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Things to Do in Oman

From the dunes of the Wahiba Sands to the canyon walls of Jebel Shams - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.

Travel guide - last updated September 2026

Oman has taken a noticeably more measured approach to tourism than its Gulf neighbors, prioritizing heritage and landscape over skyscrapers - a canyon dubbed 'the Grand Canyon of Arabia,' one of the largest mosques in the region, and a desert dotted with traditional Bedouin camps still genuinely run by local families. Here are 6 places worth building a trip around.

Top attractions

The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.

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Wahiba Sands

A sea of orange dunes in eastern Oman, with Bedouin desert camps offering overnight stays, camel treks and 4x4 dune bashing across the sand.

📍 Sharqiyah, Eastern Oman

🚉 There is no public transport into the dunes: 4x4 transfers from Muscat or Bidiyah take about three hours, and desert camps collect guests from the tarmac edge because deflating tyres is part of the drive in.

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Jebel Shams

Oman's highest peak, with a canyon along its edge nicknamed the 'Grand Canyon of Arabia' - a rim-hugging trail called the Balcony Walk is the most popular way to take it in.

📍 Al Hajar Mountains

🚉 The road up Oman's highest mountain is 4x4-only for the final stretch - Mwasalat buses reach Al Hamra, and a hired vehicle or camp transfer covers the last 35km to the rim.

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Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muscat

One of the largest mosques in the Arabian Peninsula, with the second-largest hand-woven carpet in the world inside its main prayer hall - open to non-Muslim visitors outside prayer times, with modest dress required.

📍 Muscat

🚉 Mwasalat bus routes along the Sultan Qaboos highway stop at Ghubrah, a short walk from the mosque - non-Muslim visitors are welcome mornings only, Saturday to Thursday.

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Nizwa Fort

A 17th-century fort with a massive circular tower, in a town once considered the heart of Omani trade and Islamic learning - the Friday livestock souq nearby remains a genuine local market.

📍 Nizwa

🚉 Mwasalat runs a daily coach from Muscat's Azaiba terminal to Nizwa in about two hours, and the fort and its Friday goat market are a 10-minute walk from the bus stop.

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Wadi Shab

A canyon with turquoise pools reached by a hike partly through water, ending at a hidden cave with a small waterfall accessible only by swimming through a narrow gap.

📍 Tiwi, Ash Sharqiyah

🚉 The wadi is off the Muscat-Sur coastal road with no bus service - drive to the car park at Tiwi, take the small boat across the pool, then walk 45 minutes up the canyon to the swimming section.

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Salalah

A city in southern Oman that turns green during the khareef (monsoon) season each summer, an unusual climate anomaly for the Arabian Peninsula, alongside frankincense groves that once made the region famous.

📍 Salalah, Dhofar

🚉 Salalah has an international airport with flights from Muscat, and Mwasalat coaches make the 1,000km run in about 12 hours - the khareef monsoon in July and August is when the region turns green.

Mark Oman, get the stamp

🇴🇲OMANVISITED

🇴🇲OMANLIVED

🇴🇲OMANWISHLIST

In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.

Open MyPassportStory

Planning questions

How many days do you need in Oman?

A week lets you combine Muscat, the Wahiba Sands and Jebel Shams or Wadi Shab well, typically as a self-drive road trip.

What's the best time to visit Oman?

October-April has comfortable temperatures across most of the country. Salalah's khareef season (roughly June-September) is its own distinct travel window, bringing monsoon-driven greenery unique in the Gulf.

Is Oman good for a first-time visit?

Yes - Oman is considered one of the safest and most welcoming countries in the Middle East for visitors, and a rental car makes the desert and canyon sights straightforward to reach.

Do I need a visa to visit Oman?

Many nationalities can apply for an e-visa online in advance for short tourist stays; some Gulf Cooperation Council-adjacent nationalities may have different arrangements. Check the official visa information for your nationality: rop.gov.om.

What are some things to do in Oman on a tight budget?

Visiting the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is free, hiking Wadi Shab and the Balcony Walk at Jebel Shams cost nothing beyond getting to the trailhead, and joining a shared desert camp tour is cheaper than a private one.

Can I rent a car in Oman, and what licence do I need?

Yes, and Oman is one of the most rewarding countries in the region to drive: the roads are excellent and the distances manageable. Visitors on a tourist visa may drive on a foreign licence from a long list of countries, with an International Driving Permit expected alongside it; rental desks apply their own rules and often ask for the permit regardless. Minimum age is usually 21 to 25 with a credit card. A 4x4 is required for Jebel Shams, the Wahiba Sands and most wadis, and standard saloon insurance is void off tarmac. The Royal Oman Police publishes licence rules at rop.gov.om, with visitor guidance at experienceoman.om.