Nizwa Travel Guide

 
by Cockleshell
 
  •   Nizwa
    by Cockleshell
  • Sunset over Nizwa fort and mosque
      Sunset over Nizwa fort and mosque
    by DSwede
  • Front View - Night
      Front View - Night
    by Emiralex
  • Pool Area
      Pool Area
    by Emiralex
  • Inside the fort
      Inside the fort
    by chizz
 

Pro

FlyingDutchmen profile photo

 not so far away from Muscat 


Con

JamillaCamel profile photo

 None so far 


In a nutshell

flynboxes profile photo

 A great day trip from Muscat 

 

Explore Nizwa

Things to Do  

Goat Shopping anyone

Goat Shopping anyone, Nizwa

 flynboxes Says:  Every Friday at the crack of dawn Omanis come from all over to the goat souq to either buy or sell. Adult and kids (young goats) are drug around a circle and sold to the highest bidder as their owners solicit the highest bid. 

Nizwa Fort

Nizwa Fort, Nizwa

 chizz Says:  It's nice to take a 1 and a half drive from Muscat to Nizwa to see the town and its fort. See the fish and meat markets as well as the souvenir and antique shops. 

Nizwa Fort

Nizwa Fort, Nizwa

 flynboxes Says:  This is probably the highlight of Nizwa outside of the Souq (in my opinion).It was built in the 17th century by Sultan bin Saif al_yaruba. There is a small admission fee but it is a good place to spend a lazy hour walking around. 

Got Guns

Got Guns, Nizwa

 flynboxes Says:  Nothing too wild like any machine guns but there are a few that might interest someone that is into hunting rifles. 

The handicraft souq

The handicraft souq, Nizwa

 victorwkf Says:  There is a big souq (market) in the central town area which consists mainly of the spice souq, fish souq, meat souq, the vegetable souq and the handicrafts souq. The handicraft souq is a good place to get some souvenirs but it is rather touristy and expensive. Try to bargain... 

The meat souq

The meat souq, Nizwa

 victorwkf Says:  There is a big souq (market) in the central town area which consists mainly of the spice souq, fish souq, meat souq, the vegetable souq and the handicrafts souq. The meat souq is located at one corner and rather small, basically it sells chickens, beef and mutton. The stall... 

The vegetable souq

The vegetable souq, Nizwa

 victorwkf Says:  There is a big souq (market) in the central town area which consists mainly of the spice souq, fish souq, meat souq, the vegetable souq and the handicrafts souq. The vegetable souq is rather modern and located in the centre. It also seems to be the biggest souq where... 

The fish souq

The fish souq, Nizwa

 victorwkf Says:  There is a big souq (market) in the central town area which consists mainly of the spice souq, fish souq, meat souq, the vegetable souq and the handicrafts souq. The fish souq is a must visit as you will witness the locals buying various fishes which were transported from... 

The spice souq

The spice souq, Nizwa

 victorwkf Says:  There is a big souq (market) in the central town area which consists mainly of the spice souq, fish souq, meat souq, the vegetable souq and the handicrafts souq. The spice souq sells various spices and other grocery items, and it is a very nice experience walking among the... 

The mosque at Nizwa

The mosque at Nizwa, Nizwa

 victorwkf Says:  The mosque at Nizwa near to the Nizwa Fort is very impressive and is a landmark in the town. However, you cannot enter unless you are a Muslim, but the view from the outside is already very impressive. 

Exploring the town of Nizwa

Exploring the town of Nizwa, Nizwa

 victorwkf Says:  Nizwa is a small town with friendly people, so it is alright to walk around the town and experience the daily life of the people. However, ladies travellers may get some stares from the men because of the Islamic culture here. As a general rule, dress appropriately and there... 

Nizwa Fort

Nizwa Fort, Nizwa

 victorwkf Says:  The fort at Nizwa is one of the most famous and impressive fort in Oman and is definitely a must visit when you are in Oman. The fort is conveniently located at the town centre and has a great view of the town and surroundings on top of the tower. There are also lots of... 

Hotels  

Falaj Daris Hotel

 3 Reviews and 63 Opinions  We stayed in Nizwa twice - in 2005 and 2009. Nothing has changed: good old Nizwa with its kind and... 

Nizwa Hotel Nizwa

 76 Opinions

Restaurants  

Spicy Village: All Things Spicy and Tasty!

Spicy Village: All Things Spicy and Tasty!, Nizwa

 JamillaCamel Says:  Indian, Chinese and Continental dishes are on the menu at Spicy Village in Nizwa. It is part of a small chain of restaurants with branches in Ruwi, Rusayl, Sohar, and Al-Khuwair.The Nizwa restaurant was very basic but very clean, with speedy service and full of happy... 

Poolside Buffet at Falaj Daris Hotel

Poolside Buffet at Falaj Daris Hotel, Nizwa

 victorwkf Says:  The evening poolside buffet at the Falaj Daris Hotel is very good because of the delicious food and the very nice embiance of the surroundings. This is a must try if you are in Nizwa and will cost you about 4-5 Omani rials per person. 

Tourist Traps  

Nizwa
travelthrough profile photo
travelthrough 121 reviews
Nizwa

Nizwa is praised in many tourist guides but the place is not very spectacular - apart from the
very nice surroundings of the Jebel Al Akhdar (mountains) and places such as Tanuf and Bahla
nearby.
There are no hotels in Nizwa, you have to find a hotel on the road 10 km out of town. Since
there are no buses, you must catch a taxi, which is not always very easy. When drivers see
you are a tourist, they might charge you high fees. It depends on the driver's mood. Hotels
in Nizwa are quite pricy. Apart from the fort, there is not really anything to visit.
Mind that inside the country not really anybody speaks English. A guide is recommended.

Unique Suggestions: Visit the fort inside to enjoy a view over the oasis.

Fun Alternatives: Go to other places close to Jebel Akhdar.

Written Jan 17, 2008

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Off The Beaten Path  

More ruins
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2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

flynboxes 563 reviews
4 more images

If you have a good driver or the money to hire an actual guide/tour you will probably see this place. Sorry I lost my notes but if I recall correctly it was about a45 min to an hour from Nizwa. If you happen to know the name of the place shoot me a note and I will update it.

Thx

Written Jul 1, 2008

Related to:
 Backpacking
 Historical Travel

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Favorites  

Swimming Pool at Falaj Daris Hotel

Swimming Pool at Falaj Daris Hotel, Nizwa

 victorwkf Says:  The swimming pool at the Falaj Daris Hotel is very nice and a lot of hotel guests can be seen swimming there in the evenings. Being an Islamic country, it is not possible to wear clothings which are too revealing in Oman. However in the hotel swimming pool, the guests are... 

The friendly old man

The friendly old man, Nizwa

 victorwkf Says:  When I was at the lobby of the Falaj Daris Hotel where I stayed, I saw this old man and his friend. Apparently, he is a local craftsman and is selling his handicrafts at the lobby. Both of them were very friendly and invited me to join them for a cup of Omani coffee and some... 

Meeting the children at Nizwa Fort

Meeting the children at Nizwa Fort, Nizwa

 victorwkf Says:  While visiting Nizwa Fort, I met a group of students on an field trip to learn more about the history of Oman. The children were very cute and even posed for this photograph, however the teacher (a lady) was very shy and refused to be in the photo. Generally, ladies in Oman... 

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Map of Nizwa