The InterContinental Muscat: The Most Upscale, Luxury Hotel Option in the City

We loved this hotel Absolutely five-star! We recommend staying here as a base both before and after your Omani adventure, as we did. The location is fantastic, right next to the stunning opera house, the beach and a very nice shopping area.

The layout, incredible architecture and high-end decor is so stunningly beautiful on the inside of the hotel! The extensive buffet breakfast was wonderful with so many options and variety, as was the delicious buffet dinners each night with a different theme.

The excellent executive chef even checked in with us a couple times at breakfast to make sure we had what we needed and were enjoying our stay! Very impressive.

View from our room at the InterContinental Muscat

All the staff was accommodating, friendly and helpful, especially the woman duty manager! We had both a city-view room on the 6th floor and a sea view on the 5th floor. Both rooms were lovely with everything we needed in a bright, fresh, modern, upscale design.

We slept very well. The sea-view room has amazing panoramic views and is worth the upgrade. I was so touched as our room was decorated with beautiful and intricate towel art on our bed at check-in. There was also a delicious chocolate birthday cake, Omani sweets and assorted fruit that added to the “ festive” atmosphere.

A large swath of public beach 4k long is right in front of the hotel. The sand is so soft and clean, it extends far out into the sea. In the evening, you can find some beautiful shells. We found several cuttlebones that the locals carve along the beachfront. The water is shallow quite a ways out and only very slowly gets deeper. We enjoyed swimming in the warm water. There are also two large well-kept pools. One is a mostly shaded lap pool. From the hotel you can walk quite a distance in either direction along the shoreline and it was something we really enjoyed.

Hiking and swimming in Wadi Shab

Sunset along the beach in front of our InterContinental

The little cafe/coffeeshop on the lobby level is comfortable and cozy to hang out in. We felt very well taken care of during our stay. Everything was perfect!

We highly recommend the Intercontinental for a pleasant and memorable time in Muscat!

The InterContinental Hotel does a wonderful job of celebrating special occasions!

Activities

There are many activities to keep you busy in Muscat, and I would recommend three nights there. The magnificent Royal Opera house, which was conveniently located right next to our hotel, was just breathtakingly beautiful. It has modern stark white architecture against the deep blue clear sky. You will find glistening marble floors surrounding it. This is one of the most beautiful and technically advanced opera houses in the world. An evening spent at this Opera house is one that will not be forgotten.

The stunning opera house in Muscat

The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is exquisite and a must-see. We hired a guide and loved learning about all the details that went into building this gorgeous mosque. The chandelier itself in the main prayer hall is as big as a two story house! The architecture, Iranian carpet, which took years to make, gardens and general atmosphere leave a lasting impression. Muttrah is a fascinating area of Muscat to wander in and is the oldest part. Areas to visit in this part of the city is the Muttrah Fort. Stroll along the Muttrah Corniche or promenade, which is especially fun in the evenings when the locals come out and it is lit up. You can also rent a bike on Seeb Corniche, which is loads of fun. There are many eateries for dinner along the Corniche. Muscat has an active cafe culture in the city. There are many high-end cafes and restaurants along the waterfront where you can watch luxury yachts sailing by while you sip your coffee. If you look up from the corniche, you will see the Riyam Censer, a giant white incense burner high on the hill.

Sun setting over the Omani desert

The Muttrah Souq is another adventure as you wind in and out of the shops it quickly becomes a maze which is a pleasure to get lost in. It is a shoppers paradise where bargaining is in order and spices are a great find, especially saffron. Frankincense in its many forms is one of the products I would recommend purchasing as the unusual-looking trees grow in Oman, mostly in the south. We also spent time at the Muttrah fish market, which was very interesting for us as our business is commercial salmon fishing in Alaska. Fishing is an Omani historic industry and there are still many fishing ports you can visit in Oman. Al Alam Palace, the National Museum and the Oman Aquarium are other places of interest worth checking into. The last activity I recommend is a trip to the Daymaniyat Islands for snorkeling. It is known for its diversity of marine life, such as turtles, dolphins, whale sharks and a variety of colorful tropical fish.

Sultan Taboos Grand Mosque Muscat

Our amazing private guide Murshid I hired to travel around Oman

Take time to stroll and explore the souks. They are a cultural experience in themselves and there are very good deals to be had, especially exotic spices, cashmere, gifts, food items and much more!

For more inspiration and travel recommendations, check out our Oman page.