Salalah Tourist Attractions: A Complete Salalah Oman Travel Guide

Salalah in the south Dhofar governorate of Oman and popularly known for it’s mystic and beautiful Khareef (Monsoon) season is a natural marvel that homes centuries-old Frankincense traditions and Arabian customs. The city of Salalah is the second largest city of Oman after Muscat, which similar to the rest of the country owns a versatile landscape of ocean and mountains.

Along with the highly diverse topography, Salalah is also blessed with natural water springs and waterfalls which flow in its full glory during the Khareef season. Here I have listed down the most splendid Salalah tourist attractions you should definitely go to in this lesser visited paradise of the Gulf.

Visiting Salalah during the Khareef season? Check out my Photo Guide Of Celebrating ‘Khareef’ (Monsoon) In Salalah

Salalah Tourist Attractions – Al Baleed Archeological Site and Museum of Frankincense Land

Salalah has a thriving history of the Frankincense land as it was the center of the civilization ages ago. Now, the remains of the Frankincense civilization have been preserved at the Al-Baleed Archeological site, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The entrance to the site costs OMR 2 per car (as of October 2018), which goes towards the maintenance of the site. Tourists can either take a self-guided tour by walking around the site, which is marked with markers. Snippets of history can be found written all across the site. The other option is to take a guided tour, which is a 15-minutes golf cart ride costing 0.500bz per person (as of October 2018).

Adjacent to the remnants of the ancient city is the Museum of Frankincense Land. Free to enter, the museum homes some really interesting artifacts of the Frankincense land. History of how Islam was introduced in the region and the past civilizations is also displayed in the museum. A dedicated section of the museum also showcases Oman’s maritime history and traditional Omani vessels (dhows) are put on display. Al Baleed Archeological Site and Museum of Frankincense Land is one of the top Salalah tourist attractions and definitely worth a visit.

Also Read: 10 Awesome Things To Do In Muscat, Oman

Salalah Tourist Attractions – Mughsail Beach & Al Marneef Cave

Al Mughsail beach about 40 km from Salalah city center is one of the most popular beaches in Salalah and perhaps one of the top Salalah tourist attractions. Located towards the border of Yemen in the south of Salalah, Al Mughsail offers a long pristine coastline which eventually connects with limestone cliffs towards the end of the beach. The popularity of Al Mughsail beach is the natural blowholes in the cliffs that splash water from the ground whenever a strong wave strikes the cliff. The beach can get really crowded during the Khareef season and public holidays so an early morning visit would be perfect to avoid the crowd. Picnic huts, food stalls, and ice cream trucks, everything can be found at Al Mughsail beach for a perfect beach day!

The limestone cliffs at the beach that were long back submerged in the water are called the Marneef Cave. The cave is just hollow spaces in the cliffs, wide enough for a person to sit or barely stand in it. A perfect view of the limestone cliff cave can be achieved by walking down all the way to the blowholes with the cave in the background. Needless to say, it is quite a picturesque picnic spot and definitely and a must-visit place in Salalah.

Salalah Tourist Attractions – Sumhurum (Khor Rohri)

Sumhurum in the Khor Rohri area of Salalah is around 28 km from the main center of Salalah. It is an ancient site stuck back in the time. The artifacts at Sumuhurm are as old as 2000 years ago.  Now, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Sumhurum is one of the top Salalah tourist attractions. The entrance to the site costs OMR 1 (as of October 2018). Visitors can take a self-guided tour by walking across the site and seeing the remnants and artifacts of the older civilizations which had stayed in the area centuries ago. It is an archeological site, where artifacts such as clay pots, old boats and even ancient inscriptions engraved on the bricks can be found. Also, as a bonus, there is a small deserted beach to walk along one of the oldest historic remains existing in Oman.

Salalah Tourist Attractions – Taqah Castle

The Taqah Castle is one of the most popular castles in the Dhofar governorate of Oman. It is located in the old city of Taqah, 33 km away from Salalah city center. The castle was initially a residence of the governor of the old city of Taqah, which have now been transformed into a museum. It displays old weapons and lifestyle materials that were essential to the old Omani lifestyle and custom. The architectural design and ancient contents of the castle make it an interesting tourist attraction of Salalah.

Salalah Tourist Attractions – Hawana Aqua Park

The Hawana Aqua Park of Salalah is a recently constructed waterpark in the city and one of the biggest in Oman. The park was initially accessible only by the hotel guests in the area. The entrance fee costs OMR 7 per adult and OMR 3 per child. The state of the art water park is built on a huge area, with many development phases still undergoing. This new Salalah tourist attraction includes water slides, leisure pools, a children pool, pool-front cabins, sliding swimming pools, wave pools, and the main tower.

Salalah Tourist Attractions – Salalah Coconut Market

Salalah is a fertile land with the highest production of banana and coconuts in the country. Unlike the rest of Oman where you will find ample date trees everywhere, Salalah is the only region in the country with no dates tree but coconut! Due to the abundance of coconut in the city, there is a dedicated street of coconut market near Ad Dahariz beach in Salalah. The street gets jammed pack with cars as soon as the sun sets, which clearly shows its popularity among the locals. Along with coconut, banana, sugarcane juice, and dry fruits are also being sold the coconut street market.

Salalah Tourist Attractions – Ad Dahariz Beach

Many tourists termed Salalah as the hidden gem of the Middle East. Most of the tourist destinations in Salalah are far from the main city center but Ad Dahariz beach and undoubtedly one of the most picturesque beaches in Oman lies right in the heart of the city. It is a beautiful sandy beach with a lighted walkway for walking and jogging, which makes it really popular among the locals. The beach is surrounded by an array of palm trees which gives it a surreal look during the golden hour. It is highly recommended to visit Ad Dahariz beach at least once and indulge in the beauty and calm of the place.

Salalah Tourist Attractions – Husn Souq

Al Husn Souq also known as Al Haffa Souq in Salalah is the main traditional old market similar to the Muttrah Souq in Muscat. The souq is located at the beachfront adjacent to the marvelous Sultan Palace. The shopping district is spread over small congested but pedestrianized alleys. Souvenirs from the Frankincense land are widely available at Al Husn Souq. Also, do not forget to grab your hand at the Omani fragrances of ‘Bukhoor’ and ‘Attar’. It is also a great place to see the making of traditional Omani caps.

Salalah Tourist Attractions – Anti-Gravity Point

Nothing fancy here but surely interesting. The Anti-Gravity point in Salalah near Tawi Atair (exact coordinates here) is a point where cars go uphill at a speed of 40 to 60 km without an acceleration in neutral gear. This is a natural phenomenon of magnetic pull created because of many big mountains in the proximity. Surprisingly, it is one of the top Salalah’s tourist attractions and people line up their cars to witness the natural phenomenon.

Here Are Some Not-To-Be-Missed Tours To Take In Salalah!

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Looking for more adventures to do in Oman? Check out my Oman Destination Guides:

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• The Best Diving Spots In Oman
• A Guide To The Best Hiking Trails In Oman
• Most Picturesque Beaches To Visit In Oman

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