Muscat City Tour

Our guide will meet you at the port of Muscat.

Muscat, capital of the Sultanate of Oman, is a modern and moderate city inhabited by Muslim Arabs and many foreigners. It is the city of modernity and a constant development in addition to the largest natural port in the world, gate of commerce to India and China.

We will begin our excursion today with a visit to the Great Mosque, the largest in the Sultanate of Oman, with a capacity of up to 20,000 people. The Mosque is a very important work of Islamic architecture: its interior contains the second carpet in one piece The world's largest hand-woven. The mosque measures more than 90,000 square meters.

To visit the Great Mosque you have to dress according to the Muslim religion, you can not carry arms or legs in the open, and women must cover their hair. Visitors who do not meet these conditions can rent the appropriate clothing in the lobby before accessing the mosque. Visiting hours are from 8.30 to 11.00 in the morning, except on Fridays (prohibited for non-Muslims). If you visit Oman, you should keep in mind that it is the only mosque that can be visited by non-Muslims throughout the Sultanate.

We will leave for the capital to make a photo stop in the Palace of Sultan Qaboos, guarded by the impressive fortifications of Jalali and Mirani dating back to the times of Portuguese colonization.

We will continue to the Bait Al Zubair Museum (optional entrance), with exhibitions on the culture, tradition and crafts of the country.

We will end our excursion with the visit of Souk Muttrah (a district of Muscat), well known for its local crafts and perfumes.

We can shop or simply discover traditional Oman items such as the Dallah (bronze coffee cup), exotic spices and various incenses. It is one of the oldest souks in the Arab world.

Return to the port of Muscat.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• DURATION: COACH AND GUIDE AT YOUR DISPOSAL FOR UP TO 4 HOURS

Optional supplement to be paid on site

• Bait al Zubair Museum:  Approx. $10 OPEN FROM 09:30 TO 18:00
• Entrance to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque: PRICE INCLUDED IN THE TOUR
  
  •  OPEN FROM 08:00 TO 11:00 (except Fridays).

IMPORTANT 

There is a mandatory dress code for entering mosques:

• For women: loose long trousers; tight-fitting clothing is not allowed. Long sleeves, and the head must be covered with a scarf. Entry is not permitted with tights, transparent clothing, or white trousers.
• For men: trousers, which may be short as long as they cover the knees. Shirts or T‑shirts with bare shoulders are not allowed.
• Entering in swimwear or inappropriate clothing is prohibited.
• Some mosques lend clothing to visitors free of charge so they can enter. But this is only for individual visitors; people in a group with a guide must bring appropriate clothing and always respect the dress code.
• Couples may not embrace in the mosque, not even for taking a photograph.

Shore2Shore is not responsible if the competent authorities do not allow entry to the mosque for not complying with the dress code. OUR GUIDES do not have clothing to lend, nor clothing for sale. 
 

OBSERVATIONS

• Easy/Panoramic/Cultural level.
• It is mandatory to wear appropriate clothing in the places of worship that will be visited.
• Comfortable footwear is recommended.
• People with reduced mobility who use a wheelchair must be accompanied by another person who can assist them. Please use foldable wheelchairs, since the coaches do not have lifts or ramps. Shore2Shore is not responsible if the client does not inform us of their situation at the time of booking.
• Mosques will be closed to visitors on Fridays due to religious observance. They may also be closed occasionally without prior notice by decision of the religious authorities.
• IMPORTANT NOTE: THE ORDER OF THE PLACES TO BE VISITED MAY CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE DUE TO POSSIBLE CONTINGENCIES (SHIP ARRIVAL TIME, OPENING HOURS OF PLACES OF INTEREST TO BE VISITED, ETC.).