Muttrah Fort

Your eye is immediately drawn to the top of the hill. Up there, Muttrah Fort seems to cling between rock and sea. Its position is anything but accidental. From this promontory, it commands views over the entire bay, the corniche, the port and the constant movement of boats. It was for this very reason that the Portuguese established a fortress here at the beginning of the 16th century, turning a natural outcrop into a fortified observation post. The three round towers you can make out, along with the thick walls and old cannons, are reminders that Muttrah was once one of the region’s key centres of maritime trade. Used for military purposes for centuries, the fort remained largely closed and almost invisible from the city below. Today, its role has changed. It no longer dominates, it observes. From the top, the view stretches across the mountains, the rooftops of Muttrah, the souk and the Sea of Oman, offering one of Muscat’s most iconic panoramas. If the site is open during your visit, you can buy a ticket and climb the steps to enjoy this remarkable viewpoint.