Al Baleed Archaeological Park & Museum of the Frankincense Land
منتزه البليد الأثري
Part of the Land of Frankincense World Heritage site. It contains the ruins of Zafar, a medieval port city, and a museum that showcases Oman's maritime history and frankincense trade.
Al Baleed is the site of Zafar, a medieval port city that Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta both described. It was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2000 as part of the Land of Frankincense. The park stretches along a coastal lagoon, with remains of the Great Mosque's column bases, city walls, and gates. Electric carts are available. The Frankincense Land Museum at the entrance has a history hall and a maritime hall, covering the frankincense trade, ancient Omani ships, and Dhofar's history. Admission costs a few rials. The museum is usually closed on Friday mornings, but check the official schedule. The site is on the coast east of central Salalah.
Opening hours
Roughly 08:00–20:00 (open Friday afternoons; check official site)
Nearby sights
- Tomb of Nabi Imran
- Al Haffa Souq
- Sultan Qaboos Mosque, Salalah
- Ayn Hamran
- Ayn Razat
- Job's Tomb (Nabi Ayoub)
- Ayn Athum
- Taqah Castle