Muscat is a big city that stretches linearly along the coastline. Finding the right place to stay can be tricky and the guidebooks don't offer a good conclusive advice as everyone seems to have different needs. Al Qurum has a few 5-star hotels with sea views, while Al Khuwair is a bit closer to the airport and a few modern shopping malls.
Al Qurum was once a fishing village but has now been absorbed into the city. It is famous for a long public beach that faces the Gulf of Oman and nearby mangroves.
To the east of the beach, an upscale gated community rises for the wealthy classes.
Further inland and closer to the highway, the Royal Opera House opened in 2011 and its attached Opera Galleria mall opened in 2013. Tours for the performance venue are available but there doesn't seem to be reliable information online on the times. I went twice and left disappointed.
Heading further west, Al Khuwair is home to many government ministries and embassies as well as 2 large shopping malls.
A swimming pool sits atop the Platinum Hotel. With few skyscrapers, you can easily spot the sea as well as the mountains that rise behind the city.
The Hilton Garden Inn is closer to the shopping malls although it is still better to drive than to walk.
