Getting around
Low
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: timeoutmuscat.com, monito.com
Overall2.1/10Harder to get around than about 85% of cities
Good to know
Good to Know
- Muscat is car-dependent; walking between neighborhoods is not practical due to sprawling geography and lack of pedestrian infrastructure.
- Uber and Careem do not operate in Muscat; use Mwasalat (government app taxi) or OTaxi via Yango app instead, both of which offer metered pricing.
- OTaxi cannot pick up or drop off at the airport, major malls, or major hotels—those areas are restricted to Mwasalat taxis.
- Unmetered street taxis are common but risky; always use app-based services (Mwasalat or OTaxi) to avoid fare disputes and price gouging.
- Car rental is affordable and widely available; driving is straightforward with good road infrastructure, but Google Maps is reportedly inaccurate in Muscat—use Waze instead.
- Petrol is inexpensive (OMR 0.211–0.240 per litre).
- Public buses cover major routes and tourist attractions, but frequency and schedule information is limited in English; check mwasalat.om for details.
Car Rental
- Min Age
- 21
- Requirements
- Valid driving license or international driver's license required
- Economy Daily
- OMR 26
- Age Restrictions
- Many companies will not rent to drivers under 25; higher excess fees for drivers under 25 if involved in accident
- Note
- Economy cars average around USD 10-16/day; figure converted using approximate 2.6 OMR = 1 USD. Compact and small cars often available at lower daily rates; SUVs average USD 69/day. Multiple providers including Sixt, Hertz, Europcar, and local companies.
- Navigation Note
- Google Maps reported as inaccurate in Muscat; Waze recommended
Walkability
- Overview
- Muscat is not highly pedestrian-friendly and is designed primarily around car usage. The city is geographically sprawling with significant distances between neighborhoods, making walking impractical for most daily trips.
- Getting Around Tier
- low
- Getting Around Tier Rationale
- Limited public transit coverage, no major rideshare platforms (Uber/Careem unavailable), and sparse pedestrian infrastructure make car rental or app-based taxi services essential for most movement within the city.
Public Transit
Buses
- Website
- mwasalat.om
- Coverage
- Fairly extensive network connecting major bus stations, airport, and main tourist attractions
- Operator
- Mwasalat
- Intercity Routes
- Buses available to other Omani cities (e.g., Muscat to Salalah OMR 7.5 one-way) and regional routes (e.g., Muscat to Dubai OMR 5.5 one-way)
- Intra City Fares
- Information on regular intra-city bus fares not readily available
Taxis Unmetered
- Status
- Mostly unmetered
- Warning
- Most taxis are not metered. Negotiate fare before traveling or risk significantly overcharging. Non-Omani passengers often face higher quoted prices. Recommended to use Mwasalat or OTaxi app services instead.
Motorcycle Scooter Rental
- Min Age
- 18
- Availability
- Limited options; may require organized tours or guide arrangements
- Requirements
- International driving license mandatory; adequate insurance required
Sample Pricing
- Per Day After
- OMR 7.00
- Flat Fee 7 Days
- OMR 50
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this walkability & transport research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Muscat
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.