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Best time to go
October-March is the prime season across most of Oman: warm, dry days (25-30°C), cool desert nights, perfect for wadis, forts, mountains and dune camping. Summer (April-September) is fierce in the north: 40°C+, making midday outdoor activity punishing, though the mountains (Jebel Akhdar) stay cooler. The exception, and a wonderful one, is Salalah in the far south during the khareef (roughly June-September), when monsoon mist turns the hills green, waterfalls flow and temperatures drop to a lush 25°C: Gulf tourists flock there to escape the heat. Sea-turtle nesting at Ras al-Jinz runs year-round, peaking in summer. Ramadan (dates shift) quiets daytime life.
Top places
Costs
| Budget, per person | Typical |
|---|---|
| Backpacker, per day | $55-90 |
| Mid-range, per day | $110-200 |
| Comfort, per day | $320+ |
| Budget hotel double (Muscat) | $40-70 |
| Mid-range hotel double | $90-160 |
| Shuwa / grilled fish meal | $6-14 |
| Desert camp (overnight, meals) | $60-120 |
| 4x4 rental per day | $50-90 |
With a partner, rooms, taxis and boats are the easy things to share. Our guide to splitting travel costs with a travel partner has a simple way to keep track. Estimates in US dollars, for planning only.
Getting around
A rental car is the way to do Oman: ideally a 4x4 to reach wadis, dunes and mountain roads (some sights, like Jebel Shams and the deep sands, require one and a bit of confidence). Roads are excellent and well-signed, fuel is cheap, and the distances, while large, are part of the joy; wild camping along the way is a celebrated Omani tradition. Driving is on the right and generally orderly. There's a decent intercity bus network (Mwasalat) linking Muscat to Nizwa, Sur, Salalah and more for non-drivers, plus domestic flights to far-off Salalah and Musandam. In Muscat, taxis (negotiate or use the OTaxi/Marhaba apps) cover the city: there's no metro. For wadis and dunes specifically, guided tours fill the gap if you'd rather not self-drive.
Money and staying connected
Oman uses the rial (OMR), a high-value currency (1 OMR ≈ $2.60): small numbers, real money. Cards are accepted in Muscat hotels, malls and restaurants; carry cash for souqs, small towns, fuel in remote areas and Bedouin camps (ATMs in towns). Tipping ~10% is appreciated. SIMs/eSIMs (Omantel, Ooredoo) are easy with passport registration; coverage is good on main routes, fading in deep desert and mountains: download offline maps for road trips. Wi-Fi is common in hotels. An e-visa is required for many nationalities (apply online before arrival, though some get visa-free short stays: check current rules). Alcohol is available in licensed hotels/restaurants only, and pricey.
Culture and etiquette
Omanis are conservative, devout and exceptionally courteous: and their hospitality (dates, kahwa coffee scented with cardamom, an easy invitation) is a deep point of national pride; accept it with your right hand. Dress more modestly than in flashy Dubai: cover shoulders and knees in public, and at the Grand Mosque women must cover hair, arms and legs (bring a scarf; robes sometimes available). Greet with "As-salamu alaykum"; men shake hands (let an Omani woman extend hers first, or place your hand on your heart). Public affection is inappropriate; during Ramadan don't eat, drink or smoke in public by day. Photographing people: especially women, requires asking. Useful phrases: "As-salamu alaykum" (greeting), "Shukran" (thank you), "Min fadlak" (please), "Bikam?" (how much?), "Zain" (good/OK). Respect for the late Sultan Qaboos runs deep: speak of the country and its leaders kindly.
Health and safety
Oman is one of the safest countries in the world: crime against visitors is extremely rare, and the culture of hospitality makes travelers feel genuinely looked after, including women travelers who often cite it as their most comfortable Gulf country. The real risks are environmental and adventure-related: extreme summer heat (hydrate relentlessly, avoid midday exertion), flash floods in wadis during rains (never camp in a wadi bed or cross flooded fords: people die doing this), strong sun, and the need for proper 4x4 skills, water and fuel on remote desert/mountain drives (tell someone your route). Wadi swimming is safe with care; respect currents. Tap water is generally safe in cities; most drink bottled. Healthcare is good. Drive defensively: high-speed highway accidents are the main statistical danger.
General guidance, not medical or security advice. Check your government's travel advice and a travel clinic before you book.
How many people visit
International arrivals to Oman over the most recent years with data, roughly number 24 of 31 in its region by reported arrivals.
Source: UN Tourism (UNWTO). Years marked * are estimates: this country's measured baseline scaled by UN Tourism's published regional recovery rates, shown until measured figures are out.
Key facts
- Largest city
- Muscat
- Languages
- Arabic
- Population
- 5.5 million (2025)
- Area
- 309,500 km² (119,499 mi²)
- Calling code
- +968
- Region
- Western Asia
Travelling solo in Oman
Arriving alone is fine: plenty of people start a Oman trip on their own, and a travel partner can be someone you share one day with or the whole route.
Meeting someone new? Talk here first, meet somewhere public, and read our travel safety guide.
Visa check
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Travelling to Oman with a travel buddy
How do I find a travel buddy for Oman?
Make a free profile and add your Oman trip with rough dates. You will see travelers going on your dates and open trips to Oman you can ask to join, or you can post your own trip and let partners find you. Asking to join a trip is always free.
When is the best time to visit Oman?
October-March is the prime season across most of Oman: warm, dry days (25-30°C), cool desert nights, perfect for wadis, forts, mountains and dune camping. Summer (April-September) is fierce in the north: 40°C+, making midday outdoor activity punishing, though the mountains (Jebel Akhdar) stay cooler.
How much does a day in Oman cost?
Typical costs, in US dollars: backpacker, per day: $55 to $90; mid-range, per day: $110 to $200; comfort, per day: $320+; budget hotel double (Muscat): $40 to $70; mid-range hotel double: $90 to $160; shuwa / grilled fish meal: $6 to $14; desert camp (overnight, meals): $60 to $120; 4x4 rental per day: $50 to $90. These are estimates for planning only. With a travel partner, rooms and taxis are easy to share.
Is Oman good for solo travelers?
Arriving alone is fine: plenty of people start a Oman trip on their own, and a travel partner can be someone you share one day with or the whole route.
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