Outdoors · Muscat · Oman
5 best outdoor things to do in Muscat
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Arsalaan Ahmad, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Riyam Park and incense burner monument, Qurum Beach and Qurum Natural Park. Together the 5 picks below take roughly 9–12 hours across 4 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 5
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 9–12 hours
- Areas
- Mutrah, Qurum and Shatti Al Qurum and Coast
Outdoors in Muscat
Park · Mutrah
1.Riyam Park and incense burner monument
Come in the evening when families picnic and children use the play areas.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Views
- Outdoors
Beach · Qurum and Shatti Al Qurum
2.Qurum Beach
Go for a late-afternoon swim and stay for sunset; dress modestly away from hotel beaches.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Couples
Park · Qurum and Shatti Al Qurum
3.Qurum Natural Park
Walk the edge of the mangrove reserve at low tide to spot herons and crabs.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Experience · Coast
4.Dolphin-watching boat trip
Choose an early departure, when the sea is calmer and dolphins more active, and pick an operator that keeps a respectful distance.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Couples
Nature · Al Bustan and Qantab
5.Bandar Khayran snorkelling
Bring reef-safe sunscreen and a rash vest; there is little shade on the boats.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Active
- Kids
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Mutrah | Riyam Park and incense burner monument | 1 hour |
| Qurum and Shatti Al Qurum | Qurum Beach and Qurum Natural Park | 2–3 hours + 1–2 hours |
| Coast | Dolphin-watching boat trip | 2 hours |
| Al Bustan and Qantab | Bandar Khayran snorkelling | Half a day |
Booking and timing
Of these 5, 3 free, 2 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Bandar Khayran snorkelling; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Mutrah and Qurum and Shatti Al Qurum): Riyam Park and incense burner monument → Qurum Beach, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Qurum and Shatti Al Qurum and Coast): Qurum Natural Park → Dolphin-watching boat trip, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Al Bustan and Qantab): Bandar Khayran snorkelling, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- January: highs of 25°C (77°F), about 2 rainy days, very busy crowds. Peak season, with warm sunny days, pleasant evenings and the opera and festival season in full swing.
- February: highs of 26°C (79°F), about 2 rainy days, very busy crowds. Ideal weather for sightseeing, hiking and beaches; book desert camps and hotels ahead.
- December: highs of 26°C (79°F), about 2 rainy days, very busy crowds. Warm days and mild nights; busy over the Christmas and New Year holidays.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Mutrah — Port, souq and seafront Corniche backed by rocky hills
- Qurum and Shatti Al Qurum — Beach hotels, the Opera House and seafront cafés
- Al Bustan and Qantab — Resort hotels in rocky coves south of the old city
More of Muscat
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Muscat?
Riyam Park and incense burner monument. At the eastern end of the Corniche, Riyam Park has playgrounds and lawns below a hill crowned by a giant sculpture of an incense burner, a landmark visible from much of Mutrah.
+Which of these are free in Muscat?
Riyam Park and incense burner monument, Qurum Beach and Qurum Natural Park.