Oman’s latest museum Oman Throughout the Ages is an absolute should on our record of issues to do within the Sultanate. It’s been created with the identical wow issue you’d anticipate of museums within the neighbouring UAE with glorious storytelling to enchantment to guests younger and never so younger.
The museum opened in March 2023 and is a superb spring board for exploring the remainder of the nation. It units the scene with hi-tech shows concerning the nation’s historical past, tradition, panorama and politics.
I prefer it a lot that I’ve been 3 times because it opened taking a good friend, my family and our visiting mother and father. This submit consolidates our expertise to supply helpful data for vacationers and residents, notably households, who’re considering of visiting Oman Throughout the Ages.
For extra journey inspiration comply with me on Instagram
*This submit accommodates affiliate hyperlinks*
Who designed the Oman Throughout the Ages Museum?
The museum was deigned by Australian architect agency Cox Structure. Their transient was to create a spot that mirrored the encompassing Hajar Mountains, therefore the dramatically angular exterior.
Inside there’s 9,000sqm of exhibition area in addition to convention amenities, a library and analysis centre, cafes and a restaurant. Outdoors you possibly can stroll by gardens bordered by lakes and Aflaj-like channels (Aflaj is the title for Oman’s UNESCO recognised irrigation techniques).
There’s locations to picnic and maintain outside occasions within the winter months.
What’s there?
The museum tells the story of Oman’s previous, current and its aspirations for the longer term in two components, the Historical past Gallery and the Renaissance Gallery.
You start with a stroll by pre-historic occasions earlier than assembly the nation’s first human inhabitants, studying concerning the creation of irrigation techniques, the nation’s rise as a maritime nation, its Islamic religion and the pre-Twenty first Century dynasties of Oman’s leaders.
There are walk-in scenes from 1000’s of years in the past, interactive shows, life-sized fashions and artefacts collected from all around the nation.
The Renaissance Gallery is the one I discover most fascinating as you study concerning the fast modernisation of Oman below Sultan Qaboos bin Mentioned and his successor Sultan Haitham bin Tariq.
There are additionally interactive reveals about Oman’s society, tradition, trade and media.
Oman Throughout the Ages additionally has an enormous quantity of indoor area for touring exhibitions and outside area for occasions.
There’s an inner courtyard with mirror pool and you may stroll all the way in which across the outdoors of the constructing the place there are examples of petroglyphs (Omani rock artwork), reflection swimming pools and gardens stuffed with crops you discover rising within the mountains and wadis.
Strolling across the outdoors of the museum is one of the simplest ways to understand the mountain-inspired design with its sharp angles and towering options. Nevertheless there isn’t a shade, so it’s extra snug to discover this area within the winter season.
It’s free to stroll across the museum grounds.
How household pleasant is Oman Throughout the Ages?
This can be a very family-friendly museum with interactive shows and video games all through. It undoubtedly makes our suggestions for locations to go to when in Oman with children.
A few of my women’ favorite issues to do are recreating petroglyphs, defending an historic fort below siege, matching individuals with jobs in modern-day Oman and dressing individuals in conventional garments.
All of those are offered as interactive video games, making the museum expertise customisable.
Youngsters aged 5 and up will get loads out of visiting.
Remember which you can’t carry meals or drink into the exhibition areas so have your snacks earlier than you enter. There’s plenty of areas to take a seat and eat outdoors the exhibitions.
How accessible is the museum?
There are lifts between the totally different ranges, accessible bogs, free to make use of wheelchairs, Arabic Braille and tactile data boards.
All data is in Arabic and English.
It’s also possible to purchase an audio tour in Arabic and English.
Meals on the museum
There’s a cafe contained in the museum foyer the place you should buy moderately priced mild meals, drinks and sweets.
We’ve used this every time we’ve been to the museum. There’s additionally a restaurant in direction of the again and a restaurant upstairs.
When is the Oman Throughout the Ages Museum open?
The museum’s everlasting galleries are open every day from 9am to 5pm except Fridays when it’s open from 1.30pm to 5pm. The museum’s different amenities, together with its restaurant, are open till 9pm Saturday to Thursday and till 7pm on Fridays.
Opening occasions could also be barely shorter throughout Ramadan and the museum is prone to shut on the primary day of Eid al Fitr Adha and Eid al Adha.
Control the museum’s Instagram web page for opening updates.
How a lot is entry to the museum?
After we visited in 2023/24, entry price 5 OMR for vacationers, 2 OMR for residents and 1 OMR for residents of Oman and GCC nations.
There are decreased charges for youngsters, college students and senior residents.
How do get to Oman Throughout the Ages
Oman Throughout the Ages Museum is positioned in Manah, which is lower than a 20 minute drive from the centre of Nizwa and an hour and 40 minutes from Muscat Worldwide Airport.
It’s best to go to the museum by automotive. There may be free underground parking.
Right here’s the place to search out Oman Throughout the Ages Museum on Google Maps:
Alternatively, you may get a Mwasalat bus (route 54) from Muscat to Nizwa. You then have to get a taxi from Nizwa to the museum. A return bus ticket prices lower than 4 OMR per individual.
There are two buses a day every manner on this route and the journey takes about three hours in every path. This could be a great way to succeed in the museum in case you meant to discover extra within the Nizwa space.
You may verify the price of the taxi journey and guide your trip utilizing the Otaxi app.
Extra helpful data
Right here’s another useful issues to know earlier than you go to Oman Throughout the Ages:
- There’s a safety scanner on the entrance to the museum.
- It’s best to costume modestly, protecting your knees and shoulders.
- There’s a cloakroom the place you possibly can depart luggage at no cost.
Extra important studying
For those who’re in search of extra concepts for locations to go to in Oman I’ve bought you lined!
One thing actually helpful that I purchased earlier than we moved to Oman was the Lonely Planet Oman UAE & Arabian Peninsular* information guide. In addition to details about issues to do in Oman there’s a great deal of nice tips on customs and traditions.
Learn extra about visiting Oman with children in my complete journey information for households.
Disclosure: this submit accommodates affiliate hyperlinks marked with *. For those who click on on certainly one of these hyperlinks and make a purchase order I imply earn some fee. This doesn’t have an effect on the worth you pay.