Muscat is the capital city of Oman, east of the UAE bordering the Arabian Sea. Its mountainous, desert and seaside landscapes will leave you stunned. Below you’ll find family-friendly itinerary suggestions for a trip to Muscat, Oman.

Before you dive into the guide, you may want to first read Understanding a Quick Itinerary Guide. This will provide you with details on our trip planning philosophy, why it’s a quick guide, and what resources we use to plan. It also details what we mean by family-friendly, and further explains each of the sections included in a Quick Itinerary Guide.

Our trip details

  • Length of stay: 2 days, 2 nights (not enough!)
  • Accommodation: Desert Nights Camp & The Chedi Muscat
  • Type of trip: family trip with baby/toddler (15 months old)
  • Month visited: May
  • How we got in/out: fly in, fly out
  • How we got around: rental car from Sixt
  • Additional places visited on the same trip: Dubai, Abu Dhabi
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Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas for Muscat, Oman

  • Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque– iconic mosque, limited visiting hours, conservative dress code
  • Old Mutrah Souk – long-standing traditional market/bazaar catering to both locals and tourists, gets extra busy in the evening
  • Mutrah Bay/Corniche – go all the way through the souk and youโ€™ll get to the water
  • Royal Opera House – lit beautifully at night
  • Mohammed Al Ameen Mosque – marble mosque perched on a hill
  • Al Bustan Palace Hotel – stay at or visit the facilities and grounds of this stunning Ritz-Carlton property, a former palace
  • Stay overnight in the Wahiba Sands (Sharqiya Sands) desert
    • Play in desert dunes and watch the sunset
    • Go on a camel ride 
    • Dune bashing, sand boarding or 4×4 excursion 
    • Visit a Bedouin camp – tribes of nomadic desert people
  • Check out Nizwa – an ancient city, about 1hr 30mins drive from Muscat
    • Explore Nizwa fort
    • Shop at Nizwa souq
  • Swim in a wadi – a small valley or river of water in a desert mountain setting, similar to an oasis, but often only full of water during wet seasons, otherwise dry
    • Wadi Bani Khalid, Wadi Tiwi and Wadi Ash Shab are all great options, but there are several others – research whichever features and location will fit best for your trip
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Food Ideas for Muscat, Oman

  • Ubhar Bistro – posh Omani/Middle Eastern restaurant
  • Turkish House Restaurant – casual Turkish/Middle Eastern restaurant popular with locals
  • Kargeen – traditional Omani cuisine with a great outdoor area

Top Tips for Muscat, Oman

  • Most everyone needs a visa to enter Oman, some countries (USA passport holders included) can obtain a visa upon arrival. 
  • Oman is known as the โ€œSwitzerland of the Middle Eastโ€ because of its natural beauty, safety and neutral stance in politics.
  • It is not very easy or convenient to get around Muscat. Itโ€™s not set up for walking and the different sights are spread out all over. Taxis are expensive but are the most convenient option if you do not have a car. We rented a car to drive to the desert and used it around the city too. 
  • You do not need to wear traditional Omani clothing, but you should dress conservatively to respect the local culture.
  • Consider the time of year and weather before you book a trip to Oman, summer is not the best time to visit due to the intense heat.

I really enjoyed Oman and wish we spent much longer here. I hope to return someday and see more of this gorgeous country. Have you been to Oman? What other things should we add to our list?

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