For those craving a city which boasts a blend of natural wonders, historic landmarks and modern charm, this incredible Asian city ticks all the boxes. Found on the coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East, this country shares borders with the likes of Saudi Arabia and the UAE but for some reason welcomes far fewer tourists despite everything it has to offer.
The beautiful seaside city of Muscat, the capital of Oman, lies hidden away by the Hajar Mountains and offers everything from castles to deserts to modern shopping centres. For centuries Muscat has been known to Indian Ocean mariners as the gateway to Oman’s raw and rugged beauty, but has remained largely overlooked by tourists. Now, the city is begging for visitors and has even opened a range of new resorts.
Muscat is the most populous city in Oman, home to around 1.7 million as of 2023. With its metropolitan area spanning around 1,400 square miles, it is the largest city by area on the Arabian Peninsula.
Known since the early 1st century CE as a leading port for trade between the west and the east, Muscat was ruled successively by various indigenous tribes and foreign powers such as the Persians, the Portuguese Empire and the Ottoman Empire. As such, it has developed a unique blend of architecture unlike anywhere else in the world.
Among its must-see landmarks are its numerous mosques, including the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Ruwi Mosque, Saeed bin Taimoor and Zawawi Mosque, which dominate the landscape.
Visitors are also encouraged to visit Old Muscat – the original historic city – and its old forts, Fort Al-Mirani and Al Jalali Fort, as well as the Al Alam Palace, the ceremonial palace of the Sultan of Oman.
For those wanting to collect some exciting memorabilia, the main shopping district is situated in the Al Qurum Commercial Area. One of the largest malls in Oman is Oman Avenues Mall, located in Ghubra. The fourth largest mall, City Centre Muscat, lies near the international airport and houses all major international brands.
The region is on a mission to attract more tourists, enticing those set on visiting Abu Dhabi and Dubai further east. The country is already home to several beautiful luxury hotels that dot the coastline, but two hotly anticipated resorts are soon to be found on its hidden coves.
The Nikki Beach Resort and Spa in Yiti Bay – which attracts many celebrities including Madonna and Jude Law – will open this year, with a beach club, upscale beach villas and a private marina to follow. In 2026, Anantara will open a resort in Bandar Al Khairan, with chalets, beach villas and a stargazing majlis (sitting rooms).
Muscat features a hot, arid climate with long, sweltering summers and warm winters. In March, visitors can expect balmy high temperatures of around 29-30C, and lows of 20C. Temperatures continue to climb to around 40C maximum by May and June, so now is the best time to visit.
Brits could be jetting off to Muscat by the end of the month for as little as £438 return, with direct flights with Oman Air from Heathrow Airport to Muscat International Airport (MCT). The flight takes between seven and eight hours.
Recent visitors to Muscat have not been shy in sharing their praises on Tripadvisor, with one writing: “We are very excited about our visit to the center of Muscat! We walked for a long time, it has very nice shops and we did our shopping!!! Everything wonderfully spotless!!”
One tourist who visited the Grand Mosque said: “This is definitely one of the top rated mosques I have seen and the best part is it is free to enter. Non-muslims are allowed only from 8 am to 11 am (all days except fridays) as the remaining times are used for prayers. The architecture of the mosque is just brilliant and the special attraction is the chandelier in the main prayer hall.”