MUSCAT
A first Impression of Muscat
Muscat
We know Muscat as the capital of Oman however this region is made up of many different areas (metropolis) yet it is commonly known as the 'Capital Area' (about 880 thousand inhabitants). The government sits in the area well known as 'Old Muscat'. It is a forward-thinking, progressive city much loved by its citizens. It truly is a fascinating place and a destination on its own. It simply is the gem of the Middle East.
The people are friendly and more than willing to show their great country. You’ll find that the city is still developing, even the high-rise buildings manage to keep the Omani architectural style with a dome or an arabesque window. It is a truly clean, safe and peaceful city. People go about their day in this busy city without you feeling you are in the country's capital.
Due to Sultan Qaboos' influence and vision many changes have been made for the better in the last few decades. You name it, he's: Sultan, Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Minister of Foreign Affairs etc. When he came into power, in 1970, he started the “Renaissance for Oman” also known as the Age of Enlightenment. He completely transformed this medieval country into a prosperous modern country.
Oman is a country to look out for. It is changing fast, without losing it’s charm or heritage. It is one of those places that will be very sought after among tourists in about 20 years. So enjoy Muscat and Oman in its full glory while you still can.
* The owners of the webpage have lived in Oman for 22 years and loved every day of it, learned many things about its culture, lived and enjoyed life with many different nationalities and religions and appreciated the hospitality of these wonderful people.
Port of Call - Port Sultan Qaboos (Port Video)
In Muscat cruise ships usually dock at Port of Sultan Qaboos, berth 4 and 5. This is the official port of Muscat, located in front of Muttrah. There is no tourist information and no maps available on the dock, the terminal building is not always open. The cruise dock is wheelchair accessible.
Walking in the port is strictly prohibited and therefore the ship provides a shuttle bus. This shuttle bus usually goes to the port gate and to Muttrah Souk. It is wise not to get off at the port gates, because in general you will only find taxis waiting for you there and nothing else of interest. We highly recommend to stay on the shuttle bus until Muttrah Souk which is one of the three most interesting areas in the city.
Muscat is located between mountains and the ocean. It encompasses many suburbs which are spread over 60 km. Muscat is sometimes referred to as the “3 cities”. This is referring to the below 3 area’s:
– Muttrah: This is where the cruise shuttle bus will drop you off. It is about 2 km / 1.2 mile from the port. Here you’ll find the famous Muscat Corniche, Muttrah Souk, Bait Al Baranda Museum and the Incense Burner statue high above the bay.
– Ruwi: This neighborhood is about 6 km / 3.5 miles from the cruise port. This is considered as “downtown” Muscat and the business district.
– Old Muscat: About 7 km / 4.5 miles from the cruise port. This is definitely one area not to be missed on your visit to Muscat. Among others you’ll find Al Jalali Fort, Al Mirani Fort, Qasr Al Alam Royal Palace and Bait Al Zubair museum.
Suburbs:
Qurum with the Qurum Park, Shopping Centers and Qurum Beach
Shati Al-Qurum with the Royal Opera House, shops, restaurants, hotels, a beach. It is also an upscale residential area, it is also known as Muscat's Diplomatic District.
Other suburbs are Al-Gubrah, Medinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Al Kuwair and more, they are not of interests for tourists.
Transportation in Muscat
Muscat transport facilities are okay. Keep in mind that the city is quite spread out and therefore you’ll need some form of transportation if you want to discover the city on your own. Find out below what your options are.
Public bus system
There is a public bus service in Oman. You’ll find white/green buses and red buses. However we would not recommend to use this form of transportation.
Taxis in Muscat
The official taxis of Oman are white and orange. They do not have a meter, you will need to negotiate on a price before you step into the taxi.
Taxi fare for tours through Muscat area at the rate of R.O. 10 per hours for the first 3 hours and for extra time to be R.O. 7 per hour. The minibus fare is double than the Saloon Taxi if the passengers are more than 4 person.
One way rides can be quite expensive in Oman. For example one way from the port to another neighbourhood is probably 15 US dollar or from the port to the Grand Mosque will probable be around 40 US dollar or 17 RO.
To the left is a photo of a sign at the port with the taxi prices on them. This will give you a good idea of what it should costs, but in real life you notice that if rare to get the price as you’ll find it on the sign. Expect that you pay about 15 dollars for a 15 minute taxi drive. Prices like 15 dollars one way per taxi to the Qurum area and 40 dollars one way per taxi to the Grand Mosque are reasonable.
Hop on hop off bus
There is a hop on hop off bus available in Muscat. This red double bus will be waiting for you at the Mutrah Corniche, often at the same spot as where the cruise shuttle bus will drop you. Sometimes these busses also come onto the pier, but it depends on the kind of arrangements your cruise line has made for them.
The Hop on Hop off bus is pretty expensive compared to other places, but Muscat is spread out and therefore Hop on Hop off is already a nice choice just for practical reasons. They do change their facilities every now and then, make sure to check their shuttle bus services with them.
Destination and distance from cruise port
In town:
Mutrah (with the corniche, souk, incense burner, bait al brand museum)
2 km / 1,2 mile south of the port (where shuttle bus drops you off)
Ruwi
6 km / 3,5 miles south west of the port
Old Muscat (with Bait Al Zubair museum, Royal Palace, Al Jalali fort, Al Mirani fort)
7 km / 4,5 miles south east of the port
Al Bustan Palace 12 km / 7,5 miles south of the port
The Grand Mosque 25 km / 15,5 miles west of the port
Out of town:
Nakhl fortress 110 km / 68 miles south west of the port
Ain Thowarah 110 km / 68 miles south west of the port
Nizwa 180 km / 112 miles south west of the port
Jabrin Castle 205 km / 127 miles south west of the port
Stay in Touch
- Free Wi-Fi can be found at the airport and at more and more hotels, Banks and urban cafes.
Dress Code
Oman is a Muslim country, respect the local customs! Omanis do not need to cover up fully in public, most wear long, loose clothing and Vistors should do the same. (no shorts and bathing clothing on the street!) Women should cover their head with a light shawl when entering the
Sultan Qaboos Mosque or traditional rural communities.
At the beach, resorts and at sea things are more relaxed, but change out of your beachwear when leaving the boat, beach or pool.
Apply the same code of ethics as described on the page "Dubai" and you will have NO Problems and people will be very friendly and hospitable to you (in my opinion more than in Dubai).
For more information on Do's and Dont's when in Oman, Driving & prescription medicine
just click here:
Impressions of Muscat, Oman
What you need to see in the Capital Area (Muscat) Culture & Heritage
HOURS: non-Muslims 8-11am Sat-Thu
Hours: Friday Close, non-Muslims 8:30am - 11:30pm Sat-Thu,
(23rd July Street, Muscat, Oman, Muscat 113)
Click always on blue writing to get to links!
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Distance overview for Cruiseship Passengers
Culture & Heritage
Royal Opera House - Muscat
"(ROHM) is Oman's premier venue for musical arts and culture in Oman. I believe it is one off the most beautiful opera houses you can find, it fits into the landscape and also mirrors the Omani culture. You find it in Shati Al-Qurm district of Muscat, on Sultan Qaboos Street. Built on the royal orders of Sultan Qaboos of Oman.
The Royal Opera House mirrors unique contemporary Omani architecture, it can accommodate up to 1,100 people. The opera house complex consists of a concert theatre, auditorium, formal landscaped gardens, cultural market with retail, luxury restaurants and an art centre for musical, theatrical and operatic productions." (Text en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Opera_House_Muscat)
Did you know?
The prayer carpet in the Grand Mosque
Is the largest handmade carpet with
1,700,000,000 knots,
covers 4,342 sqm, weights 21 tonnes and
took 4 years to weave.
Activities - Beaches
Qurum Beach is a stretch of sand around four kilometres long in the capital Muscat. (Beach Road & Shati Al Qurum), there are showers and toilets. You will also find cafes, restaurants and shops.
Or a more private beach, go to the Crown Plaza. You will have to pay an entrance fee.
The Capital Area Yacht Club in Muscat offers Members, their families and guests the use of a beautiful beach and a Club House with a restaurant and refreshment facilities. A small entrance fee applies. It is a quiet beach. You can snorkel along the rocks.
Oman Dive Center Beach is a very good beach for divers and people who love snorkeling. The conditions are extremely good for both activities. Thanks to its sheltered location in the bay, the water is calm and clear, making the beach suitable for children as well. There are also sun loungers, shady spots, showers, toilets and a swimming pool on site.The dive center is a hub of activity for divers
and non-divers alike. The center offers diving courses, fun dives, snorkeling trips, kayaks, body boards, dolphin watching trips, coastal tours and even sunset cruises.
For more information on Beaches in the Sultanante of Oman please check:
https://www.beach-inspector.com/de/ba/oman
BOATING in Oman
Marina Bandar Al Rowdha
In the marina you will find boats and tour operator for dolfine watching and boat tours.
Check the Marina Website http://www.marinaoman.net/
Diving in Muscat (Links)
1. Extra Divers Qantab / Muscat, Oman
2. Extra Divers Sifah / Muscat, Oman
Day Trips from Muscat
If you come by ship, check with you destination desk if it offers you an excursion you like. Time might be a problem and missing the ship is not an option!
If you like to be independent and do your own thing, if you are used to drive in other countries, off-roading on winding and small roads you can do the 2 trips we have described . It is possible to do just parts of it, just to your liking. Advice: Usa a Navi!
1. Nakhl & Rustaq
The so-called Rustaq Loop in the Batinah Region is a wonderful day trip, combining a mountain scenery with three of Oman’s best castles – at Nakhal, Rustaq and Al Hazm. When you come from a cruiseship, you time is limited, we suggest visit only Nakhl Fort and the Hot Springs (Al Thowarah) (Maps), it would be enough for the day. (There and Back: 217 km 2 h 30 min)
If you also want to see Rustaq the total trip would be 325 km 3h 38 min. With the visiting time it would be something about 5 to 6 hours.
This days the roads, especialy the motorway can be very busy.
The mountains and the spectacular wadis leading into them offer possibilities for off-road driving, but be careful and when it rains STAY-OUT of the wadis.
The loop goes along single-carriageway Highway 13, a fast, and usually fairly traffic-free (except between Barka and Nakhal) stretch of road.
Drive careful in the Sultanate of Oman!!
You will have people running over the motorways and appear suddenly in front of your car. The sharia Law applies to an accident and it is always the fault of the stronger one – the car.
However, if you drive careful and concentrated there should be no problem.
If it rains in Oman and it does, be very careful in Wadis or on roads. If the guide post shows red, STOP! also the roads can be very slippery after a long spell of draught! In Wadis go to higher grounds, if necessary get out of the car and rescue yourself. In Oman more people die from flashfloods, than to die of thirst (desert).
2. Nizwa , Bahla, Jabeen Castle, Jebel Shams & Jebel Akhdar
If your ship stays longer in port and it offers a trip to Nizwa and Jabrin, do with them to ensure you will be back in time.
If you have time, rent a car and start a wonderful experience.
The trips discribed can be also split into different single trips.
Day 1:
- Drive from Muscat to Nizwa (Road 15), Visit the Fort and walk around the souq, have a Omani Qahwa (Caffee) with Cardamom.
(By the way, my wife always advises me always to take plenty of water along and I totally agree! when driving around in Oman in the heat)
- Follow the route 15 until Bahla, see the Bahla Fort (the UNESCO World Heritage List), see the link.
The fortress of Hisn Tamah is a fortress in the town of Bahla in Oman.
It is located directly on the road from Bahla to Nizwa. The fortress, together with the town of Bahla, is surrounded by a 7-mile-long city wall. The exact date of construction is unknown, but is estimated to be the 17th century. Even the builders are not known, but one suspects that the Nabhani have built the fortress. In 1987, the fortress was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A restoration of the very vulnerable site was started. However, as the UNESCO saw that the originality of the building was in danger by this step, it put it on the red list of endangered World Heritage sites from 1988 to 2004. The restoration changed and the restauration started to use traditional methods to avoid the denial as a world heritage site.
Today the fortress of Hisn Tamah is one of the most important cultural sights in Oman.
As of 2014, the fortress can be visited, but the rooms are empty and not yet furnished (as in the forts of Nizwa and Nakl). Wikipedia
So far, the trip described, can be done in a day from Muscat and cruisers can do it if the ship leaves after 6 o'clock.
To read more about the extended trip (for individual travelers) go the the page OMAN.
The two pictures are out of my own big, old collection of photos of Oman. They are paper pictures, scanned and enhanced. In the Gallery I will publish from time to time new "old" pictures.
A few more links to the Sultanate of Oman
A Last Climpse of Muscat
