Muscat Travel Guides
Muscat spotlight

A guide to Oman – desert forts, shimmering cities and green oases
A land of mirages and mysticism, all in Oman may not be as it first appears. Seemingly barren deserts hide lush wadis, or oases, where camels drink from palm-fronded pools. Fishing dhows haul in the freshest seafood from the open sea, while ancient ruins swelter under a desert sun, miles from water. Mountains, usually brown and dry, become green and lush overnight in the monsoon season. In the cities, grand mosques dazzle with mesmerizing patterns. In every sense, Oman is a beguiling place worth discovering.
View full guideWhere to stay in Oman – a guide to the best places across the country
One thousand and one Arabian Nights… if you have the time to spend in Oman, each night could be a different experience. One of the most magical has to be sleeping in a Bedouin camp under billions of stars. Then there is Muscat, a gleaming city with extravagant hotels to make you feel like royalty. Salalah has beach resort hotels set in lush surroundings, while Nizwa has traditional guesthouses offering respite from the dusty desert.
Where to shop in Oman – a guide to retail therapy by city
Rich in Arab mysticism, Oman’s souqs are a wonderland of exquisite crafts, precious materials and local delicacies. They overwhelm every sense with the pungent aromas of spices and perfumes, a kaleidoscope of colors, a cacophony of human and animal noise. Each region has its own specialty, from the pottery of Nizwa to the frankincense of Salalah. The pristine malls of Muscat couldn’t be a more different experience; westernized and airy. But for a true taste of Oman, delving headfirst into the souqs is a must.
Where to eat in Oman – a guide to regional cuisine
For most of Oman’s history, the cuisine developed from the few native plants and animals which could survive in the arid, desert climate. Even the tropical bounty of the south was mostly confined to the Dohfar region, so a true Omani meal is simple: usually some sort of stewed meat served with modestly seasoned rice. But with an infusion of both Indian and Lebanese flavors, popular dishes in Oman today are diverse and exotic. Tea and coffee are both important drinks in Omani culture, served with sweet Halwa.
What to see and do in Oman – a regional guide to the country’s attractions
From glittering coastal cities to remote desert outposts, Oman packs in uniquely varied landscapes and climates into a relatively small landmass. The culture too changes distinctly from place to place – Muscat’s affluent urbanites, the Bedouin of the desert interior, the independent groups of the northern Musandam region. With so many contrasts, it can be hard to pin down the essence of Oman, but perhaps it is simply the hospitality of the people, eager to show you the best of their corner of this diverse country.
Search for Muscat hotels
Explore our travel guides
North America
Alberta Travel Guides
Arizona Travel Guides
British Columbia Travel Guides
California Travel Guides
- Palm Springs Travel Guides
- Los Angeles Travel Guides
- Coronado Travel Guides
- Santa Barbara Travel Guides
- Santa Cruz (and vicinity) Travel Guides
- Anaheim Travel Guides
- Long Beach Travel Guides
- San Diego Travel Guides
- Monterey Travel Guides
- San Francisco Travel Guides
- San Jose Travel Guides
- Yosemite National Park Travel Guides
- Santa Monica Travel Guides
Canada Travel Guides
Colorado Travel Guides
District of Columbia Travel Guides
Florida Travel Guides
Georgia Travel Guides
Hawaii Travel Guides
Illinois Travel Guides
Indiana Travel Guides
Kentucky Travel Guides
Louisiana Travel Guides
Maryland Travel Guides
Massachusetts Travel Guides
Michigan Travel Guides
Minnesota Travel Guides
Missouri Travel Guides
Montana Travel Guides
Nevada Travel Guides
New Jersey Travel Guides
New Mexico Travel Guides
New York Travel Guides
North Carolina Travel Guides
Nova Scotia Travel Guides
Ohio Travel Guides
Ontario Travel Guides
Oregon Travel Guides
Pennsylvania Travel Guides
Quebec Travel Guides
Rhode Island Travel Guides
South Carolina Travel Guides
Tennessee Travel Guides
Texas Travel Guides
Utah Travel Guides
Vermont Travel Guides
Virginia Travel Guides
Washington Travel Guides
Wisconsin Travel Guides
Wyoming Travel Guides
Europe
Austria Travel Guides
Belgium Travel Guides
Bulgaria Travel Guides
Croatia Travel Guides
Cyprus Travel Guides
Czech Republic Travel Guides
Denmark Travel Guides
Finland Travel Guides
France Travel Guides
Germany Travel Guides
Greece Travel Guides
Hungary Travel Guides
Iceland Travel Guides
Ireland Travel Guides
Italy Travel Guides
Malta Travel Guides
Monaco Travel Guides
Montenegro Travel Guides
Netherlands Travel Guides
Norway Travel Guides
Poland Travel Guides
Portugal Travel Guides
Russia Travel Guides
Serbia Travel Guides
Slovenia Travel Guides
Spain Travel Guides
Sweden Travel Guides
Switzerland Travel Guides
Turkey Travel Guides
United Kingdom Travel Guides
- Liverpool Travel Guides
- Leeds Travel Guides
- Chester Travel Guides
- Llandudno Travel Guides
- Aberdeen Travel Guides
- Winchester Travel Guides
- Sheffield Travel Guides
- Canterbury Travel Guides
- Eastbourne Travel Guides
- Stratford-upon-Avon Travel Guides
- Weston-super-Mare Travel Guides
- Glasgow Travel Guides
- Manchester Travel Guides
- Whitby Travel Guides
- Harrogate Travel Guides
- Blackpool Travel Guides
- Bournemouth Travel Guides
- Torquay Travel Guides
- Plymouth Travel Guides
- Belfast Travel Guides
- Cambridge Travel Guides
- Durham Travel Guides
- Keswick Travel Guides
- York Travel Guides
- Newquay Travel Guides
- Windermere Travel Guides
- Cardiff Travel Guides
- London Travel Guides
- Cheltenham Travel Guides
- Inverness Travel Guides
- Newcastle-upon-Tyne Travel Guides
- Bath Travel Guides
- Scarborough Travel Guides
- Norwich Travel Guides
- Bristol Travel Guides
- Birmingham Travel Guides
- St Ives Travel Guides
- Oxford Travel Guides
- Edinburgh Travel Guides
- Nottingham Travel Guides
- Exeter Travel Guides
- Brighton Travel Guides
- Leicester Travel Guides
- Lancaster Travel Guides
- Swansea Travel Guides
- Lincoln Travel Guides
Caribbean
Asia
Cambodia Travel Guides
China Travel Guides
Hong Kong SAR Travel Guides
India Travel Guides
- Ooty Travel Guides
- Jaipur Travel Guides
- Kolkata Travel Guides
- Cochin Travel Guides
- Delhi Cantonment Travel Guides
- Lonavala Travel Guides
- Mysore Travel Guides
- Kodaikanal Travel Guides
- Agra Travel Guides
- Hyderabad Travel Guides
- Chennai Travel Guides
- Bengaluru Travel Guides
- Udaipur Travel Guides
- Mumbai Travel Guides
- Matheran Travel Guides
- Nainital Travel Guides
- Shimla Travel Guides
- Goa Travel Guides
- Srinagar Travel Guides
- Puri Travel Guides
- Alibaug Travel Guides
- Pune Travel Guides
- New Delhi Travel Guides
- Mahabaleshwar Travel Guides
- Munnar Travel Guides
- Pondicherry Travel Guides
- Manali Travel Guides
Indonesia Travel Guides
Japan Travel Guides
Laos Travel Guides
Macau SAR Travel Guides
Malaysia Travel Guides
Philippines Travel Guides
Singapore Travel Guides
South Korea Travel Guides
Sri Lanka Travel Guides
Taiwan Travel Guides
Thailand Travel Guides
Vietnam Travel Guides
South America
Australia - New Zealand and the South Pacific
Australian Capital Territory Travel Guides
Fiji Travel Guides
French Polynesia Travel Guides
Guam Travel Guides
New South Wales Travel Guides
New Zealand Travel Guides
Northern Territory Travel Guides
Queensland Travel Guides
South Australia Travel Guides
Tasmania Travel Guides
Victoria Travel Guides
Western Australia Travel Guides