City guide article

Buses

The Baisa Buses or maxi taxis are inexpensive. These buses/taxis are punctual, they adhere to schedules and are air conditioned (a must in Muscat). A major advantage of this service is that the driver drops each passenger wherever he or she wants. However, the result is that rides often take longer than other modes of transport. Depending on where you want to go in the city, this could be a factor-Muscat is very spread out, so it does take time to navigate the city.

City guideTransportation

Overview

Price: 200-300 Baisa [For rides throughout the Muscat Area]

An alternative bus service is provided by the red and green buses, which are larger than the Baisa Buses. These, however, have fixed drop off points.

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Transportation

Driving Tips

Transportation

From the airport

From Muscat or Seeb International Airport, tourists can take a maxi taxi or Baisa Bus into central Muscat. Alternatively, tourists may take an orange and white taxi to their hotel. This ride should cost between 5 and 8 Omani Riyal. The airport is fairly close to Seeb, but if you are staying in Muscat proper, expect a twenty minute ride at minimum.

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Transportation

Car for hire

Renting a car in Muscat is easy and advisable. The city is very large, so it is impossible to enjoy your stay and explore the city without access to a car. Since public transportation in the city is virtually non-existent, and since many taxis do not use meters (inflating prices for non-Arabic speakers and tourists), renting a car might be a good option. Doing this can be expensive depending on the type of car you want, but rates start at only 10 Omani Reals per day. The length of your trip and the nature of your plans will obviously impact whether this is a good decision for you, but we would recommend renting a car.

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Transportation

Taxi

Taxis in Muscat can be differentiated by their distinctive orange and white color. Be sure to take a metered taxi in Muscat and to agree on a rate with the taxi driver before getting into the car. Rates are negotiable and taxi drivers often try to over charge passengers, especially tourists. You will not have difficulty finding a taxi, although we advise attempting to avoid rush hour (from 0730-0930 in the morning and from around 1500-1700 at night), as this will likely increase your taxi fare. We do not advise that you take taxis waiting outside of a hotel, because they tend to inflate rates.

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