42 Best Sights in Oman

As you approach Sur from Muscat on Rte. 17, you may notice small signs that read "The Ancient Village of Qalhat." Upon exiting the freeway, a small two-lane road weaves along the seafront until it dips back inland through a small, quite ancient-looking village surrounded by palms. Qalhat, which is still inhabited, is quite beautiful, with spectacularly colorful carved doorways on each of the crumbling living structures. Past this village, where the road begins to run along a river, just before reconnecting with 17, the ruins of the Bibi Mayram Mausoleum can be seen on the other side of the water, the last remaining piece of the once-famous town aside from a few small domed tombs and pieces of the old city wall. Submitted for consideration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Qalhat was a famous port city that was badly damaged by earthquakes in the 14th century, then destroyed completely by a Portuguese invasion in 1508. It is an unexpected historic treasure along an otherwise empty patch of freeway.

Just off the 17 freeway at the exit for "Ancient Town of Qalhat," you'll find a strech of pristine, virtually empty beach with concrete shade huts built directly in the sand. It is a great place to bring a cooler so you can barbecue in one of the shaded huts, taking dips in the water to cool down and likely seeing only one other group on the entire beach. This privacy comes at the expense of convenience, as there are no restroom facilities or shops nearby, so bring your own provisions, and be prepared to rough it a bit. Amenities: parking. Best for: solitude.

Located on the so-called "Love Street" this small beach remains relatively empty during the week but is bustling on the weekends and in the evenings, when young Omanis like to cruise the street showing off their cars and motorcycles. The water is calm and good for swimming, and often there are men offering Jet Ski rentals. On the short boardwalk along Shati Street you'll find two restaurants and two coffee shops with restrooms and free Wi-Fi, albeit with rather expensive food offerings for what you get. Expect to pay for the view and the convenience. After the sun sets, a mishkak stand appears in the parking lot at the far northern end of the beach serving skewers of barbecued beef and squid. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free); water sports. Best for: sunset; walking.

About 40 minutes south of Sur are the sprawling, remote beaches of Ras Al Hadd. The surrounding town has almost nothing in the way of amenities aside from a coffee shop or two, which are closed during the day. The beach itself is massive and quiet, with one set of public toilets at the parking lot close to town but no other amenities. The water is crystal clear and great for swimming. This is one of the places in the area where you can see giant sea turtles at certain times of year, so take care not to step on nests if you are there in turtle season. It is a true escape from civilization for those looking to get off the grid; just be sure to bring your own snacks and drinks. Amenities: parking; toilets. Best for: solitude.

On a hill overlooking the Mutrah corniche, Al Riyam park features lush gardens, a small children's amusement park (open every evening), a few coffee shops, a scattering of swing sets, and plenty of shaded areas to sit and picnic. Most notably, it is home to the Riyam Memorial, a gigantic incense burner that was built in honor of Oman's 20th National day. The burner lights up at night and is one of the most iconic structures in the capital. The views of the sea and the old city from the park are truly stunning.

In the mountains of Jabal Akhdar, especially in the village of Saiq (just over an hour from Nizwa), more than 100 Omanis still use traditional methods to distill the Damascus roses that grow wild on the mountainsides. The resulting rose water is very different from the clear, fragrant stuff you have likely encountered before. Jabal Akhdar rose water is prized for its intensely smokey scent, which comes from the wood-fire distillation process, and it is extremely popular throughout the Arabian Gulf. Rose water distillers are happy to allow visitors to watch their process in season (typically in the springtime around April), and visits can be arranged through your hotel, by calling the Ministry of Tourism, or by talking to friendly vendors in the Nizwa Souq, where the smoky water is available to purchase year-round.

Commissioned by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, the Royal Opera House is a contemporary masterpiece of Omani design and architecture, marrying traditional elements with clean, sophisticated, modern lines. The performances are likewise a lively blend of traditional local music and performance and world-class touring operas, ballets, and concerts. It is well worth spending an evening taking in a performance. You can also wander the hall on your own or as part of a house tour from 8:30 am to 10 am during the week or stop by one of the informative Saturday open house presentations. The schedule for tours varies dramatically by season, so be sure to call ahead.

The Sur fish market is a hive of activity in the early morning, when fishermen haul in their fresh catch and hawkers sell it off for the best price. Fishing has always been the lifeblood of Sur, so this is not simply a wonderful spectacle but a fantastic opportunity to witness an important part of daily life. It is also a great place for getting beautiful photographs; just be sure to ask permission before snapping pictures of any people, especially women.

This open-air museum houses beautifully restored traditional Arabian trading vessels called dhow. The city is famous for hand-crafting the wooden ships, and this is a great place to see them up close. Small placards next to each ship gives its brief history. There is also a display of traditional ship-building tools and a collection of photographs of Sur in the early 20th century. It is especially nice to visit just before sunset, as there are spectacular views across the bay.

The Sur Souq stretches over several blocks, beginning with an outdoor vegetable market near the old spice shops, where spices are still roasted and custom-blended for customers. Past these shops there are tailors, perfume shops, electronics stores, and finally a little strip of gold shops. It is a quiet part of town in the afternoon, but in the morning, you will find Suri ladies doing their grocery shopping, and in the early evening, there is a good showing of local residents wandering in and out of the other shops and taking tea along these narrow streets.

Tanuf, about 20 minutes outside of Nizwa, was a simple but functional village up until the 1950s when the ancient town was destroyed by British bombs on the orders of the former sultan during the Jabal Akhdar wars. The ruins that remain are eerily beautiful, and the wadi that feeds the Al Falaj system is a wonderful place for a quick hike. About 15 minutes down the wadi, you can find another small but inhabited village that is quite picturesque. Other than a small signboard with a brief history, there are no facilities at this sight.

Reaching this beach requires a mountanous drive along gravel roads, and then finding the ideal spot to set up may require some cruising up and down the shoreline, but this secluded beach is a great place to fish and enjoy nature. There are no facilities, restaurants, or shops for miles, so it is best to fill the car with anything you might want. The soft sand beaches make good sites to set up a tent and camp. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude.