Muscat is a very spread out city and each area is quite different from the other, making it almost like many small towns within the city, each separated by the strikingly beautiful mountains that crisscross the city. For that reason, most places to visit in Muscat are far apart from each other. Having said that, hiring a taxi in Muscat can be very expensive, so renting a car is highly recommended. If you plan on doing a desert trip or the grand canyon you should rent a 4 X 4 instead of a regular car. To help you plan your trip, I’ve created this Muscat travel guide, with details of what to do in Muscat in 5 days, structured in a such a way that will help you make the best use of your time.

Go Shopping At Mutrah Souq In Muscat

Mutrah Souq is one of the longest and oldest souqs in the Middle East and it should 100% be on your list of things to do in Oman. When we visited Mutrah Souq it was the day after we arrived and we were very tired. The Souq was very busy, hot, and overwhelming, so if you want to visit Mutrah Souq make sure to go when you are NOT jet lagged for a better experience. Mutrah Souq is one of the best places to visit in Oman because you can go shopping where the locals go. The souq is open very late at night so you can easily visit after dinner.

If you want to add Mutrah Souq to your list of things to do in Oman, make sure to bring cash as not every vendor takes card. There are many ATMs right outside of the souq so you can easily withdraw some. We took out enough money for the entire trip at Mutrah Souq. If you are looking for a deal, wander into the back alleyways of Mutrah Souq where it is less busy. The vendors are more likely to give you a deal and the goods are much more affordable. If you just stick to the front part of the souq that is popular you will pay the highest price. If you head towards the less-busy parts you will find some great deals!

Have a long delicious Omani meal at Orient Restaurant & Café

Omani Shuwa is considered one of the main nation dishes. It consists of tender, spiced, delicately cooked meat and at Orient one can try some really good, home style Shuwa amongst other traditional Omani dishes. They also have a delicious dessert selection such as Omani lugaymat which is crispy fried dough dumplings soaked with date syrup (just the right softness on the inside).

Orient Restaurant and Café, Azaiba, Muscat, +96894109404

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Additional great places to eat:

Eat at Al Angham Restaurant

Enjoy a hearty meal at one of Oman’s finest restaurants. It features Omani cuisine, with a contemporary twist at a spectacular location – the Royal Opera House. Al Anghams interiors tell a story as each room portrays something different (you can ask for a tour of the premises to learn more about the charming place).

Al Angham Restaurant, Opera House Muscat, +96822077777, alanghamoman.com

Check out ‘The Wave’

Or in other words Al Mouj in Arabic which offers some outstanding leisure and lifestyle options stretched across a huge coastline. It is filled with many shops, dinning options, inland waterways, a 400-berth marina and green spaces. The wave also holds Oman’s signature PGA Standard 18 hole gold course designed by Greg Norman.

The Wave, New Muscat, almouj.com

Hike To Wadi Shab For One Of The Most Epic Things To Do In Oman

When we were planning our list of things to do in Oman, we knew that hiking and swimming in Wadi Shab was on top of that list. And we are here to say that it did not disappoint. If you are looking for one of the best Oman tourist places, add Wadi Shab to your list! First off, we want to share that in Oman, a “Wadi” is another word for a gorge or canyon. A Wadi is NOT the crystalline pools but is instead the actual canyon itself. There are tons of Wadis in Oman without any water in them at all. Thankfully, this is not the case at Wadi Shab and it is truly one of the most epic places to visit in Oman!

Click To Read Our Post On Everything You Need To Know About Visiting Wadi Shab

In order to get to Wadi Shab, you have to take a super short boat ride for 1 Omani Rial [about $2.80 USD] and then hike for 45 minutes. Every other article we came across talks about a “walk” to Wadi Shab but we are here to tell you it was more of a moderate hike. We passed someone doing it in crutches and a few fit elderly folks too so the hike is for everyone, just keep in mind to wear proper shoes and change into flip flops when you arrive at Wadi Shab itself.

Wadi Shab is one of the best things to do in Oman because you get the best of both worlds. You get to hike, and then you get to swim in perfectly clear pools of warm fresh water. There are three sets of pools and the third set of pools is the deepest and there is a cave to swim to at the end. The area of Wadi Shab for swimming is smaller than you may think but there is still plenty to explore. We ended up spending over 5 hours at Wadi Shab and it the views are so stunning it just had to top our list of things to do in Oman!

If you plan to visit the nearby Wadi Tiwi [very close to Wadi Shab] make sure to read up on our post about Narrowly Avoiding Being Scammed At Wadi Tiwi.

The Royal Opera House

Some of the most famous names in opera and ballet have performed within this beautiful building since its inauguration in 2011, and the quality of the productions here (the season extends from September to May) regularly wins international acclaim. There's an efficient online reservation system with ticket collection on arrival. Note: there's a strict dress code for attending a performance.

Built by the same architects as the Grand Mosque, the Royal Opera House Muscat is worth a visit simply to admire the harmonious amalgam of marble, inlaid wood and arabesque design. In fact, even if you're not intending to catch a show, there's a sociable ambiance at the restaurants and coffee shops outside the opera house and window-shopping is fun in the opulent Opera Galleria arcade that forms part of the same complex.

Call the box office to check the availability of tours of the Opera House. If you decide to stay on for a performance (at which jeans and sports shoes are not permitted), you can hire suitable clothing on-site. Visit website

Marvel At Muscat’s Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is one of the most stunning religious establishments we have ever visited and one of the must-see places to visit in Oman. Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is open to the public from Saturday-Thursday from 8am-11am. Many mosques do not allow non-Muslim visitors to enter the prayer area and that is one of the reasons Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque should top your list of things to do in Oman. The mosque is easily accessible and located in the heart of Muscat.

If you are planning to visit Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, keep in mind that a strict dress code is enforced. Everyone should have arms and legs completely covered and women are required to cover their heads and hair completely. If you aren’t into dresses, a simple pair of long pants and a long sleeve top and a scarf over your head is completely fine. All that is asked when visiting this beautiful location is that you dress respectfully for visiting a religious establishment.

If Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is on your list of things to do in Oman, make sure to budget enough time. We were there from 8:30am-11am when it was time to leave. There are so many nooks and crannies to explore and so much stunning architecture that you are going to want to have enough time and not rush. We didn’t feel rushed when experiencing one of the most famous places in Oman and it was well worth it.

Keep in mind that Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is one of the more well-known and easily accessible things to do in Oman so it can get crowded. When we arrived at 8:30 am there were already over 50 tour buses in the parking lot. Thankfully, all the tours move quickly and the mosque property is huge so you never really feel too crowded! This mosque is one of the best things to do in Oman because of its religious and cultural significance and stunning architecture and design.

Get A Spa Treatment At Bimmah Sinkhole For One Of The Best Free Things To Do In Oman

**Bimmah Sinkhole** is located just 90 minutes from Muscat and was easily one of our top things to do in Oman. Why? Because it is easily accessible from Muscat and the main road, didn’t require hiking and was one of the prettiest and most magical places we have ever seen. You can also get a completely free spa treatment! What do we mean by this? The fish in Bimmah Sinkhole will come nibble at the dead skin on your feet [or anywhere else on your body if you let them] leaving them perfectly smooth and soft when you remove your feet from the water.

If you visit Bimmah Sinkhole make sure to spend some time swimming in the perfectly blue waters. The waters range from very shallow to hundreds of feet deep at the deepest part. Bimmah Sinkhole is the epitome of epic things to do in Oman and will not disappoint.

Fairytales at Nizwa Fort

Nizwa Fort is one of Oman’s oldest and most beautiful castles. It is a great place to wander around for an hour or two. Loads of signs telling some interesting stories about the fort its purposes and defense system. Get up to the big main round fort and have a view over the green oasis of palms. The entrance to the fort is 5 OMR (11 USD).

Book a Nizwa City Tour

Within the fort, you can find some shadow spots to relax or drink a fresh fruit juice at the cafe inside the fort. (WiFi available here)

Mutrah Corniche

Oman has long been a seafaring country. Strolling along the long esplanade that makes up the Mutrah Corniche, you can see its living history. The waterfront promenade -- dotted with restaurants and cafes -- wraps around the Mutrah Harbor, where you can see traditional wooden fishing dhows sailing alongside luxury yachts. At night, the fountains light up, and the whole corniche takes on a romantic glow. Bonus: You can get some awesome deals in the Mutrah Souq, open late most nights.

Al Alam Palace

One of the most beautiful palaces in the world, the rich color and architecture of Al Alam Palace is one of people’s favorite places to pose! It has a rich history of over 200 years and is one of the residing palaces of the current Sultan Qaboos. With a façade of blue and gold the palace was rebuilt in 1972 and is surrounded by the Mirani and Jalali forts built by the Portuguese at around the 16th century. Although visitors cannot get very near the palace, they are allowed to take pictures from the front gates and get a good view. The palace is especially beautiful during the night as the lighting is spectacular.

Swim In The Crystal Clear Waters Of Wadi Bani Khalid

Wadi Bani Khalid is the most built up of all the Wadis in Oman. We had low expectations when visiting and were completely blown away. Even if you don’t generally want to visit all the main Oman tourist places, you are going to want to add Wadi Bani Khalid to your list of things to do in Oman. Wadi Bani Khalid is also very popular with the locals on weekends [Friday and Saturday] so be sure to keep that in mind when visiting.

Wadi Bani Khalid is comprised of two parts. The first part is a huge lake/lagoon with more fish to eat the dead skin on your feet and is very crowded and popular on the weekend. The second part is a perfect gorge of white rock surrounding crystal-clear blue pools of water. This area is much less crowded than the lake part and the water is warm and the views are stunning.

I personally did not get a chance to go but I completely regret it! Wadi Bani Khalid has a larger area and there isn’t a 45-minute hike to get to the swimming area so not write off Wadi Bani Khalid from your list of things to do in Oman because you think it is one of the more crowded Oman tourist places.

Daymaniyat Islands

Northwest of Muscat you’ll find this nine-island cluster, a favorite of swimmers and divers. The protected nature reserve in the Gulf of Oman teems with tropical fish, and coral reefs, the colors just seem brighter here. And there’s much to see above water too: When the preserve is open, Daymaniyat Island beaches are one of the best places in the world to watch turtle nesting. Again, I was unable to go so to not make anyone else regret it I’M LISTING IT :)

Top Things To Do In Muscat, Oman