Lying within the vicinity of the famed Nizwa Fort’s walls, the Nizwa Souq has exploration avenues for the tourist that are expansive and unique. With an incredible array of products on sale, ranging from meat, fish, fruits and vegetables to dates, spices, gold and silverware, the Souq boasts of a history that has stood the test of time for hundreds of years. Khanjars (curved daggers), coffee pots and swords make up the myriad assortment of Omani souvenirs one cannot miss out on.

Located right on the mesmerizing beachfront of Dhofar, next to the sprawling expanse that makes up the Sultan’s Palace, is the marvelous Al Husn Souq (also known as the Al Haffa Souq amongst the locales, after the district in which it’s situated), a myriad little area of small shops arranged around a neat grid of pedestrianized alleyways. This is one of the most interesting souqs in the Sultanate, particularly famous for its frankincense, bukhoor, and at’tar. Rare types of perfume can be found here, including the finest of all, Hawjari (or Hasiki), from the wadis around Hasik.

Right off the first alleyway on the left of the Muttrah Souq is the dazzling spectacle of the Gold Souq, a two hundred meter stretch passing through a series of fascinating lanes, and laden with gold and silver jewellery in the form of traditional Omani bracelets, anklets, khanjars (daggers), earrings, and heavyset necklaces. And that not being all, the ornament connoisseur can also find jewellery made out of camel hide and camel bones in vibrant colours, along with chests and caskets made of gold.

The Sinaw Souq is amongst one of the oldest preserved souqs in Oman and has a history that steeps way back into time.Busiest on Thursday mornings when about a 120 shops open for business, the souq is a shopaholic’s delight as it sells practically everything in both its sections: the first one dealing in household items, kitchenware, and traditional silver jewellery (hammered by silversmiths right before the eyes), and the second one selling livestock, fresh meat and the agricultural produce of the land. Tourists will enjoy visiting the souq in the mornings, as it is especially charming to see the local Bedouins starting their day trade.