Mesmerizing Muscat – A 2-day Itinerary

Muscat, the capital city of Oman, is a beautiful sepia-toned image. Muscat has always been a famous city owing to its unique geographical location. The port-city of Muscat served as a bridge between the eastern and western worlds. Owing to this fact, one always finds the subtle influences of both worlds in Muscat.

With a beautiful mix of traditional culture yet urban lifestyle, Muscat offers a plethora of options to explore. Here is a 48 hours Muscat itinerary to spend a lovely weekend in Muscat.

Muscat- A Weekend Getaway

Day 1 in Muscat:

 

Morning: Witness the dance of dolphins

The Gulf of Oman is like no other gulf in the world and has a unique tinge of blue not found elsewhere. It is also home to magnificent bottle-nosed dolphins. Head to Duqm Beach to watch these beauties jump up to 9 feet, twirl and dive back into the pristine waters.

Afternoon: A rendezvous with contemporary art and history

Visit the Stal Gallery, which houses world-class contemporary art by international artists as well as local and young artists.

After the Stal Gallery, head to The National Museum, that narrates the rich history of Oman through rare artifacts.

Evening: Revel in the performance at the Royal Opera House

The Royal Opera House of Muscat has a unique contemporary and flamboyant Omani architecture. This 80,000 square meters structure made in marble hosts many internationally and locally renowned performances. If you are unable to view any opera show, do make sure and join the daily tours that happen at regular intervals. Spend some time in the Opera Galleria which has lovely cafés and shops.

Day 2 in Muscat:

 

Morning: A solemn time at Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

Spread across 4,16,000 square meters, this is an iconic landmark in Muscat. The mosque, built using Indian sandstone, exhibits Islamic architecture fused with influences from around the world. The mosque holds the world’s largest handwoven Iranian carpets.

Afternoon: Submerge in exquisite Omani artifacts

Head over to Bait Al Zubair Museum which is at a short distance from Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. This museum showcases beautiful artifacts and pieces of art, and its detailed exhibits express the vibrant history and culture of Oman to perfection.

Make a quick stop at Al Alam Palace, a blue and gold facade standing out against the monochromatic backdrop of Muscat. 16th-century Portuguese forts namely Mirani and Jalali, flank the palace on either side.

Evening: Indulge in retail therapy

A trip to Muscat is incomplete without a visit to Souk Mutrah. It is the oldest market in Muscat and a melting pot of products like perfumes, frankincense, handmade clay incense burners, handmade Omani hats, cashmere scarves and gold, gems and stones and more!