The city of Muscat is a treasure-trove of wonders from the past and present. It has the rugged edges of a desert city yet glows with luxury and glamour in most areas. Muscat like many other capitals of the Middle Eastern nations is a rich and glamorous city. It is adorned with attractions both natural and manmade some of which speak volumes from the yesteryears of this land. Muscat echoes art and majesty and many of its attractions reflect its charismatic and open minded charm; a feature that has drawn to its borders thousands of tourists and even thousands of happy expatriates.
Muscat’s dense population of visitors has lead to an array of tour packages that provide visits during the day to the major highlights of the city. Most packages vary on the number of attractions covered and the duration spent in each location. The hop on hop off bus also makes an excellent method to tour the city. It is convenient and has the added advantage of commentary in 6 different languages.
There are ample and amazing places to see in Muscat but the Al Jalali Fort and Al Mirani Fort stand out as the biggest tourist hotspots in the area. The forts originally built as prisons are located in Qasr Al Alam Street and date back to 1580; during the Portuguese era in the city. Today these forts have been converted to museums. Right in the middle of the two forts stand another attraction. This is the Grand Palace that houses the Ruler of Oman. Visitors of course not allowed to enter the palace but the walls with its magnificent architecture make a perfect stop by for sightseeing. You can also enjoy some excellent views of the city from the base of Mutrah Fort that is located at the East end of the Corniche Walk. The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is also another spectacular creation in the city and so is the Royal Opera House. Both of these buildings boast magnificent architecture that will literally leave you in awe. There are several other interesting locations that work well for sightseeing such as the Nakhal Fort, Wadi Shaab and an array of lush gardens.
When it comes to choosing a Muscat Hotel, pick Millennium & Copthorne Hotels. This is certainly the finest Oman Muscat hotel there is.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.
