Most visitors to Oman will arrive at Seeb International Airport, situated about 30kms from Muscat. The airport offers convenient links to most other major Middle Eastern and Asian centres, with connecting flights available from some of the more prominent air hubs. Transport within the city is via local buses, private taxis and shared taxis, know as baisa. It is also a feasible option to rent a car in Muscat, with the city’s roads being in excellent condition.

Those entering Oman by air will do so at Muscat’s Seeb International Airport, the home of the country’s national carrier, Gulf Air. The airport is situated about 30kms from the city centre and it handles on average two and a half million passengers a year. Serving 66 destinations, it is possible to reach Oman directly from some European destinations including London, Zurich, Istanbul and Frankfurt, while most connections are to destinations within the Middle East and Asia including Cairo, Lahore, Abu Dhabi, Delhi, Dubai, Kuwait and Bangkok.

Airlines serving the airport include British Airways, Kuwait Airways, Emirates, Royal Jordanian, Sri Lankan Airlines and Thai Airways. Connection to international destinations that are not served can be made at Abu Dhabi, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. There are domestic flights between Muscat and Salalah twice a week.

The airport is a single terminal facility with limited amenities. There are food courts in both Arrivals and International Departures offering international cuisine, while there is a bar in Departures and an outlet of the popular coffee shop chain, Costa. Duty-free shopping is available is Departures, with everything from perfumes to jewellery on offer. Reading material and currency exchange is also available.

Parking is available at the airport, with both short-term and long-term facilities situated in front of the terminal. Car rental is also available from Arrivals, with several international rental agencies represented.

While some major hotels in Muscat offer transfer services from the airport for their guests, taxis are readily available, as are shared minivans, known locally as baisa. These can be taken to any destination across the city and to some destinations father afield.

Muscat can be reached by bus from Dubai, while there are also bus links from the capital to many other Oman cities, with all services operated by Oman National Transport Company.

Taxis are a common way of getting about the city and from the airport to the city centre. Shared taxis can be taken to suburban districts such as Corniche, with passengers being transported in minivans, know locally as baisa. These shared taxis are available from the airport and throughout the city; they will take you to virtually any destination, as long as you find one that is going in your direction. Private cabs, recognisable by their white and orange markings, are more expensive, with passengers being expected to barter for a good price before embarking on their journey. There are no Metro or rail services in Oman.