It comes as no surprise to me that Muscat is voted 2nd Best City to Visit in 2012. I’m telling you, folks, “Muscat is the place to be!”
Anyone who’s into international travel will automatically recognize the tour guidebook company “Lonely Planet” and should recognize that this is quite a thing for Muscat to be #2 on their list!
Here is one of many articles announcing the results of “Best Cities to Visit 2012”. They voted the following cities as the best tourist destinations for 2012:
1. London
2. Muscat, Oman
3. Bengaluru (Bangalore), India
4. Cadiz, Spain
5. Stockholm
6. Guimaraes, Portugal
7. Santiago, Chile
8. Hong Kong
9. Orlando, Florida, USA
10. Darwin, Australia
I’m pretty sure that London is only in the 1st position because of the Olympics. With the launching of the incredible Royal Opera House Muscat, I personally (in my unbiased opinion) think that Muscat should be #1!
Proud of my city! 🙂
***Nov 5 update: Here is another article giving reasons why those specific cities were selected.
Andy in Oman 
I don’t know why Bangalore would be No 3. I am proud of my country but Bangalore is a city (just like any other). I would have thought of Goa 🙂
Woohoo! 🙂
And Bangalore’s #3 ( *my* favourite city – after, ahem, Muscat of course) 😀
It’s a GOOD day 🙂 Thanks for sharing Andy
Clearly price was not factored into this equation. I read somewhere that Muscat has the highest average hotel room rates in the world right now. There needs to be more moderately priced tourism options in Oman.
Rochelle & boredat25,
This list has me interested in knowing more about Bangalore! Must be a nice city! 🙂
John,
Yes, hotel rooms in Muscat can be pricey but there are also cheap options out there. I would love to read your source. “I read somewhere” isn’t quite specific enough for me, ha!ha! 🙂 I do agree that there needs to be more reasonably priced tourism options.
That’s really incredible! the ROH have boosted the ranks for Oman to be a toursits destination 😀
Here is one report that talks about it:
Click to access UK-HPI2011-Final.pdf
According to this report hotel rates have increased 44 percent over the past year. Probably because of more high end hotels opening up in the city. I think Muscat is doing a good job at proffering itself as a tourist destination, but with more moderately priced hotels and activities the city could really capitalize on the market. For example, it is still much cheaper to go to Dubai with airfare, hotel rates, and free tourist visa than it is to go to Muscat. Seems like there is still a lot of opportunities that Muscat has yet to capitalize on.
On a side note: Why did Oman raise the tourist visa to 20 OR? While that won’t stop people from visiting, it is a bit annoying.
Maria,
Great news, huh?! 🙂 Yes, the new opera house must have played a part in this voting.
John,
Thanks for getting back to me with the source. You didn’t waste any time getting back to me. Thanks so much for that! Muscat hotel prices really have risen sharply (as you said) compared with other places! I totally agree with you on all issues here!
OMG!!!! Oman wow that oprah house is very useful for Oman I think the new golf (the wave) field in Oman is gonna be very useful as well (once it open that is) anyways love Oman keep rising
Yes, and there’s a golf course at Muscat Hills near the airport as well. Go, Oman!
National Geographic also ranked it in their top 5 of places to visit. We went to Musandam a few weeks ago (which was beautiful!), but really need to get to Muscat!
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/best-trips-2012/oman-photos/
Someday I hope to get to Musandam myself! You have a wonderful blog. I’ve added you to the blogroll. Thanks for visiting. Hope you manage to get to Muscat! 🙂
What an odd list.. Are there two cities that are more unlike than Muscat and London? Bangalore? Have they been in some time? I love Muscat and many of the cities, but let’s be real.
Cities are good or bad depending on what you like to do. Making a general list is odd. They should focus on certain aspects (entertainment, music, culture, etc.) then perhaps they can make some lists. Silly indeed..
Kyle,
Not sure what your beef is with this list. “Making a general list is odd”…Really? According to who? you? Don’t be such a downer! 😉 (Otherwise you’ll be the only one looking silly…)
Having seen the photos of the Royal Operahouse I can imagine in what a fairytale reality you can live.
Well, the evening at the Opera House was “fairytale like” but our feet hit the earth of reality within minutes of stepping outside, ha!ha!
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I don’t get it… what is there to see here in Muscat??? So many nice places to go for a walk (the dirty beaches? if you don’t get hit by a stupid driver of a big 4×4?), great night life and streets with plenty restaurants where you can sit outside and enjoy your drink and watch life pass by? fantastic museums? great public transport if you don’t want to use the dangerous taxis? lovely aquapark and public swimming pools? you don’t get to be stared at by locals and indians? brilliant shopping opportunities?
I wonder how much Oman had to pay to be number 2 :o)
I think this is far more objective report about Oman and Muscat
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/4758591.stm
Its capital, Muscat, has some of the airless anonymity of other Arab cities built from nothing in the past 30 years.
It runs like an ever-expanding suburb on either side of a motorway, Sultan Qaboos street – named after Oman’s modernising sovereign.
Its main souq lacks the dynamism and mystery of those in Marrakesh or Damascus.
Apart from curved daggers and silver, bedouin bangles and necklaces, much of what is sold is from outside Oman, as are many of the stallholders, who come from India or Pakistan.
Serel,
It does sound like life is passing you by if that is your attitude. Here’s a good poem for such pessimism:
The Pessimist
Nothing to do but work,
Nothing to eat but food,
Nothing to wear but clothes
To keep one from going nude.
Nothing to breathe but air
Quick as a flash ‘t is gone;
Nowhere to fall but off,
Nowhere to stand but on.
Nothing to comb but hair
Nowhere to sleep but in bed,
Nothing to weep but tears,
Nothing to bury but dead.
Nothing to sing but songs,
Ah, well, alas! alack!
Nowhere to go but out,
Nowhere to come but back.
Nothing to see but sights,
Nothing to quench but thirst,
Nothing to have but what we’ve got;
Thus thro’ life we are cursed.
Nothing to strike but a gait;
Everything moves that goes.
Nothing at all but common sense
Can ever withstand these woes.
(Benjamin Franklin King)
There is PLENTY to do and see in Muscat if you’ll just stop to smell the flowers! 🙂
I dont know if muscat should be rated as second best but i do know that that this city is a beautiful blend of everything.when i came to muscat last year , I found it very peaceful and neat. mountains,beaches,different communities and wadis outside muscat. I never wanna leave muscat.Since i got a job at TAISM, i want to live here longer and make more friends,and visit more wadis. talking of wadis, does anyone know of any group or club here that take wadi trips together? My Pakistani friends arent really adventurous.
Mona,
Well said! The only group I know of that takes wadi trips together are the Filipinos at church. They usually travel in huge groups. I prefer traveling in small groups or even alone as it allows you to explore areas more extensively. If you work at TAISM, you should have no problems finding such a group as the teachers we know from TAISM are, for the most part, very adventurous and quite fun. Ask around and I’m sure you’ll find wadi-trekking buddies in no time! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
hi im moving to muscat next month, im single, straight, and coming from dubai, where should i live, i enjoy a beer and and a good laugh but enjoy golf and the outdoors also. any advise out there?
Stephen,
First of all, welcome to Muscat! I hope you’re enjoying it so far! If you enjoy a beer and a good laugh, you should keep up to date with Mr. Sythe’s updates at http://www.muscatmutterings.com He does some pretty good pub reviews and always lets us know what’s going on around town! 🙂