Oman Travel Guide: All You Need To Know
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- By: Peter Orsel
Oman quickly became one of my favorite countries I have visited so far. One thing that surprised me about this country is its diversity. I spent 10 days exploring the country with my rental sedan and wished I could have spent more time here. In this guide I will share the practical information you need before visiting Oman, from visa rules to budget and from cultural aspects to some of the most famous locations.
In This Post
Why should you visit Oman?
Before my trip, I had high expectations. All of these were met. The diversity is what surprised me most. In one trip you get cities, rocky mountains, beaches with water so clear it looks fake, desert dunes, and even green oases you wouldn’t expect in a desert country like this. On top of that, it is easy to explore by yourself. A rental car gets you everywhere, camping is allowed in most places, and the climate outside summer is close to perfect.
Oman also gets a fraction of the attention Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, or Qatar do. Those countries promote their country with strong marketing campaigns or bid for the world’s biggest sporting events to pull in tourists, while Oman does none of that and stays exactly what it is. The authenticity felt real during my trip.
How many days do you need in Oman?
The ideal trip to Oman would be 10 days. That covers Muscat, the mountains, a night in the desert, and the coast without rushing. A week still works for Muscat, Nizwa, and one desert stop, but you would have to skip the mountain villages.
If you decide to add Salalah or plan to travel at a slow pace, add at least another week. Salalah lies far enough from Muscat that most travelers fly there with Oman Air rather than drive.
During my own trip I stayed two weeks, but the extra days at the start and end were for a collaboration with a hotel. The actual road trip took me around 10 days.
When is the best time to visit Oman?
Oman is a desert country and that means you don’t want to be there in the wrong season. The best time would be from October to April. Daytime temperatures stay comfortable enough for hiking and desert camping, and the mountain roads are dry. From May to September you’ll be sweating all day, with temperatures often reaching above 40 degrees Celcius.
Always check your travel dates against the Ramadan calendar before you book. Eating, drinking, or smoking in public during daylight hours is not allowed for anyone, and many restaurants close until sunset. Ramadan 2027 will be from 7 February to 8 March.
Do I need a visa for Oman?
Citizens of the EU, UK, USA, and Canada currently get 14 days visa free on arrival. If you are staying longer, or coming from a country outside that list, Oman runs an e-visa system through the Royal Oman Police, with options ranging from a 10 day single entry visa around $13 to a 30 day version around $52.
Visa rules in the Gulf region change without much notice, so check the official e-visa portal before you book flights, not after.
One nuance worth knowing if you are coming from another Gulf country: travelers arriving directly from Dubai or Doha while holding a valid UAE or Qatar tourist visa or entry stamp sometimes do not need a separate Oman visa. This depends on your nationality and the exact entry rules at the time, so confirm it before you rely on it.
How to get To Oman
The most common way in is a flight to Muscat International Airport (MCT). Oman Air runs a reliable service with the comfort standards you would expect from a Gulf carrier. Emirates, Flydubai, and Qatar Airways all connect through their own hubs as well.
If you are coming from or continuing to Dubai, a bus is a solid alternative. Mwasalat runs the route between Dubai and Muscat, and the trip takes about 7 hours.
Do I need a rental car in Oman?
A rental car is close to mandatory once you are outside Muscat. You do not need a 4WD, a regular sedan gets you to almost everywhere in this country, though a slightly bigger category helps once you hit the mountain passes. The one exception is Jebel Akhdar: there is a police checkpoint at the bottom of the road, and only 4WD vehicles are allowed past it.
I book through Rentalcars and pick the car up straight at the airport, since prices there are competitive and it saves a day of city transport. Petrol is cheap and the roads are in good condition. That said, automatic speed cameras are everywhere, so stick to the limits.
Buying a local sim card in Oman
If your phone takes physical SIM cards, you can get an Ooredoo SIM at the airport. 8GB costs 5 OMR or $13 USD, 18GB costs 10 OMR or $26 USD and unlimited costs 20 OMR or $52 USD. 5% VAT isn’t included yet.
If you want to skip the airport booths, or your phone does not take a physical SIM, an eSIM is the easier route. I use Airalo for this: a 10GB plan costs $23, and an unlimited data plan for 15 days costs $49 if you would rather not think about your data usage at all.
Money and budget
Oman uses the Omani Rial (OMR), one of the highest valued currencies in the world at close to $2.60 USD per Rial. ATMs are common in cities and at the airport, and cards work in most hotels and restaurants. However, smaller guesthouses and desert camps often expect cash.
For a rough daily budget: accommodation costs €20 to €30 a night outside of Wahiba Sands and Jebel Shams, where the only options available are pricier. Add the rental car at around $30 a day and a few dollars for petrol, and traveling with one other person brings the daily cost down considerably by splitting the room and car.
Highlights worth building your route around
A handful of places come up in almost every serious Oman itinerary, on top of the photography spots and desert stays covered in separate guides.
- Nizwa Goat Market, held every Friday morning, with Nizwa Fort right next to it, worth combining in the same visit.
- Wadi Shab, reached via a short hike and swim between canyon walls, one of the most photographed spots in the country.
- Daymaniyat Islands, one of the country’s best snorkeling spots, with a good chance of spotting whale sharks between June and September. Book this as a day tour rather than trying to arrange it independently.
- Jebel Shams, Oman’s highest peak, known for the Balcony Walk trail along the canyon rim.
- Jebel Akhdar, the Green Mountain, with terraced villages and noticeably cooler temperatures than the coast. A 4WD is required past the police checkpoint at the bottom.
- Wahiba Sands, the desert to camp in for dunes and stargazing, covered in more detail in a separate guide.
Stay tuned for the best 10 day itinerary I recommend to anyone visiting Oman for the first time.
Culture, dress code, and tattoos
Modesty matters more here than in most Gulf countries you may have visited. There is no strict dress code for tourists, but men should cover their legs and shoulders in malls, mosques, or anywhere with mostly Arab visitors. Women should cover their shoulders and knees at minimum. You do not have to wear a hijab, though it is appreciated if you do.
If you have visible tattoos, know this before you plan a mosque visit: several mosques in Oman, including the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, will not let you enter with visible tattoos. Cover them with clothing if you can, since asking to enter with an exposed tattoo will get you turned away at the door.
In practice, how strict this feels depends on where you are. At tourist spots like Wadi Shab or out in the desert, shorts and casual clothing draw no attention at all. The first time I walked into a shopping mall in Nizwa in shorts, though, I felt people looking. I did not pick up on it right away, but looking back, long pants would have been the better call in a more local, less touristy setting like that.
One local habit I still find both hilarious and interesting: when Omanis want service at a small restaurant, they park, honk a few times, and wait for a waiter to come outside and take the order. My first reaction was that the honking felt rude, but it is completely normal here. I never got used to it myself, so I walked inside to order instead, which meant I was often the only customer waiting at the counter while everyone else stayed in their car.
Alcohol in Oman
Drinking alcohol in public is not allowed. You can drink at international hotel chains and upscale restaurants with a license, but do not expect it anywhere else. Some larger hotels also have separate pools and gyms for men and women, mostly at properties aimed at local tourism rather than international visitors.
Is Oman safe to visit?
Oman ranks among the safest countries in the Middle East, and petty crime is rare enough that most travelers never think about it. Women traveling solo can relax on this front too: harassment is uncommon, and Oman is consistently rated one of the safest countries in the region for solo female travelers, well ahead of neighbors like Egypt or Morocco on that front. The most you are likely to run into is curiosity in more rural areas, not hostility.
What can actually go wrong here has nothing to do with crime. Flash floods can hit wadis fast during the rainy season, so check the forecast before you hike or camp near one. The desert heat is no joke either: carry more water than you think you need, and let someone know your route if you are driving or hiking somewhere remote.
Who Oman is not a good fit for
As a drone photographer, checking drone laws before entering any country is routine for me, ever since my drone got confiscated in Morocco. Oman requires a commercial permit before you can fly, even for personal content, so I chose not to bring it during my visit.
Border control between Oman and Dubai is known to ask directly if you are carrying one, so to avoid the risk of losing my drone at that crossing, as you’d have to take the same route to get it back.
Can I fly my drone in Oman?
As I’m a drone photographer, I’m always checking drone laws before I enter a country. My drone got confiscated once in Morocco and it’s something that I don’t like the most, so better be safe than sorry. I brought my drone, but didn’t intend using it as it’s not allowed. You need a commercial permit and it’s only allowed to use it for commercial purposes if you have one. I had no problems entering the country with my drone, but I’ve heard that they are very strict at the border crossing from Oman to Dubai and vice versa. One of the only questions they got was: do you have a drone? I didn’t want my drone to be stuck at the border between those countries, so I decided to fly from Muscat to Dubai to continue my travels there.
Would I go back to Oman?
Oman is one of the countries I want to return to as soon as possible. There is still so much I have not seen or want to see again, and for a road trip vacation, it comes close to perfect. Next time I would skip a night in the desert, since I have done that experience once already and elsewhere in the world since.
I would rather spend that time at the Friday goat market in Nizwa and take my time finding photography spots I rushed past this trip. The Daymaniyat Islands are also still on my list, since the timing did not work out on this visit.
There is enough left to discover that I already know I will go back at some point. However, next time I would tag someone along, so I can share my experience with someone instead of experiencing it alone.
Frequently Asked Questions about Oman
Do I need a visa to visit Oman?
Not if you hold an EU, UK, US, or Canadian passport and are staying 14 days or less. Longer stays or other nationalities need an e-visa, starting around $13.
How many days do I need in Oman?
Ten days covers Muscat, the mountains, and one desert stop comfortably. A week works if you skip the mountain villages, and two weeks lets you add Salalah.
Is Oman safe to visit?
Yes, it’s one of the safest countries in the Middle East for both men and women. The main risks come from flash floods in wadis and desert heat rather than crime.
Can I show tattoos in Oman?
On the street, yes. In mosques, including the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, visible tattoos will get you turned away at the door, so cover them if you’re planning a visit.
Do I need a rental car in Oman?
Close to mandatory once you leave Muscat. A regular sedan covers almost everywhere on this list, except Jebel Akhdar, where a police checkpoint only lets 4WD vehicles past.
Is Oman safe for solo female travelers?
Yes. Harassment is uncommon, and Oman is consistently rated one of the safest countries in the region for women traveling alone, well ahead of neighbors like Egypt or Morocco.
Can I drink alcohol in Oman?
Only at international hotel chains and upscale restaurants with a license. Drinking in public is not allowed.
How much does a trip to Oman cost per day?
Budget around $25 to $40 a night for accommodation and $30 a day for a rental car, outside of pricier spots like Wahiba Sands and Jebel Shams. Splitting those costs with someone else brings the daily total down considerably.
Do I need a permit to fly a drone in Oman?
Yes, drones require a commercial permit and entering without one risks confiscation at the airport, even though enforcement in practice is inconsistent.
More Travel Guides about Oman
As a photographer, I’d love to show you the best photo spots of Oman. Read more and find out the best locations of the country.
Interested in the best Oman Itinerary? Read my 10 Day Oman Itinerary post here.
Lastly, I’ll explain everything you need to know about renting a car in Oman.
More on the blog
About Me
Peter Orsel is a Dutch travel photographer based in Bali, specialized in drone and landscape photography. He has visited over 40 countries and writes detailed, no-nonsense guides based on firsthand experience.