The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT) on Tuesday requested the Travel & Tourism Offices in the Governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, through a circular, to change the route for tourist buses entering the parking area at Nizwa Market.
Nizwa Souq is one of the popular destinations in Oman with domestic and international tourists. The circular informed the tour operators regarding the change of the entry route for tourist buses to the parking areas at Nizwa Market: "Please be advised that the new designated route for tourist buses is the route that passes beside the Tomb of Imam Al-Warith bin Ka’ab." The southern parking area has been allocated for buses.
The ministry requested all licensed travel and tourism offices to cooperate, comply with the mentioned route, and update their tour programs accordingly in order to ensure smooth traffic flow and to avoid congestion at the entrance of Nizwa Market.
Just steps from the towering Nizwa Fort, the city’s centuries-old souq comes alive each morning by 5 am in a blend of sound, scent, and color. For generations, Nizwa Souq has served as one of Oman’s most important trading hubs, and today it remains a rare place where tradition is not only preserved but also actively lived.
At sunrise, vendors begin arranging their goods. These goods could be crops from the farms or a collection of pottery straight from the factory. The market has products ranging from pyramids of dates in every shade of amber, neatly woven baskets, and curved silver khanjars and jewelry. The Nizwa souq is also a symbol of the nation’s cultural and heritage identity.
The Nizwa Souq is not a tourist-centric space, as it retains an unmistakable authenticity. During the seasons, the farmers unload crates of fresh pomegranates and limes from nearby orchards, while craftsmen hammer away at silver jewelry using methods passed down through families for decades. There are always lots of conversations going around.
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