Oman’s capital city Muscat is probably the most enchanting of Arabia’s capitals, with its ‘real’ look and vibe, it is an alluring harbour city where much of life continues on in the way it has for decades, but with a gentle nod towards modern ways of life. Perhaps it does not match its glitzy rivals skyscraper for skyscraper but that is what lends it charm. 

Trade is heavily concentrated around the harbour where an early morning visit will see the local fishermen bringing in the day’s haul, with all kinds of fish including the large tuna. If you head to the fish market for lunch you can sure of the freshest fish and the only difficult decision is what type to choose! 

A cosmopolitan city, the citizens of Muscat derive from the world over, the cultures blending seamlessly adding much colour and a combined attitude that keeps Muscat open minded whilst still grounded in tradition. It is likely you will see Omanis in their customary robes and turbans, Africans dressed in metres of coloured cotton fabric and Indian women in their iconic gold threaded saris, not to mention Europeans in western jeans and trainers. This cultural mix makes for an easier transition for foreign visitors than some of the other Arabian capitals that tend to be quite regimented in behaviour. 

The easy, smooth flowing pace of life soon rubs off on visitors and you could end up staying longer than you intended. The afternoon siestas that are so familiar to some parts of Europe such as Spain, are also the way of life in Muscat and both men and women hang out freely together in cafes by the corniche or walking along the promenade. 

With beautiful sandy beaches and clusters of white houses strewn along the coast, Muscat old city is eye candy too and when you can tear yourself away from the natural beauty there are lots of historical attractions such as the two 16thcentury Portuguese forts standing guard over the ancient harbour, the Sultan’s palace and numerous mosques (including the gorgeous Grand Mosque). When you’ve tired of beaches and culture, there’s still a trip to the souk to shop as the Arabs do.