Start with the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque while the marble courtyards are still cool. Inside the prayer hall, the great chandelier and the single hand-woven carpet show Omani craftsmanship at its finest.
Next comes the Royal Opera House Muscat. A short walk takes in its polished marble, carved wood and quiet Arabian details; it is the country’s leading home for music and the arts.
Along the Mutrah waterfront, the fish market is busiest in the morning, when boats unload the catch and buyers bargain over it. A few minutes away, Mutrah Souq is one of the oldest markets in the region: narrow lanes scented with frankincense and oud, and stalls of silver, spices, fabrics and crafts.
In Old Muscat, stop for photos at Al Alam Palace, the Sultan’s ceremonial palace, its blue and gold front framed by the Portuguese forts of Al Jalali and Al Mirani. Close by, the National Museum of Oman tells the country’s story from prehistoric times to today, with galleries on archaeology, the sea, crafts, arms and royal treasures. Then back to your hotel.
