Muscat cruise port is one seriously pretty place to dock, with craggy mountains surrounding the white buildings of the city, turquoise and green minarets and domed mosques, all combining to make a breathtaking view. There’s plenty to do within walking distance, there are some brilliant excursions into the city and the surrounding desert, and a sunset sail away from here is off the scale of beauty. (Check out the pictures over here.)
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What’s in port?
Cruise ships dock at the Sultan Qaboos Port, which is in a neighbourhood of Muscat called Muttrah. This is Muscat’s old town, and it’s been an important trading port for absolutely donkeys’ years. These days however, this port is all about the cruise ships; and that’s probably why you’re on this page. Welcome!
A port shuttle bus brings passengers from the ship to the port exit, where you’ll normally then pass through a small security building to have passports stamped. At the moment there’s no commercial terminal building at Muscat cruise port, so for souvenirs and a coffee you’ll have to head out into the city.
If you want to get from the port to the city, you’ll need to take a taxi. To get from the port to Muttrah, just turn left after you exit the gates and walk along the corniche; it takes mere minutes I tell you!
Where to get a taxi at Muscat cruise port
There are always plenty of taxis waiting outside the gates of the cruise port; if you get a taxi just make sure you agree a price with the driver before you get in! (The taxis aren’t metered in Oman.)
Is Muscat cruise port safe?
Yes! The Middle East gets a very bad rep, but as a crew member I visited Muscat several times and never felt unsafe. The locals are very friendly, although I’d also say it does pay to respect the traditions and customs of any country you visit, whether that means adapting your behaviour or your clothing.
I always explored Muscat with a friend- although I would have felt comfortable to go it alone- and as two western women we felt perfectly safe walking around both during the day and at night.
What to wear in Oman
As women, we made sure we covered up; Oman has more conservative standards of dressing, particularly for women, than say, Dubai. And apart from the obvious of just showing respect to another culture, dressing conservatively in Oman will just help you to not feel awkward or receive unwanted funny looks.
Loose, long trousers or skirts, and long-sleeved shirts, are perfect, although at the very least just make sure your shoulders are covered. You definitely do not have to whack on a burkha or even throw on a headscarf- Omanis understand that we”re visitors, and don’t expect us to dress in the exact same clothes as them.
The only exception to covering your hair is when visiting a mosque; if you’re a woman visiting a mosque in Oman, take a headscarf with you. If you don’t have one, most mosques will provide you with something.
For men, it’s best to stick to long trousers and definitely steer clear of tank tops.
Exhibit A, on the left: a great outfit choice. Exhibit B, on the right: very poor outfit choice. (But it’s ok because we were on the ship sailing away at this point.
Within walking distance of Muscat Cruise Port
The Muttrah neighbourhood, where the Sultan Qaboos Port is located, is absolutely beautiful, and although some cruise lines offer a paid shuttle directly between the cruise port and the middle of Muttrah, I definitely recommend walking. It’s a pretty, and very easy stroll, and there’s really no way you can get lost. Muttrah is also top of many a list of places to visit in Muscat, thanks to its magical souk and peaceful corniche.
The Corniche
So, what is a corniche? That would be a road running along a waterfront or cliffside: basically a promenade. And the Muttrah corniche is a downright delightful one.
Starting from the fish market, head right the way along the 3km pathway past the beautiful old buildings of Muttrah, towards the mountains at the far end. It’s a really lovely walk, and is often filled with families out for a stroll- as well as several thousand seagulls.
Muttrah Souk
Muttrah souk is one of the oldest souks in the entire Arab world, and it’s open day or evening. And although it’s obviously a popular spot for tourists- with souvenirs galore on offer- it’s also still very much bustling with locals. Tendrils of frankincense waft out of doorways, heaps of spices adding their own warm fragrances to the pot, and lamps, beautiful engraved silver daggers and teapots hang from ceilings like Aladdin’s cave. It’s an all-round treat for the senses. The most intriguing part of all (for me), is the gold souk, which is filled to the brim with gold shops and the brightest, most yellowest gold I’d ever seen in my life.
It goes without saying that I was very much a window shopper in that particular section.
If you buy anything in the souk, don’t be afraid to haggle- they expect it. And it’s also ok to say no! It’s normal for shopkeepers to try and entice you in to buy something, but it’s also very normal to say no if you don’t want to.
Muttrah Fort
Up in the jagged mountains surrounding the harbour, you’ll probably have spotted a few little round towers. They look kind of like something out of the Voyage of the Dawn Treader, but they were actually built as defence towers by the Portuguese, who occupied Oman hundreds of years ago.
Muttrah Fort is in a very nifty location overlooking the harbour, and you can walk up to the fort from the town. You won’t need long to explore, although if you enjoy a good viewpoint then this is the place for you.
Check opening times and ticket prices here.
The Al-Riyam Park
Right at the end of the corniche, is what appears to be a big golden spaceship, which lights up at night. It is in fact, not a space ship folks. Would you believe it?
It’s actually a giant frankincense burner, built to celebrate Oman’s 20th National Day, and there’s no denying it’s rather a spectacular sight.
Just before you reach this frankincense burner, you’ll see another set of surreal sights: a retro-looking amusement park, filled with slightly sun-bleached rocket ships, robots and hot air balloons. This amusement park was closed when we visited- in fact we thought it had been abandoned- but this was in 2021 when things were only just starting to return to normal, and I know the park is now open for business.
The gardens surrounding the amusement park are also very pretty, and free to enter.
Things to do in Muscat (Outside of Muttrah)
If you want to head further into the city of Muscat (which is a slightly more glamorous affair than Muttrah’s old town vibes, but far less shiny than somewhere like Dubai), the best thing to do is either hop into a taxi, or book an excursion in advance.
Must-see destinations at Muscat cruise port include:
- The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, which is the largest mosque in Oman.
- The Muscat Royal Opera House.
- The Al Alam Palace, one of Sultan Qaboos’ many palaces.
- Qurum Beach, one of Muscat’s most popular beaches in the heart of the city.
To see all these locations in one day is very much possible. The taxi drivers outside the port can always arrange a whistle-stop tour with you, or if you’d prefer not to have the hassle of negotiating a price, you could pre-book a tour.
This half-day private tour of Muscat takes you to the must-see destinations in the city, including the Sultan Qaboos Mosque, the stunning Royal Opera House, Qaram Beach- where you can try Omani bread and tea- the Al Alam Palace, which is the sultan’s official residence, and the Omani parliament. The tour lasts around four hours, and is a great way to see a lot whilst still having private time at the end of your day in Muscat.
There is a Muscat hop-on-hop-off bus tour which often runs directly from the cruise ship, however personally I feel like you get more value for money in either a pre-booked private tour or a taxi. But if you’re a sightseeing bus fan, there is indeed one in Muscat!
Visiting Abu Dhabi’s Grand Mosque at Night
Best excursions from Muscat cruise port
The city of Muscat is surrounded with breathtaking natural scenery; whether that’s rugged mountains, sweeping deserts or the beautiful waters of the Persian Gulf and all the life it holds. So it goes without saying that for lovers of the great outdoors, Muscat is the perfect destination.
This private tour takes you by four wheel drive into the mountains up to Nizwa, the old capital of Oman, making several other stops before heading up to Jebel Akhbar, the stunning ‘Green Mountain.’
If you want more of a desert experience, get yourself onto a desert safari. Head to Wahiba Sands for a truly sandy off-road experience, meet a bedouin family and go for a camel ride too if it takes your fancy, then travel to Wadi Bani Khalid, a steep canyon full of natural pools where you can go for a swim.
In Wadi Shab you can hike between the turquoise pools, through rocky canyons and past stunning waterfalls (and you might want to bring water shoes, as at some points you may have to walk through streams). This trip takes guest to both Wadi Shab and to the Bimmah Sinkhole, which legend has it was formed by a falling star.
Daymaniat Island is an incredible protected nature reserve off the coast of Muscat, where sea turtles, coral reefs and exotic fish thrive. Visit as part of a snorkelling tour, and keep your eyes peeled for dolphins and reef sharks as well.
