Wondering where to stay in Oman? Discover
- The best areas / cities to stay in Oman,
- The various accommodation options,
- suggestions with reviews.
Discover some great Oman hotels, resorts, guesthouses and Wahiba Sands Camps. All you need to find where to stay during your road trip in Oman.
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Best AREAS to stay in Oman - Map
In Oman, some of the best places to stay to cover most of the main attractions are the following towns:
- Muscat - capital city - see best rated accommodations
- Nizwa - to explore the forts, mountains and hinterlands - see best rated accommodations
- Sur - for the turtles, beaches, wadis... - see best rated accommodations
- Khasab - to explore the Musandam Peninsula - see best rated accommodations
- Salalah - the explore the Southern lands - see best rated accommodations
Where to stay in Oman - Map
Where to stay in Oman to get closer to nature and history?
Some attractions also have accommodation options, such as:
- Camps in Wahiba Sands Desert - see options
- Masirah island for beaches - see options
- Guesthouse in old villages such as Misfat al Abryeen - See Misfah guesthouse
- Hotels in the mountains of Jebel Shams - see options
- Resorts and hotels around the plateau of Jebel Akhdar - see options
TYPES of Accommodations in Oman
General information about Oman Accommodations, especially hotels
- Muscat has a wide range of hotels
- The other big cities of Sur, Nizwa, Sohar etc. also have a good hotel offer but not as much variety
Some great Oman accommodations are available
Oman Guesthouses
- Mostly in small villages, guesthouse are a great way to discover Oman
- Less luxury but more connections
- One of the most famous is the Misfah Old house. Check it out in the suggestions below
AirBnB in Oman
- AirBnB is developing in Oman
- You can find listings. Originally most were to stay with expatriates living in Oman, but locals are doing it too now.
Permanent settlements
- In the deserts of Wahiba Sands and the Empty Quarter are permanent settlements that welcome travelers.
Wild Camping in Oman
- There are no campsites in Oman but wild camping is allowed almost anywhere
- Check out my dedicated article about Wild Camping in Oman
- Near the beach, in the desert, or in the mountains... you can stay close to nature
Need to rent a car in Oman?
My tips:
- Compare car rental prices on Discovercars.com - one of the best customer-rated comparison sites!
- Choose the car and company you prefer
- Consider their full coverage option - I always take it for peace of mind!
- Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!
Where to stay in MUSCAT - accommodations
Best areas to stay in Muscat
Muscat is where you have the most choice in terms of accommodations.
The town is spread out. So it is not the easiest to decide where to stay.
Where to stay in Muscat
The best areas in my opinion are:
- Al Qurum beach to enjoy evening walks on the sands,
- or in Muttrah for more traditional restaurant and experience
- The cheaper options are in the Ruwi area.
Hotels in Muscat - suggestions
- PRACTICAL -
The Coral Muscat Hotel and Apartments is a great location for a base with spacious facilities and with an apartment you can have more freedom
- Check out photos and availability - MODERN & GOOD VALUE -
The Centara Muscat Hotel is not near the beach so has good value deals with really good accommodations
- Check out photos and availability - LUXURY and CHARM -
Located by the beach, The Chedi Muscat is displays Sumptuous decor and a unique atmosphere - it brings the local architecture styles with modern concept
- Check out photos and availability - The WELL KNOWN BRAND -
The Grand Hyatt Muscat has a great location by the beach and all the facilities you could need
- Check out photos and availablity - CHEAPER OPTION BY THE BEACH -
The Al Ferdous apartments offer a great price alternative for those you still want to stay very close to the beach
- Check out photos and availability
Where to stay in Sur - accommodations
Sur is a great location to stay for a couple of day, relax at the beach, enjoy the laid-back feeling of the town and admire turtles nesting during the night.
Sur Accommodation Suggestion:
I stayed at the Raz Al Jinz Turtle Reserve Resort because it is connected to the Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve.
- Location: In a quiet location. Near the water with a nice beach where you can swim. 30min drive to the reserve and driving is required also to get to Sur
- State: Simple, clean room. Good common area. Wifi only available in the common area.
- Check-in: No issues although abit slow. Nice staff
- Breakfast: Great buffet after the early Turtle tour
- Check out photos and availabilities
Other options
Where to stay in WAHIBA SANDS - Desert Camps
Sleeping in the desert is a wonderful experience, the quiet, the colors, the sky...
In Oman, it is easy to spend one night in Wahiba Sands even on a tour from Muscat.
Several permanent settlements welcome tourists.
Wahiba Sands Camp Suggestion
One of the main Wahiba Sands Camps is the Desert Night Camp.
- Location: Like all settlements it is in one of the valleys between longitudinal sand dunes. So you need someone to take you around in the dunes
- State: As I was wild camping, I did not stay there but my guide had to discuss with them and I was able to tour the facilities. I really enjoyed their settings and the quality of the camp
- Check out photos and availabilities
Other Oman Desert camps in Wahiba Sands
And other camps in the same and other valleys include:
- The Arabian Oryx Camp,
- The Desert Retreat camp,
- The Desert Wonders Camp,
- The 1000 nights camp,
- ...
Most offer 4WD tours and camels excursions in the dunes.
Be overwhelmed by the beauty, not the planning!
- 8 exclusive easy-to-plan maps
- 90+ amazing locations
- Tips to make the most of your time
- 100+ large photos to decide
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
Best places to stay in the Oman mountains - Jebel Akhdar Hotel
Why stay in Jebel Akhdar
The mountains of Jebel Akhdar are one of the top destinations in Oman.
The plateau offers magnificent views of the surrounding valleys and mountains, with some greenery and stunning sunsets and sunrises.
4WD is required to get up there but you are rewarded with magnificent views especially at sunset and sunrise.
If you are renting a 2WD (enough or most attractions - see my article about driving), then some hotels have a 4WD service, or you can find rentals at the checkpoint.
Jebel Akdhar hotel Suggestion:
I stayed at the beautiful Sahab Hotel not far from Diana's point.
- Location: Fantastic - amazing views of the mountains, the villages and plantations
- State: Clean. Very nice furniture. Good wifi. I was upgraded to one of rooms next to the pool. really nice. The jacuzzi has a fantastic view.
- Check-in: The staff was not the best I have seen but it was ok. Check in was a bit slow
- Breakfast: when they have a lot of people there is a buffet. But because we where not that many I had to order what I wanted. Food was OK.
- Check out photos and availabilities
Other hotel suggestions
- For a 5 star resort you can opt for the Anantara Resert - Check out photos and availability
- The dusitD2 Nasee Resort - simple modern lines - check out photos and availability
- Or see all best rated options
Staying off the beaten path in Oman - Misfat al Abryeen
Why stay in a small village in Oman?
One of the great things to do in Oman is stay one night in a secluded village in the mountain.
I did it in Misfat Al Abryeen. What an experience!
Locals are still living there. You can enjoy the narrow "streets" of the village after the tourists are left. Watch the sunset, listen to the silence...
Hamra Accommodation Suggestion:
Maybe the most famous guesthouse in Oman, the Misfah Old House is where I stayed near Al Hamra.
There are not many places to stay so it gets full quickly and you should book in advance. (Although surprisingly I was there on a rare day where we were just a few)
Review:
- Location: Down in the old village (bring only a small bag, you have to get down many stairs) - the terrace has a great view of the valley and plantations below. Very peaceful environment
- State: very simple matresses. Share bathroom. Clean. No issue. Wifi is only one hour a dayat 7pm
- Check-in: The people are very nice. One of the owners sat with us at diner and told us stories from the are. It was great!
- Breakfast: Nice buffet on the smaller terrace
- Check out photos and availabilities
JEBEL SHAMS Resort - Oman grand canyon stay
Why stay at the top of the Oman Grand Canyon?
Known as the Arabian Grand Canyon, Jebel Shams Oman is a must visit in the Sultanate.
You can do it on a day tour from Muscat but an overnight stay at one of the Jebel Shams Resorts will give you more time to hike and enjoy the sunset and clear night sky.
Jebel Shams Resort Suggestion:
I stayed at the Jebel Shams Resort, which is the last one on the road up to the canyon. From there you can walk around on the plateau all the way to the canyon.
- Location: There is nothing else on this plateau, just you and the mountains. 10/15 min walk to the rim of the canyon.
- State: Clean and very spacious rooms. Common area for with buffet lunch, dinner and breakfast. not good wifi (of course, considering the isolation). The pool was being cleaned when I was there.
- Check-in: Nice staff. No issues.
- Breakfast: The buffets are all quite nice.
- Check out photos and availabilities
Other suggestions
The area is not welcoming, so hotel few hotels are available up there.
If the Jebel Shams Resort is full, not far is the Sama Height Resort.
Best places to stay in Oman for beaches
Masirah Island
Masirah island is a small desert island off the coast of Oman.
It has some beautiful white san beaches, turtles and a a relaxing vibes.
AL BATINAH - access to Daymanyiat islands
If you need to relax in luxury near the beach, there are many Oman hotels to satisfy your need on the coast.
On my last night I stayed at the Millennium Beach Resort Mussanah. It is a huge complex with big pool and its own Marina where you can depart to the Daymanyiat islands.
- Location: Very isolated but everything is available at the resort - several restaurants, spa, marina, pool etc.
- State: Luxurious. Good wifi. Like many resorts it likes character. It is a huge place with weddings and conferences... always busy.
- Check-in: No issues.
- Breakfast: I woke up very early to get back to Muscat and did not taste their breakfast.
- Check out photos and availabilities
Oman beach resort town - Bar Al Jissah
Not far South of Oman, the main "beach resort area" is at Bar Al Jissah.
There is a beach and great cliffs to explore with kayaks or Jetskis.
The hotel covering the whole area is the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah - see photos and availability
Other regions of Oman
Where to stay on the Musandam Peninsula
There is not a large choice of hotels in Musandam since many people do day tours from Dubai. One of the best rated accommodations is the Atana Musadam Resort. Guests appreciate the friendliness of the staff, the sea views and the pools as you can see in the picture above.
The main town in Khasab - see best rated accommodations
Where to stay in South Oman
The South of Oman is less visited that North.
It is a different experience but with similar landscapes. Here you can enjoy:
- the Frankinscense trees
- wadis
- beaches
- the Empty quarter desert
- and during the rainy season, all the greenery that appears!
The main town in Salalah - see best rated accommodations
Want to see more of Oman?
- Best Things to do in Oman - read article
- Best of photos from Oman - Landscapes - read article
- Planning a road trip in Oman - read article
- Renting a car and Driving in Oman - read article
- Best Things to do in Muscat - read article
- The impressive Wadi Shab - read article
- The Bimmah Sinkhole - read article
- The desert of Wahiba Sands - read article
- The Ras Al Jinz turtle reserves - read article
Planning a trip to Oman?
Check out my travel guide to help you plan:
Be overwhelmed by the beauty, not the planning!
- 8 exclusive easy-to-plan maps
- 90+ amazing locations
- Tips to make the most of your time
- 100+ large photos to decide
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
And keep track of your own trip!
See more about Oman
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Where to stay in Oman - Map
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