Masqat (Muscat)
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Masqat (or Muscat, depending on how you translate it from Arabic) is the enchanting capital of Oman. The city's core districts are Muscat, Matrah (or Mutrah) and Ruwi. There are three forts in Masqat, the Mutrah Fort, which sits on a hill and the Jalali and Mirani forts that guard the entrance to the city. The forts were built during the Portuguese occupation of Masqat in the 1580's, but they're not open to the public as they are in use by the police and/or military. It is no problem to photograph them though. Another interesting sight in Masqat is the city's aquarium, which is the best in the Gulf region. The aquarium houses countless species of fish and other aquatic animals, as well as water plants that are all native to Omani waters. Most tanks have good English description.
Muscat includes the old port area, the old city walls and the sultan's main palace, but otherwise there is little of interest.
If you want to learn more about Oman's history, you should visit the Oman Museum, in the Medinat Qaboos, west of Muscat. It covers the country's history from around 3000 BC to the present and has also separate displays on ship building, fort architecture and Islam.
Ruwi is several kilometers inland from Muscat and Mutrah and houses the capital's modern commercial district, including most of the government offices, as well as the National Museum. The museum houses a large collection of Omani silverwork. The Sultan's Armed Forces Museum is situated in the Bait al-Falaj fort. It has an interesting exhibition on Oman's history.
Matrah (Mutrah) is 3 km (2 miles) northwest of Muscat. There are many shops and it is the city's prime trade and residential area. There is also a port in Matrah, which includes an interesting fish market. The souk is worth a visit and Matrah's
There are numerous hotels and restaurants in Masqat. Most of the cheaper accommodation, as well as several cozy restaurants are situated along the Matrah Corniche. There are also some nice places in Ruwi.
