Oman packs a lot into a first trip: the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and the old harbor souq in Muscat, round towers and mud-brick forts around Nizwa, turquoise pools in the wadis, and a night in a camp among the dunes of the Sharqiyah Sands. Jebel Shams and Jebel Akhdar, the mountains above Nizwa, are roughly two hours by car from Muscat, and good highways run from the capital to Sur on the coast.
This page starts with our ranked picks for a first trip, best first, each with a practical tip on timing, booking or etiquette. Below them you will find every sight we cover in Muscat, Nizwa and Sur, with opening notes and checked entry fees where we have them, then answers to common questions.
The 18 best things to do in Oman
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- 1Muscat
Visit the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in the morning
The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Bawshar, on the road into central Muscat, opened in 2001 and was built from nearly 300,000 tons of Indian sandstone. Its five minarets stand for the Five Pillars of Islam, and the central dome rises 50 m above the floor of a prayer hall that holds about 6,500 worshippers, with room for about 20,000 across the whole mosque. The hall floor is a single hand-woven Persian carpet of 4,200 square meters, made from 1,700 million knots in 28 colors over about 27 months. Its marble walls, carved doors and arched corridors decorated in styles from across the Islamic world are best seen slowly, on foot.
Tip: Non-Muslim visitors are welcome on mornings from Saturday to Thursday until 11 AM, so arrive early, covering shoulders and knees (women also cover their hair; abayas and scarves are available at the entrance), and take off your shoes before the prayer hall.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Diwan of Royal Court, Sultan Qaboos Higher Centre for Culture and ScienceEntry: OMR 8 (about $21) · Non-Muslim visitors Saturday to Thursday morningsLast verified
- 2Sur
Swim to the cave waterfall in Wadi Shab
Wadi Shab is a limestone gorge near the old port of Sur, about 170 km from Muscat International Airport, with turquoise pools between sheer cliffs and palm trees. The walk starts with a short ride on a small boat across the water near the entrance. From there a trail of walking and wading climbs past a string of natural pools; a little under 2 km in, you meet a canal and follow it to a path that continues up the valley. At the far end, you swim through a narrow cave to reach a waterfall inside a grotto, so basic swimming skills are needed. There are no shops in the wadi, and the cliffs give some shade on the way back.
Tip: Wear hiking boots or water sandals rather than flip-flops, carry plenty of water and food, and take a life jacket for the cave swim if you are not a confident swimmer.
Search tours on KlookSources: Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman, with WanderlustFree; a boat crosses at the entrance - 3Sur
Spend a night in a Sharqiyah Sands desert camp
The Sharqiyah Sands cover about 10,000 square kilometers of dunes in eastern Oman. Once you leave the flat plain of Al Mintarib, the sand turns from pale yellow to rusty red and orange as the day goes on. Bidiyah is the gateway, and the camps among the dunes are the way to see the desert properly: arrive in the afternoon, ride a camel or try sandboarding, watch the sun go down from a ridge, then eat dinner under a sky clear enough for stargazing. In winter, hot air balloons fly over the sands from Bidiyah when the weather allows, with an early pickup from your camp to catch the sunrise. Dune drives and visits to Bedouin villages are other ways to spend the day.
Tip: Book your camp well ahead for October to February, when desert camps fill quickly, and pack a warm layer, since nights in the dunes get cold.
Sources: Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman, with WanderlustBook a camp with dinner - 4Nizwa
Climb the great round tower of Nizwa Fort
Nizwa, the old capital of Oman's interior, is built around its fort. Imam Sultan bin Saif bin Malik Al Ya'rubi, who ruled from 1649 to 1679, had it built over 12 years. The great circular tower is 34 m high and 45 m across, set on a base packed with stone, with cannon openings that covered every direction. You climb to the top through a narrow staircase shaped like the letter H that passes seven heavy doors, each one a defensive trap. Inside are the Imam's room, a prison, a date store, heritage rooms and workshops for silver and copper crafts and halwa making, and the top gives wide views over Nizwa and the souq beside the fort.
Tip: The fort opens every day from 8 AM to 8 PM, but on Fridays it closes from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, so plan a Friday visit for the morning or later afternoon.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Nizwa Fort; Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman, with WanderlustOMR[fee], tickets at reception - 5Muscat
Wander Mutrah Souq and the Muttrah Corniche
Mutrah was once the center of Oman's trade, and its souq is still a maze of alleys beside the harbor. Traders sell frankincense, as they have for over 2,000 years, alongside silver jewelry, embroidered mussar turbans and khanjars, the curved Omani daggers. Step out of the souq and you are on the Muttrah Corniche, the seafront promenade past the blue dome and minaret of the Al Lawati Mosque, with wooden dhows still moored at Sultan Qaboos Port. The Mutrah Fish Market is the place to see the catch: sardines, giant prawns and king mackerel.
Tip: Visit between September and May, the best season for the souq, and dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, as you would anywhere in public in Oman.
Sources: Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman, with Wanderlust; UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (GOV.UK)Pay as you go - 6Nizwa
Look into Wadi Ghul from Jebel Shams
Jebel Shams, the Mountain of the Sun, is Oman's highest peak, and it looks into Wadi Ghul, the deep canyon beside it. It sits in the Hajar Mountains, roughly a two-hour drive from Muscat, and the air up here can be up to 15 degrees Celsius cooler than the lowlands. Most people come for the view over the canyon rim. Hikers can take the Balcony Walk, a tough trail of about 5 km each way along the canyon wall to the abandoned village of As Sab, whose stone houses are built into the cliff. Climbers and abseilers also come here, and the mountain is a good base for clear night skies.
Tip: Drive up in a well-equipped 4x4 or go with a driver, start hikes early with at least 2 liters of water each, and pack a warm jacket, since temperatures can drop below freezing in winter.
Search tours on KlookSources: Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman, with Wanderlust; Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (GOV.UK)Free to visit - 7Nizwa
Walk the terraces of Misfat Al Abriyeen at sunset
Misfat Al Abriyeen is a mud-brick village stacked into the slopes of the Hajar Mountains, around two hours' drive west of Muscat and about 1,000 m above sea level. A nomadic tribe settled here between 300 and 500 years ago, and the village still lives from its falaj, the ancient water channel that feeds terraces of date palms, bananas, figs and citrus. Narrow stone lanes, some barely wider than your shoulders, lead past old doorways to a watchtower at the top. The Sunset Walk follows the falaj around the village edge and out into the fields as the peaks turn gold. Marked trails run from just over half an hour to about two hours.
Tip: Stay overnight in one of the village's six family-run guesthouses to see it at dawn, and remember that people live here: dress modestly and ask before photographing anyone.
Sources: Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman, with Wanderlust; UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (GOV.UK)Free to visit - 8Muscat
Tour Old Muscat's National Museum and Al Alam Palace
Old Muscat is the place to start with Omani history. The National Museum, opened in 2016, holds over 7,000 objects, from ancient maritime instruments and early Islamic manuscripts to weapons and finds from the incense routes of Dhofar, with digital galleries and labels in Arabic Braille. Across the street stands Al Alam Palace, the ceremonial palace of the Sultan, with its blue and gold facade. Bait Al Zubair Museum, a family collection of jewelry, weapons and costume set in restored houses, is a few minutes' walk away, and Al Mirani Fort, rebuilt by the Portuguese in 1588, guards the harbor.
Tip: The museum is open every day from 10 AM to 5 PM with the ticket desk closing at 4:30 PM, but Bait Al Zubair is closed on Fridays, so walk the quarter on another day to see both.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: National Museum of Oman; Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman, with WanderlustVisitors: OMR 5 (about $13) · Pay at the ticket deskLast verified
- 9Muscat
Take a guided tour of the Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House Muscat opened in 2011 as the first opera house in the Gulf region, and it stages opera, ballet, orchestral concerts and Arabic and Omani music. Guided tours show off its decoration, with motifs drawn from Islamic, Mughal, Oriental and European art, explain the machinery that switches the auditorium from theater to concert mode, and stop at a collection of rare musical instruments. Backstage is closed to visitors, and photos are allowed only in some areas. Afterward, the Opera Galleria, the opera house's own arcade, has about 50 shops, including Omani craft shops, plus cafés and restaurants that open from morning until midnight. A bus stop sits right beside the opera house.
Tip: Tours run every 20 minutes from Saturday to Thursday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, but depend on the auditorium being free, so check the performance calendar and consider an evening show instead.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Royal Opera House Muscat; Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Royal Opera House MuscatOpera house or museum only: OMR 3.15 (about $8) · Opera house and museum: OMR 4.20 (about $11) · Guided tours Saturday to ThursdayLast verified
- 10Nizwa
Explore UNESCO-listed Bahla Fort and its oasis
Bahla Fort was the first site in Oman inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, in 1987. It sits on a hill above a palm oasis, and its oldest parts date to before Islam. The Nabhani dynasty, who made Bahla their capital for five centuries, expanded it into an irregular mud-brick complex of about 9,822 square meters, with three main sections, towers and broad courtyards. Around it, the oasis walls run for more than 12 km, enclosing old mosques, Quran schools, a traditional market and the pottery workshops Bahla is known for. The fields are still watered by aflaj, the old channels of Oman.
Tip: The fort opens daily from 8 AM to 7 PM; Jabreen Castle is only 8 km from the center of Bahla, so see both in the same morning or afternoon.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman)OMR[fee], tickets at reception - 11Nizwa
See the decorated halls of Jabreen Castle
Jabreen Castle, about 20 km from Nizwa and 8 km from Bahla, was built in 1675 under Imam Bil'arab bin Sultan Al Ya'rubi. Unlike most Omani forts, it was made to be a palace of learning and government as well as a stronghold, and it shows. Behind a grand gate decorated with floral motifs, you find meeting halls, a courtroom, living quarters, storerooms for dates and gunpowder, and the Sun and Moon Room, used for important councils, with richly decorated interiors. The defenses are just as clever, with openings for pouring boiling oil and date syrup on attackers, and the roof looks out over the Hajar Mountains. An automated guide is available.
Tip: The castle is open daily from 7:30 AM to 9 PM, and its restaurant serves a lunch and dinner buffet by prior booking, so reserve ahead if you want to eat there.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman)OMR[fee], tickets at reception - 12Sur
Swim in the green pools of Wadi Bani Khalid
Wadi Bani Khalid winds down through the Eastern Hajar Mountains to the village of Bida, and it is one of the most fertile valleys in Oman, green with palm and date groves. Rushing water falls into natural pools, then spreads into lakes that villagers have long used to fill three irrigation channels. The path through the valley follows the water past the pools toward Muqal, known for its cave, which only people with the right equipment should explore. It lies in the same governorate as Bidiyah and the Sharqiyah Sands, so it pairs well with a night in a desert camp.
Tip: Check the forecast before you go, since wadis can flash flood after heavy rain from October to March, and stay away for at least a day after a storm.
Search tours on KlookSources: Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman, with Wanderlust; UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (GOV.UK)Free to visit - 13Nizwa
Shop for silver and pottery at Nizwa Souq
Nizwa Souq wraps around the foot of Nizwa Fort and is one of the best places in Oman to shop for traditional crafts. Look for khanjars, the curved Omani daggers, hand-painted jugs, pots and plates, and heavy geometric Bedouin jewelry in silver, the metal Omani jewelers have always preferred. Small finds include the mukahel, a finger-sized vessel with a tiny wand for applying kohl. As the market of the interior, it also leans toward livestock, pottery and locally grown dates, and you can pick up bags of camel milk coffee and pomegranate tea. The fort's own halwa workshop is a few steps away if you want to taste the local sweet.
Tip: Expect to haggle, and a few Arabic words help: hatha bi kam means how much is this, and shukran means thank you.
Sources: Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman, with WanderlustPay as you go - 14Muscat
Climb Muttrah Fort for views over the harbor
Muttrah Fort sits on the rocky hill above the Muttrah Corniche, looking down on the old harbor and the lanes of Muttrah. The Portuguese first built it in the 1580s, and Oman's Ya'arubah rulers rebuilt it between 1624 and 1742 to guard the harbor and the city. It has three round towers: a large central tower at the top and two smaller ones to the west and north, joined by thick sloping walls and inner courtyards. Walking the towers and paths gives the best overview of the bay you have just strolled along, and guided tours are available on request. The souq, the corniche and Bait Al Zubair are all close by.
Tip: The fort is open daily from 8 AM to 11 PM, and some sections have limited access, so wear shoes with good grip.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman)Non-resident adults: OMR 3 (about $8) · Pay at the gateLast verified
- 15Sur
See Sur's dhow heritage at Fath Al Khair Center
Sur was one of the great shipbuilding ports of Arabia, trading with East Africa and India, and its shipyards still build wooden dhows by hand. The Fath Al Khair Center, a maritime museum opened in November 2021, tells that story through artifacts, manuscripts and navigation tools. In its courtyard stands the Fath Al Khair itself, the last traditional ghanjah ship in Oman, brought home to Sur in the early 1990s with money raised by the city's residents and merchants. Afterward, walk over to the Al Ayjah Lighthouse, and climb to Al Sunaysilah Fort, whose four towers look over the sea and the town.
Tip: The museum is closed on Fridays and public holidays, so plan your Sur day for another day of the week.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman, with Wanderlust; Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman)Non-Omani visitors, 12 and older: OMR 3 (about $8) · Pay at the doorLast verified
- 16Nizwa
Trace Oman's story at Oman Across Ages Museum
The Oman Across Ages Museum in Manah, a short drive from Nizwa, is a striking modern building that tells the country's story from its first settlers to the present day. Interactive galleries cover prehistoric and Islamic Oman, the old trade routes, archaeological sites and the traditional crafts that shaped Omani identity, and they work well for families. It makes a good first stop in the Nizwa area, giving context for the forts, falaj villages and souqs you will see over the next days. The museum also has a café and a gift shop, so it is an easy place to pause on a hot afternoon.
Tip: The galleries open Saturday to Thursday from 9 AM to 5 PM but only from 1:30 to 7 PM on Fridays, and tickets can be booked online.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Oman Across Ages Museum; Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman, with WanderlustVisitors from outside the GCC: OMR 5 (about $13) · Pay at the doorLast verified
- 17Sur
Watch for nesting turtles near Ras Al Hadd
Ras Al Hadd, about 35 km from Sur, sits where the Sea of Oman meets the Arabian Sea, and the area is the first point in the Arabian Peninsula to see the sunrise. Its castle, begun in the 16th century, has a main citadel and two towers joined by a wall nearly 3 m thick, ceilings of Indian teak and timber from Mombasa and Zanzibar, and an underground passage of about 500 m to a freshwater well. Close by, the beaches of Ras al Jinz are one of the most important nesting grounds for endangered green turtles in the Indian Ocean, and the reserve there also protects remains of settlements more than 4,300 years old.
Tip: Plan this between May and September for the best chance of seeing turtles, with peak nesting from July to September, and visit the castle between 8 AM and 5 PM.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman, with Wanderlust; Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman)OMR[fee], tickets at reception - 18Muscat
Take a boat out to see dolphins off Muscat
Oman's waters are home to about 20 species of whales and dolphins, drawn close to the coast by rich feeding grounds, and organized boat trips leave from Muscat to look for them. Species range from bottlenose and spinner dolphins to killer whales and blue whales, and a sighting often comes within moments. Humpback whales are seen mainly from December to March, and whale sharks from September to November. Boats also head out for snorkeling and diving: the Daymaniyat Islands, reached by boat from Al Mouj, and Bandar Khayran are among the best spots for coral and marine life.
Tip: Book a trip for the cooler months from September to May, when dolphins visit the coast, and make sure there is a life jacket for every passenger before you set off.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman, with Wanderlust; UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (GOV.UK)
Every sight, city by city
Al Alam Palace
The ceremonial palace of Sultan Qaboos in Old Muscat, known for its blue and gold facade.Entry: Free to view from outsideSearch tours on KlookAl Mirani Fort
A harbor fort rebuilt by the Portuguese in 1588, now with a weapons museum and sea views.Entry: OMR[fee], tickets at receptionSearch tickets and tours on KlookBait Al Luban
A Muttrah restaurant named by the tourism ministry for authentic Omani dishes such as shuwa and harees.Entry: Pay as you goBait Al Zubair Museum
A museum in Old Muscat, founded by the Zubair family in 1998, on Omani crafts and social history.Entry: Pay at the door. Closed FridaysSearch tickets and tours on KlookMutrah Fish Market
Muttrah's fish market by the harbor, where the catch includes sardines, prawns and king mackerel.Entry: Pay as you goMutrah Souq
A traditional market of narrow alleys and small shops behind the Muttrah seafront.Entry: Pay as you goMuttrah Corniche
The seafront promenade of Muttrah, curving between the souq, the fort and the old harbor.Entry: Free to visitMuttrah Fort
A hilltop fort with three round towers, looking down on Muttrah Corniche and the old harbor.Entry: Pay at the gateSearch tickets and tours on KlookNational Museum of Oman
Oman's story in 14 galleries in Old Muscat, from maritime instruments to early Islamic manuscripts.Entry: Pay at the ticket deskSearch tickets and tours on KlookOpera Galleria
The opera house's arcade of Omani craft shops, cafés and restaurants, which open from 8 AM to midnight.Entry: Pay as you goQurum Beach
A long sandy beach with a promenade, a few minutes' drive from the opera house.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on KlookRoyal Opera House Muscat
The Gulf's first opera house, opened in 2011, with guided tours of its hall and gardens.Entry: Guided tours Saturday to ThursdaySearch tickets and tours on KlookSultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
Oman's great mosque, opened in 2001, with a 50 m dome and a vast hand-woven Persian carpet.Entry: Non-Muslim visitors Saturday to Thursday morningsSearch tickets and tours on KlookBahla Fort
Oman's first UNESCO World Heritage site, a vast mud-brick fort in a walled oasis.Entry: OMR[fee], tickets at receptionSearch tickets and tours on KlookBayt Al Ridaydah
A 17th-century fortified house in Birkat Al Mouz with painted ceilings and carved gypsum.Entry: OMR[fee], tickets at receptionSearch tickets and tours on KlookJabreen Castle
A palace and fort built in 1675, known for its decorated rooms and the Sun and Moon Room.Entry: OMR[fee], tickets at receptionSearch tickets and tours on KlookJabreen Castle café
The café and restaurant at Jabreen Castle, with a lunch buffet by prior booking.Entry: Pay as you goJebel Shams
Oman's tallest peak, known for sweeping panoramas; the pin marks the Wadi Ghul viewpoint.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on KlookMisfat Al Abriyeen
A mud-brick mountain village above terraced palm gardens, watered by an old falaj channel.Entry: Free to visitNizwa Fort
A 17th-century round fort 34 m high and 45 m across, with heritage rooms and a prison.Entry: OMR[fee], tickets at receptionSearch tickets and tours on KlookNizwa Fort café
The café inside Nizwa Fort, beside its date store and halwa-making workshop.Entry: Pay as you goNizwa Souq
The traditional market right beside Nizwa Fort, known across Oman for its handicrafts.Entry: Pay as you goOman Across Ages Museum
A large museum in Manah telling Oman's history from prehistory to today in interactive galleries.Entry: Pay at the doorSearch tickets and tours on KlookOman Across Ages Museum café
The café at the Oman Across Ages Museum in Manah, south of Nizwa.Entry: Pay as you goAl Ayjah Lighthouse
The old lighthouse of Al Ayjah, once a beacon for sailors arriving in the port of Sur.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on KlookAl Sunaysilah Fort
A 17th-century fort with four towers on a rocky plateau, with views over Sur and the sea.Entry: OMR[fee], tickets at receptionSearch tickets and tours on KlookDesert camps, Sharqiyah Sands
Desert camps among the dunes where visitors spend the night, eat and watch the stars.Entry: Book a camp with dinnerFath Al Khair Center
Sur's maritime museum, built around the Fath Al Khair, the last traditional ghanjah ship in Oman.Entry: Pay at the door. Closed FridaysSearch tickets and tours on KlookFath Al Khair Center coffee shop
The coffee shop at Sur's maritime museum, beside the courtyard where the old ship stands.Entry: Pay as you go. Closed FridaysRas Al Hadd Castle
A 16th-century castle about 35 km from Sur, on Oman's easternmost headland.Entry: OMR[fee], tickets at receptionSearch tickets and tours on KlookSharqiyah Sands
About 10,000 square kilometers of dunes that change from pale yellow to orange through the day.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on KlookWadi Bani Khalid
A green valley in the Eastern Hajar Mountains with waterfalls and natural pools for swimming.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on KlookWadi Shab
A limestone gorge of turquoise pools, reached by boat and trail, ending in a cave with a waterfall.Entry: Free; a boat crosses at the entranceSearch tours on KlookQuestions travelers ask
What are the best things to do in Oman for a first trip?
Start in Muscat with the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, the National Museum in Old Muscat and an evening on the Muttrah Corniche and in Mutrah Souq. Then head inland to Nizwa for its fort and souq, Bahla Fort, Jabreen Castle and the canyon views of Jebel Shams. On the coast, swim through Wadi Shab, see the dhow heritage of Sur, and spend a night in a desert camp in the Sharqiyah Sands.
Sources: Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman)How many days do you need in Oman?
Five days covers the classic loop of Muscat, the Sharqiyah coast and desert, and Nizwa: a day in Muscat, a day for Wadi Shab and Sur with a night in a desert camp, and two days around Nizwa and the mountains. With a week or more, add Ras Al Hadd and the turtle beaches, a boat trip from Muscat, or a night in a mountain village such as Misfat Al Abriyeen. The mountains are roughly two hours by car from Muscat.
Sources: Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman, with WanderlustWhen is the best time to visit Oman for sightseeing?
The cooler months from October to early March are the most comfortable. Winter runs from November to early March, with Muscat averaging about 26 degrees Celsius and cool evenings, and autumn averages about 28 degrees. Summer, from June to August, reaches 35 to 45 degrees in the lowlands, so save it for the mountains or for Dhofar's khareef season. In spring, roses bloom on Jebel Akhdar, and turtle watching runs from May to September.
Sources: Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman)Which Oman attractions should you book ahead?
Most forts, souqs and wadis need no booking, and fort tickets are sold at the reception desk. Book a desert camp in the Sharqiyah Sands early for October to February, when camps and guides fill quickly, since balloon flights pick you up from there. Jabreen Castle's lunch and dinner buffet needs a prior booking, the Oman Across Ages Museum sells tickets online, and Royal Opera House tours depend on the auditorium being free.
Sources: Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman, with Wanderlust; Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Oman Across Ages Museum; Royal Opera House MuscatWhat is the best way to get around Oman?
A rental car gives the most freedom. Roads are well kept, signs are in Arabic and English, and rental desks operate at Muscat International Airport. For the Sharqiyah Sands and the mountain roads, use a well-equipped 4x4, since some roads require one, and watch for camels and goats outside Muscat. Mwasalat runs air-conditioned buses between Muscat, Nizwa, Sur and Salalah, but not to wadis or the desert. In Muscat, taxis and the Otaxi app work well.
Sources: Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman, with Wanderlust; UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (GOV.UK); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman)What should you wear and know about local customs in Oman?
Oman is a conservative Islamic country. In public, cover your shoulders and knees, and keep swimwear for tourist beaches and pools. At the Grand Mosque, women also cover their hair. Ask before photographing people, and do not photograph government or military sites. During Ramadan, do not eat, drink or smoke in public in daytime. When offered kahwa, accept a cup; when you have had enough, gently shake it and say shukran.
Sources: UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (GOV.UK); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman); Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman (Experience Oman)