From the waterfront enter the Mutrah Souk and bargain for Arab hand-embroidered mussar (shawls inten

As an alternative to the main CBD area that is considered as these three areas there is plently of places to go and things to see along the main highway that heads North East out of these areas. This main road, The Sultan Qaboos Highway, goes past many areas on its way out to the Airport and further still to Seeb, Sohar and eventually the northern most tip of Oman.
There is also a very long beach road from Qurum to Seeb, some 50km. Situated along this are some of the large international hotel chains but more importantly you discover the true beauty seattle underground tours of the Oman coast-line. Km's of beaches, fisherman with drag nets and open space to walk for hours.
Oman Air [2] operates flights to Muscat seattle underground tours from Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Amman, Bahrain, Bangalore, Bangkok, Beirut, Cairo, Chennai, Chittagong, Dar Es Salaam, Delhi, Doha, Dubai, Frankfurt, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Jaipur, Jeddah, Karachi, Kathmandu, Khasab, Kochi, Kozhikode, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, Lahore, London Heathrow, Lucknow, Male, Mumbai, Munich, Paris, Ras Al Khaimah, Riyadh, Salalah and Thiruvananthapuram.
Air India Express [13] has flights to Muscat from Amritsar seattle underground tours on Wed and Fri (duration of flight 3 hrs 15min, from Delhi on Wed and Fri (duration of flight 5 hrs 20min), from Kochi on Tue, Thu and Sun (duration of flight 3hrs 35min), from Kozhikode on Fri, Sat, Sun (duration of flight 3hrs 25min), from Thiruvanantahapuram on Tue, Thu to Sun (duration of flight 3hrs 45 min, or 5hrs 20min if flight goes via Cochin).
Oman National Transport Company [16] runs busses to Muscat from Dubai (duration of journey: 6 hrs) and Abu Dhabi (via Buraimi). al-Khanjry Transport runs a bus from al-Rigga in Dubai to Muscat, leaving every day at 7:00am and 3:00pm (60 dirhams one way, 100 return). Within Oman there are daily busses to Muscat from Buraimi (via Sohar), Nizwa (2hrs 20min), Salalah (13 hrs, reservation required), Sanaw and Sur (4hrs 15 min). Long distance busses arrive at the Oman National Transport Company at Ruwi, Al-Jaame Street (near Sultan Qaboos Mosque).
Maxi taxis (vans, known throughout the expat community as baisa busses) ply the highway from Seeb to the corniche area. The charge is 100 baisa from corniche area to the church round about and another 100 baisa from the church round about to Wadi Adai.
The (mostly orange and white) taxis are a bit pricier, and they hang around the hotels where they get juicy fares from unwary travellers. They will charge 8 Rials for an airport trip if you don't haggle , but you should be able to barter for 5 Rials. They always say they will give you "good price" but its best to figure out what you want to spend then agree before you get in.
The Maxi Taxis ply the main routes through town, and they go where they want so you might have to find one going your direction, seattle underground tours once you are on one, they will make sure you get there. THe place to wait for them is on the on-ramps of most of the main highway junctions, you'll usually see a few people waiting around for one. A journey within the Muscat area should not cost more than 300 Baisa each, but if you look like an experienced traveller and hand them 200 baisa then you can usually get away with that.
There are many rent-a-car services available in the city. There is much conflicting information as to whether an international driving licence is required for renting out a car. According to the Royal Omani Police website, a valid license from your home country is sufficient for up to 90 days. It is best to verify this with the rental company. Most of the Car Rentals have offices at the airport arrivals terminal.
The cheapest car hire is about 11 OMR (14 GBP) for a day which will get you an economy car with manual transmission and sometimes no air-conditioning. To get yourself properly equipped, you should hire a 4WD which will be around 30 OMR (38 GBP). Make sure that you will get a proper induction on driving in Oman.
Road signs in Muscat can be quite confusing, particularly when having to decide which exit to take to reach your destination. Best to ask a local to provide you with directions if you haven't been to your destination previously.
Al Jalali Fort and Al Mirani fort They are located in Qasr Al Alam Street. The forts were built as prisons in the rocky mountains in 1580 during the Portugese occupation, and have now been converted into museums. Update as of August 2012, the forts are now closed to the public. However, outside photography is allowed.
Qasr Al Alam Royal Palace Guarded by the twin forts of Jalali and Mirani, this is the office of Sultan Qaboos, the ruler of Oman. This beautiful palace stands on the head of a natural deep water harbour. Visitors are not allowed to visit the palace, but they are allowed to take photographs at the entrance of the palace.
Corniche Area The recently renovated Corniche area is a popular place for a walk and also for its many eating places. Climb to the base of Mutrah Fort (at the east end of the Corniche walk) for a spectacular view of the city.
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque . This is the third largest mosque in the world and mostly the entire complex is open to non-Muslim visitors. Non-Muslims may visit from 8AM to 11AM every day except Thursday and Friday. Ladies seattle underground tours are however expected to keep their heads, ankles and wrists covered while visiting the mosque. seattle underground tours Must sees in the mosque include the Swarovski crystal chandelier, the second largest hand made persian carpet in the world and the marble panelling.
Muscat also has a large number of small and large parks, the largest being the Qurum National Park or rose gardens which include a large manmade waterfall, seattle underground tours a lake and an amusement park which is a must to visit during the Muscat festival. Other popular parks include:
Wadi Shab . This is perhaps the most spectacular of all the easily accessible wadis in Oman. It is located about 100 km southeast of Muscat, accessed from the main coastal road to Sur at the village of Tiwi. The pools here are a vivid Emerald Green colour, and the caves and sheer sides of the wadi really dramatic.
Walk down the waterfront in the Corniche area to catch a cool sea breeze, and treat yourself to some sandwiches and Halib (tea with milk) or Sulaimani seattle underground tours (black seattle underground tours tea) at one of the wayside restaurants. A cup of tea costs about 50 baisa.
From the waterfront enter the Mutrah Souk and bargain for Arab hand-embroidered mussar (shawls intended to be worn as turbans, which cost 10 rials and above), garments, nuts, spices, incense, earthen ware, etc.
Mutrah Souk The maze-like souq (marketplace), which also includes a fish market, is often described as the best in the Gulf region. The souq has several shops for jewellery, traditional seattle underground tours Omani handicrafts and Omani food at reasonable prices. Several shops accept credit cards.
Sabco Centre , Qurm. Located near the turnoff between Sultan Qaboos St and Qurm Heights Road, the "Sabco Centre" is actually a collection of about half a dozen medium sized shopping centres which is very popular with locals. The actual Sabco Centre has a small souq-like collection of shops that contains many of the handicrafts that are available in the Mutrah Souq. Opposite the Sabco Centre is the Omani Craftsman's House that only sells guaranteed Made in Oman crafts at fixed (but relatively high) prices.
There are numerous Indian seattle underground tours run tailors. You may pay RO 5 to have 2 Italian suits tailored seattle underground tours for sleeve length, trouser length seattle underground tours and waist. There is a Raymond store in Ruwi that will make custom suits in the RO 50-500 range, depending on quality. In fact they have excellent seattle underground tours fabrics from pure wool to wool blended with exotic fibers like Cashmere, Mohair or Angora and linen. Even Super 230s crafted out of 11.8 micron wool are found there. Ask them for their catalogue seattle underground tours - you will find the latest Italian designs and styles in there and a really good suit can be really light on the pocket.
Bin Atique , Al Khuwair, Ruwi , ☎ 24478225 . This place is in all the guidebooks as the only 'authentic' Omani restaurant in town - and its fame means that this is now firmly a tourist joint. Food is acceptable if a bit pricey for what you get. edit
Automatic , (Cuisine - Lebanese). Try the Hummus (Chickpea paste), Fatoosh (Salad), Mutabel (Egg Plant paste), Falafel and mint tea. Even the waiters are not sure why the restaurant is named automatic. seattle underground tours There is a branch of Automatic seattle underground tours located on the side of the Sabco Centre facing away from the central car park. There are also branches in Ruwi, Al Khuwair seattle underground tours and elsewhere in Muscat.
Kargeen , located in Madinat Qaboos, offers a good range of local food and from the wider region such as Lebanese dishes. Their fresh juices are a must, or even a fruity seattle underground tours shisha pipe. The main plus is the ambience; most of the restaurant is outdoor seating with a "ceiling" of lights.
seattle underground tours "Left bank" one of only two places in Muscat where you can eat and enjoy a beer or a glass of wine. Great setting on top of a hill. Non smokers sit in side, as many of the wannabe's and smokers sit outside. Food is good.
Fresh fruit juices are delicious and available from a number of stalls and cafes in Muscat. Some well-known ones are Fast Food 'n' Juice Centre on the Corniche at Mutrah (where you can watch the world go by from the outside tables) and Al Ahli Coffeeshop inside the Mutrah Souq. Expect seattle underground tours to pay between RO 0.500 and 1.500 for these juices depending on type and size.
There is a Starbucks located on the beach road that goes between the Crown Plaza Hotel and the Intercontinental Hotel. It is so close that if you cross the road, you are on the beach. The larger drinks are about RO 2-2.2, but the view through the glass wall of the waves coming into the beach is excellent.
Motif Coffee Shop . Next to the Intercontinental Hotel directly on the beach where you can sit under palms and watch the sunset. Despite the location prices are moderate. Fresh juices are RO 1.1, a tea or coffee RO 0.8, a sandwhich about RO 1 and grilled fish or squid RO 3. It is a great place.
Delmon Hotel Apartments . Spacious,