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I love traveling in the Arabian Gulf. From the monumental architecture of Dubai, to the vibrant port city of Jeddah, you’ll find cities here which pay homage to history and look deep into the future. And then comes along Muscat.
Muscat was historically part of the Silk Road and the major maritime hub of the Arabian Gulf for hundreds of years. Today, despite being one of the richest countries in the region, Muscat refrains from building ostentatious skyscrapers. Rather, the city clearly prides itself in maintaining its traditional Omani character: mud brick architecture, vibrant souqs and a sleepy, yet absolutely beautiful, waterfront.



Whether you’re transiting in Muscat or on your way to Oman’s glorious wadis and historic cities, I encourage everyone to spend at least one day in Muscat. With that, here’s my recommendations on the best things to do during your one day in Muscat itinerary.
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1. Early morning: Mutrah Corniche
The Mutrah Corniche has forever been the gathering point for local fishermen and seafarers. However, the boardwalk was uplifted and redeveloped during the 1970s and it is nowadays stretching over several kilometres and has a convenient pathway for pedestrians.



What could be a better way to start your first full day in Muscat than a nice refreshing leisure walk at the Corniche? If you are visiting the city during the peak season from November to February the sun will be rising between 6 am and 7 am. Therefore, I recommend making your way to the Corniche before 8 am to make sure you will have a pleasant stroll before the sun starts heating after 9 am.
You’ll soon realize why a walk along the Mutrah Corniche is one of the best things to do in Muscat. There’s something magical about the combination of the refreshing sea breeze and witnessing Muscat waking up, as local vendors open their shops for the day. An alternative option is to head to the Corniche for sunset.
2. Late morning: Breakfast near the Mutrah Fish Market
If you’ve spent any time across the Gulf, it will come as no surprise that one of the best things to do in Muscat is eat.
After your morning walk, it is time to have a well deserved breakfast along with some delicious Arabic coffee. You can choose from multiple spots around the Mutrah Souq or Mutrah Fish Market area (one of my favorites is Bella Vista Cafe). While sipping your coffee, take in the sea views or just engage in some good old fashioned ‘people watching’.
By midday or even 11 am a lot of the locals will be heading to the malls (such as the Mall of Oman) — hiding from that Muscat sun.

Omani cuisine and typical breakfast share the characteristics of the neighbouring Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. A particularly popular local breakfast dish is khubz rakhal, usually served with shakshuka for breakfast. You can dip your flatbread into honey, jam, or date syrup, making it a deliciously sweet way to start your day. If you are keen for the ultimate Omani breakfast experience, you’ll want to make your way to Dukanah Cafe for the full spread.
The Omani coffee (or kahwa) is typically made from lightly roasted coffee. What makes it distinct from other kinds of coffee are the spices which they add to the coffee. Paying homage to Oman’s seafaring history, the spices in Omani coffee will remind you of the flavors of Iran, India, Africa and beyond. Some typical coffee flavors include cardamom, saffron and rosewater.
3. Late morning: Explore the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is Oman’s largest mosque (holding up to 20,000 people!) and one of the country’s most famous landmarks. It should come as no surprise that standing in awe of this magnificent piece of Islamic architecture is one of the best things to do in Muscat.

If you are planning to visit on your one day in Muscat itinerary, it is crucial you time your visit properly.
The mosque is only open to visitors from 8 am to 11 am, Monday to Thursday.
I generally recommend visitors come around 10 am. This way you’ll miss the tour busses and have the huge space for themselves. However, you’ll only be able to enter if you are dressed modestly — this includes pants and sleeves. Female travelers are expected to cover their hair (which you can rent from the Mosque gift shop).
4. Afternoon: National Museum of Oman
As the sun starts to approach the zenith, one of the best things to do in Muscat is find yourself a well air conditioned space. In terms of indoor activities in Muscat, the National Museum of Oman is one of the main attractions and worth the admission fee of US$13.
The museum opened in 2016, so this isn’t one of those dated, 1960s style museums. Rather, the facilities are in excellent, world-class condition and you’ll find 14 permanent galleries to choose from depending on where your interests lie.
Given the strategic location of Muscat, I find the maritime history gallery particularly fascinating, offering deep insights into Oman’s seafaring history around the Indian Ocean side of the Gulf.
5. Sunset: Mutrah Fort
No one day in Muscat itinerary won’t be complete without visiting the Mutrah Fort and witnessing the city in its evening colors. Mutrah fort is another one of the iconic landmarks of Muscat, dating back to the Portuguese back in the 16th century.

I recommend visiting the fort either just before sunset or right after sunset. Getting to the fort requires walking through a steep pathway, so you’ll want to make sure you have some good shoes handy. However, I assure you its worth the effort once you get to see the breathtaking panoramic views across the ocean, Mutrah Harbour, Corniche and the surrounding Hajar Mountains.
6. Early evening: Vibrant Mutrah Souq
In my opinion, the best time to experience Muscat is after dark. You’ll want to head back to Mutrah — the busiest area of Muscat. The Mutrah Souq opens at 9 am before closing down at 1 pm for an afternoon break. However, from a timing perspective, it’s best to visit the souq after 4 pm when the temperatures start cooling down and you can also enjoy the souq in both daylight and in evening colours.



The Mutrah Souq will literally light up your senses. Firstly, you will get the smell of all the aromas from different spices to Oman’s iconic frankincense, perfumes and oud. You’ll want to make sure you have your camera handy, as Mutrah Souq is one of the most photogenic spots in Muscat. Think all kinds of textiles, carpets and clothing.

7. Late evening: End the day with some delicious halwa
The Gulf countries offer a wide variety of delicious sweets and Oman is no exception. Halwa is probably the most common local delicacy or dessert and even though it is common to find halwa across most Middle Eastern countries, Oman takes particular pride in delivering their own unique version of this savoury treat.

While enjoying your halwa you might also want to try some delicious karak tea to maximise your sweet indulgence. Karak has a rich flavour of black tea, combined with spices such as cinnamon or cardamom, and it comes topped up with some milk to provide it with some creaminess.
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