Italy, France, Oman, USA, and UK are some of the most popular holiday destinations people often visit from around the world. Speaking of Oman, it is a middle eastern country filled with stunning gems, waiting to be explored. The first thing that pops up when thinking of Oman are the vast deserts, mountains, wadis and stunning beaches. With so much beauty and architecture tucked away in every corner, the middle eastern country is worth a holiday. So, go ahead and make a list of all the places to visit in Oman you want to explore.
10 Stunning Places To Visit In Oman For The Perfect Vacation
Explore the stunning terrains, mountains like Al Jabal, Al Akhdar and Al Jabal Shams, the ancient mysteries in Bidiya and beaches of Oman. Some of the places to visit in Oman include the stunning city of Nizwa, known for its culture and history, the royal opera house in Muscat and the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. These are places that reflect the nation’s past, present and future. One of the many places people should not miss is the Salalah in the Dohfar governorate, known to the world as the Switzerland of the Gulf.
- Jebel Akhdar
- Salalah
- Musandam
- Sur
- Bahla
- Mutrah Corniche
- Nizwa
- Wahiba Sands
- Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
- Sohar
1. Jebel Akhdar
The Jebel Akhdar’s name translates to Green Mountain, which often seems a bit confusing. It is a well-known peak in the Al Hajar mountain ranges, nestled 2900 meters above sea level. It offers a stunning vantage view of the surrounding city. Known for its Wadis and orchards filled with pomegranate, apricots and roses, Jebel Akhdar is one of the stunning tourist places in Oman. The mountainside is home to some of the most stunning caves tourists should explore and enjoy hiking. So, what more can you ask for when it comes to enjoying the mountains?
Best Time To Visit: March and April
Things To Do: Adventure treks and cave exploration
2. Salalah
Salalah is one of the most breathtaking places to explore for its culture, history and beaches. With its Arabian Peninsula and pleasant climate, one of the places to visit in Salalah is its beaches that offer snorkeling and diving. Tourists should also explore its lush mountains and greenery during the monsoons. Its food is delicious and savory with a range of seafood choices to tuck into. The mosques are the one place people should explore for the Islamic culture and traditions, and of course will get to hear the locals pray with chants that can be heard throughout the city. So, what are you waiting for? Isn’t it a place worth exploring?
Best Time To Visit: All year round
Things To Do: Visit the Sultan Qaboos Mosque, Sumhuram archaeological park, marneef cave and Taqah castle
3. Musandam
Rich in modern architecture and serene beaches, Musandam is one of the most ideal destinations for scuba divers. The Arabian and the Omani gulfs guard the Omani peninsula along with the rugged mountains and turquoise water bodies. Apart from its beaches, Musandam is rich in Arabian culture and ethnicity as well. It is one of the ideal tourist places in Muscat to visit in October, home to the busiest waterways- the strait of Hormuz. The ideal way to discover the place is by going on a traditional Omani boat. So, why wait?
Best Time To Visit: October
Things To Do: Sailing through the Fjords on a traditional dhow boat, swimming, cliff jumping or canyoning in a wadi, Dolphin or whale watching
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4. Sur
Known for its craftsmanship, building wooden ships has been a part of Sur’s rich heritage. With a population of about 120,000 residents, Sur is the second richest city in Oman. It is said to be the ideal place to sunbathe on the beaches and tuck into some of the finest delicacies. Tourists should experience the rich Omani culture through some of the most stunning attractions like Ras-Al-Hadd, Wadi Shab and Wahiba Sands. Besides these attractions, Sur is also home to the lighthouse, the old town, Bila sur castle and Ayjah watchtowers.
Best Time To Visit: October and April
Things To Do: Bilad Sur Castle, Dhow Factory, Al Ayjah Fort, Sur Maritime Museum, Al Ayjah Lighthouse and Sur Corniche
5. Bahla
Found in the Dakhliya region of Oman, Bahla, a small settlement is the first Omani town to be declared as a UNESCO world heritage site. One of the oldest forts in Oman, the Bahla fort is highly popular as its history dates back to the 13th century. Tourists can buy pottery and silver artefacts sold in the old souq. Been associated with several Arabic legends, it is said that Bahla was the birth place of black magic. The old town is the perfect example of a fortified oasis settlement of the medieval Islamic period. It is one of the most ideal places to visit in Oman for its rich history.
Best Time To Visit: September- March
Things To Do: Visit the Bahla Fort
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6. Mutrah Corniche
A promenade found along the waterfront, Mutrah Corniche is home to some of the finest restaurants, cafes and markets. Tourists can enjoy the stunning view of the Oman port and harbor along with the Hajar mountains and Portuguese watchtowers. Tourists can visit the fish market and dhow harbor at the northern end of the corniche. So, what are you thinking about? Plan your vacation and visit Mutrah Corniche.
Opening Hours: 24 hours
Things To Do: See the fishermen at work and watch the fishing boats come back with their catches.
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7. Nizwa
The historic city of Nizwa is called the “Pearl of Islam”, the one-stop tourist places in Oman. With several historical and agricultural attractions, the old city was a center for trade, education, religion and art, and is home to some of the most ideal date palms and banana plantations. The Nizwa Fort, the Souq and Jebel Akhdar are some of the attraction's tourists should explore when visiting Nizwa. When are you planning to visit the pearl of Islam?
Best Time To Visit: September- March
Things To Do: Visit a mosque and souk
8. Wahiba Sands
Known as the Sharqiya sands, the wahiba sands is home to the Bedouins, sand sports and night camping in Oman. It is one of the most stunning camping places in Oman, where tourists are offered the best Arabian experience. Dune bashing and camel safari are one of the most popular activities at the sands. Tourists should learn about the Bedouin culture and enjoy the perfect cup of Omani coffee. Desert trekking is one of the most fun adventure activities people should try while visiting the Wahiba sands.
Best Time To Visit: October- March
Things To Do: Sand boarding, dune bashing and camel safari
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9. Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
Every year, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque attracts tourists from all over the world. People visiting the mosque learn about the spirit of Islam as a religion, science and civilization. The mosque took about 6 years to build as they had stiff competition in choosing the finest architectural designs. The unique minaret showcases its individual style and the walls are inscribed with verses from the Kiran in the Thuluth script with Islamic geometric frameworks. When planning a vacation, one can think of spending new year in Oman by visiting the grand mosque. Sounds like a fine idea, doesn’t it?
Opening Hours: 8 – 11 am
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10. Sohar
Sohar is the ideal combination of culture and modern societies and home to some of the most stunning beaches, malls and skyscrapers. Filled with several things to do, Soha offers tourists a glimpse of a camel race, shopping for handicrafts and visit the beaches. It is one of the oldest towns in Oman, people should visit at least. What more can one ask for? Go ahead and plan the ideal vacation.
Best Time To Visit: June, July and May
Things To Do: Camel Race, shop for handicrafts and visit the beaches
Are you excited about your vacation? There are several places to visit in Oman tourists should explore for their rich history and culture. Besides exploring some of the most stunning attractions, people should enjoy some of the finest adventures like desert safaris, camel rides and much more. One of the ideal places to explore is the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque at least once while on vacation. So, plan your vacation soon.
It doesn’t come as a surprise that Oman attracts several tourists from around the world every year. When one thinks of Oman, beaches, shopping malls and desert safaris are some of the things that pop up. So, to enjoy the rich experience, the Oman tour package is just what you need.
FAQs
October- April is the best time to visit in Oman. Tourists should explore some of the most stunning attractions and tuck into some of the finest cuisines.
Oman is known for its old aflaj oases, terraced orchards, fortresses, mosques, wadis, dhows and meteorites.
Tourists can drink alcohol at hotels, restaurants and clubs, even though it is an offence to drink in public.
Oman is one of the safest countries in the middle east to explore at least once in a life time.
As Oman follows conservative dressing standards, tourists will have to wear ankle-length clothes.
Wahiba sands, Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Sohar, Bahla, Sur and Jebel Akhdar are some of the places to visit in Oman.
Tourists can spend at least 7- 10 days in Oman, having the best of their lives.
June, July and May is the best time to visit Sohar.
