See the sights in Oman's capital Muscat

If you are looking for a city break where you can soak up plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures, then Oman's capital Muscat offers plenty to see and do.

Located on the Indian Ocean coastline, the city has both marinas and beaches, along with ancient sights, museums and modern and traditional shopping areas.

One of the must-see areas of Muscat is the old port area, which is where holidaymakers will find the imposing sights of the Sultan's palace and the two hill-top forts of Jalali and Mirani.

The forts were built by the Portuguese in the sixteenth century and are still used by Oman's police and military, they are not open to visitors.

However, Muscat has a third Portuguese fort that can be visited, over in the Muttrah region of the city.

Muttrah Fort also dates from the sixteenth century, and for great views travellers should do the steep 100-step climb to the top where there is a recently restored watchtower.

As well as the fort, Muttrah is also the place to go for traditional shopping. The suburb has a large souk that has everything from spices and foods to fabrics, toys, antiques, gold and silver.

The suburb was historically a major area for trade, with Muttrah's port the starting point for commerce for the rest of the country.

Houses in the Sur Al Lawatiya area of Muttrah are also good for seeing Muscat's traditional architecture, with a network narrow streets extending out from Al Jami Mosque. Visitors should note the district can only be accessed through one of the main gates through the old city wall.

Holidaymakers looking to escape to the beach can head to Qurum Beach by one of the city's most modern districts.

The long and sandy beach is also home to a number of international hotel chains, and also has plenty of shaded and picnic areas. Ideal for long strolls at low-tide, it is also a good place to head if you are interested in taking to the water, with jet ski and other water sports hire available.

And if you want to find out more about Muscat then the city also has some good museums tracing both the country and city's history.

The Oman Museum in the Madinat Sultan Qaboos has displays on shipbuilding, Islam and fort architecture from over 5,000 years ago.

In Old Muscat, the Bait Al Zubair museum offers a chance to experience a traditional Omani house with displays on the lifestyle and traditions of Muscat through the ages.

Muscat is also home to a Natural History Museum, which features the geology, wildlife and marine life in and around Oman.

Tour operators with package breaks in Oman include Iglu Tropical, Responsible Travel and Shaw Travel.

For more general information on visiting Oman see www.omantourism.gov.om