Along the scenic coast of Oman, Muscat, the capital city, enchants visitors with its blend of ancient charm and modern allure. Its majestic forts, such as Al Jalali and Al Mirani, stand as a testament to its rich history, while the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque dazzles with its intricate architecture. The bustling Muttrah Souq offers a sensory delight, with its vibrant stalls selling spices, textiles, and handicrafts. Along the corniche, visitors can admire the city's skyline and indulge in fresh seafood at seaside restaurants. Muscat's tourism offers desert safaris, dolphin watching, and exploration of nearby wadis and mountains. Explore the wonders with a comprehensive Muscat travel guide, experiencing the heart of Oman's culture and beauty.

How to reach Muscat?

• By air: Muscat International Airport is the nearest airport, located 32 km away from the old Muscat city. IndiGo operates flights to Muscat in Oman with non-stop flights between Mumbai and Muscat. Starting this year, flights between Kochi and Muscat will also be operational.
• Getting around/local transport in Muscat: Bus or Baisa is the most popular means of transport in Muscat. These buses are economical and run across the city. There are taxis also but comparatively expensive.

Discover the culinary delights with a Muscat travel guide. Explore a diverse array of restaurants, from traditional Omani eateries to international cuisine, satisfying every palate.

There are many things to do in Muscat and most of which includes the following: 

For centuries, frankincense, dates and perfumes from Oman have been traded far and wide to distant lands, and even now, it’s a great place to pick up these specialities.

• Muttrah Souk: The first stop for any shopper should be the historic Muttrah Souk by the waterfront. Here, one can buy silver trinkets, Turkish plates, Moroccan lamps and traditional souvenirs like Omani khanjars (ornamental daggers). Vendors hailing from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan offer to tie a keffiyeh (checked scarf) over a kumma (embroidered Omani cap) into a neat turban for a selfie. Others offer little dabs of perfumes.
• Amouage Factory: Visit the Amouage Factory to pick up exclusive perfumes and to understand how the world’s most expensive fragrances are made as each ingredient is beautifully analysed. Pick up a bottle or two from the factory or at the duty-free shops at the airport.
• LuLu Hypermarket and malls in Muscat: Grab Omani halwa, camel milk chocolates and the best quality Khalas dates from LuLu Hypermarket. Or drop by for some retail therapy at Oman Avenues Mall and Muscat Grand Mall, the largest in town.
• Muscat Grand Mall: Muscat Grand Mall is one of the largest shopping malls in Muscat, offering a mix of local and international brands, as well as a wide range of shops, restaurants, cafes, and entertainment options. It features a hypermarket, a department store, a food court, a cinema complex, and a play area for children. It's a popular destination for shopping, dining, and leisure activities.

Besides exploring the captivating Muscat city that offers endless things to do and places to see, make sure to explore museums as they are the core reason to visit Muscat. 

• Museums in Muscat: Muscat has plenty of small but interesting museums – Ghalya’s Museum of Modern Art, Bait Al-Baranda (great if you’re into geography) and the Natural History Museum that showcases topography, geology and more. At Sultan’s Armed Forces Museum, once a royal fort, soldiers double up as guides explaining Omani military history. The Oman Oil and Gas Exhibition Centre too, has a beautiful museum that deconstructs the whole business of oil and gas in two sections - Petroleum Development and EcOman, on the Sultanate’s eco-friendly push. If you are a history buff, visit the Muscat Gate Museum to learn more about the glorious past of the city.
• Seeb and the Omani Dive Centre: And if you love the outdoors, there are sandstone cliffs for hiking, wadis to swim in, desert for sand boarding and dune bashing, stunning seaside views at Seeb and the Omani Dive Centre near the harbour. With a 1600 km long coastline, Oman is perfect for swimming, kitesurfing, diving and sports fishing. The coastal highway from Muscat whizzes southward past old towns like Qalhat to the ancient dhow-making town of Sur and Ras al Jinz where the annual nesting of green turtles takes place between July and October.

If you are an Indian passport holder either residing or holding an entry visa to US, Canada, Australia, UK, Japan, or any of the Schengen nations and travelling to Muscat, then you are eligible for visa on arrival. The visa will be provided for a fee of 20 Omani Riyal and valid for a month.

To ensure a hassle-free and seamless travel, here is a detailed information about the Oman visa – www.goindigo.in/information/visa-information/oman-om-visa.html

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