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Muscat
About Muscat
Muscat is the capital of the Sultanate of Oman. The greater metropolitan area of Muscat, the 'Capital Area', covers an area of approximately 1500 km², and really is a larger grouping of cities and towns along the coast of the Gulf of Oman. It has three major centers:
- West Muscat with Al-Seeb, Udhaybah, Bawsher, Al-Ghubbrah and Ghala
- Central Muscat with Al-Khuwair, Madinat Qaboos, Shati-Al Qurm, Qurm and PDO
- East Muscat with Wuttayah, Ruwi, Muttrah, Kalbuh, Old Muscat, Sidab and Al-Bustan
Local highlights
Explore the city
- Pay a visit to the souk and fish market
- See the old port area with the sultan's main palace and the old city walls
- Visit Muttrah-the main trading and residential port area
- See the Sur Al Lawatiya District-one of Muttrah's most traditional and attractive areas with the Al Jami Mosque
- Visit Mutrah Fort on the hill
- Jalali and Mirani forts that guard the entrance to Muscat
Explore its museums and historical sights, such as
- The Oman Museum covers the 5000-year history of Oman
- The National Museum with Omani silverwork on display
- Sultan's Armed Forces Museum housed in the Bait al-Falaj fort
- The restored watchtower, with the more than 100 steps climb, looking out over Muttrah
Highlights in the vicinity
- A visit to the deserts is a must. Enjoy the camel ride, pay a visit to the Bedouins and camp out in the desert in Barsti huts
- Go scuba diving-there is a wealth of underwater flora and marine life
- See the fjords of the Musandam
- Big game fishing on black marlin, swordfish, tuna and sailfish
Good to know
- No. of inhabitants: 650 Thousand
- Timezone: UTC +4
- Weather: The hottest months are June through August when temperatures can regularly exceed 43 °C in the interior with highs of 52 °C
Local transport
- Taxis-negotiate on prices. There are two types of taxis: normal taxis and service taxis, which follow set routes, carrying up to five passengers
- Buses services are comprehensive
- Rental car: 4WD are necessary if you plan to drive in the surrounding countryside
Inbound transport
- Nearest airport: Seeb International Airport 40 km west of Muscat
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