ar-Rustaq is best known for its marvelous fort and castle, but there are also numerous hot springs.

ar-Rustaq fort was built in the 3rd century. It includes dwellings, an armoury, a mosque and 4 towers, the tallest of which is 18.5 m (61 ft) high.

The city's castle is known as Qal'at ar-Rustāq (قَلْعَة الرُّسْتَاق). It sits on the slopes of the Green Mountain and it was originally builton top of an earlier Persian castle in 1250. The castle includes residences, weapon storage rooms, reception rooms, gates, prisons, wells and the mosques of Al 'Ulayyah Mosque and Al Bia'dah Mosque, amongst others.

Its 4 towers were added in 1477 and 1906. They are called Red Tower, Wind Tower, Devil's Tower (or Underground Tower) and the Modern Tower. There are several cannons in the towers and on the ground floor of the castle, which also has 4 gates. They are called Ya'Aruba Gate, Al A'la Gate, Central Gate and Sarhah Gate. The castle measures 60 x 45 m.

Fort Al-Hazm is also in the region. It was built in 1711 and its walls are no thinner than 3 m (10 ft) at any point. It features a prominent wooden gate, as well as secret escape tunnels, fortified towers and upper-level gunports. The openings above the entrance could be used to pour boiling oil or date honey on attacking enemies. Its cannons were imported from Spain and Portugal.

Another interesting fort is Al Hawqeen Fort. There are also numerous ancient towers and alleys like Al Ghashb, Ayni, Jammah, Qusuri and Al Mahadir.

Apart from the mosques included in the forts and castles, there are numerous other old mosques in the region around ar-Rustaq. Some of the most notable ones include Qasri Mosque, Al-Bayada Mosque, the Basra Mosque and the Qasra Mosque.

The hot springs around ar-Rustaq are claimed to have healing properties for rheumatism and skin diseases due to their sulphur content. The most notable spring is 'Ain al-Kasafa, whose waters run at 45°C (113°F). 'Ain al-Kasafa is not far south of town. Other springs include Al Khor, Al Hwayt, Al Khadra, Al Zurqa and Shalat Al-Hawqeen.

There are several popular wadis in the area around ar-Rustaq. They include Wadi Bani Ghafar, Wadi al-Sahtan and Wadi Bani Awf. Wadi Al-Hawqeen consists of a valley that is characterized by its year-round flowing water, several beautiful waterfalls and perennial flowing springs. The falaj (traditional underground irrigation channel) of Falaj Al-Meisar is located in the village of Al-Khubayb. Its waters come from Wadi Al-Furay'i, Wadi Al-Sinn and Wadi Al-Halaa and its total length is about 5.5 km. Falaj Al-Meisar has an average depth of 50 m. It was inscribed in the UNESCO list of world heritage sites in 2006. Other falaj systems in the region around ar-Rustaq include Falaj Al-Hamam, Falaj Al-Maysar,and Falaj Abu Tha'lab.

In addition, the mountains are pitted with caves such as Al Sanaqha Cave with its own subterranean springs.

Many people around ar-Rustaq are involved in beekeeping and Omani honey is of the highest quality. Another important sector is agriculture and especially fruits, such as pomegranates, apricots, plums and grapes are grown in the foothills of the Akhdar Mountains.

What most visitors don't know is that this city was Oman's capital for a period during the Middle Ages.

There are several hotels and restaurants in ar Rustaq. The city is in northern Oman's Al-Bāţinah Coast region, some 120 km southwest of Masqat (Muscat).

ar-Rustaq fort ©Roy Digital Design