Muscat for Visitors
courtesy Oman
Air
The capital of Oman (aka Musqat) lies on the Gulf of Oman, making the
water the centerpiece of this quiet yet metropolitan city. Primarily
the city functions as a businessplace, though there are some inroads
being toward touristic interests made by those interested in getting
off of the beaten path. For the modern visitor, the city offers many
interesting and unusual things to do, from Scuba diving to fishing to
eating in some of the best restaurants in the world, Muscat never fails
to please. Join us for an online tour of the city by clicking on the
links below.
General
Information - This website has tons of general information, from
hotels to museums to the weather, and is a good starting point to get
your bearings for understanding Muscat as a modern city steeped in the
traditions of the past.
Brief History of the City
The Portuguese ruled the city in the 16th century AD. They maintained
a presence until 1650 AD when they were expelled by the then Sultan
of Oman. Sultans of Oman had their reigns during the 18th and 19th centuries
during which they undertook great explorations to places as far away
as Southern Africa. The Al Busaid ruling family of Imam Ahmed bin Said
began all the way back in 1744 AD. Oil of course, like many of the countries
and cities in the region, changed the face of them forever.
For more history visit arab.net's country page on Oman
History.
Museums - This page, brought to you by gomideast.com,
offers you phone numbers and hours of the local Muscat museums.
Hotels and
Accomodations - This travel page features hotel information and
pricing, as well as the hotel's actual links to their own homepage.
Restaurants
- This page has some good personal advice from actual people who actually
eat in the restaraunts that they talk about (rather than just a list
of linked names). Scroll down the page past the advertisements to see
the information on Muscat's restaurant offerings.
Scuba Diving
- This is a great personal page with tons of underwater pictures from
diving in and near Muscat and around Oman. This website offers general
regional scuba information as well.
Sports and Activities
- From bowling to darts to fishing, this website is a good resource
for learning who to call for what. Other than their phone numbers and
business names, however, it doesn't offer more than that.
