What to See in Oman: Cities to Explore on Foot

Looking for things to do in Oman? This sultanate combines a long maritime history, powerful fortifications and the modern legacy of the Al Bu Said dynasty. An Oman travel guide should begin with Muscat and Nizwa, two cities where the country’s history can be explored through museums, forts, mosques and traditional water systems. Neywo offers a free audio guide for Oman covering 2 cities and 16 narrated places in 11 languages.

What to see and do in Oman

Oman’s story is closely connected to its position between the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. From the seventeenth century, it became a major regional power, expelling the Portuguese from coastal possessions and competing with both Portuguese and British interests around the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. At its height, Omani influence reached across the Strait of Hormuz and as far south as Zanzibar.

Explore Muscat

For many travellers searching for Muscat, Oman’s capital is the natural starting point. Its narrated places include forts, museums and landmarks that reflect the city’s position at the centre of Oman’s coastal history.

Muscat has 11 narrated places on Neywo. Among them are Fort Al-Mirani, the National Museum – Sultanate of Oman and the Muscat Gate Museum. Together, these sites introduce Oman’s military past, national heritage and the history of the capital.

Fort Al-Mirani is one of the places associated with Oman’s struggle against Portuguese influence on the coast. Its presence also recalls the strategic importance of Muscat and Oman’s wider role in the Gulf and Indian Ocean.

The National Museum – Sultanate of Oman offers another way into the country’s past. Oman’s history extends beyond the peninsula, shaped by maritime connections and an empire that once reached Zanzibar.

The Muscat Gate Museum adds a further perspective on the capital and its development. It belongs to a city whose identity combines historic coastal power with the rapid changes of the modern Omani Renaissance.

Visit Nizwa

The inland city of Nizwa is another important stop for anyone exploring the best cities to visit in Oman. Neywo covers five narrated places there, including Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, the Aflaj Irrigation System of Oman, Nizwa Fort and Al-Shawathna Mosque.

Nizwa Fort reflects the importance of defence and political power in Oman’s history. It can be visited alongside the city’s religious and civic landmarks to build a broader picture of the country beyond its coastal capital.

The Aflaj Irrigation System of Oman represents a different part of the national heritage: the systems that helped sustain communities and agriculture. In Nizwa, it sits alongside historic buildings and places of worship, showing how everyday life and monumental architecture form part of the same story.

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and Al-Shawathna Mosque add religious landmarks to Nizwa’s cultural landscape. Together with the fort and irrigation system, they make Nizwa a useful place to compare Oman’s political, spiritual and practical heritage.

Oman’s modern history

Oman has been ruled continuously by the Al Bu Said dynasty since 1744. The country later remained formally sovereign while coming under British influence, before entering a decisive modern chapter under Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

Qaboos’s long reign brought rapid modernization, a period later known as the Omani Renaissance. Living standards rose, slavery was abolished, the Dhofar Rebellion ended and Oman’s constitution was promulgated. After Qaboos died, Haitham bin Tariq succeeded him as sultan.

Oman remains a sultanate, with the sultan serving as both head of state and head of government. Its modern identity is therefore shaped by two contrasting experiences: the memory of maritime power and imperial reach, and swift change within a single lifetime.

Explore Oman with Neywo’s free audio guide

Download Neywo to explore Oman independently. The app includes free audio guides for 2 cities, with 16 narrated places in total and 1 walking tour. Each story plays as you reach the place, at your own pace: there is no group and no schedule. Narration is available in 11 languages.