Tours and Tickets
Half day Muscat City Tour with National Museum
3.5

Half day Muscat City Tour with National Museum

By Gray Line Oman
About
* An opportunity to explore the ancient and modern-day culture of Muscat * Visit the emblematic Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque * Learn local culture and history at Bait Al Zubair Museum and National Museum * Wander the covered alleyways of the historic Muttrah souk * Beautiful views back to the city & over the ocean

Ages 3-120, max of 8 per group
Duration: 6h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Audio guide: German, English, Italian, French, Spanish
More


  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Transportation
  • Audio Guiding
  • Entrance fees to Bait Al Zubair Museum
  • Entrance fees to National Museum
  • Entry/Admission - Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
  • Entry/Admission - Bait Al Zubair
  • Entry/Admission - Muscat
What's not included
  • Food and Drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Admission fees not listed in inclusion
  • Entry/Admission - Al Alam Palace


Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
    Hotel pickup offered
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
      End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

        • Not wheelchair accessible
        • Stroller accessible
        • Near public transportation
        • Infants must sit on laps
        If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 8264P332

        • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
        • Most travelers can participate
        • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
        • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers

        • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

        If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 8264P332

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        Itinerary
        • You'll get picked up
          See departure details
        • 1
          Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
          Stop: 45 minutes - Admission included
          See details
        • 2
          Mutrah Fish Market
          Stop: 15 minutes
          See details
        • 3
          Bait Al Zubair
          Stop: 30 minutes - Admission included
          See details
        • 4
          Al Alam Palace
          Stop: 10 minutes - Admission excluded
          See details
        • 5
          National Museum of Oman
          Stop: 15 minutes - Admission included
          See details
        • You'll return to the starting point
        About the operator
        Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
        • Gray Line Oman
          189
          Muscat, Oman
          Joined in September 2011
        • MarcusHurley
          0 contributions
          4.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great value introduction to the city
          I'd booked a City tour through Viator and at 8:30 Naseeb picked us up. The tours were very expensive in Oman - I'd say double the price of most European cities so this first tour was a group tour just to save some cash. Naseeb picked us up right on time and it was only 4 of us in the group so that made things easier. Although he spoke English the tour was actually an audio commentary and he dropped us at various points to go and see the attractions. First stop was the Sultan Qaboos Mosque which we'd driven past last night and it looked very impressive lit up. It is the only mosque non Muslims can visit in the country and is, naturally, magnificent. The Sultan ruled from 1970 until 2020 and transformed Oman into a modern country that still adheres to its traditional values. There is a lot of pride about customs, dress and behaviour and it seems that the country is successfuly juggling western influences with Islamic ones. I'm not sure if there are any democratic institutions or if the Sultan rules everything or if there is even a demand for democracy here. The mosque was amazing but looked like a newer version of the ones we'd seen in Uzbekistan a few months before that were 600 years old. There is certainly a universality to Islamic architecture that Christianity lacks but there also seems to be a stagnation with no obvious developments in the last 500 years. Anyway, it was wonderfully peaceful to walk around and had lovely gardens too and the 30 minutes we had there went far to quickly. The next stop was the fish market but we really should have got there around sunrise as it was quiet by the time we arrived. It's not everyone's type of thing but the fish they had were impressive and were obviously freshly caught. I left Deb to wander round and crossed to the harbour to look across to Al Jalali Fort, one of the two originally built by the Portugese to defend the harbour. The city itself occupies a narrow stretch of land between the mountains and the sea and the mountains are incredibly jagged and rugged. We then got back on the minibus and drove to the Bait al Zubair Museum. This was a twentieth century Omani house, owned by a long standing government minister that was then converted to a museum to showcase Omani culture - clothes, weapons, architecture, trade and music and the differences between the regions that make up the country. Again, the 45 minutes we had here weren't enough but we did get an overview of the country and its people and left with a greater understanding than we had before we went inside. Next we had two photostops, one either side of the Al Alam Palace, the old palace of the Sultan that he has recently vacated for a larger one. The gardens were beautifully manicured although we couldn't go inside to see the interior we did see more of the harbour, the two Portugese forts and the mountains that both protect and stifle the city. It was actually rather warm by now and even 5 minutes outside resulted in a sweaty head! Our final stop was the Mutrah Souk, apparently the oldest in Arabia but not really our sort of thing so were back in the minibus early for a change! Probably of interest if you actually wanted to buy anything but we either didn't need it or already had it and we'd seen plenty of souks before. All in all the tour was an excellent introduction to the city and good value. There were places I'd have wanted to spend longer but by seeing a bit of everything it gave us a good idea of where to revisit on our free days.
          Written March 17, 2024
        • 11gerardr
          0 contributions
          3.0 of 5 bubbles
          Basic but good value
          Pretty good for the value but to be honest if you have a 2 or 3 people it would be cheaper to hire a private taxi and guide. Would be better if the guide also walked around some of the sites and gave a quick summary or brief before each stop rather than just rely on the audio. Overall was worth it and enjoyable. Bottles of water on the bus would also be a plus.
          Written February 26, 2024
        • Ailee Mae M
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great TRIP
          Trip was wonderful The value of what you pay is worth it Out tour guide was kind and accommodating. I have enjoyed the journey. Will recommend it to book. As this one is one of the most cheapest city tour you will find.
          Written January 15, 2024
        • LoretaJ
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Everybody must see Muscat.
          Was nice driver- guide. We were just 15 people on a buss. That's mean really comfortable and private .this tour was the best we get on our cruise. We see a lot.
          Written November 26, 2023
        • jenjuz79
          0 contributions
          4.0 of 5 bubbles
          Muscat by night
          Prompt pick up from the hotel lobby. It was nice to tour around the city, especially at night. I wish there was more time to stop and take photos of the Grand Mosque and other sights. We were able to stop for photos between the two forts, along the water. The dinner was a nice Turkish place, with good food and hospitality.
          Written November 20, 2023
        • williammG9914LN
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Worth doing even without seeing the sunset.
          We saw a lot of the coastline of Muscat, the captain informed us of all the interesting areas and facts. Even though the weather was cloudy and we didn't see the sunset it was still a good experience.
          Written January 28, 2023
        • 86anandp
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Nice and enjoyable tour
          Amazing tour.. our tour guide Naseeb was very informative and showed around the city well.. the audio in the bus was also good and gave good info about city .. bus was nice and comfortable the tour started and ended on time .. would recommend this for a nice city tour
          Written January 21, 2023
        • tuntunarita
          0 contributions
          2.0 of 5 bubbles
          Not worth the drive from Muscat
          Was expecting much more of a historic old city. This is just your typical market that you could find in Muscat. No need to spend the money to drive 2 hours both ways to see this place.
          Written January 7, 2023
        • Robyn M
          0 contributions
          4.0 of 5 bubbles
          A Moment in Muscat
          With not much time to spend in Muscat it was a good way of getting to see a little of some of the main attractions for a reasonable price. The audio in the van was informative but at times wasn't working well. The driver did introduce some of the attractions but it would have been good to have him walk around and explain a bit more especially at the Mosque. Make sure you have the correct clothing for the Mosque as this can take time to buy or hire. Take water and snacks with you as there is not alot of oppurtunity to purchase and in 4 hours you need something. Unfortunately we had to do alot of driving to pick up a couple from the cruise ship and then they didnt come off in time so made us late for the rest of tour. The museum was very good and driving around the port and look at the palace through the gates. Overall we were happy that we did it and got from it what we wanted.
          Written January 7, 2023
        • F7496IXjant
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great full day activity
          Our experience was slightly different to that of some other reviewers here. There was indeed no guide on the trip, but the description does not mention one, and there is no need for one either. The trek to the Wadi is self explanatory, there is a single path and no way to get lost unless You try really hard. I found it much better that each party could choose their own tempo, as most of the trek is walking over rocks. Not suitable for people with limited mobility or poor physical fitness, for others this is an enjoyable trek and bath. In the minivan everyone received headphones to listen to audio commentary linked to places we were passing through (very good). We visited the sinkhole as well, lunch was ok. Our driver Khalil was on time, friendly, polite and helpful. Definitely a trip to recommend.
          Written January 3, 2023
        • katerina210
          0 contributions
          4.0 of 5 bubbles
          Very enjoyable tour
          Very enjoyable tour, just pity there was not enough time to visit Nizwa Fort. Anotherwise recomended tour. Driver was very friendly.
          Written November 24, 2022
        • 342robertf
          0 contributions
          1.0 of 5 bubbles
          Not a tour, just a communal taxi!!!
          This is a review of the Grey Line Half Day City tour of Muscat. This was not a guided tour, just a communal taxi, audio guide for first two stops then nothing at all. Your ran late because one couple we 30 mins late at one stop and then 15 mins late at another. As there was only a driver, we had to wait. Needs a proper guide to support. We realised afterwards it would have been same price (or cheaper) for a private tour!!!
          Written November 13, 2022
        • 769hennan
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Memorable experience
          Once again Ali was a fantastic tour guide. He was attentive to each person and was accommodating to all our needs. He has a fun personality and made our trip a memorable one. Would definitely recommend Ali to anyone visiting muscat.
          Written November 2, 2022
        • Faiza M
          0 contributions
          1.0 of 5 bubbles
          Gray Line Oman - NEGLIGENCE!!!!
          This has been a terrible experience due to the negligence of your driver / your guide. My mum suffered a fall when he took a sharp turn and she has since been hospitalised and operated on. There has been no contact from the company till now even though it’s a serious situation! The tour guide Khalil was hostile, arrogant and rude from the start of the trip. His manager is even worse and on meeting me at the hospital only said that they take no responsibility for what happened. We are stuck in a strange country now while my mum had too receive medical care after the op. The vehicle used is not in a good condition either.
          Written October 20, 2022
        • weltenbummler45
          0 contributions
          3.0 of 5 bubbles
          Disappointing
          We pased the Opera and didn't stop. The visiting of the souk wasn't at the end of the tour like announced and the time ( 1 hour ) was too long. Fish market is not very interesting. You should change the programme. Show the niciest beach for example.
          Written October 15, 2022
        See all 189 reviews
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        3.5
        3.5 of 5 bubbles3 reviews
        Excellent
        2
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        0
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        0
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        0
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        1

        Iolanda Guerra e Andrade
        Lisbon, Portugal1,904 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        The National Museum of Muscat showcases the Nation's heritage from the earliest times through to the present day. It contains 7,000 objects, some of which related to Portugal and the Portuguese presence in the Sultanat, which naturally drew my attention. I was equally drawn by many artefacts in display in the gallery of Oman and the world, as well as three sculptures in a gallery pertaining to Palmyra. I consider the visit to this Museum an absolute must.
        Written November 25, 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        danafitzsimons
        12 contributions
        1.0 of 5 bubbles
        Nov 2022 • Solo
        Horrible from start to finish. Inefficient pickup and drop off, no guidance from the “guide”, driving that made me carsick, no water or water stops, barely any time at the stops so rushed and unpleasant. Possibly the worst tour I’ve ever taken and a complete waste of money. Would be better to visit these places on your own by taxi. Horrible.
        Written November 17, 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Half day Muscat City Tour with National Museum provided by Gray Line Oman