Looking at a family trip to Muscat but unsure about where to stay? There’s a huge range of family-friendly accommodation options to choose from in Muscat, Oman.
Where to stay really depends on budget, of course, but also your purpose for visiting Muscat; is this a short stopover on your way road tripping around Oman as a family? Or are you on a short escape where the resort and facilities are very much part of the experience?
To guide you through the best accommodation choices in Muscat for families, we have broken this down to:
- Luxury resort stays in Muscat with kids
- Central hotels in Muscat
- Family-sized hotel apartments in Muscat
- Cheap hotels in Muscat
Things to note before booking your Muscat accommodation
- Family-sized hotel rooms are hard to come by; in most places, you will need to look at two interconnecting rooms or otherwise hotel apartments if you have more than three guests.
- Beware the taxes! Expect an extra 17% on top of your bill for Services & VAT
Where to stay in Muscat
Before we dive in, let’s take a quick look at the layout of Muscat. Nestled at the foot of the Hajar Mountains, which run from Musandam in the north all the way down to Muscat. It is a very spread out, low-rise city that wraps itself to the coast and valleys.
To the north-east, you will find the Muscat International Airport MCT, then the areas of Shatti al Qurum (home to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque), Muttrah where you’ll find the Corniche and Muttrah Souk, and around to Old Muscat for the Al Alam Place and Museum area of Muscat.
For more ideas on what to do in Muscat and to figure out how many days you need, check out this Muscat with Kids guide.
You may also find these guides helpful in planning your trip to Muscat and around the highlights of Oman:
- Road tripping from Dubai/Abu Dhabi to Muscat
- Road tripping between Muscat and Musandam
- Day tripping from Muscat – Oman highlights in easy reach of the capital
- Where to find the best wadis in Oman
Best Luxury Resort Stays in Muscat with Kids
There are several fabulous resort options in Muscat, well worthy of a relaxing family break.
Shangri-La Barr al Jissah Resort & Spa (5*)
What to expect: This luxury resort hotel is absolutely designed with the family in front of mind. Dramatically nestled between the mountains and the ocean, there are three hotels co-located here; Al Waha Hotel and Al Bandar Hotel are best for families.
Although the hotel is located quite far from MCT airport it is a great place to come for a standalone luxury retreat in Oman. The family facilities are extensive from the 19 bars and restaurants to the lazy river that takes you between the hotel’s two main pools and splash pad area.
Images courtesy Joey Ho Meng Guet of Flee me a Trip
This great guest post on touring Oman with kids gives a really detailed run-through of exactly what to expect at the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa.
What will it cost? A night at the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa starts from $545USD per night plus taxes for two interconnecting rooms in Al Waha for a family of 4. Look out for half-board options too.
Check price and availability on Booking.com
Al Bustan Palace (A Ritz-Carlton Hotel 5*)
What to expect: Re-opened after extensive renovations in 2018, the Al Bustan Palace is one of Muscat’s grandest buildings (worth a visit alone!). There is a long private beach frontage, several pools, a huge Six Senses Spa and several dining options.
Families can benefit from the Ritz Kids program and enjoy the Family Aqua Land and kids’ playground – including a pirate ship, and even a zipline! Oh, and did you know you can even order a special kids’ tent to your room!?
What will it cost? A night at Al Bustan Palace would cost a family of 4 around $550USD per night plus taxes for two deluxe rooms.
Check price and availability on Booking.com
The Chedi Muscat (5*)
What to expect: This stunning beachfront hotel sits on the Gulf of Oman, only minutes away from MCT airport. There are six restaurants to choose from and a heavenly spa to die for!
This place oozes Arabian luxury throughout, and although you might prefer to tackle this one on a romantic retreat, they can still cater to families seeking an indulgent luxury break.
What will it cost? A night at the Chedi Muscat for a family of 4 in two Deluxe Rooms starts from $995USD plus taxes per night.
Check price and availability on booking.com
Central Muscat Hotels
During city stays, the common logic is to stay close to the main tourist attractions. However, given Muscat’s spread-out nature, this isn’t a choice. If you are sightseeing in Muscat, accept that you will need to get taxis or drive between destinations.
We have considered central for tourists to be roughly around the Shatti al Qurum area, where hotels still benefit from sea views, great resort-style facilities, and western-style restaurants serving alcohol.
InterContinental Muscat (5*)
What to expect: With a sandy beachfront setting and the Palm Beach Club, the InterContinential Muscat has extensive leisure facilities, including pools, hot tubs, sauna, spa and plunge pools.
Rooms come with sea or mountain views, and there’s a choice of five dining options, including entertaining Trader Vics, which caters to families as well as the local expat crowd. There are extensive grounds as well as a children’s playground. This one could also belong in the luxury resorts category, with its extensive facilities.
What will it cost? A night at the InterContinental Muscat for a family of 4 needing two interconnecting rooms is around $485USD per night plus taxes
Check price and availability on booking.com
Grand Hyatt Muscat (5*)
What to expect: Situated in the Shatti al Qurum area of Muscat, this hotel enjoys spectacular ocean views and a great pool, as well as four dining options. There’s beach access here as well as additional water sports and activities on offer.
What will it cost? A night at the Grand Hyatt Muscat for a family of 4 needing two rooms is around $390USD per night plus taxes.
Check price and availability on booking.com
Crowne Plaza Muscat (4*)
What to expect: The Crowne Plaza offers some spectacular beachfront views over Muscat. There are plentiful leisure and spa facilities on-site and four restaurants to choose from, including a pool bar and English pub.
What will it cost? A night at the Crowne Plaza will cost approximately $510USD plus taxes for a family of 4 needing two interconnecting rooms.
Check price and availability on booking.com
Radisson Blu Hotel Muscat (4*)
What to expect: Radisson makes a great mid-range option for families, a perfect place to base yourself for exploring but also includes a great pool for an end-of-day splash.
What will it cost? A night at the Radisson Blu Hotel Muscat for a family of 4 in two superior rooms starts from around $210USD per night.
Check price and availability on booking.com
Al Murooj Grand Hotel (3*)
What to expect: Maybe not as fancy as some of the other offerings listed here, but it more than does the job if you are passing through Muscat for a few nights. Many of the rooms have great views over Muscat, and enjoy the spectacular rooftop pool to cool off after a busy day exploring.
What will it cost? A night at the Al Murooj Grand Hotel will cost approximately $110USD per night plus taxes for a family of 4 in two interconnecting rooms, or an executive suite with a fold-out sofa bed $100USD plus taxes.
Check pricing and availability on booking.com
Family-sized hotel apartments in Muscat
As a larger family of five, we find any sort of hotel city stay challenging due to the number of beds we need. More often than not, a serviced hotel apartment is the better option for us when we are staying more than a night.
An apartment in Muscat offers not only enough bed space for everyone but the convenience of being next to shopping malls and food, self-catering (though don’t hold your breath on what cooking utensils you may get!) and facilities such as pools and kids’ playgrounds. Here are a few to try if you’re in a larger group:
Millennium Executive Apartments (4*)
What to expect: This is a great family option attached to the Grand Muscat Mall. You have access to a full-sized apartment with a kitchenette and a swimming pool.
What will it cost? A night at the Millennium Executive Apartments for a family of 4 in a two-bedroom apartment plus breakfast included is around $240USD per night plus taxes.
Check price and availability on booking.com
Coral Muscat Hotel & Apartments (4*)
What to expect: This is a very spacious new apartment complex in a convenient location for many Muscat attractions. You can have the convenience of a kitchenette in your room and still access the pool and leisure facilities. This is one of our top-value picks for Muscat!
What will it cost? Large one-bedroom apartments at the Coral Muscat Hotel & Apartments can cater for up 4 with fold-out couch starting from as little as $82USD plus taxes per night
Check price and availability on booking.com
Cheap Family Hotels in Muscat
How low do you want to go? There are definitely budget finds in and around Muscat, but not all would be appropriate family stays or great quality.
For those literally just touching through Muscat and not seeking any luxury touches or extra family amenities, you can try these straightforward hotel and apartment options, all rated at least 8+ on Booking.Com and able to fit family groups under $100USD a night:
- A’Sinamar Hotel Apartment – approx $95USD++ per night
- Farah Hotel Apartments – approx $90USD++ per night
- Home Station Hotel – approx $94USD++ per night
You can search for all available options to fit your dates below:
Further Oman Travel Resources and Inspiration:
Check out these guides for more great ideas for visiting Oman & the Middle East.
- All your family accommodation options in the Musandam Peninsula, Oman
- Highlights road-tripping around Oman with Kids
- When is the best time to visit Oman?
- What to wear when you visit Oman
- Top 5 Things to do in Muscat with Kids
- Best Middle East destinations to visit in the Autumn
- The UAE’s Best Luxury Desert Resorts
Take me back to the Oman with kids homepage
Disclosures: This post is in no way sponsored by any of the hotels mentioned. This page does contain affiliate links; if a qualifying booking is made, we make a commission. Pricing originally from October 2019, revised in October 2022. See our full website terms of use here.
