Nizwa, and the road inland
Nizwa sits about 160km south-west of Muscat, an easy hour and three-quarters on a well-maintained highway through the Hajar foothills. Many visitors come for the day, but the town is also the natural base for the interior: the fort and the old souq fill a morning, and Jebel Akhdar, Bahla Fort and Jabreen Castle are all within reach.
A car makes the difference. The town's highlights are walkable once you arrive, but the forts, caves and mountain villages beyond it are scattered, and driving is the only practical way to link them.
What comes with the car
- No-deposit cars available
- Free cancellation on most bookings
- All-inclusive pricing, cover included
- English-speaking support
- Economy hatchbacks through to 4x4s and seven-seaters
Around Nizwa
The seventeenth-century Nizwa Fort, with its huge round tower, stands beside one of the oldest souqs in the country, still trading silver, pottery, spices and frankincense. From town, the paved climb up Jebel Akhdar and the ruins and castles at Bahla and Jabreen make full or half-day loops. The steep mountain roads and any off-road detour want a high-clearance 4x4.
Arriving and driving
Most trips reach Nizwa from the capital, often with a car picked up at Muscat Airport or in Muscat itself. Building a longer loop? The Oman road trip guide threads Nizwa together with the desert and the coast.
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