Travel Guide
Oman
Desert climate, smiling people, free visa, giant mosques and gasoline cheaper than water: a calm Gulf country, from Muscat to Muttrah.
In short
Oman became my 21st country, flying in from Thailand. I withdrew money from an ATM at the airport; 1 rial is worth quite a lot. People are genuinely friendly. Muscat is a calm, very hot city with wide roads — you burn in the sun and shiver in the shade. The streets are almost empty; most workers are of Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi origin.
Gasoline is cheaper than water, but city buses are surprisingly expensive. Accommodation and food in Muscat are affordable; hotel prices rise in other cities. Muttrah Souq, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and the Mohammed Al Ameen Mosque are the highlights of the trip. I entered on the 14-day free visa, then flew to Pakistan.
Route
From Muscat airport to Muttrah, in order.
Muscat Airport and first impressions
I withdrew $300 from an ATM. Omani Rial. From the terminal below the airport I took a bus for 0.5 OMR; you reach the city center on clean, new buses. People are friendly, the city has wide roads and little traffic.
SIM in the city, cheap bed
A SIM at the airport is more expensive (5–11 OMR). In the city I got a 4 GB / 28-day package for 3 OMR. The hotel was about $3 a night (6-person room); it had a kitchen and a courtyard. Accommodation in Muscat is affordable, provincial hotels are more expensive.
Sultan Qaboos and Mohammed Al Ameen
The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque has an 8.5-ton Swarovski chandelier, a 21-ton single-piece carpet (1.7 million knots), 5 minarets and a capacity of 40,000 people. The Mohammed Al Ameen Mosque is simpler but impressive for its marble and color harmony. On Fridays some mosques are closed; dressing with knees and arms covered is a must.
Souq, fort and seafront
Muttrah Souq resembles Egyptian bazaars: daggers, evil-eye beads, spices. On the seafront, pufferfish had washed ashore. There is a small fort. For the 17 km between the hotel and the souq I paid about 70 TL for two buses; even though gasoline is cheap, the bus is expensive.
Flight to Pakistan
14-day free visa. At entry they asked for a return ticket; I left without problems from another counter. In the evening I flew on to Pakistan.
Transport and accommodation: how much does it cost?
In OMR (﷼).
🚆 Transport
| Visa (Turkish passport)free · 14 days | 0 $ |
| Airport busMuscat center | 0,5 OMR |
| SIM cardcity · 4 GB / 28 days | 3 OMR |
| Taxi (app)4 km · 4 people | ~1 OMR |
| City bus17 km · 2 transfers | ~0,7 OMR |
🛏️ Accommodation
| Muscat, shared room6-person · with kitchen | ~3 $ |
| Other citieshotel | higher |
| Barber / shave | 1 OMR |
Sights
Main stops in and around Muscat.
Muscat Airport
Clean and orderly. There is a bus terminal on the lower level. A SIM is expensive at the airport; buying it in the city makes more sense.
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
8.5-ton Swarovski chandelier, 21-ton single-piece carpet, 5 minarets, 40,000-person capacity. Bags are left at the entrance. A must-see.
Mohammed Al Ameen Mosque
Simpler but spacious. The marble, color harmony and large doors stand out. It may be closed on Fridays; follow the dress rules.
Muttrah Souq
A traditional bazaar. Daggers, evil-eye beads, spices. The seafront is clean; fish can be seen. An atmosphere similar to Egyptian bazaars.
Muttrah Fort
A small, partly ruined fort. Desert views all around; the city feels as if it sits inside a mound.
Parks and green spaces
Date palms, shaded areas. The sun is very sharp; it’s cool in the shade, you burn in the sun.
Photos
Good to know
Practical notes.
Free 14-day visa
14 days visa-free entry with a Turkish passport. A return ticket may be requested; keep one ready.
The rial is valuable
Omani Rial. 50-rial banknotes are worth a lot. Withdrawing from an ATM is easy.
Buy the SIM in the city
5–11 OMR at the airport. In the city, 4 GB / 28 days for 3 OMR is enough.
Airport bus is cheap
0.5 OMR from the lower-level terminal. City buses, however, can turn out expensive depending on distance; a taxi app may make more sense.
Dress appropriately for mosques
Knees and arms covered. Some mosques are closed on Fridays. Follow the shoe and bag rules.
The sun is very sharp
Cool in the shade, scorching in the sun. Drink plenty of water; tap water is not drinkable, buy bottled water.
Use a taxi app
Cheaper when shared via the app. Street taxis may require haggling.
Malls are expensive, supermarkets are fair
Clothing and electronics are high. Daily needs are met more comfortably at the supermarket.
Budget warning: Cheap, but be selective
Accommodation and food in Muscat are affordable. The real cost comes from city transport and mall shopping. The 14-day free visa is a big advantage.
A calm, clean and friendly country. Worth a stop for the desert climate and the mosques.
Videos
4 videos from the Oman trip. Click a card and the video opens here.
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