I’m no authority in what places are the must-dos. But I can tell you which are the ones I went to. I’ll sprinkle in some basic information along the way and tell you about my experience. Your trip will be different but I thought I’d share mine.

For people who have visited Oman, all of them emphasised how I need to spend weeks in the country. Unfortunately, I could not secure a visa much longer than 10 days and my holidays are numbered. But before I flew back home, after my Dubai work trip, I slipped in a few days and visited Muscat.

Annoying as the word “authentic” is, I feel that word best encapsulates what Muscat is about. The city is the capital of Oman and is located in the southeast coast of the Arabian peninsula. Looking at the white buildings, and the relatively uniform height of the structures, I got a sense that tradition prevailed. Despite the booming modern companies and foreign cultures starting to come in, Oman feels distinctly Arabic.

Besides the architecture, the local cuisine can be easily accessed. Clothing is quite traditional. And despite the influx of tourists, the locals far outnumber them.

The only downside to the experience was how little I could rely on public transport. Driving is almost a must. And with cab sharing apps yet to flourish, getting contracted for a higher-than-normal cost is a common occurrence.

Here are five places I visited in Muscat:

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

It has been seven years since I visited the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi. And considering I didn’t have time to drop by again in my latest Gulf trip, Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque gave me the same admiration from years back.

I’m not religious. Nor am I an expert in architecture. But the grandness of it all – from the white paint all over, to the marble structure, to the Swarovski chandelier, and to the mighty domes, I could not help but feel small and in awe. That should be no surprise as the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat is one of the biggest in the world.

The mistake I made was planning for an itinerary that included the mosque during Fridays. And that should be accounted for as the place wasn’t open to the public then. Prayer times are also a no-no for outsiders. So I’ve learned my lesson for my succeeding trips.

Muttrah Souk

Apparently, Muttrah Souk is for people who want to experience traditional life in Muscat. I wouldn’t want to conclude that myself. But that’s how online sites describe it and I thought you should know.

Muttrah Souk is big enough for a person to explore. It’s not like the one in Istanbul where getting lost is an inevitability. There aren’t too many sellers chasing me to buy what they had to offer. (Or maybe I didn’t look like I could afford it?) I get the occasional proposition but I was never irritatingly followed. And the architecture felt classic but the place looked properly maintained.

Royal Opera House Muscat

I wouldn’t mind watching a ballet, opera or a music concert. But heavy is the hand whose watch belongs to a traveler. As one of my last activities before flying out, I took a tour inside the architectural marvel. A word of advice – don’t get lost as a mall is situated within the same compound.

The building is recent – finished in 2011, with the construction starting 4 years prior. The place screams of opulence but also serves to showcase Omani design. The ceiling in the entrance is the most eye-catching feature. And I can tell the acoustics would be heaven to the ears without even hearing a single sound from any performance.

Muttrah Fort

For people like me who enjoy traveling, seeing a fort will be like seeing churches. The more I see, the less marginal return of awesomeness I get.

But more than the historical significance of Muttrah Fort, the views are gorgeous and there are multiple places to enjoy a coffee while letting all the beauty overcome your senses.

I’ve been looking for a panoramic view of Muscat’s white houses for 3 days and this was the first I could find. If I look behind, then I can see the Arabic sea. And in the middle of the city and the sea is the Muttrah Corniche, a coastline where the fort is actually located. That’s also good for a picture. But once I was done, I went down and that offered great food and beverage choices, as well as a nice stroll when I wanted to take things slowly.

National Museum

The first positive thing about the National Museum is that the exhibitions are open on Fridays. And many places in the Gulf region aren’t. So when I got to know this, I was onboard.

The outside facade is also picturesque. So a snap of the building or a selfie with it will definitely earn anyone some Instagram likes.

But besides those two, a national museum is intended to showcase the country’s history and culture. Those are things I definitely found (but not necessarily life-changing for me). And anyone who’s a history buff or a culture enthusiast will have the time of their lives.

All photos were taken on February 2023.