Oman is the third largest country on the Arabian Peninsula with 60,000km of roads criss-crossing a varied landscape covering 309,500 square kilometres. There’s towering mountains, endless desert dunes and a rugged coastline to explore if you want to make the most of your time in the Sultanate. So what’s the best way to get around in Oman to see it all?
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Getting straight to the point, I’d recommend hiring a car or guide if you intend to travel beyond the cities of Muscat or Salalah when you visit Oman.
Public transport is available but you’ll find it isn’t as frequent or as user-friendly as in the UK, Europe or Asia.
Here are each of the options for getting around in Oman so you can work out what’s best for you and your travel companions:
Taxis
Taxis are a convenient option for getting around urban areas. But in the capital Muscat there is a lot of city to cover, so they can get expensive.
There are several licensed taxi services in Oman and they all have booking apps. If you plan to use taxis regularly during your stay then its worth downloading one of these apps.
The taxis you’ll see most are orange and white Otaxis and blue and white Marhaba taxis.
All orange and white taxis in Oman are metered, so make sure your driver is using their’s before you set off. Other on demand taxi services will offer a set price. Confirm this in your taxi app and with the driver before you start your journey.
You can also flag down taxis.
If you want to get a taxi from Muscat or Salalah International Airport you can find them outside the main terminal building.
Tip: if you book a taxi to pick you up from your hotel it will be more expensive than if you walk a short distance from the entrance. If you are using the Otaxi app you can select your pick up point a little way from your hotel.
Public transport
There are no trains, trams or subways in Oman yet (plans are in the offing). But you will find buses in the cities and coaches travelling between them, including coaches that connect Oman with the UAE.
Oman’s public transport is run by Mwasalat. You can find and book a coach on the Mwasalat website.
For bus services in Muscat use the Moovit app to find routes.
There is also a bus service in Salalah.
One of the problems with public transport in Oman is that the routes in the cities are limited. Once you get off the bus you may still have quite a distance to walk to reach hotels and tourist attractions. This is not practical in daytime temperatures. You’ll soon be flagging down a taxi.
Hiring a car in Oman
Unless you’re on a slow travel adventure you’re probably limited for time. This is why we recommend hiring a car if you are visiting Oman.
This will give you more freedom and allow you not to be tied to limited timetables. You’ll also be able to see more of the country.
You can hire vehicles of all sizes from Europcar, Enterprise, Dollar, Budget and Alamo at Muscat International Airport and Salalah International Airport.
To hire a car you’ll need your UK or home country drivers license, your passport, a credit card (some companies will not accept a debit card) and your Oman Visa (find out more about visas in my travel tips guide). You don’t need an international driving permit.
You can drive on a UK license for three months, so that’s more than enough for a seven or 10 day road trip.
Do you need a 4×4 in Oman?
The main roads are very good in Oman. Most have been built in the past 20 years so are in great condition.
You are likely to find rougher roads if you visit the mountains, smaller villages or less touristy urban areas.
If you are hiring a car you can visit many of Oman’s main tourist attractions and destinations with a two wheel drive vehicle.
Here are some of the places you can easily drive to from Muscat without 4×4:
- Bimmah Sinkhole – 1 hour 30 minutes
- Wadi Shab – 1 hour 45 minutes
- Sur – 2 hours 20 minutes
- Ras Al Jinz – 3 hours
- Oman Across the Ages Museum – 1 hour 30 minutes
- Nizwa – 1 hour 35 minutes
- Bahla Fort – 2 hours
- Jabreen Castle – 1 hour 45 minutes
- Wadi Bani Khalid – 2 hours 30 minutes
However, there are some places where you need a 4×4:
Jebel Akhdar Mountain
Even if you don’t intend to go off road, the mountain road is steep and windy. There are check points at the bottom where the police stop you to make sure your vehicle is fit for the journey.
If you turn up with a two wheel drive vehicle you will not be permitted to pass.
Wahiba Sands
If you are staying at a desert camp it’s possible to drive to Bidiyah or Al Kamil with a 2WD car but from there you will need a 4×4 for the Bedouin roads that cross the dunes.
Always check with your car hire company whether off road travel is permitted. You may have to pay extra.
Most desert camps will offer to pick you up from Bidiyah or Al Kamil.
Have a read of my guide to driving in Oman for more information and tips about getting behind the wheel here.
Compare prices* and find the right vehicle for your family.
Child car seats in Oman
If you’re visiting Oman with kids under the age of four it is a legal requirement for them to have a car seat in private and hired cars as well as taxis.
If you are hiring a car you can check with the rental company whether they can supply a seat.
However I’d strongly advise you to bring your own, especially for children over the age of four. As these are not a legal requirement in Oman they are not widely available for older children.
Airlines will allow you to bring a car seat per child for no additional charge. Buy a car seat bag for some extra protection.
We can recommend the Roam and Rove car seat bag*. It has ruck sack style shoulder straps so you can carry your seat hands free at the airport.
Read more tips for visiting Oman with kids.
Flights in and to Oman
Oman has two main airports: Muscat and Salalah. Flying is the quickest way to travel between the two cities.
You can also drive. The road from Muscat to Salalah is 1,000km – 10 hours driving time.
Oman has its own national airline, Oman Air, which we have found to be a good with a generous baggage allowance, friendly crews, and good inflight meals and entertainment. Salam Air is the budget equivalent and flies within the region.
Oman Air fly direct to:
- London Heathrow, UK
- Munich, Germany
- Frankfurt, Germany
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Trabzon, Turkey
- Milan Italy
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Paris, France
See the full list of airports to which Oman Air flies direct.
My go-to tool for planning flights is Skyscanner*.
Walking
Walking is best done in the evenings and in cooler places like the mountains and Salalah during the Khareef season.
Attempting to walk any distance at sea level during the day is very uncomfortable.
Muscat has some beautiful corniches with bikes for hire and children’s playgrounds. But you will find them deserted during the day as they are too hot to enjoy until the sun goes down.
There are footpaths in urban areas but always pay attention to where you ware walking. It’s common for paths to be uneven and broken.
Hiking routes
If you are hiking in the mountains or at one of Oman’s wadis there are lots of well trodden routes. Look our for colourful flags painted onto rocks that indicate the way.
Come prepared with comfortable footwear for walking and take your time. Paths are uneven. Also bring more water than you think you might need.
If we are going for a hike somewhere like Wadi Shab and Wadi Bani Khalid we aim to get there early in the morning and complete our walk well before midday.
Popular hikes in the mountains include the Balcony Walk on Jebel Shams and the Three Villages Hike on Jebel Akhdar.
Final thoughts on getting around in Oman
Oman’s public transport system is very basic. Driving or getting a guide to drive you are the best options for visitors who want to explore the country’s more rural areas.
Make sure you hire an appropriate vehicle for the itinerary you have planned and don’t get caught out by the midday heat if you intend to go hiking.
Before you go, check out these posts
Here are my latest blog posts about Oman:
- Hiking the Sa’al Steps and Jabel Khoneh
- Misfat Al Abriyeen – everything you need to know
- What’s so special about Wadi Shab?
- Wadi Bani Khalid: is it worth visiting?
- 18 things to do in Muscat – culture, outdoor fun & were to cool down
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase I may earn some commission. This does not affect the price you pay.