Hotels
Best hotels in Oman: where to stay, from Muscat to the mountains and desert
On the rim of the Saiq Plateau, two thousand metres up, the air stays cool even when Muscat is baking in the thirties below. Gorges drop away beneath you, and in the villages pomegranates grow on stone terraces. Oman is the calmest country in the Gulf, and its hotels are among the most beautiful in the region.
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Oman is a big country, and its best hotels are spread out: in and around the capital Muscat, on the Jebel Akhdar plateau, on the Musandam peninsula in the far north, in the Wahiba Sands desert and in Salalah in the deep south. Most visitors combine two or three of these areas with a hire car or a driver.
We have chosen ten hotels across five areas, from seaside palaces to a desert resort among the dunes, and we say who each one suits. All score highly with guests on Hotels.com. Our links go there, and the hotel is always chosen before the link.
Short answer: where to stay in Oman
Start with two or three nights in Muscat, on the beach or in the bay at Al Bustan. Then add two nights on Jebel Akhdar for the mountains and one in the Wahiba Sands for the desert. If you only have a week and want to unwind, Musandam or Salalah are good alternatives.
Best for romance: Six Senses Zighy Bay
Best for families: Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel
Best for first-timers: The Chedi Muscat
Best for the mountains: Alila Jabal Akhdar
Best for the desert: Desert Nights Resort
How to choose the right hotel in Oman
Touring: most visitors combine Muscat, the mountains and the desert. Each leg is two to four hours by car, and the roads are good.
The mountain: Jebel Akhdar sits around 2,000 metres above sea level. The road up requires four-wheel drive, and police check vehicles at the checkpoint. Hotels can arrange transfers.
Musandam: the peninsula lies north of the United Arab Emirates and is easiest to reach from Dubai. You cross a border by car, so check visas and your hire car insurance.
Salalah: the southern city has its own climate. From June to September the monsoon, known as khareef, turns the hills green while the rest of the Gulf swelters.
Alcohol and dress: hotels serve alcohol. Outside them, dress modestly, especially in villages and mosques.
The water gardens
Reflecting pools and palms at The Chedi Muscat at dusk.
Muscat: palaces by the sea
Muscat stretches along the coast between the sea and bare mountains. Hotels sit either in the beach districts to the north or in the coves south of the old town.
The Chedi Muscat: the long pool
The Chedi lies on the beach at Ghubra, with white pavilions, reflecting pools and palms planted in neat rows. It is known for an exceptionally long pool by the sea, and the style is clean and calm with very little ornament.
This is our pick for a first visit: central, quiet and well placed for the Grand Mosque and the souk at Muttrah. It feels like a grown-up hotel, though children are welcome. Visit the mosque early, before the heat and the coaches.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Chedi Muscat
The bay
Al Bustan Palace in its bay between the mountains, seen from the air.
Al Bustan Palace: the dome in the bay
Al Bustan Palace has its own bay south of the old town, ringed by mountains, with a vast domed atrium and a long private beach. It is run by Ritz-Carlton and has large gardens, several pools and a kids' club.
It is our family pick, with space, a beach and calm water. The style is palatial and traditional, and distances within the grounds are long. Old Muscat and Muttrah are a short drive away.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel
The pool
The pool facing the sea at Mandarin Oriental, Muscat.
Mandarin Oriental, Muscat: new at Shatti Al Qurum
Mandarin Oriental is one of Muscat's newest luxury hotels, on the beach at Shatti Al Qurum near the area's restaurants and cafes. Rooms are light and contemporary, and many have balconies facing the sea.
It suits travellers who want somewhere central and new, with the beach and city life close by. It has fewer reviews than the classics so far, but scores very highly. Evenings on the Qurum beachfront are busy with local families.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Mandarin Oriental, Muscat
The cove
Jumeirah Muscat Bay in its cove below the mountains, seen from the air.
Jumeirah Muscat Bay: a beach between the mountains
Jumeirah Muscat Bay is in a secluded cove south of the city, with mountains rising straight behind the beach and pools stepping down towards the water. It is a newer resort with contemporary architecture in earthy tones.
It suits travellers who want peace and scenery while staying about half an hour from the centre. There is little to do beyond the resort, so it is best for unwinding. Snorkelling and boat trips along the coast can be arranged from the beach.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Jumeirah Muscat Bay
The lobby
The bright lobby at Kempinski Hotel Muscat.
Kempinski Hotel Muscat: Al Mouj and the marina
Kempinski is in Al Mouj, a newer district with a marina, golf course and long beach in the north of the city, not far from the airport. Rooms are spacious, there are several pools, and the beach is wide and rarely crowded.
It works for families and for anyone combining the beach with golf or boating. It is some way from the old town and the souk, so you will need taxis. The marina promenade is pleasant in the evening.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Kempinski Hotel Muscat
The indoor pool
The indoor pool in the spa at Alila Jabal Akhdar.
Jebel Akhdar: on the edge of the canyon
Jebel Akhdar, the Green Mountain, is a high plateau in the Hajar range with terraces, roses and pomegranates. In summer it is 10-15°C cooler than the coast, and winter nights can be cold.
Alila Jabal Akhdar: stone buildings above the gorge
Alila is built from local stone on the edge of a deep gorge, with a pool that looks out across the mountains. Rooms are large with windows facing the canyon, and the hotel runs hikes between the plateau villages.
This is our mountain pick, for two nights of walking, silence and stars. It is a long drive from Muscat, and the last stretch needs four-wheel drive. Pack a warm layer, as evenings can be chilly.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Alila Jabal Akhdar
The pool on the rim
The pool on the edge of the canyon at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar.
Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar: the viewpoint
Anantara sits right on the rim of the Saiq Plateau, with villas and rooms around a pool that seems to hang over the canyon. The viewpoint beside the hotel is named after Princess Diana, who visited in the 1980s.
It suits couples who want more service and more restaurants than at Alila. It is larger and more polished, and often full at weekends and during holidays. Watch the sunset from the viewpoint before dinner.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort
The bay
The bay at Six Senses Zighy Bay with the mountains behind.
Musandam: the fjords of Arabia
Musandam is a peninsula in the far north, cut off from the rest of Oman by the Emirates. Its mountains plunge straight into the sea, and its inlets are often called the fjords of Arabia.
Six Senses Zighy Bay: a pool villa on the beach
Six Senses fills a remote cove surrounded by mountains, with villas of stone and timber, most with their own pool. You can arrive by car over the mountain or, if you are brave, by paraglider from the top.
This is our romantic pick in Oman, for a honeymoon or a milestone trip. It is expensive and a long way from anywhere, around two hours' drive from Dubai. Once you are there, there are few reasons to leave.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Six Senses Zighy Bay
A pool suite
A tented suite with a pool at Desert Nights in the Wahiba Sands.
Wahiba Sands: a night in the desert
The Wahiba Sands, also known as the Sharqiya Sands, is a sea of tall dunes about two and a half hours south-east of Muscat.
Desert Nights Resort: tents with en suite bathrooms
Desert Nights sits among the dunes, with suites shaped like Bedouin tents but fitted with proper beds, bathrooms and air conditioning. The resort offers camel rides, dune drives and dinner under the open sky.
It is our desert pick, for one or two nights on a touring holiday. The final stretch needs four-wheel drive, or you can be collected from the main road. Climb the nearest dune at sunset and stay until the stars come out.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Desert Nights Resort
The pool by the beach
The pool and palms by the beach at Al Baleed Resort Salalah.
Salalah: palms and monsoon in the south
Salalah is in the Dhofar region, far south towards Yemen. Coconut palms and banana plantations line the roads, and the hills around have been famous for frankincense for thousands of years.
Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara: villas by the lagoon
Al Baleed lies between the beach and a freshwater lagoon in Salalah, with pool villas and a large spa. The ruins of the trading port of Al Baleed, part of the UNESCO-listed Land of Frankincense, are right next door.
It suits travellers who want a beach holiday in Oman with something different around it. Salalah has flights from Muscat, so you can skip the very long drive. In summer the coast is grey with monsoon cloud, but that is when the hills turn green.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara
When to book
October to April: comfortable temperatures in Muscat and the desert, and high season everywhere. Book early for Christmas and February half-term.
Summer: very hot on the coast, but the mountain hotels on Jebel Akhdar are cooler and good value.
June to September in Salalah: the khareef monsoon turns Dhofar green, and that is when Omanis and visitors from the Gulf head south.
Frequently asked questions about hotels in Oman
Where should I stay in Oman on a first visit?
Muscat is the natural base. Pair two nights in the city with two on Jebel Akhdar and one in the Wahiba Sands.
Do I need a four-wheel drive to reach the mountain hotels?
Yes, the road up Jebel Akhdar requires four-wheel drive, and police check at the checkpoint. Alternatively, book a hotel transfer.
Is it safe to drive in Oman?
Yes, the roads are good and well signed in English. Take care after dark, when camels and goats may wander onto the road.
Can I combine Oman with Dubai?
Yes. Musandam and Six Senses Zighy Bay are easiest to reach from Dubai by car, and there are several daily flights between Dubai and Muscat.
When is it too hot in Oman?
From May to September it is very hot on the coast and in the desert. Jebel Akhdar and Salalah are the best options then.