My journey home from Salalah included an 8-hour layover in Oman’s capital city, Muscat [see post: In and Around Salalah].

I arrived at Muscat International Airport in the early afternoon on Sunday, January 6, 2019, and quickly headed out to explore. Getting around Muscat is expensive. Rideshare services, like Uber, are not available. A metered taxi from the airport to Mutrah Corniche costs around 15 to 17 OMR (about $40 to $45 USD). Mind you, it is just a 30-minute drive.

While planning this trip, I prepared a list of places to see during my layover.

My itinerary included the following stops:

Mutrah Corniche – Curved waterside area offering paved paths and artful shelters.

Mutrah Fish Market – Fish market on the waterfront along the corniche in Mutrah.

Mutrah Souq – One of the oldest markets in Oman.

Muscat Gate Museum – Former official gate for the old city of Muscat.

Incense Burner Monument – Prominent monument built on a hill above Riyam Park.

Al Jalali Fort – Fort in the harbor of Old Muscat.

Al Mirani Fort – Another fort in the harbor of Old Muscat.

Al Alam Palace – Ceremonial palace of Sultan Qaboos of Oman.

Qurum Beach – Beach in the heart of modern Muscat.

Royal Opera House Muscat – Oman’s premier venue for musical arts and culture.

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque – Main mosque in the Sultanate of Oman.