Top cities in Oman

9. Barka

Barka, 80km west of Muscat, is a thriving coastal town that has become something of a crossroads between the regional centes of Sohar and Rustaq and Muscat. It has to be said that the old part of town, near the sea, is looking a bit sad as the old quarters are being torn down to make way for a new coast road. In compensation, New Bahla has sprung up along the Muscat–Sohar Hwy with big shops and new restaurants transforming life in this once sleepy town.

Barka is famous for its halwa, a unique, laboriously made Omani confection. A pot from dedicated halwa shops in town costs from OR8.

Barka Also famous for Bullfight. 

10. Rustaq

Al Rustaq is a city in the South Al Batinah region, surrounded by the central Al Hajir mountain range and an abundance of date palm groves and Aflaj. The city came to the forefront of Omani history when Imam Nasser bin Murshid Al Ya’rubi started from here his conquest to unify Oman and repel the Portuguese from the country in the 17th century. Al Rustaq was also once the capital of Oman, and it has many attractions that should make it a much bigger tourist attraction.

Al Rustaq is famous for two impressive and historically important landmarks: Al Hazm Castle and the imposing Al Rustaq Fort .

Al Rustaq is also known for its many wadis which adventure enthusiasts will greatly enjoy, some of these include Wadi Bani Aouf, Wadi Bani Ghaffir and Wadi Al Sahtan.