This article aims to give you some essential information to help you enjoy your trip in the best possible conditions.
Entry requirements
Citizens of European Union countries can visit Oman for a tourist stay of fourteen days without applying for a visa in advance. For other nationalities, check the requirements applicable to your passport with the Royal Oman Police.
For French travellers, a stamp serving as a free visa is placed in the passport on arrival. France Diplomatie specifies that your passport must remain valid for at least six months after your planned departure from Oman. You should also have your return ticket, an accommodation booking and health insurance covering your stay.
Medical treatments
If you are undergoing a particular medical treatment, bring your prescriptions and check the requirements for bringing your medication into the country before you leave.
A certified translation into English may be useful, but it is not necessarily sufficient. The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs states, in particular, that certain controlled medicines require a prescription issued within the previous three months and translated into Arabic. Bring a quantity appropriate to the length of your stay.
Currency and payment methods
The local currency is the Omani rial. To give you an idea, as of 4 November 2026, one euro is worth approximately 0.43 rial, and one rial approximately 2.30 euros. To estimate a price in euros, you can therefore multiply the amount in rials by 2.3.
This exchange rate is indicative: remember to check the rate applicable at the time of your trip, along with any fees charged by your bank.
Although carrying some cash can be useful, you can pay by bank card, particularly Visa, in the vast majority of cases. During my travels, I have also found that some shopkeepers accept euros and US dollars in cash. Always ask before paying and agree on the exchange rate. Keeping a few rials with you remains a sensible precaution.
Recommendations before departure
Given the regional situation, it is strongly advisable to consult France Diplomatie’s travel advice before departure.
At the time of writing, the French authorities are urging vigilance and advising against travel unless essential to the regions of Salalah, Duqm and Musandam, as well as the border with Yemen. These recommendations may change: take the time to check them on the official website according to your itinerary.
For French travellers, I also recommend registering with Fil d’Ariane, the free service provided by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Entering the details of your stay allows you to receive alerts and security messages if the situation requires it. This is a useful addition to your preparations, but it does not replace insurance covering medical care and repatriation.
Getting to the Sultanate
To reach the Sultanate, Oman’s national airline, Oman Air, offers direct flights between Paris and Muscat. Allow approximately seven hours of flying time, depending on the schedule and flight conditions. I find this a particularly comfortable option for avoiding a connection. Despite recent regional events, Omani airspace has remained open to civil aviation.
Other regional airlines, which I also recommend, offer flights to Oman with a stopover, notably in Abu Dhabi or Doha. The length of the stopover depends on the ticket you choose: check your connection time carefully before booking.
Given the regional situation, also consult your airline’s information before departure, whichever carrier you choose.
Getting around
Travelling around the country is generally straightforward and allows you to discover the diversity of Oman’s landscapes.
In my experience, however, I find it preferable to use a driver and a guide for greater comfort. This allows you to enjoy the journey fully, without having to worry about driving or routes, while discovering each place through the explanations of someone who knows the country.
When planning your journeys, do of course keep in mind the recommendations concerning the regions mentioned above.
When to visit
The most favourable time to explore much of the Sultanate generally runs from October to April, when temperatures are milder, although April can already be hot.
Ramadan and religious holidays
Check whether your travel dates coincide with the month of Ramadan or religious holidays, particularly Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice. Their dates follow the Islamic calendar and therefore shift each year in relation to our calendar.
These periods play an important part in Omani life and may affect the rhythm of your stay. During Ramadan, in particular, eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight hours is prohibited, including for non-Muslims. The opening hours of certain places and services may also be adjusted.
I have myself travelled to Oman during Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of Ramadan, and many sites were closed during the Eid holidays. I therefore recommend checking opening days and hours before planning your visits at this time.
For the Eid celebrations, which are public holidays, also remember to confirm your bookings and excursions in advance. A few simple precautions to help you enjoy your trip while respecting these important occasions for your hosts.
What to wear
Clothing should remain respectful of local customs. Both women and men should favour clothes that cover their shoulders and knees. Lightweight trousers and a T-shirt make a simple, comfortable outfit for sightseeing.
Women are not required to cover their hair in everyday life; however, when entering mosques open to visitors, they must cover their hair and follow the site’s dress requirements.
Swimming
When swimming in public places, particularly wadis and public beaches, choose modest swimwear, such as swimming trousers and a swim shirt, and follow any instructions displayed on site.
Conventional swimwear is generally accepted in hotel pools and on certain private beaches, subject to the establishment’s rules.
Electrical sockets
Remember also to pack an adapter for British-style electrical sockets, known as “type G”, with three rectangular pins.
This is the British model, rather than the American one: a small precaution that will save you from finding yourself unable to charge your phone or camera.
Photography
Finally, bring your phones and cameras: the country deserves all your finest photographs.
However, always ask Omanis for permission before photographing them. During my travels, refusals have been rare, but everyone remains free to choose not to appear in a photograph.
When it comes to women and children, I encourage you to be especially considerate: a landscape, a façade or a street scene can offer a wonderful memory without exposing anyone’s private life.
And bear in mind that certain official buildings, military sites, and the vehicles and members of the security forces must not be photographed.