How to Get Around Oman

Getting in. Muscat International is the main airport, with Salalah served directly and seasonally from the Gulf and Europe. Musandam is reached by air, by ferry, or overland through the UAE.

Driving is how you see Oman. Roads are excellent, signage is bilingual, fuel is cheap, and distances are long. A four-wheel-drive is genuinely necessary for the mountain tracks, the Wahiba Sands and many wadi approaches — and hire companies void insurance for off-road use in a two-wheel-drive.

Public transport exists but is limited: Mwasalat runs intercity coaches between the main towns, and shared taxis fill gaps. Neither reaches the places most visitors want.

Camping is legal on most unfenced land, which combines with a hire car to make Oman one of the best countries in the region for an independent road trip.

In Muscat, taxis are unmetered — agree the fare — and ride-hailing apps operate. The city is strung out along the coast, so walking between districts is impractical.