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Sightseeing Overview
The heart of the capital is wrapped around two harbors: Mutrah and Muscat. Mutrah, where the budget hotels are located, is famous for its crescent of merchant houses with overhanging balconies, its long corniche, fish market, new museum dedicated to Muscat (Bait al-Baranda) and its busy and labyrinthine souk. 

Old Muscat, just a few kilometers farther round the coast, comprises mostly the Sultan’s Palace and the Diwan (buildings associated with royal governance). Although visitors are not able to enter these buildings, it is an attractive area to walk round and there’s an important museum (Beyt az-Zubair) and one of the best commercial art galleries in Muscat (Bait Muzna Gallery).

Inland Ruwi, sometimes dubbed ’Little India’ on account of the expat communities here, is the commercial and banking sector and the location of ONTC’s bus terminus. Farther into the suburbs, the vicinity of Qurm and neighboring Shatti al-Qurm is home to luxury hotels, beaches, Qurm Natural Park, shopping malls, embassies and the Grand Mosque.

Tourist Information
There are no tourist information centers as such but you can pick up some brochures from the helpful desk at the Ministry of Tourism (tel: 24 588 831; website: www.omantourism.gov.om) in Al-Ghubra, on the opposite side of the dual carriageway to the Grand Mosque. There is some useful tourist information about Muscat on their website.

Alternatively, National Travel & Tourism (NTT), Ar-Rumaylah St, Wattayah (tel: 24 660 376; website: www.nttoman.com) acts as an unofficial tourist desk.

Passes
There are currently no passes for sightseeing in Muscat.

Key Attractions:

Mutrah Souk
Without doubt, the biggest attraction in Muscat is the old souk that runs through a warren of alleyways off Mutrah Corniche, with cupboard-sized shops selling everything from home-grown frankincense, gold and myrrh to plastic trays and Omani khanja (ceremonial daggers).

Mutrah Corniche, Mutrah

Mutrah Corniche
This sweeping arc of old, balconied buildings and tiled mosque domes, souvenir shops and carpet vendors begins with the early-morning fish market, is punctuated with 18th-century Mutrah Fort and ends with musical fountains overlooking the harbor: it’s a popular evening stroll for Muscat’s citizens keen on catching the sea breeze.

Bait al-Baranda
Opened at the end of 2006, this latest addition to the capital’s cultural life is an imaginative and informative museum charting the city’s development from prehistoric to modern times.

Al-Mina’a St, just off Mutrah Corniche
Tel: 24 714262.

Sultan’s Palace
Although it’s not possible to enter this flight of architectural fancy, a stroll around the perimeter fence from the grand esplanade at the building’s entrance to its seafront back garden on Mutrah harbor (note the maritime graffiti) is a must, if only to see how well it’s protected by Forts Al-Jalali and Al-Mirani (both closed to the public).

Al-Alam, Old Muscat

Grand Mosque
This quietly serene mosque on the edge of the highway, marking the entry into town, was a gift from the current Sultan to his people marking the 30th year of his reign and boasts the largest hand-loomed carpet in the world - among many other interior wonders.

Sultan Qaboos Street

Further Distractions:

Beyt az-Zubair
Muscat has several small museums dedicated to life before the Renaissance (ie pre-1970) but this collection of antique household items in a beautifully restored residence gives the best idea of Omani heritage.

As-Saidiyah St, Old Muscat
Tel: 24 736 688.

Qurm Beach
An uninterrupted beach of pale sand, bejewelled with shells and ornamented with sea birds, stretches for 20km (12 miles) from the Crowne Plaza Hotel, past shaded barbecue areas, coffee shops and three grand hotels, InterContinental Muscat, the Grand Hyatt Muscat and the Chedi.

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	Oman City Guides: Muscat City Guide