04Experiences

Experience

Souqs of frankincense and silver

Muttrah Souq in Muscat is one of Oman's oldest markets, around two hundred years old, set beside a harbour that was once a stop on the sea routes to India and China. Its nickname, the Souq of Darkness, comes from lanes so narrow and crowded that the sun never reaches them. The main passage sells fabrics, shoes and household goods; deeper inside, the air smells of frankincense, perfume oils, jasmine and spices, and small shops sell Omani silver, khanjar daggers, white dishdashas, embroidered kumma caps, Omani pots, leatherwork and framed khanjars. The market was once built of mud and palm leaves and has since been restored in its traditional style. It gets especially busy in the holiday seasons. Nizwa Souq, the most important in the country after Muttrah, sells meat, fish, fruit, dates and spices alongside gold, silver, pottery, copperware and coffee pots. Nizwa's silver is considered the finest in Oman, and its khanjars are known for their distinctive style and patterns. Visit in the morning or late in the day, when the lanes are cooler.

about 200 years

Age of Muttrah Souq