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Nizwa Fort Oman

Nizwa Fort Oman

Nizwa Fort Oman
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Historic SitesPoints of Interest & LandmarksHistoric Walking Areas
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Duration: 2-3 hours
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  • Abdullah
    Muscat, Oman12 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nizwa Fort
    Hello , everyone During my visit to Nizwa in February, I was enchanted by the historical fortress. As I wandered through its corridors, I savored the delightful local cuisine. I was equally fascinated by the rich historical heritage and the sites that told stories from Oman's past. What made this visit special was the interaction with visitors from various cultures, as we shared stories and knowledge. I'd like to emphasize that Nizwa is not only a historical gem but also a significant tourist destination I highly recommend.
    Visited February 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 23 October 2023
  • Deanosaur89
    Edmonton, Canada8,870 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing Fort to See in Oman
    This fort and the area have some very interesting features and history. The fort itself has a large round tower and many hidden features. There is good signage throughout in English and Arabic and the brochure is also informative too. Underneath the fort is a museum that has lots of displays to show the way of life for locals and has some good artifacts from the past centuries all with good signage. Inside the fort there are two live stations with a lady making bread and men making pottery. There is a coffee shop as well and when we entered they gave us a coupon to buy two drinks and get free ice cream! The courtyard was in development when we visited but it seemed that they were developing a garden with a seating area and possibly a small zoo. A cool feature beside the fort is some ruins that are even older and the Nizwa Souq. The Nizwa Fort is about a 2 hour drive from Muscat and if you rent a car you can park in the "Nizwa Souq Parking" area. The cost to enter is 5 OMR per adult and we felt it was worth the trip and possibly worth a stay overnight in Nizwa to check out more of this charming Oasis.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 28 October 2023
  • Anand_Lobo
    Mumbai, India863 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must visit
    Worth a day trip from Muscat. The fort has been restored, it’s extremely clean, inviting and for history buffs there is a bit to read and see. Clean toilets and a small cafe within the fort compound too.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 17 November 2023
  • Gina C
    7 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Poor animal treatment. Nice Fort
    The fort has been well restored and there is plenty of information to read around the fort and also in the exhibition area. It is clean and kept well. The condition of the animals at the back of the fort is not nice to see. The constant pacing and seeing them tethered night and day (we were staying next door and could see the poor camel tied all night) with no grass left nearby.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 20 November 2023
  • Xerxes R
    Dubai, United Arab Emirates520 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Liked the history and the views
    Liled the visit. Entry is 5 local money, and the views were lovely. The weather is great, so that helped as well. Def worth visiting for the history of the Fort and taking a chill. Enjoy the visit here.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 26 November 2023
  • AucklandWiz
    Auckland, New Zealand2,256 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    WELL RESTORED BUT GOT A FRIGHT WHEN THEY TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF ON US
    We visited the fort one evening not long before closing. Probably not the best time but it was cooler than in the heat of the day. The fort is well restored, some things to read and a lot of space that it is just empty. One frightening thing happened while we were there. We were the only people there not long before closing. I had walked off a little from my friend. We were down inside the fort somewhere and suddenly we were plunged into complete pitch black darkness. I accidently then walked into an overhang and hit my head. My phone was flat so I had no torch and it gave us a huge fright as I seriously pondered whether they were going to lock us in overnight in the pitch black. Luckily as I felt my way around a corner, I spotted a little light and luckily by following this, this took us out. It did spoil the experience though. It was still about 30 minutes off closing. I advised the person at the desk and they were very, very apologetic. It was an accident but it certainly soured our experience.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 31 December 2023
  • Fatma Baabad
    Muscat, Oman38 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An experience of history in the present!
    I went to Nizwa fort on the national day holidays. Despite the crowds due to the national day celebrations, the best part was just going back in time and experiencing history in the present. People were friendly and they just make you feel home.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 10 January 2024
  • Jeff K
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania2,364 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lots of History
    This fort is much better than your standard fort. There are a variety of different exhibits in the fort which explain both the fort and different aspects of the history of Oman. I thought it was very well done and very informative. I spent about an hour here and enjoyed it.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 13 January 2024
  • WHWhite
    Portsmouth, United Kingdom85 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent historic site in a pleasant town
    Excellent fort, lots to explore. Pleasant little cafe inside. I spent a happy couple of hours here. Lots of tourists though (Jabreen fort was less crowded). Nice to mosey around the immediate area in Nizwa town centre too. Unless you are someone who likes guided tours, you will need your own transport to get here. If you are coming by car, ignore the paid roadside parking as you drive into the centre of town. As you go past the fort, you will come across a huge free car park right in front of the main market (i.e. 2 mins walk from the fort entrance) - park there instead!
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 20 January 2024
  • Khalaf K
    Sharjah, United Arab Emirates283 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Journey in the history
    Nizwa Fort in Oman is a place that must be visited to live and experience Oman History over the time. The fort is standing over hundreds of year to tell the story of Omani people. It’s not easy to describe the years and the associated events took place in the fort, yet the walls of the fort speak for itself and take you into a journey in the time. This fort must be visited at least once if you ever be in Nizwa.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 29 January 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles1,421 reviews
Excellent
563
Very good
679
Average
151
Poor
24
Terrible
4

SNottIN
Singapore402 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
At 5 OMR for adults and 3 OMR for kids below 12, the sticker shock tends to keep some visitors outside, being content with taking pictures of the fort wall. If you do go in, you'll be educated in over 20 small rooms of well-labeled exhibits. And if you can handle a few flights of stairs, there are multiple viewpoints from the top of the fort and the tower where you can get 360 views of the surrounding landscapes. Plan on at least 2 hours at this attraction. If your only fort trip in Oman is to Nizwa, going in is recommended.
Written 4 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Peeter P
Mississauga, Canada898 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
Our first stop in Nizwa was the fort. We waited a few minutes for the English-speaking guided tour that was well worth it. The Fort's museum provides a comprehensive and fascinating insight into Oman. The guide was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.
Written 14 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kuffy
Staveley, UK195 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
The fort was closed for refurbishment on our last visit to Nizwa so we were thrilled to have access this time.

It is easy to get around and has plenty of signs so guided or self led are both viable options. It is well worth climbing the steps up the tower to get 360 degree views of Nizwa and the mountains beyond.

The pastel coloured walls and gentle castellated turrets make for a magical experience. The rooms are well laid out and tell of the buildings history. There are several rooms with artefacts.

The atmosphere is relaxed and staff are helpful.

Well worth a visit.
Written 23 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Deanosaur89
Edmonton, Canada8,870 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
This fort and the area have some very interesting features and history. The fort itself has a large round tower and many hidden features. There is good signage throughout in English and Arabic and the brochure is also informative too. Underneath the fort is a museum that has lots of displays to show the way of life for locals and has some good artifacts from the past centuries all with good signage.

Inside the fort there are two live stations with a lady making bread and men making pottery. There is a coffee shop as well and when we entered they gave us a coupon to buy two drinks and get free ice cream! The courtyard was in development when we visited but it seemed that they were developing a garden with a seating area and possibly a small zoo. A cool feature beside the fort is some ruins that are even older and the Nizwa Souq.

The Nizwa Fort is about a 2 hour drive from Muscat and if you rent a car you can park in the "Nizwa Souq Parking" area. The cost to enter is 5 OMR per adult and we felt it was worth the trip and possibly worth a stay overnight in Nizwa to check out more of this charming Oasis.
Written 28 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jonahNJ
Pennington, NJ11,757 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022
During our journey around Oman, my wife and I visited the Nizwa fort which dates back to the 1650s (though part of the original structure dates back to the 12th Century. The Fort cannot be missed with its huge cylindrical tower that has a height of approximately 30 meters and a diameter of approximately 36 meters. Another feature that welcomes visitors are the cannons that flank the entrance.

The real highlight of the visit to Nizwa Fort we the welcoming performance by men in traditional garb, singing and performing with swords. As part of the performance there was even a sword and shield “fight”. Quite the introduction to the Fort!

As we made our way through the Fort there are many rooms that include everything from a date store to a washroom as well as a jail and many other rooms that served their special purposes. This fortification naturally also included several “trap areas” which were defenses against intruders.

As we walked to the upper level of the Fort we were able to take the final 40 steps to a level that provided an amazing panoramic view of Nizwa.

This Fort provides many areas to explore with the bonus view of Nizwa.
Written 24 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Johan
Lund, Sweden164 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Couples
Located a the heart of central Nizwa, this castle/fort is well worth a visit! Interesting history and great views of the surroundings form the top. A small but very informative museum is located inside castle walls. A 30min guided tour was included in the price (though we opted not to take it as it didn't quite fir our schedule). Stayed for about two hours but one could easily spend another hour exploring the museum in more detail.
Written 21 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

pawel_hbg
Sopot, Poland16,815 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Couples
The Nizwa Fort is a large castle fortress in Nizwa which was built in the seventeenth century. It is a popular tourist destination and because of that probably ticket entrance is quite expensive- 5 OMR.
You need to consider if it is worth to go here. I think not. There are very similar other forts which are much more cheaper, more quiet to visit, more accesible with parking.
Written 5 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ileftmyheartinTokyo
Cheltenham280 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
So touristy and overpriced. Don’t waste your time or money. It’s a long drive to Nizwa and you can see the fort from the outside without bothering to pay to get in. If you do make the mistake of paying to go in it’s 5OMR per person and full of bored looking tour groups.
Written 7 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MarcusHurley
Calne, UK10,818 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
The fort was built in the 1650's when Nizwa was the capital of Oman and is apparently the most visited attraction in the country. It was constructed over an underground stream to ensure it could survive sieges. It is split into two parts: the castle and associated administrative buildings huddle around it with the fort and its 30m high walls acting as a keep, the final line of defence.

The castle was a real warren of buildings and of course we hadn't looked at a map or plan so we wandered up and down stairs, through corridors and in and out of various rooms. Most were empty but some had carpets and cushions in to show how they'd have looked as meeting rooms or study rooms.

The exhibition on the restoration of the fort was very well done with before and after pictures of each section as well as information on how it was built. The section on the history of Oman was also very good, placing it in a world context through the ages. There were also women demonstrating traditional handicrafts which was lovely to watch.

We may well have missed something amazing but we spent well over an hour in the castle buildings before we even got to the fort itself. The design of the fort was quite clever with the entry route being blocked by doors with murder holes above the could be used to either pour boiling date juice on the attackers or to pour water on the doors if they were set alight.

The fort itself was a shell keep and firing platform with plenty of space inside for locals to shelter with their livestock and stores for food and ammunition as well as 4 wells. The views from the walls over the oasis were quite awesome, with the obligatory mountains all around.

There is also Nizwa castle garden to visit which has a small animal preserve and an example of an aflaj (irrigation system). I don't think this area was visited much as the animals (rabbits, goats, 2 oryx, a donkey and a camel) seemed rather forlorn. There was a lot of potential to develop the area further but it seemed a bit forgotten. We did get to feed all the animals though for 200 baisas.

Overall the fort was a fabulous visit showing Omani ingenuity and design in defensive buildings as well as the excellent exhibition. Definitely worth the 5 OMR for our 2 hour visit.
Written 18 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dirk W
Alexandra Headland, Australia10,118 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Solo
Amazingly, Nizwa Fort is the #1 attraction, not only in Nizwa, but in Oman ! Personally, I think that says more about Oman than about the fort, but it is an interesting place to visit. Well preserved, and well signed with multi-lingual explanations, it is still better to visit with a guide who will point out peculiar features such as the "murder holes", shafts above doorways to poor boiling oil on any unwanted intruders.
Apart from spending an hour exploring the walls and courtyards, make sure you visit some of the exhibition rooms ; good displays about culture, olive oil production and indigo color.
Entrance costs 5 OMR.
Written 28 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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