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9 Places to Visit in Muscat with the Family
9 Places to Visit in Muscat with the Family
27 February 2025
The populous Omani capital Muscat is a child-friendly city that is an ideal place for families to visit. From the wonderous views to the cultural experiences and rich history, this is a city to nurture curious minds. Discover 9 fantastic places to visit in Oman with family.
1. Qurum Natural Park
Oman’s largest park, Qurum Natural Park is an idyllic place to take your family. This lush oasis offers respite from the heat, thanks to its large boating lake and tall, shady trees.
The park’s 400 acres also are home to a gorgeous rose garden, picnic areas, and playgrounds. You’ll also find small restaurants and coffee shops dotted around the park. You can easily extend your visit into the evening, as the park is well-lit. Even the fountains are lit up at night, to the delight of the many families with young children who visit.
2. Marah Land
Located next to Qurum Natural Park, Marah Land is an amusement park that deserves its reputation as a fun place in Muscat. Open daily from 4.30pm, Marah Land boasts 30 themed rides and Oman’s largest indoor kids’ play area.
Among the attractions you and your family can enjoy are child-friendly rollercoasters and bigger rides such as the Ranger Ride, Ferris Wheel, Typhoon Coaster, Log Flume, and Tagada Disco. The park also hosts regular events to add even more entertainment to the experience.
3. Oman Aquarium
The country’s first educational, recreational, tourism, and heritage project, the Oman Aquarium at the Mall of Muscat must be seen to be believed. This remarkable facility is built over two floors and is themed to follow the fabulous journey of Ahmed Bin Majid, a famous Omani seafarer who lived approximately 500 years ago and travelled as far as India, South Africa, and Indonesia.
With more than 30,000 aquatic animals housed in more than 55 different exhibits, the Oman Aquarium is one of the top places to visit in Muscat with family. The aquarium is open every day.
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Where to Stay in Muscat for Families with Kids
Situated in an enviable location in the CBD, Fraser Suites Muscat should be your first choice of hotel for convenience, comfort, and proximity to the best places to visit in Muscat with family and to additional cultural attractions. Our 5-star hotel’s residences are available in one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites, each with separate living, dining, and sleeping areas, and with modern conveniences and fully equipped kitchenettes.
In addition to taking advantage of the amenities designed to make you and your family feel at home in your suite, you can make use of an array of stylish leisure facilities, such as a rooftop swimming pool, a terrace and garden, a children’s play area, a wellness centre and 24-hour gym, cooking and craft classes, laundry and dry-cleaning services, and a boutique shopping arcade.
Book your stay at Fraser Suites Muscat and put yourself within easy reach of the best things to do that the city has to offer.
4. Magic Planet
It’s impossible to describe fun places in Muscat without mentioning Magic Planet. This colourful destination is famous for its range of games, rides such as bumper cars, and other attractions offering fun for children of all ages.
The games section includes arcade games and the very latest releases. Among them are Mario vs Sonic, Dragon Punch, and Cruise N Blast. You’ll also find skill games such as Clowning Around and Lobster Pot, reward games that offer tickets you can redeem for prizes in the prize shop, and merchandising games that offer chances to win plush toys and other goodies.
5. Oman National Museum
Are you looking for interesting, educational places to visit in Oman with family? Make sure you don’t miss out on the opportunity to visit the Oman National Museum, where you can explore a plethora of items created in the country and that have special significance in terms of Omani cultural heritage.
Be amazed by permanent galleries, including the Land and the People, Maritime History, Arms and Armour, Civilisation in the Making, Aflaj, Currency, and the Timeline gallery. For an even more interesting experience, time your visit to the museum with one of its exciting events, such as the temporary Omani Empire: Asia and Africa Exhibition, which runs until January 2025.
6. Bimmah Sinkhole
One of the most beautiful places to visit in Oman with family, Bimmah Sinkhole is an hour and a half’s drive south of the capital. This natural wonder is a natural depression in the limestone rock that’s located 600m from the ocean. The sinkhole fills with brackish water and is fed by a small amount of fresh water, creating a truly breathtaking place to go swimming.
While swimming in the cool, clear waters of Bimmah Sinkhole and enjoying the lovely views the attraction offers, you might want to share a delightful local legend about its creation with your children. According to the old storytellers, a dazzling falling star known as Hawaiyat Najm in Arabic landed in this very spot, creating the sinkhole that Omanis and travellers know and love today.
7. Qurum Beach
Visiting Qurum Beach is one of the top things to do in Muscat with family, thanks to its popularity with children. The beach borders the Qurum Natural Park, making it perfect for combining with an outing to the park or to Marah Land.
One of the best beaches in Muscat, Qurum Beach features shallow waters and extended high tides, while still allowing you and your children to indulge in the beach activities we all love. You can play ball games, build sandcastles, go swimming in the Gulf of Oman’s crystal-clear waters, and if you stay long enough, watch the sunset create a magical glow across the horizon.
8. Royal Opera House
Oman’s premier destination for arts and culture, the Royal Opera House is a not-to-be-missed place to visit in Muscat with family. Reflecting contemporary Omani architecture, the complex includes an auditorium, concert theatre, cultural market, art centre for musical, theatrical, and operatic productions, and formal landscaped gardens. The venue has hosted stellar productions such as Turandot, Don Quixote, and Swan Lake, as well as performances by artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis, Andrea Bocelli, Renee Fleming, Majida el Roumi, and Um Kalthoum.
There’s plenty to do at the Royal Opera House during your visit. You can attend a show, go on a guided tour, explore an Exhibition of Musical Arts, and visit the Music Library to stimulate your musical interest.
9. Dimaniyat Islands
One of the country’s best-kept secrets, the Dimaniyat Islands have only been open to the public since 2013. This archipelago for nine uninhabited islands just 40 minutes by boat from Muscat are rich in marine life and offer some of the best diving and snorkelling in the Middle East, making them one of the most memorable places to visit in Oman with family.
The best way to visit the islands is to take an organised day trip, as access is still restricted. However, apart from easier access, a day trip also means that most of what you need to enjoy the spectacular views and incredible diving and snorkelling will be organised for you.
Once you’ve arrived at these islands in the Arabian Sea, you can explore their rocky limestone terrain, splash around in their pristine turquoise waters, and go snorkelling to see a mind-boggling variety of corals, fish, and other marine animals such as sea turtles. If you’re lucky, you’ll even get to see dolphins playing in the water. You’ll also have the chance to enjoy a light lunch.
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