mountains rising directly behind the city. The Muttrah Corniche stretches along the waterfront, with the souq, old buildings and mountains all in one area.
Best time: Late afternoon / sunset
3. Royal Opera House Muscat
The opera house opened in 2011 and is Oman's main venue for music and cultural performances.
It’s really quite modern and different to other opera houses I’ve seen, but it keeps in touch with the Omani style. Even if you're not going to see a performance, it’s a great building to see firsthand and the surrounding complex.
4. Wadi Al Kabir & Heights Viewpoint
Wadi Al Kabir is one of the residential areas of Muscat and somewhere that shows you the contrast in Muscat, where you've got normal residential areas and roads in one bit, and then huge rocky mountains rising up behind them. If you want to see just how much of Muscat is surrounded by mountains, the viewpoint is where to go.
From there, you can see the city spread out below with the mountains and sea in the distance. I went up later in the day with my guide, which gave everything a much nicer light.
5. Old Muscat & Takia
Depending where you’re based in Muscat, it might not be so easy to reach. I was far and taxis cost a little, so it makes more sense to group the locations as I did and for example, walk back via Muttrah Corniche just before sunset. Regardless in any way you plan your time, it’s really worth seeing this part of the city as it’s so different from the modern areas.
The buildings are mostly white, with all these little details around the windows, doors and balconies, and then the mountains sit directly behind them. This area in particular was around Takia / Al Saidiya Street, which is within the wider Old Muscat area. Al Saidiya Street is also where you'll find Bait Al Zubair.
6. Al Alam Palace
Al Alam Palace is the Sultan's ceremonial palace, and although you can't go inside, the area around it is worth seeing. What I particularly liked was the contrast between the bright buildings, the mountains and the old forts around the harbour.
→ Easy to combine with Bait Al Zubair and the rest of Old Muscat.
Photo from one of the sides
7. Bait Al Zubair Museum
I wanted to include this because it's not just another pretty building but quite a good place to learn more about Oman.
Bait Al Zubair has a large collection of Omani artefacts, including traditional clothing, jewellery, weapons, household objects, manuscripts and other pieces of Omani heritage. The complex is made up of several buildings as well as a traditional-style garden.
I think it's a good one to add if you want something beyond just looking at forts and mosques all day.
Entrance fee:3.2 OMR (€7.50 approx.) for foreigners
→ Find it on Al Saidiya Street, Old Muscat.
Coffee break in Kadm Cafe - Bait Muzna Gallery
8. Muscat Gate
You'll pass through Muscat Gate when heading into Old Muscat, and it's worth stopping for a look. The huge gateway makes for a nice photo, but it also gives you a bit of context for Old Muscat itself, as it was historically a walled city, with gates controlling access in and out.
So I'd treat this as part of your Old Muscat wander rather than a separate excursion.
9. Rozna Restaurant
Okay, this one is technically a restaurant, but I can’t not mention it.
Rozna is designed to resemble an old Omani fort, with huge walls, arches, a courtyard and traditional-style private dining rooms. You can really experience the local food here (not just admire the architecture), and let me tell you, it was the beginning of a love affair.
I went for dinner here and loved the whole setting.
→ Want to see what dinner at Rozna was actually like? Read all about it
Want to see these places for yourself?
I've included most of these stops in my Muscat itinerary, where you can see how I actually put my days together rather than just having a list of places to tick off.