Nizwa, about 160 km south-west of Muscat on the far side of the Hajar Mountains, was Oman’s capital in the early Islamic centuries and for long periods afterwards, and it remains the country’s great centre of learning and tradition. Its date palms stretch for kilometres along the wadi, watered by ancient falaj channels.
The town’s landmark is Nizwa Fort, built in the 1650s under Imam Sultan bin Saif al-Ya’rubi, whose massive round tower was designed to withstand cannon fire. Beside it the restored souq sells pottery, silver, halwa and dates, and on Friday mornings the livestock market fills with farmers auctioning goats and cattle.
Top things to do at Nizwa
Climb Nizwa Fort’s round tower
Inside the fort, exhibits explain daily life, defence and the imamate. Climb to the top of the round tower for views over the palm groves and the Hajar Mountains. Look for the murder holes and hidden traps on the stairways.
Shop in the souq
Nizwa is famous for silver, pottery and halwa. The souq buildings were restored but still serve local shoppers — buy dates and taste halwa in the dedicated sections.
Go to the Friday goat market
From around 07:00 on Friday, farmers lead goats and cattle around a circle while buyers shout bids. It is lively, authentic and over by about 09:00.
Visit Bahla and Jabreen
Bahla Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the beautifully decorated Jabreen Castle are both within about 30–45 minutes of Nizwa.
How to get to Nizwa
- By car: about 1.5–2 hours from Muscat on a fast dual carriageway.
- By bus: Mwasalat runs intercity buses between Muscat and Nizwa.
- With a tour: combine Nizwa with Jebel Akhdar or Jebel Shams — see our ranking.
Insider tips
- Nizwa Fort charges a small entry fee for non-Omanis; opening hours are usually morning to late afternoon, with shorter hours on Friday.
- Arrive by 07:30 on a Friday for the goat market, then visit the fort when it opens.
- Dress conservatively — Nizwa is more traditional than Muscat.
- Nizwa makes a good overnight base for Jebel Akhdar, Jebel Shams and Bahla.
Best tours & tickets for Nizwa
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Nizwa:
Day trip from €88 Muscat: 4x4 Adventure through Jebel Akhdar and Nizwa
A full day in the Hajar Mountains. Visit Nizwa’s great round-towered fort and souq, walk among the ruins and falaj channels of Birkat al Mouz, then climb by 4x4 past the police checkpoint to the cool terraced villages of the Green Mountain.
- Nizwa Fort and souq, the old capital of the interior
- The abandoned mud-brick quarter of Birkat al Mouz
- Terraced villages and viewpoints on Jebel Akhdar
Day trip from €128 Unforgettable 4x4 Trip to Nizwa & Arabia’s Grand Canyon
Drive by 4x4 to the edge of the enormous Wadi Ghul canyon below Jebel Shams, where the cliffs drop about a thousand metres to the valley floor, stop at the old mud-brick village of Al Hamra if time allows, and explore Nizwa’s fort and souq.
- The rim of Wadi Ghul, the "Grand Canyon of Arabia"
- Jebel Shams, Oman’s highest mountain
- Nizwa Fort and souq
