Mutrah, the harbour quarter of Muscat, is one of the few parts of the city you can comfortably do on foot with children. Everything sits close together, the corniche is wide and flat, and there is enough to look at along the way to keep short legs going.
Start with a view
Begin at Maidan View. From there the whole bay lies in front of you, mountains behind, boats in front. Children grasp straight away how the quarter fits together — which helps, because next you dive into the alleys.
Watching boats on the Corniche
The Mutrah Corniche is the easiest walking of the day: a broad promenade along the water. At Mutrah Pier the dhows lie moored, the wooden ships Oman traded with for centuries. Fishermen mend nets, cranes swing crates ashore. For many children this is the best stretch of the route.
Gate, souq and silver
The Grand Gate of Al Lawatiyah is one of those places you pause at: heavy carved woodwork, and behind it a quarter where the same families have lived for generations. A little further on Mutrah Souq begins, and that's where it gets exciting — narrow passages, frankincense smoke, stacked bolts of cloth. In the Silver Souq hang khanjars, the curved Omani daggers, and silver jewellery that catches every bit of light. Agree beforehand how much may be bought; it saves a debate.
Practical, with children
The route is about 4.2 kilometres and takes an hour and a half, but count on more with stops. Go early morning or towards evening: midday sun here is fierce. Bring water and a hat. A pushchair struggles in the souq — a carrier works better.
The Muscat walk is free to play. At every stop your child gets a question, and that tends to be the best answer to "how much further".
