For most travellers, I recommend starting your journey in Muscat. It’s where the main international airport is, flights are easiest to find, and it gives you a gentle landing into the country. Muscat lets you get your bearings before hitting the road — picking up a rental car, adjusting to the climate, and easing into daily life without feeling overwhelmed. It also works brilliantly as a launch point for a road trip, whether you’re heading toward the mountains, the coast, or inland villages.
There are alternative starting points, and in some cases they make sense. If your main focus is the green season in the south, flying directly into Salalah during khareef (the monsoon season) can be a smart choice. A small number of travellers also enter Oman overland from Dubai or head straight toward desert regions, but these options tend to suit people who already know the country or have a very specific plan in mind. For a first visit, though, Muscat remains the most straightforward and flexible place to begin. Starting there keeps the logistics simple — and that simplicity gives you more space to enjoy what comes next.
