Oman

Oman rewards travellers who slow down. Give yourself at least a week to experience Muscat, the Hajar Mountains, desert camps in Sharqiya Sands, and the coastal towns around Sur. October to March is the most comfortable time to visit, with warm days and cooler nights ideal for wadis, hikes, and coastal walks.

Start in Muscat: visit the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, stroll the Mutrah Corniche, and browse Mutrah Souq for frankincense and traditional khanjars. Then head inland to Nizwa Fort and the old souq, and continue up to Jebel Akhdar for terraced villages and mountain views. A night in the desert—dune bashing, camel rides, and stargazing—is a highlight for many travellers.

Hello’s trip planning tools are handy for stringing these stops into a logical route and keeping bookings, driving times, and daily plans in one place. As distances can be long, cluster activities (mountains, desert, coast) into regional days to minimise backtracking. If you’re travelling with friends, use expense splitting to keep shared costs for car rental, fuel, and desert camps transparent and drama-free.

Oman is built for road trips. Outside central Muscat and Salalah, public transport is limited, so most travellers rent a car, often picking up directly at Muscat International Airport. A standard car is fine for highways and cities, but a 4x4 is strongly recommended if you plan to explore mountain roads, wadis, or desert camps. Drive defensively: locals can be fast and lane discipline is loose, but highways are generally in excellent condition.

City taxis are available, though meters aren’t always used—agree the fare in advance. For longer legs, intercity coaches connect major towns, but they may not reach smaller villages or viewpoints. If you prefer not to drive, many hotels and guesthouses can arrange private drivers or guided day trips.

Navigation is easier with data on your phone. Activate a Hello eSIM before you land so you can use maps and translation apps from the moment you step off the plane, without worrying about roaming charges. Download offline maps for remote areas where coverage can be patchy, and always carry water and snacks on longer desert or mountain drives.

Oman uses the Omani rial (OMR), one of the stronger currencies in the world. Roughly, 1 OMR is about 2.5–2.7 USD, so that 10 OMR dinner is closer to 25–27 USD. ATMs are widely available in Muscat and larger towns, and cards are accepted at most hotels, malls, and modern cafés. Keep some cash for tips, small local restaurants, wadis, and rural shops.

Oman is not a shoestring destination, but you can manage costs by mixing guesthouses with occasional splurges, eating in local coffee shops and shawarma stalls, and prioritising a few big-ticket experiences like desert camps or boat trips. To keep control:

• Use Hello’s budget tracking to log spending in OMR and see how it translates into your home currency.
• Set daily budgets for fuel, food, and activities—road trips can hide lots of small costs.
• When travelling with others, use expense splitting in Hello so car rentals, petrol, and shared meals don’t become awkward conversations.

Taxis often don’t take cards, so check estimated fares in advance and keep small notes and coins ready.

Oman is famously welcoming, with a strong tradition of hospitality rooted in Bedouin and maritime culture. Dress modestly in public—shoulders and knees covered is a good rule of thumb—and carry a scarf or shawl if you plan to visit mosques. Inside mosques, women cover hair, arms, and legs; men wear long trousers and sleeved tops. Public displays of affection are frowned upon, and alcohol is only available in licensed hotel bars and restaurants.

Greeting people with a warm "Assalamu alaikum" is appreciated, and accepting offers of Omani coffee (qahwa) and dates is part of the social rhythm. Always ask before photographing people, and avoid taking pictures of government or military sites.

Food is a quiet highlight. Try shuwa (slow-roasted lamb), majboos (spiced rice with meat), and fresh seafood along the coast in places like Sur and Mutrah. In Muscat, explore local bakeries for cardamom-scented breads and sweet halwa.

Hello’s trip planning features make it easy to pin favourite cafés, restaurants, and viewpoints as you go, building a personalised food and culture map you can reuse or share for future visits.