Muscat travel guide
Muscat Tourism | Muscat Guide
You're Going to Love Muscat
With 797,000 inhabitants, Muscat is the most populous city in Oman. It is the most popular tourist destination in the country. Muscat deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Activities & attractions in Muscat
Where to Eat in Muscat
If you’re looking for affordable options, TAKARA RESTAURANT (Al Kharjiya Street) and Charm Thai Restaurant & Lounge - Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC (Al Jamah Al Akbar Street) are great picks.
When to visit Muscat
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Muscat in June, when the average temperature is 35 °C, and the highest can go up to 38 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 18 °C, with an average temperature of 21 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in February, when precipitation is around 30 mm. In contrast, January is usually the driest month of the year in Muscat, with an average rainfall of 10 mm.
How to Get to Muscat
Plane
When flying to Muscat, you’ll arrive at Muscat Seeb (MCT), which is located 8 miles from the city centre. Airlines that fly from the United Arab Emirates to Muscat include Oman Air, Salam Air and Emirates. The shortest flight to Muscat from the United Arab Emirates departs from Sharjah and takes around 1h 05m.
Car
Another option to get to Muscat is to pick up a car hire from Ruwi, which is about 8 miles from Muscat. You’ll find branches of Budget and Europcar, among others, in Ruwi.
Airports near Muscat
Airlines serving Muscat
Where to stay in Muscat
From 5-star hotels such as the Intercontinental Hotels Muscat By IHG to great affordable options like the Hotel Muscat Holiday, Muscat offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around AED 154 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to AED 601 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Mutrah Hotel and Naseem Hotel. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Muscat, with prices from AED 59 to AED 1,263 per night. Al Khuwayr South is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Muscat are about 32% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
Where to stay in popular areas of Muscat
Most booked hotels in Muscat
Hiring a car in Muscat
Hiring a car in Muscat costs AED 143 per day, on average, or AED 286 if you want to hire it for 2 days.
You’re likely to save money by hiring your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 10% more expensive than at Muscat Seeb.
Expect to pay AED 2.28 per litre in Muscat (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between AED 27.33 and AED 36.44. Compact (Suzuki Swift Dzire or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Muscat, while also 50% cheaper than other types, on average.
Best car hire deals in Muscat
Economy
2 Adults, 2 Bags
AED 95/day
Standard SUV
5 Adults, 3 Bags
AED 299/day