Oman is a country full of forts and castles. According to some figures there are over 500 castles, forts, towers, and other fortifications in this Middle Eastern country.
Most of these buildings were made in the 17th and 18th centuries to protect the coastline of Oman, but because of restoration work theyβre still in surprisingly good condition today!
Here are 5 of the best Oman forts and castles near Muscat!
Best Oman Tours
First of all, if you're wanting to explore Oman with a tour guide/driver and private car, my top recommendation would be Klook.
Oman is not the cheapest country to travel, but Klook has Rustaq day tours starting from $65 USD, and Nizwa tours for similar prices. Both of these tours start from Muscat, and they'll allow you to see some of the best Omani castles, forts, and traditional markets.
We've used Klook for lots of tours and activities around the world, and they're great! Highly recommended.
Book Now: Rustaq / Nizwa Tours
5 Best Oman Forts & Castles
β’ An Naman Castle
An Naman castle may not be as well known as some of the other forts in Oman, but I think itβs one of the most photogenic, and it just reopened after years of restoration work. Itβs free to go inside!
Read More: An Naman Castle
β’ Nizwa Fort
This fort is right next to the souq (market) of Nizwa, and you can tour the entire building, complete with the same store rooms, old weapons, and artifacts it had in the 17th century. Itβs an interesting walk through history.
β’ Al Hazm Castle
Al Hazm is one of the less known castles in Oman, but I still think itβs definitely worth a visit.
The inside of the fort has lots of interesting rooms, with secret chambers, prisons, and date store rooms; some of the rooms even have cannons, old rifles, daggers, and other 18th century artifacts on display.
In my experience, Al Hazm was one of the few forts in Oman that had a free audio guide, and even though I didnβt use this Iβve heard itβs super informative and done in clear English.
It gives some extra insight into 18th century Omani life and how the fort was used over the years.
When I visited Al Hazm I had already seen a bunch of other forts on the same day, so I was starting to develop some major βfort fatigueβ, but Iβm still glad I walked up to the top of the fort to look around.
You can walk along the inside of some walls at the top, and the views are pretty nice. Bring water! The walk up to the top of the fort can be extremely hot depending on the season.
Al Hazm Castle is located near Rustaq, so itβs easy to visit if youβre planning to go see other forts in the area. Thereβs a small entry fee, but most tours seem to include this in the price.
β’ Rustaq Fort
No trip to Oman would be complete without a visit to Rustaq Fort. This is one of the most well known forts in the country, and itβs also one of the most impressive looking. Itβs well worth a climb to the top of this fort!
Read More: Rustaq Fort
β’ Nakhal Fort
Nakhal Fort was probably my favorite castle/fort in Oman. Not only is it super photogenic from a distance, but going up to the rooftop also gives you some incredible views of the surrounding area.
Read More: Nakhal Fort
Where I Stayed
I stayed at the 2-star Mutrah Hotel in Muscat, in a private room for $38 USD per night. Oman is not the cheapest country to travel, but the room was big and clean, and the A/C was nice and cold.
The location was a big plus. There was a mini-mart right across the street, and it was near the Mutrah Souq (traditional market) and some other interesting places.
Prices may fluctuate from time to time, so just keep an eye out for a good deal.
1 comment
This is a great and useful article. Thanks for sharing the best castles. Very Inspiring.