Four to five days gives a comfortable pace for Muscat and its surroundings, balancing the city itself with the wadis and mountains that are arguably the bigger draw for first-time visitors to Oman. Days 1 and 2 cover Old Muscat and Mutrah. The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, one of the few mosques in the Gulf region open to non-Muslim visitors outside prayer times, deserves a slow morning visit — the marble courtyards and the hand-knotted Persian carpet inside are genuinely impressive and worth the modest dress requirements. Spend the rest of day one around Old Muscat's Al Alam Palace and the surrounding forts. Day two moves to Mutrah, where the souk — one of the oldest markets in the Arab world — rewards unhurried browsing, followed by a sunset walk along the Mutrah Corniche with views back toward Mutrah Fort on the cliffs above the harbour. Day 3 is for a wadi day trip, and it's worth treating as a full day rather than squeezing it in. Wadi Shab, about ninety minutes from Muscat, requires a short hike followed by a swim through narrowing canyon pools to reach the best section — bring a dry bag for valuables, as parts of the route involve wading. Wadi Bani Khalid is a slightly easier alternative if you'd rather skip the swim-through section but still want the turquoise pools. Day 4 combines the coast and wildlife. A morning boat trip from Muscat regularly spots wild dolphins, and several operators combine this with snorkelling stops. Spend the afternoon at Qurum or Shatti Al Qurum beach, both easy, relaxed contrasts to the more active wadi day before. Day 5, if you have it, heads into the Hajar Mountains toward Nizwa, about two hours from Muscat. Nizwa's fort and souk are well worth the drive, and the surrounding date palm oases give a different landscape entirely from the coast — a useful way to end the trip if you want to see more of Oman's range before flying out. A few practical notes: there's no metro system in Muscat, so a rental car is genuinely useful, particularly for reaching wadis and mountain routes that taxis won't easily cover. Dress modestly throughout, and specifically bring a headscarf if visiting the Grand Mosque, though one is usually available to borrow at the entrance. Alcohol is restricted to licensed hotel bars and restaurants rather than available in general retail.