The city referred to as "Muscat" is in fact three smaller towns which have grown together over time. They are:

• Muscat - often referred to as the "walled city", Muscat proper is the site of the royal palaces.

• Matrah (Matruh) - originally a fishing village, and home to the maze-like Matrah Souq.

• Ruwi - generally considered the commercial and diplomatic centre of the city.

This tripartite division will sometimes cause the visitor an inconvenience, as distances between sites can be very long.

 

Muscat is easily acessible by plane or by bus and can also be reach by road from the United Arab Emirates. The journey takes about 5 hours. Taxi cabs are plentiful throughout Oman.

 

Oman is a relatively safe country and serious crime is rare. The Royal Oman Police is notably efficient and honest.

Driving in Muscat can sometimes be a problem, although this is due more to congestion than bad driving on the part of the locals. Outside of the major cities, a common driving risk is falling asleep at the wheel due to the long stretches of featureless desert. Driving in Oman calls for attention to the unexpected. It has the second highest death rate from traffic accidents in the world (surpassed only by Saudi, followed closely by the UAE). Omani drivers outside of the cities tend to drive very fast and pass with impunity. Driving at night is especially hazardous as many drivers fail to turn their headlights on. Camels will walk into the road even if they see cars approaching, and collisions are often fatal for both camel and driver.

As with most other Islamic countries, prostitution is illegal.

 

 

Food can be cheap in Muscat and for about 1-3 Rials you'll get a meal per person, depending on where you eat.

Every road, street corner or little collection houses, huts or businesses has a 'Coffee-Shop' Basic but worth a go.

Fresh fruit juices are delicious and available from a number of stalls and cafes in Muscat. Some well-known ones are Fast Food 'n' Juice Centre on the Corniche at Mutrah (where you can watch the world go by from the outside tables) and Al Ahli Coffeeshop inside the Mutrah Souq. Expect to pay between RO 0.500 and 1.500 for these juices depending on type and size.