From the airport to the city centre Oman
Two airports handle international flights: Muscat and Salalah. Several other regional airports (notably Khasab, Sohar and Duqm) are served by the national carrier Oman Air. Salam Air, Oman's low-cost carrier, also flies within the country, from Muscat to Sohar or Salalah, and exclusively to Masirah Island.
To reach Muscat city center from the airport, you can take one of the red and white Mwasalat buses, for a few euros depending on the distance. The stop is outside, next to the parking lot, and the line to central Muscat serves the districts of Al Azaiba, Al Gubrah, Al Khuwair, Al Sarooj, Al Wataiyah, Wadi Adei, Al Nahda, Al Hamiryah and finally Ruwi every 30 minutes. See http://mwasalat.om/en-us/Bus-routes/Time-Table for details. Alternatively, cabs are another good option, as there are no real public shuttles like in Europe, only a transfer service offered by some hotels, to be booked well in advance. During the day, it costs 3 OMR to pick you up, then around 400 bz per kilometer. At night, rates increase slightly: 3.60 OMR and 450 bz.
You can also rent a car at one of the counters in the arrivals hall, where local brands and international franchises (Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Sixt, etc.) are well represented. In the latter case, it's worth knowing that you can benefit from attractive discounts if you book online before your trip.
From Salalah airport to the city center or Taqah marina, the same applies as in Muscat: cab, bus, car rental or hotel shuttle.
Arrival by train Oman
No railroad in Oman for the moment, project in progress.
Arrival by boat Oman
No arrival from an international port by boat, except by private boat or cruise ship - but in the latter case it is a stopover as part of a journey and not a means of transport per se. However, the National Maritime Company of Oman (NFC) covers several domestic routes from the ports of Khasab, Shinas, Lima, Dibba, Masirah Island and Shannah (www.nfc.com).
Public transport Oman
The Omani National Transport Company, Mwasalat, connects the main districts of the capital with each other. It also ensures the connection between the main cities of the country: Nizwa, Sur, Sohar, Ibri, Rustaq, Shinas, Khasab, Duqm, Salalah... and even crosses the borders to the neighbouring Emirates (www.mwasalat.com).
There is no public transport other than the red and white buses of Mwasalat, except for the double-decker buses of the Big Bus company (www.bigbustours.com), which are used for tourism and to get to the main sights of the capital on the same day.
Bike, scooters & co Oman
Apart from local bikers, often grouped into clubs and full of praise for the sultanate's sumptuous new, little-travelled, life-size roads, there is virtually no two-wheeled transport in the country of the moped, scooter or motorcycle type, even in town. The same applies to bicycles, which very few people use to get around and which are considered more as a leisure activity - road bikes or mountain bikes in the mountains, for example. But there is a change afoot... For the time being, welcome to the realm of the 4x4 and the car!
Recently, on the other hand, electric scooters have been gaining ground, particularly in tourist areas and old towns (Nizwa, for example), where this mode of transport makes it easy to criss-cross the narrow streets of the old quarters. In the eastern city of Sur, they are ideal for exploring the corniche.
With a driver Oman
If you don't have a rental car at your disposal, a cab is definitely the best way to get around, especially within the city, as a private ride from one town to another can quickly become very expensive.
For longer distances, you'll need to go to the cab ranks, which are generally located on the outskirts of the city. Muscat's taxi ranks can be found at the Nizwa traffic circle, Mutrah, next to the fish market, or at the airport. In all cases, be sure to ask the driver to use his taximeter (which he won't necessarily do on his own) and, if necessary, agree the fare with him in advance. Alternatively, for total transparency, use the Otaxi or Marhaba applications, among others.
There are several cab companies in Oman, including Muscat Taxi, recognizable by its orange/white cars.
You can pay in cash or by credit card. Tipping is at your discretion, but is quite common in Oman. Cabs operate day and night. As elsewhere, fares vary according to the time of day.
By car Oman
It may be possible to arrive by car from the United Arab Emirates, but beware: few car rental companies accept foreign customers crossing the border, and special insurance is usually required. Otherwise, Dubai and Muscat are 450 km apart, and the journey takes around 4 hours 30 minutes, depending on the time spent at the border.
The car is the preferred mode of transport for visiting the country, even in Muscat where sidewalks are few and far between. However, renting a vehicle is quite expensive (from 15 OMR per day, generally more, and much more for a 4x4), even if the price of petrol does redress the balance a little: 0.24 OMR or 0.57 euro per liter. A valid French driving license is recognized by the Omani authorities and allows you to drive a vehicle during a short stay, provided you are at least 21 years old. Good point: you drive on the right-hand side of the road, and the road network is excellent and generally not very busy.
Road signs are in English and Arabic, and may sometimes seem inadequate. Ask for a GPS when you rent a car, or download applications such as maps.me or HERE WeGo to get around without getting lost or irritated. Some agencies offer chauffeur-driven cars or, for greater independence, very detailed logbooks as part of an auto-tour - a common vacation option in Oman, which involves moving from place to place and from hotel to hotel, following a route worked out in advance with the agency, which takes care of the logistics, including booking accommodation.
On the whole, distances between the country's main cities are not very great, except when travelling to the Dhofar region in the south. The main tourist attractions are located at most 3 hours' drive from Muscat or from each other (often less).
Speed limits are 50 km/h in towns and 120 km/h elsewhere. Beware: speed checks are frequent and there are many speed cameras. The police take speeding and speeding offences seriously, so it's best to be careful! In the event of an accident, don't move and wait for the police to arrive, who will take care of you.
Be aware that some places are only accessible by 4x4 (desert dunes, wadis, mountains...). As for off-road driving, unless you've done it before, it's best to leave the wheel to an experienced driver, especially in the desert. Here are a few useful tips: deflate your tires, never stop in the middle of a climb, avoid driving at night, always check what's behind a dune and follow the tracks you've already made. Don't hesitate to ask a local travel or rental agency for advice, or hire a driver if you're unsure of yourself.
