Country guide

Oman

Oman is 315,331 km2 holding roughly 5.46 million people, which makes it the third-largest country on the Arabian Peninsula and one of the least crowded. Muscat, the capital and largest city, is strung out along the Gulf of Oman between mountains and water instead of spreading from a centre, so seeing it means driving one long coastal road end to end. The country's northern tip is not attached to the rest: Musandam is an exclave enclosed by the United Arab Emirates, with its own coast on the Strait of Hormuz. Between the capital and the far south lies Arabian Sea coastline and desert.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Muscat
Photograph · Leon petrosyan · CC BY-SA 4.0

Muscat 704 places

Practical information

Language spoken: Arabic; English is widely used in visitor services; National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code: +968; International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency: Omani rial (OMR); Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number: 9999; Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type: Type G · 240 V; Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water: Not recorded; No verified nationwide visitor drinking-water statement was recorded

Planning a visit

January: no seasonality data recorded
February: no seasonality data recorded
March: no seasonality data recorded
April: no seasonality data recorded
May: no seasonality data recorded
June: no seasonality data recorded
July: no seasonality data recorded
August: no seasonality data recorded — this month
September: no seasonality data recorded
October: no seasonality data recorded
November: no seasonality data recorded
December: no seasonality data recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

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Common questions

How long should a first trip to Oman be?

Allow seven to ten days for Muscat, Nizwa, the Hajar Mountains and one desert or coastal leg. Salalah is a separate southern journey rather than a quick add-on, so include it only when the schedule can absorb a domestic flight and another base.

What entry documents are needed for Oman?

Oman’s Royal Oman Police eVisa portal is the authoritative place to check eligibility, stay length and document requirements. Apply through that service when required and match the application to the passport and purpose of travel; a Gulf itinerary does not create a common visa across neighbouring states.

What is the best way to travel around Oman?

A car or licensed driver is useful beyond Muscat because forts, wadis, mountain villages and desert camps are dispersed. Intercity buses serve principal towns, but access roads vary; confirm whether four-wheel drive is required and never enter a wadi when official flood warnings are active.

When is a practical time to visit Oman?

October through March is the practical window for Muscat, the interior and desert camping. Salalah’s khareef is a different seasonal proposition, and mountain temperatures can be much lower than the coast, so an Oman-wide itinerary needs region-specific weather checks.

What money and payment basics apply in Oman?

The Omani rial is the official currency and is subdivided into one thousand baisa, which matters when reading prices. Carry cash for smaller inland stops while using banks or authorised exchange services; verify the currency and decimal placement before approving a payment.

What practical safety details should I save for Oman?

For police, fire or ambulance assistance, save 9999; Oman uses Type G sockets at 240 V. National tap-water guidance is Not recorded here, so confirm locally at each hotel or camp, where supply arrangements may differ from Muscat.

🇴🇲Oman