Oman
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Oman - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Bait al Safah
Nestled in the mountain village of Al Hamra, about 30 minutes from Nizwa, you will find a fantastic living museum built in a 400-year-old restored Omani mud house, where local men and women spend the day performing daily tasks as they would have been done in ancient times, from squeezing dates into date syrup and refreshing lime-date juice, to using stones to crack wheat, mixing perfume oils, and stitching traditional fabrics. As in any good Omani home, coffee and dates are always available and offered to visitors. Open hours can be somewhat erratic, so it's important to call the director and confirm before heading to the village.
Ad Dakhiliyah, Oman9901–0373-Sulaiman Al AbriSight Details
Rate Includes: 3 rials, Daily 9–5 -
2. Jabal Akhdar
Jabal Akhdar, the Green Mountain, is part of the rocky Al Hajar mountain range, and despite its name, at first it appears to be as martian as the surrounding jagged peaks. The mountains are an hour from Nizwa, and the steep ascent up the winding mountain roads to the summit, which sits at nearly 10,000 feet (2,980 meters), requires a 4x4 vehicle and experience. Near the village of Saiq the spectacular rock landscape is suddenly interrupted by shocks of green from the orchards that grow on the stepped sides of the cliffs. Omani villagers grow apricots, plums, grapes, and other fruits but are most famous for their excellent pomegranates, which come into season each September and sell out quickly. The landscape is unlike anything found elsewhere in the world, and a drive through the spectacular peaks is a must for anyone visiting Oman.
Izki-Faraq Rd., Ad Dakhiliyah, Oman8007-7799 -
3. Jibreen (Jabrin) Castle
Built on a flat plain 30 minutes from Nizwa, the 300-year-old castle has 55 rooms spread over five floors. It's considered the most beautiful historic castle in Oman thanks to intact details, which include elaborately painted ceilings, a burial chamber with intricately carved walls, a wooden latticed-windowed courtyard, an elaborate stairwell, Islamic inscriptions and frescoes decorating the rooms, and traditional hand-carved doors. Two particularly interesting spaces are the two ancient meeting rooms of the Imam. The light-filled Sun Room has 14 windows—seven set high near the ceiling and seven lower near the floor—a clever architectural detail that ensured the room was cool year round, as the cold air enters from the lower windows and pushes the warm air from the top windows. The Moon room, on the other hand, was designed for meetings with new or untrustworthy guests, built with four interconnecting secret hideouts under the floor where the Imam's soldiers would wait to ensure his safety.
Rte. 21, Ad Dakhiliyah, Oman2536–3141Sight Details
Rate Includes: 500 baisas, Sat.–Thurs. 9–4, Fri. 8–11 am -
4. Misfat Al Abriyeen
Just under an hour from Nizwa, the ancient—but still inhabited—mountain village of Misfat al Abriyeen is an amazing place for a short hike. A map of the historical section of Misfat al Abriyeen, along with information on points of interests and rules of courtesy for visiting tourists, is posted. The old houses, which are still in use, are traditional mud houses with palm roofs and are unique in that they are built on solid rock foundations. The inhabitants are mostly farmers, who grow bananas, pomegranates, papayas, mangoes, citrus, and most of all, the famous Omani dates. Walking paths are marked with yellow, green, and red flags, and visitors are expected to stick to the official paths to avoid trespassing on a resident's property. There are amazing vantage points for photography, but as in the rest of the country, you should ask before photographing people.
Rte. 21, Ad Dakhiliyah, Oman9934 8440 -
5. Nizwa Livestock Market
Every Friday the Nizwa souq becomes a hive of activity as the livestock market gets underway. Every type of livestock, from camels to cows to goats, is auctioned off, and both sellers and buyers flood the market from surrounding Dakhiliyah towns. It is a one-of-a-kind spectacle. This style of buying and selling livestock hasn't changed much over the centuries, so it's a weekly step back in time. The market also offers great opportunities for photography, but be sure to ask women before taking their picture. Go early as the main action wraps up well before noon.
Rte. 21, Ad Dakhiliyah, OmanSight Details
Rate Includes: Fri., dawn–10 or 11 am -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
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6. Al Hoota Cave
Near the town of Hamria, the Al Hoota Cave extends over about 5 km (3 miles) underground. Visitors can explore about a half-mile of the underground ecosystem, following a the footpath, which ends at a 65-foot-deep underground lake. There are several facinating varieties of blind fish living in the lake, including some with no eyes at all that rely on sensitive papillae to sense their surroundings, and small pink fish whose bones are visible through their translucent flesh. Cave tours last just under an hour are are led by guides who are fluent in both Arabic and English. There is a nominal entrance fee, and only a limited number of guests are allowed to enter the cave at one time, so it is best to book ahead.
Ar Rawdah–Al Hamra Rd., Ad Dakhiliyah, Oman2439-1284Sight Details
Rate Includes: 7 rials, Sat.–Thurs. 9–1 and 2–5:15; Fri. 9–noon and 2–5:15 -
7. Bahla City Walls
Just over a half hour from Nizwa, the ancient city of Bahla has several interesting historic sites to see and folklore to explore, beginning with the 13-km-long (8-mile), 132-watchtower-lined wall surrounding the town. The wall's murky history has given rise to many legends, including one that states the wall was built in one night by jinn (ghosts) and another other purporting that it was built entirely by women of the town. A more likely explanation is that the Banu Nebhan built the walls to protect the oasis, which served as their capital for more than 300 years, from the 12th through 15th centuries.
Rte. 21, Ad Dakhiliyah, OmanNo phoneSight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
8. Bahla Fort
The town of Bahla, 35 minutes from Nizwa, is brimming with historic and cultural sights, but it is most famous for its fort, one of the oldest in Oman. Built by the Banu Hebhan tribe in the 13th century, the fort is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Banu Nebhan, who ruled during the medieval Islamic period, built the fort adjacent to the Friday mosque, and its falaj irrigation system has remained surprisingly well intact, but damage from flooding rains and threats of modernization landed it on the Heritage "in danger" list in the late 1980s, prompting preservation efforts. There is not much in the way of documentation at the fort, so you may want to learn about the style of construction by visiting the restored fort in Nizwa before you head to Bahla. Once inside, the building is a total labyrinth, with plenty of hidden details and rooms to explore, but take care to keep going in one direction to avoid getting lost.
Rte. 21, Ad Dakhiliyah, Oman2544–3041Sight Details
Rate Includes: 500 baisas, Sat.–Thurs., 9:30–4:30 -
9. Birkat al Mouz Ruins
At the base of Jabal Akhdar, about 25 minutes from Nizwa, the ghost town of Birkat Al Mouz (which literally translates as "banana pool") is a beautiful place for a half-hour hike. The Al Falaj irrigation system still runs through the village streets, and there is a fun trick to try if you bring three colorful, small balls with you: Drop them in the same water channel and follow them. They will separate into different waterways a few meters down every time.
Rte. 21, Ad Dakhiliyah, Oman -
10. Jebel Shams
About 90 minutes from Nizwá by four-wheel-drive vehicle, Jebel Shams rises 9,855 miles above sea level, making it the highest peak in the Al Hajar Range—and indeed the tallest mountain peak in the Arabian Peninsula. The high altitude makes for cool weather in the summer and temperatures that drop below freezing in the winter. It is most famous for the Al Nakhr Balcony, the "Grand Canyon" of the Middle East, a stunning ravine punctuated by dramatic rock formations etched out of the stone through erosion. It is a popular place to hike thanks to the cool weather, but you should bring your own provisions as there are almost no amenities aside from a single hotel in the surrounding area.
Rte. 21, Ad Dakhiliyah, Oman9218 6640 -
11. Nizwa Fort
The fort in Nizwa dates from the 17th century, during the Al Ya’rubi dynasty, and was built on top of the ruins of a 9th-century castle. The massive structure has been nicely restored, with many rooms set up to look as they did when the fort was in use; you'll see interesting historic tidbits offered in various displays in many rooms. Be sure to check out the prisoner room and read about the wartime use for the local dates, which were turned into a deadly weapon in the form of a cauldron of boiling date syrup. The views from the central tower are spectacular and worth the climb.
Rte. 21, Ad Dakhiliyah, Oman2541-1844Sight Details
Rate Includes: 500 baisas, Sun.–Thurs. 9–4, Fri. 8–11 am -
12. Rose Water Distilleries
In the mountains of Jabal Akhdar, especially in the village of Saiq (just over an hour from Nizwa), more than 100 Omanis still use traditional methods to distill the Damascus roses that grow wild on the mountainsides. The resulting rose water is very different from the clear, fragrant stuff you have likely encountered before. Jabal Akhdar rose water is prized for its intensely smokey scent, which comes from the wood-fire distillation process, and it is extremely popular throughout the Arabian Gulf. Rose water distillers are happy to allow visitors to watch their process in season (typically in the springtime around April), and visits can be arranged through your hotel, by calling the Ministry of Tourism, or by talking to friendly vendors in the Nizwa Souq, where the smoky water is available to purchase year-round.
Izki-Faraq Rd., Ad Dakhiliyah, Oman8007–7799-for Ministry of TourismSight Details
Rate Includes: Free, By appointment only -
13. Tanuf
Tanuf, about 20 minutes outside of Nizwa, was a simple but functional village up until the 1950s when the ancient town was destroyed by British bombs on the orders of the former sultan during the Jabal Akhdar wars. The ruins that remain are eerily beautiful, and the wadi that feeds the Al Falaj system is a wonderful place for a quick hike. About 15 minutes down the wadi, you can find another small but inhabited village that is quite picturesque. Other than a small signboard with a brief history, there are no facilities at this sight.
Rte. 21, Ad Dakhiliyah, Oman
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