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City in Dhofar, Oman
Photo: Silvio Taverna, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Salalah is the capital city of Oman's southern Dhofar region. It is the second largest city in the Sultanate, and has the distinction of being the Sultan Qaboos' birthplace. For most visitors, Salalah is the gateway to Oman’s most southerly governate of Dhofar – a historically independent, and culturally and ecologically unique region.
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A UNESCO World Heritage Site, these extensive ruins were once the 12th-century trading port of Zafar, visited by Marco Polo in 1285.
This excellent museum has displays on the history of the port and of the region.
This museum houses an eclectic collection, with sections devoted to regional geology and history. There is also a permanent display of Wilfred Thesiger's photographs.
Burj al-Nadha, Clocktower
The clocktower may not be a sky-scraper but it is indeed the icon of Salalah, featured in the coat of arms of Dhofar Governate. The tower looks stunning during nights due to the colorful light display.
Tomb of Nabi Imran
Umran (Imran) was a local Arab prophet, believed by some to have been the father of the Virgin Mary, and believed by others to have been the father of Moses. The sarcophagus is 33 m long. Visitors should remove their shoes before entering, and women should cover their heads with a scarf.
Completed in 2009, this mosque can accommodate 14,000 people. Conservative dress required; women must have their ankles, wrists and hair covered.
Sultan Qaboos was born in a fortress at this location, which is now the grounds for a modern palace. It is not open to the public, but tourists may photograph it from the outside.
To see some older Yemeni-style architecture, drive east on Al Bahri Street along the beach.
A shrine housing the footprint of an enormous camel in the bedrock. According to the Quran, the camel was said to have appeared from nearby mountains as a miracle, yet was killed three days later by unbelievers who refused to recognize the Prophet Saleh. In punishment a severe earthquake was said to have destroyed the entire city and its inhabitants. As in other religious sites, visitors are requested to remove their shoes and women should cover their hair.
A small informal open-air market for vendors selling all types of weapons, from antique rifles to traditional knives and daggers. Best in the early morning.
Salalah Festival / Khareef Festival
Held annually during the khareef period, this festival celebrates Dhofari culture and traditions with food, music, and entertainment.
Avid birdwatchers can find many species of birds within the city itself, as this lagoon is noted for attracting flamingos, ospreys, and many migratory birds. Bring your binoculars.
Organizes guided tours for diving and snorkeling, and conducts a full range of PADI courses. Most of their dives take place outside of Mirbat, where they also have a dive centre. The centre is closed during the khareef from the end of May until 1 October.
Offers full dive packages in the waters by Salalah as well as by Mirbat. Offers PADI courses.
Offers beach and sunset rides. It is a little bit difficult to find, so use Google Maps or let them pick you up.
Offers a wide range of continental dishes but specialize in Pakistani cuisine.
Al-Saf Saf
A traditional South Indian Restaurant serving only vegetarian food.
Part of a small chain of Omani restaurants, and a good place for Omani food.
A second branch of the popular Omani restaurant.
Offers a large range of Indian dishes, particularly well-known for their vindaloo.
Chinese restaurant offering decent food. No buffet.
Indian-styled Chinese restaurant with decent food. No buffet.
Serves Arabic, Chinese, European and Indian cuisines.
American fried chicken, sit-down restaurant and drive-through.
A unit of Hassan Bin Thabit Kitchens, with a varied international menu.
Always an option for any Americans wanting a taste of home, delivery available.
A small family restaurant serving very good Lebanese food. Has excellent hummus, tum and shwarmas.
This restaurant offers good Lebanese food at a reasonable price (RO 10 for 3 people - starter & main incl. 1 drink each). Delivery available.
Offers a wide selection of international cuisine at a very reasonable price (a fraction of the cost of the hotel restaurants and better quality). This restaurant is also fully licensed. Take away and delivery available.
Offers Pakistani and Hyderbadi food. No buffet.
Within walking distance of downtown.
An Omani-Belgian enterprise, adjacent to the coconut groves. This is one of the best budget options in Salalah; rates include breakfast and wifi (available in the breakfast/coffee room).
The hotel offers basic accommodation at very affordable prices. Service is very friendly and hotel is reasonably clean.
Old rooms, basic but decent. Very close to the airport and in the centre of the city so it's easy to reach any place you want to get to, reasonable swimming pool, gym and tennis courts. Banking and rent a car services are available in the same building.
Free breakfast with wi-fi.
A better alternative for luxury accommodation as the property is much larger than the Hilton and more importantly it is close to the city centre.
A popular choice for European visitors. It is roughly 12 km outside the city and runs a daily shuttle service to and from the Gold Souq. However, the hotel cannot really be recommended as the service is appalling and a general sense of "the inmates running the asylum" pervades.
From Juweira you can get a clear view of the artificial 'Juweira Island' which is spectacularly illuminated during night. There are many wonderful cafes, lounges and restaurants in Juweira. There is also a fashion boutique and a children's play area.
A beach resort providing a myriad of activities including tennis, volleyball, and badminton courts, petanque, and beach football.
A good place to pick up traditional hand-crafted items.
سوق الحافة
Souq Al Hafa (marketplace) is the best place for frankincense and incense burners, and a wide range of other collectibles including handicrafts and souvenirs. Haggling is necessary, or alternatively have a local so you know you are buying genuine goods. Payment can be made in Omani rials, euros, or dollars.
Has books in English and Arabic, and a good selection of maps.
Has outdoor sporting goods, including camping supplies.
Groceries are on the ground floor, and a food court upstairs.
A branch of the UAE chain. Good for picnic supplies or camping gear.
More centrally located than Lulu Hypermarket (see listing above), but with a much smaller deli and no camping gear.
Small supermarket with international food.
By car
Driving to Salalah from Muscat takes roughly 12 hours, and can either be an amazing and memorable experience, or a very uncomfortable one depending on what kind of traveller you are.
By bus
Bus transport to/from Muscat is also offered, both with identical fares, by:
By boat
There is at least one operator in Muscat that will charter you to Salalah.
By taxi
The usual unmetered Omani taxis operate here. Negotiate the price before getting in. In 2021, a ride within the city was 1 rial.
By car
If you hire a car, 2WD cars are adequate for most sights within Salalah itself.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Salalah · International · SLL
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