For those craving a city that boasts a blend of natural wonders, historic landmarks and modern charm, this incredible Asian city checks every box. The country, found on the coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East, shares borders with the likes of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, but despite everything it offers for some reason, there are far fewer tourists.
The beautiful seaside city of Muscat, the capital of Oman, is hidden in the mountains of Hajar and offers everything from castles to deserts to modern shopping centres. For centuries, Muscat has been known by the Indian Ocean's Mariners as a gateway to Omani's raw and robust beauty, but has been largely overlooked by tourists. The city is currently pleading for visitors and is opening a variety of new resorts.
Muscat is the most populous city in Oman, with about 1.7 million people living in 2023. With a metropolitan area of approximately 1,400 square miles, it is the largest city in the region of the Arabian Peninsula.
Since the early 1st century AD, Muscat, known as the main port of trade between the West and the East, was ruled consecutively by various indigenous peoples and foreigners, including the Persians, the Portuguese Empire, and the Ottoman Empire. So unlike other parts of the world, we developed a unique blend of architecture.
Among the must-see landmarks are many mosques, including Sultan Kabu Grand Mosque, Lewy Mosque, Saeed Binh Timea and Zawawi Mosque.
Visitors are also encouraged to visit the original historic city of Old Muscat and its old forts, Aluminani and Aljarari Forts, and Al-Alam Palace, the ritual palace of the Sultan in Oman.
For those looking to collect exciting memorabilia, the main shopping district is located in the commercial area of Al Krum. One of the largest malls in Oman is the Oman Avenue Mall in Gubura. The fourth largest mall, Muscat in the city centre, is located near the international airport and has all the major international brands.
The region is on a mission to attract more tourists and is blessed with a visit to Abu Dhabi and Dubai further east. The country already has several beautiful luxury hotels dotted along the coastline, but two hot and expected resorts soon lie in hidden coves.
Ity Bay's Nikki Beach Resort and Spa, which attracts many celebrities, including Madonna and Jude Law, will open this year with beach clubs, luxury beach villas and private marinas continuing. In 2026, Anantara will open a resort in Bandar Al-Kairan with a chalet, beach villa and Stargazing Magiris (living room).
Muscat is characterized by a hot, dry climate of long, swelling summers and warm winters. In March, visitors can expect refreshing highs of around 29-30c and lows of 20°C. Temperatures continue to rise to around 40°C by May and June, so now is the perfect time to come.
The British are on a direct flight with Omani Airlines from Heathrow Airport to Muscat International Airport (MCT) and could be dumped in Muscat by the end of the month. The flight takes 7-8 hours.
Recent visitors to Muscat were not embarrassed to share their praises on TripAdvisor. We walked for a long time, it had a very nice store and we went shopping!!! Everything was amazingly clean!!”
One tourist who visited the Grand Mosque said: Non-Muslims are only allowed between 8am and 11am (all days except Fridays) as the remaining time is used for prayer. The architecture of the mosque is spectacular, and a special charm is the chandelier in the main prayer hall. ”
