Sohar sights are steadily growing in popularity, with more and more tourists opting to spend their holidays here. This enchantment is presumably due to the fact that it is the birthplace of the legendary Sinbad the Sailor and also the former capital of the Sultanate of Oman. Sohar, situated on the coast of Hormuz Strait, remained for long a modest, lesser known fishing town, but it has grown into a busy, world-class port and is today the second largest city of Oman--next only to Muscat.

Sohar, with its lush green tropical orchards and dairy farms, has the sea on one side and the desert on the other, and takes just two hours from Muscat by road. It must be mentioned that the drive from Muscat to Sohar along the seaside highway can be truly exciting, as one will travel through dense plantations of dates, tropical fruits, lemon trees, vegetable plants, and other edible crops.

Quaint Fort Towns

While visiting Sohar, tourists should not miss the quaint fort towns like Nizwa, Rustaq, Ibri and Nakhl that are in surrounding areas. The majestic mountain, which is deemed the tallest in Oman Jebel Akhdar, is a delightful sight. There are also numerous copper mines here that are worth visiting, and some of them quite ancient. Sohar is rich in copper, and statistics reveal that the copper deposits here exceed 18 million tons.

Sohar Castle

Sohar is a favored destination with many holidaymakers because of the salubrious beaches and some rare, time-honored monuments. Sohar Castle is arguably the chief attraction of Sohar.  The castle was reportedly built during the 13th century. In later years, the rugged castle became a center for administration for the ruling dynasty. This castle features a museum with exhibits that students of history and archeology will especially love to explore.

Sohar Fort

Another star attraction is the Sohar Fort, supposedly built during the first century. Situated on an enchanting hilltop, this aesthetically designed fort has five stately towers, and, strangely, it is the only fort in Oman that is regularly whitewashed.
Sohar has two notable parks: the Silver Jubilee Park, which is situated in an area called Sallan, and Sohar Park, which is conveniently located in Al Humbar. For people who are more interested in having quality leisure time instead of the bustle of city, these two parks can be ideal destinations.

Wadi Heebi

Wadi Heebi, situated 63 km away from Sohar, is an ideal spot for picnic lovers. This verdant village is nothing more than a conglomeration of ancient dwellings with an original rural look, and picnickers will enjoy the all-pervading clean and quiet ambience found here.