Places to visit in Muscat

Top Things to Do in Muscat, Oman

Places to Visit in Muscat


Book these experiences for a close-up look at Muscat.


Top Attractions in Muscat

These rankings are informed by traveller reviews—we consider the quality, quantity, recency, consistency of reviews, and the number of page views over time.
Art Museums
The National Museum - Sultanate of Oman, established in 2013, is the Sultanate's flagship cultural institution, showcasing the nation's heritage from the earliest human settlement in the Oman Peninsula some two million years ago through to the present day. As a national institution with global outreach, the museum is dedicated to ensuring Oman's cultural heritage is understood and appreciated not only within the Sultanate, but also internationally. Further, it aims to provide opportunities for cultural expression, innovation and the transfer of traditional skills and knowledge from one generation to the next. The museum is located in the heart of Muscat in a magnificent purpose-designed building. The total area of the building is 13,700 square metres (147,000 sq ft), including 4,000 square metres (43,000 sq ft) allocated for 14 permanent galleries - The Land and the People Gallery, Maritime History Gallery, Arms and Armour Gallery, Aflaj Gallery, Currency Gallery, Prehistory and Ancient History Galleries, Splendours of Islam Gallery, Oman and the World Gallery, Intangible Heritage Gallery and Renaissance Gallery, among others. A further 400 square metres (4,300 sq ft) are allocated for temporary exhibitions. The National Museum houses 5466 objects and offers 43 digital immersive experiences, a fully equipped Learning Centre, state-of-the-art conservation facilities, a UHD cinema and discovery areas for children. It features an integrated infrastructure for special needs and is the first museum in the Middle East to adopt Arabic Braille script for the visually impaired. It also houses the region's first open-plan museum storage concept, where visitors can learn about the various processes that artefacts go through before they are put on display.
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From quick jaunts to full-day outings.






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What travellers are saying

  • scotdoc2015
    Birmingham, UK204 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must visit. Grand & symmetrical no expenses spared mosque. Truly beautiful, Awe inspiring. Ought to be seen at night and daylight.
    Written 17 March 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Harmesh K
    Gurugram (Gurgaon), India221 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The pristine shiny marble flooring & the beautiful architecture is inspiring ! The entry is majestic while the garden was teaming with colourful flowers especially petunias. The inside of the opera house felt cool & grand … box office counter was inviting but there wasn’t going to be show in the near future!
    The upscale showrooms of Lalique & other major jewellery stores gave a very posh & luxurious feel ! The Opera House is very well & centrally located well worth a visit even if no shows are running
    Written 13 March 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Maximilian
    Hong Kong, China291 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mutrah Souq is a bustling and vibrant market, offering a fascinating glimpse into local culture and commerce. The variety of products available is impressive, making it a great spot for shopping and exploration. However, the experience is somewhat dampened by the occasional overzealousness of some vendors, which can be overwhelming. Despite this, it’s still a worthwhile visit for those interested in experiencing a traditional market atmosphere.
    Written 14 January 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • MarcusHurley
    Calne, UK9,564 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Bait al Zubair Museum was a twentieth century Omani house, owned by a long standing government minister that was then converted to a museum to showcase Omani culture - clothes, weapons, architecture, trade and music and the differences between the regions that make up the country. Again, the 45 minutes we had here weren't enough but we did get an overview of the country and its people and left with a greater understanding than we had before we went inside.

    We didn't have time to see the gardens, the separate recreation of an Omani house, the map rooms or the stamps and coins room, basically in 45 minutes we just saw the ground floor so allow maybe 2 hours.
    Written 18 March 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Christian M
    Copenhagen, Denmark4,068 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Qurum Beach is a lovely beach for a stroll, but sunbathing in Western swimwear just doesn't work. Both women and men are expected to be conservatively dressed, both on the beach and in the water.

    But what to do, you ask in despair? You want sun on your body and to flaunt that new bikini...

    The solution is nearby. When you're done strolling up and down Qurum Beach, hop in your car and drive to the Capital Yacht Club.

    Here, the entrance fee is OMR2, and for that amount, you get a sunbed, a parasol, the softest sand, and delightful bathing water, where you can even do a bit of snorkeling by the rocks at each end of the beach.

    And yes, it's perfectly okay to sunbathe in a bikini and small Speedos here. Remember a towel, water, and a snack for a little hunger.
    Written 30 November 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Ebsflo
    99 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    We went to see the Bimmah Sinkhole as it was only 20km after Wadi Shab. Worth visiting if you are in the area and it is free.

    The steps down and up are steep. Once you’re in the water it is very cool. No changing facility so best to put your swimming clothes on first and then a tshirt on top.

    Once you are in the water you can have a decent swim and enjoy this natural beauty. If you have water/swimming please take these.

    It is unmanned but they are developing the surrounding areas
    Written 30 November 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • MarcusHurley
    Calne, UK9,564 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Entry was 10 OMR for the 2 of us and the museum was superb. There were few other visitors and the museum was well laid out with all explanation panels in English, Arabic and braille. There was a multitude of different galleries covering weapons, seafaring, Islam, agriculture, trade, clothing, architecture and probably more. I really can't fault a single aspect of the museum, there were clear explanations for every exhibit, there were interactive displays to show how the old wooden boats were made and plenty of maps to show which region was being spoken about.

    Each gallery had portable stools that you could use of you wanted a breather and the whole prehistory and history of the region was covered. We discovered some awesome looking sites that I wasn't aware of that have now been added to my travel list! We spent 2 hours on the museum and only left because they were closing at 3PM (which we didn't know or we'd have got there earlier).
    Written 18 March 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Muhammad U
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very luxurious and most beautiful mosque. Should see must. Highly recommended to see. Try to pray Salah there with imam
    Written 23 November 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Salman
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This is one of the best museum I had ever visit. It's nice place to visit with family location is very impressive
    Written 13 May 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • nauj63
    South East England, UK806 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    … an absolute highlight ! It’s the scale of this place that impresses. And central to this is arguably the Chandelier that dominates the main prayer room - 14m x 8m of Swarovski crystal weighing 8 tonnes ! The ‘estate’ beyond is reminiscent of the Taj Mahal - imposing & memorable for it’s structures. Beyond the Mosque, the Opera House, the fish market and the Mutrah Souk are all worthy inclusions to an educational 4-hour private tour.
    Written 9 December 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • timtruro1
    Boston, MA80 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    After reading all the horrible reviews here about people's experiences on Qantas I was very reluctant after booking business class from Honolulu to Sydney. Unfortunately or fortunately my experience was wonderful beginning to end. Yes the flight was delayed an hour but I was notified the previous day. The crew were very attentive addressing me by my name. Seat was larger than Hawaiian Air's lie flat. Entertainment had tons of good movies to watch. The food was non stop and well timed throughout the entire flight. The crew was very friendly, concerned, attentive and warm. Great flight. Well done Honolulu to Sydney crew! Cheers!
    Written 4 March 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Joanna M
    Havirov, Czech Republic13 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    This park was a surprise find. We arrived at dusk, and the sky was beautiful. They were preparing for the Iftar, and there was an expectant atmosphere in the park. It was quiet and calm and very well maintained. We wandered as far as the lake. It looks like parts of the park are under reconstruction, but it is March and so not high season. It's a nice place to watch the sunset.
    Written 29 March 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions about Muscat