Best Time to Visit Muscat

Winter, November to February: the best stretch

This is when Muscat works best. Days are warm but not harsh, and evenings are cool enough for a walk along the Mutrah Corniche, the waterfront promenade. January is the coolest month, with highs of 26°C. It's also the rainiest of the winter months, though even that means a few showers at most.

Winter is high season, and you'll notice it. Hotels fill up and prices rise, especially around Christmas and New Year. If you want to explore Mutrah Souq (the old covered market) and see the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque without sweating through your shirt, this is your window. It's also the best time for hiking in Wadi Shab or driving up to the Jebel Akhdar plateau.

Muscat National Day falls on 18 November, with flags and lights across the city. The Muscat Festival has traditionally run in winter too, though dates shift from year to year.

March to April and October: the shoulder months

March is still pleasant, with highs of 32°C. April and October reach 36°C, which is hot by most people's standards. Both are rated Fair. Plan your sightseeing for the morning and spend the afternoon by a pool or in an air-conditioned museum like the National Museum.

These months are quieter, and hotel rooms are easier to find. If you want a beach day at Qurum or a snorkelling trip to the Daymaniyat Islands, a nature reserve offshore, March and October are good picks. The sea is warm and the crowds are thin.

May to September: the hot months

From May to September, highs sit between 39°C and 42°C. June is the hottest at 42°C, and July's lows of 32°C mean nights offer little relief. Honestly, most visitors skip this season. Walking around the old town in the afternoon isn't much fun.

Humidity is moderate, but the heat is heavy. Locals stay indoors at midday and come out after sunset. Hotels drop their rates, and you'll have the Corniche nearly to yourself.

August stands out for rain: 130 mm, far more than any other month. That's likely one heavy downpour rather than steady drizzle, and it can flood the wadis (dry riverbeds), so stay out of them if the sky darkens.

Travelling with kids? Avoid this season. If you do come, stick to malls, pools and indoor sights. Salalah, in the south, gets its own cooler monsoon season in summer, but that's a separate trip.

Which month for which trip

For hiking and city walking, pick December to February. For beaches and fewer people, try March or November. For the lowest prices and you don't mind heat, July or September will do.