Muscat

Muscat, the capital of Oman, is a perfect blend of old and new and the city enjoys a dramatic setting with the mountains on one side and the Arabian Sea on the other. The city itself was founded over 900 years ago and at its core are the three districts of Muttrah, Ruwi and Muscat.

• Watch the hustle & bustle of Muttrah’s morning fish market
  
• Enjoy a night at the opera at the stunning Royal Opera House
  
• Wander around the beautiful Grand Mosque and its gardens
  
• Head out for a day’s snorkeling in the Daymaniyat Islands
• Explore the fascinating and varied collections in the National Museum

The city is not only home to a thriving population of 1.5 million people, but also the Grand Mosque, the beautiful Royal Opera House and a whole host of forts, castles, souqs, traditional houses, watchtowers and excellent museums.

The old port district of Muscat is the site of the Sultan’s main palace and a fascinating place to spend a few hours exploring. The two Portuguese forts Jalali and Mirani dramatically guard the entrance to Muscat and serve as sentinels to the Sultan’s palace.

Oman’s cultural heritage is well preserved in Muscat’s many excellent museums and the famous Muttrah market, a traditional Omani souq, is certainly worth a visit. The old market of Muttrah, despite the many modern shopping centres, is still an important supply centre for Omanis and everything from spices to household items, fabrics, toys, antiques, gold and silver can be found here as well as the bustling morning fish market.