Where to Walk in Muscat
Travel advisory. Anyone walking around Oman should follow the news, because the country is involved in the 2026 conflict between the United States and Iran. The UK Foreign Office, at the time of writing, does not advise against travel to Oman, yet it describes Iranian strikes and retaliatory attacks in places across the region, Oman included, from 8 July onward, and it says terrorist attacks cannot be ruled out. In Washington’s travel-advisory system Oman sits at Level 3, Reconsider Travel, while the area along the Yemen border is at Do Not Travel. Muscat and its airport are working normally and no strike on the capital has been reported, though flights and airspace can be disrupted at short notice. On foot, keep well away from security or military facilities and do not photograph them. The pages to consult are gov.uk and travel.state.gov , before you book and again before you fly.
Muscat is a poor city for walking tours, and it helps to know that before arriving. The built-up area stretches for more than 60 km along the coast, major roads separate its districts, and there is no pedestrian link from one district to the next. Guided walking tours are few, and this page names no walking-tour operator. What does exist is a small number of compact pockets that can be explored independently on foot, each for a morning or an evening, with a taxi between them. Costs are in Omani rials (OMR), where one rial is roughly US$2.60.
Where walking works
Muttrah, the best of the pockets. The Corniche is a harbour promenade, and from it the souq alleys lead inland to frankincense, silver and textiles. The souq keeps a morning session and an evening session with a gap at midday, and many shops are shut on Friday mornings, so ask at the stalls. The fish market on the waterfront is a modern building and busiest early in the day. Above town, Muttrah Fort opens daily from 8 am to 11 pm, and a non-resident adult ticket costs OMR 3 (children OMR 2). Late afternoon into the evening is the most pleasant time for the whole circuit.
Old Muscat. This quarter is flat and small. Bait Al Zubair on Al Saidiya Street, the National Museum and the gates of Al Alam Palace are all within a few minutes of each other. The palace can be viewed from its gates and forecourt only. From the harbour edge, Al Mirani Fort, which sells tickets to visitors, and Al Jalali Fort, whose interior is closed, both come into view. The National Museum’s fee page lists current prices.
Shatti Al Qurum. A beach boardwalk lined with cafes makes an easy dusk stroll. Qurum Beach and Qurum Natural Park have no entry charge.
The C38 trail: for fit walkers only
The C38 runs between Riyam Park and Muttrah on a marked, rocky route with yellow, orange and red striped blazes, passing the ruins of an abandoned village. Sources disagree on the length, from about 1.7 to 4 km, and it takes roughly 1.5 to 2 hours. The ground is steep and exposed, there is no shade, and help is a long way off if you are hurt. Walk it only on a cool morning, take plenty of water and let someone know your plan. The route goes one way, so book your ride back. Riyam Park, the usual starting point, is known for its giant incense burner monument. Route notes are on Hiking Project .
What not to attempt on foot
The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is 20 km or more by road from Muttrah and Old Muscat, and the National Museum is about 35 km from the airport, so no walk joins the three clusters. Reach the mosque by taxi.
Heat, dress and conduct
Daytime summer highs are commonly over 40 degrees C and the FCDO reports deaths from extreme heat in Oman, so from May to September walk only around dawn or dusk. Cover shoulders and knees, and ask before photographing people. In Ramadan, public eating, drinking and smoking in daylight are off limits.
If a guided option matters to you, compare Muscat old town walking tours , or ride a loop instead with the bus tours page .
Read more: sightseeing in Muscat and the 2 day Muscat itinerary .