Top 6 Activities to Do in Muscat

Visiting Muscat means discovering a distant land, surrounded by mountains and deserts. Located facing the Gulf of Oman, the city is particularly known for its historical monuments: sumptuous palaces and gigantic operas with impressive architecture. But you'll also find numerous souks where you can buy all sorts of traditional objects, and wander through markets offering quality products with oriental flavors. If you don't know where to start, and especially which monuments or places to visit first, don't worry! Ryo has you in good hands. We've prepared a little list of the six main activities to do in the city of Muscat, capital of Oman.

What to do in Muscat?

1. The Royal Palace

Category: €€/Cultural

Description: Welcome to Al Alam palace... The Middle East is made up of numerous imperial palaces with architecture unlike any other. And the least we can say is that Muscat is no exception to the rule. Built in 1972, it is the official residence of the Sultan, although he doesn't live there. He only stays there exceptionally, to welcome his high-ranking guests. The Sultan of Oman's palace is a modern-looking building, surrounded by colorful gardens: you can also see the watchtowers that peacefully border the hill, as well as the ramparts of the Old Town. The palace has nothing old about it: on the contrary, its exteriors are clean, and the marble shines, giving it a chic look. Unfortunately, it's not possible to visit its interior, but there's already a lot to see given its colossal construction from the outside! Its rather modern style, mixed with some traditional touches from the country, gives it an original appearance.

2. The Royal Opera House Muscat

Category: €€/Cultural

Description: Visiting the Royal Opera House Muscat in the "Shati Al Qurm" district means venturing into a place with complex style, both in terms of appearance and acoustics. Built under the order of Sultan Qaboos of Oman, it's through this place that you can admire the splendid contemporary Omani architecture. You'll love it! Having recently opened its doors, in 2011 to be exact, the opera can be visited every morning: inside, there's a décor made of wood, glass, and gold. The exterior of the façade is sober, while the interior is full of colors and details, which makes the place unique and amazes visitors every time. If there are architects among our readers, you'll be fascinated by the complex play of volumes and levels. Everything has been done with care, which makes the opera so important and elevates it to the rank of the most beautiful places to visit in the Middle East.

3. The Fish Market

Category: €/Cultural/Gastronomic

Description: Many people don't know that to fully immerse yourself in a country's daily life, and thus mingle with locals and learn more about customs and traditions, you need to go to the market. Where all the stalls come alive and where inhabitants like to come and do their shopping. In the city of Muscat, it's to the fish market that you should head. Before arriving there, you'll very likely pass by the stalls dedicated to fruits and vegetables. The perfect moment to do your shopping in order to concoct a little local recipe, which the merchants will be happy to explain. They love giving advice and showing their catches with pleasure! The freshly caught fish are varied: tuna, sardines, small sharks, seafood... And many other local species. It's best to go there early in the morning, when there aren't many people yet: you can thus wander between the small stalls, without waiting in line forever. A beautiful activity to do with family, to familiarize yourself with Muscat as much as possible.

4. The Mutrah Souk

Category: €€/Cultural/Unusual

Description: You need to count at least two to three good hours to fully visit the Mutrah Souk, there's so much to see. Clearly, this is where you can make good deals and bring back beautiful souvenirs home. If it's your first time in a souk, you'll have the vague impression of entering a fourth dimension. A veritable Ali Baba's cave, the Mutrah souk is a place beloved by visitors: many describe it as THE best place to visit in all of Muscat. You'll find incense, stuffed animals typical of the Middle East, clothing, jewelry, shiny objects... And many other things that we'll let you discover. You can also socialize and meet locals, who are always happy to see new faces arrive. You can spend time in one of the oldest souks in the world, isn't that magnificent?

5. A Walk on the Mutrah Corniche

Category: €€/Sports

Description: When you leave the souk, it's impossible not to stroll near the Mutrah corniche: a true beauty. Stretching for nearly 10 kilometers, you can even run there to get some exercise. As a bonus: the corniche offers an absolutely breathtaking view of the sea and mountains that make the beauty of the city of Muscat. This promenade constitutes an excellent activity for couples who enjoy admiring the delightful Indian houses along their route, which testify to Oman's history, as well as its comings and goings as cultural exchanges over time. Moreover, you can admire the different traditional boats, sailboats that are generally made of wood. You can even inquire, as boat excursions are regularly organized to visit the city from another angle. Finally, stay long enough on the corniche to admire the majestic sun as it takes its bow, in piercing yellow, orange, and red tones.

6. The National Museum of Oman

Category: €€/Cultural

Description: Visiting a city necessarily means going to at least one of its museums: to learn more about its history, traditions, geography, way of life, and customs. For this, we suggest you visit the National Museum of Oman: which relates the country's history and displays nearly ten thousand artifacts. Get your camera ready! This very beautiful building, quite new, is located right in front of the Sultan's palace, mentioned previously at the top of the list. Omani culture is explained in detail there, with the possibility of visiting rooms reserved for secular dhows, but also admiring period costumes. Moreover, you'll be able to watch a film (in English and Arabic), which perfectly summarizes the richness of this country. The museum opens its doors every day from 10am to 5pm, except Friday from 2pm to 6pm.