Oman has a fascinating history, and geographically things are even more spectacular. Cities nestled between cliffs, places where sea meets mountain, spectacular oases and wadis, sand dunes and mountains – jebel – that reach up to 3000m high, Oman seems to be a nature lover’s paradise, but also a paradise for activities and sports – from wadi swimming to sand boarding and snorkeling. Oman is the world’s largest producer of frankincense, with fort cities that bear witness to the glory days and great conquests of the Omani empire, mountain villages and 3165km of coastline. It’s a country where a litre of petrol costs is about 0.50USD, and where traveling by campervan is extremely popular (if you want to travel by motorhome, it’s probably good to know that you can camp absolutely anywhere). Let’s not forget the Omani rial either, as it’s in the top 3 most powerful currencies in the world with a parity that’s a bit of a head-turner. Oman is a unique destination and in this article I’ll tell you everything we discovered about Oman, how we planned our trip and what you need to know if you’re going to Oman for the first time.
A Guide to Visiting Oman for the First Time
Best Time to Visit Oman
Oman is best to visit during winter, which runs from October until March. The temperature will be between 20 and 30 degrees. Summer temperatures go anywhere from 35 to 50 degrees.
Oman Visa
Getting a visa in Oman is super easy. E-visa can be requested online. It will cost you around $45 per visa, depending on the country you are from. It takes anywhere from 2 days to 1 week to receive your visa via email. Many nationalities are exempted from visa requirements if they stay in Oman for less than 14 days.
Getting around in Oman
When it comes to public transportation, all we know about Oman is that they don’t have a single meter of railroad. We had found this out while researching Oman, but more out of curiosity than because we were considering public transportation.
Besides, because of the late hour we were going to arrive, we preferred to rent a car. It turned out to be a wise decision as without a car we were either dependent on taxis or we would hardly get out of the hotel.
I can’t really imagine visiting Oman without a car, relying solely on public transportation, so I don’t think there’s much to think about or calculate when it comes to transportation in Oman. Plus, where else can you add that gas is cheap – about $0.50 a liter, most parking lots are free, and rental companies don’t charge huge security deposits.
Renting a car in Oman
We rented the car from Dollar with airport pickup. The pick-up process went smoothly, we paid around 15 €/day and the guarantee was 125 OMR (approx. 300 €). We didn’t take a 4×4 car because we knew we wouldn’t make it to the desert, and for the option we chose we only had 800 km included in the price. It was no problem for us, we thought that we would not exceed 800 km in 3-4 days anyway, but it is good to pay attention to these points when renting the car in Oman.
I had also read that to rent a car in Oman you need an international driver’s license, but it turns out this was not the case. Sebi has a Swiss driver’s license, and although we also had the international driving license, we didn’t need to show it. However, I don’t know what the rules are regarding other nationalities, so it might be a good idea to ask the rental company beforehand.
Traffic rules are the same as everywhere else. Speed limits for areas outside cities vary between 100 and 120km/hour, and in urban areas (in some urban areas) you can drive 60-80km/hour.
Itinerary for 4 days in Oman
Day 1: Explore Muscat
Muscat is Oman’s capital city and home to many expats. It hosts the impressive Sultan Qaboos Mosque, Muttrah Souq, and the Royal Opera House.
Muttrah Corniche – The most iconic and photogenic place in Muscat is the waterfront. From too much free time we managed to walk along the corniche 3 or 4 times, in the light and in the dark. It’s an extremely photogenic place, and in the evenings it fills with people who give the place another life. For a free parking space, put the fish market on your GPS (here’s the exact location).
Muttrah Souk – It’s said to be one of the oldest bazaars in the entire Arabian peninsula, but some of what we see there today is relatively new, dating back to the 1970s. Here you can find everything you want – Arabian spices and spices, fridge magnets, clothes and merchants who are just pulling your leg. Like any other bazaar in the Middle East, you have to bargain.
Muttrah Fort – It is generally believed that the fort was originally built in 1507 AD, but was modified and improved with stronger towers and walls by the Portuguese during their occupation of Oman. It remained an important defensive location after this period until modern times. The entrance fee is 3 OMR
Sultan Qaboos Mosque – It looks impressive from the outside and is rightly the largest mosque in Oman, and if you’re in Muscat during the week, I highly recommend a visit. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, the mosque is not open to visitors, and to visit it you must dress appropriately. Good old Wikipedia tells us that inside is a carpet made of 1,700,000,000 knots, weighing 21 tons, which has been four years in the making.
Al Alam Palace – One of the Sultan’s six residences, and the one he doesn’t really stay in is Al Alam Palace. Unfortunately, the palace only opens its gates to kings and queens – the Queen of the Netherlands and the Queen of Great Britain have been received at Al Alam Palace, but tourists can wander around the area surrounding the palace.
Yiti street viewpoint – one of the places not to miss if you visit the capital of Oman. And to get to this viewpoint, all you have to do is go to the Riwi neighborhood – that’s the one you can see in the pictures – and drive along Yiti Street. On the right-hand side of the road, right next to the view point, there’s a little spot where you can park your car, and a few steps further on, this view will be waiting for you.
Day 2: Nizwa
Nizwa is fairly easy to reach, in about two hours, which pass by at the speed of light when you admire the surrounding landscapes. We arrived around noon, which was not in our favor, but we managed despite the heat to visit Nizwa Fort and the bazaar.
- 155 km which you cover in about an hour and a half without traffic.
- Put Nizwa Fort on the map. We put Nizwa, and the GPS took us to the other side of the city, which probably looked newer and modern.
- There’s free parking right next to the fort.
- Entry to Nizwa Fort costs 5 OMR
Bahla Fort – following the historic path, we put this fort on our list, which was built by the Bani Nebhan tribe, who dominated the area between the 12th and 15th centuries. Bahla Fort received UNESCO World Heritage status in 1987. Although not as well-kept and without a proper museum as the fort in Nizwa, Bahla Fort is worth a short visit. Besides, it is believed to be the oldest fort in Oman.
The fort is located in the town of Bahla, about 40 km away from Nizwa. Entry to Bahla Fort costs 3 OMR.
Al Hamra – The last location of our day trip was the deserted village of Al Hamra. The village has a history of several hundred years and some buildings are said to be as old as 700-1000 years. It is not known exactly why the village is deserted, and although it looks like after a war, that is certainly not the reason. At the same time it was also a rather hard to find location, with virtually only one landmark – a museum set up in one of the deserted houses.
Day 3 – 4: Bimmah Sinkhole and Wahiba Sands
After a couple of driving from Muscat, you will reach Bimmah Sinkhole. This is probably one of the most incredible natural swimming pools you will ever see. The water is an unbelievably beautiful turquoise color and the story says that the hole was created by a meteor. We do not know if it is true or not, but this is one of the most famous torusit attraction in the whole country, so worth a visit. Then, you can drive to the Wahiba Sands where you can spend the night, sleeping in a bedouin camp. Be aware that most of the camps can be reached by driving a 4×4 yourself but do ask your host, they might arrange a pick-up.
Read more: 10 interesting things about Oman
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