According to locals this Souq is worth visiting on the weekends and starting around 6 am to see the most action. Everything from traditional daggers to cows can be traded here but it is a great spot to walk through especially if you're in the Nizwa area. Unlike the Mutrah Souq, we felt no pressure to buy anything here and could simply browse. Lots of nice pottery and souvenirs. There are some cafes, restaurants and ice cream shops nearby and it is a short walk from Nizwa Fort. Lots of parking was available in front of the meat and vegetable section but the roads behind the Souq are tight and winding so set your navigation to "Nizwa Souq Parking" if you plan to visit. The roads between Muscat and Nizwa are in great condition if you go around the mountains.

My wife and I toured here on a Saturday evening. It was a fairly typical souk although it had more souvenir stores than I usually see. The highlight was a date store that gave away free samples. They were delicious. I would love to visit when they have one of their livestock sales (e.g. goats; cows). I was told that they occur on specific days in the morning.

We had read the guide books and they all said get there Friday morning for one heck of a animal market and all the hustle and bustle of the souks. We didn’t, getting there in the afternoon and we wished we’d got there earlier as on the Saturday morning the Souq area was dead and reminded me of a wet weekend in Cleethorpes, with not a lot happening. The Souq area is modern in design and build and hence IMO loses charm. The meat souk in a building away from other individual souks which housed fish/vegetable/date etc. All in all a disappointment on a number of levels and nowhere near the experience of Muscat which is definitely worth a visit and is full of old world charm.

This was for me a new experience to witness the spirit and the soul of a marketplace such as this. It is quite a bustling place with lots of small shops with souvenirs and craft products. You can buy food products or handicrafts and take home as a lovely souvenir from Oman.

This is a fantastic souk, if you like browsing and buying without the haggling. Most items have prices marked and everyone is friendly and chilled with none of the pushiness of Mutrah Souk. An enjoyable experience before visiting the fort.

Lovely souq. Very chill. Not hassle-y whatsoever. Very friendly, welcoming locals/vendors. Quaint, narrow alleys/passageways. All kinds of items for sale: soaps, spices, perfumes, textiles, baskets... Highly recommend a visit if you're in Nizwa, whether you're looking to buy anything or just enjoy a bit of Omani culture.

After the Mutrah Souk disappointment, I was very much looking forward to Nizwa. I learned that it really comes to life on Fridays when livestock is traded, but unfortunately I was there on a Monday. I guess there are two parts : one with the typical small alleys & shops with touristy stuff, and the specialized market ones - dates, coffee, spices, etc. At least here in Nizwa the shops seem to be run by Omanis, rather than Indians, which has a more authentic feel. It gives you the confidence to buy your luban (frankincense) here. Especially the special markets are incredibly clean and well presented. Overall, the Souk is a great way of spending a pleasant couple of hours, even if you don't buy. They have lost a lot of appeal because they are so clinically renovated, just too polished.