Travel advisory · OmanSome governments advise against all but essential travel to Oman.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- Yemen border area · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, US
- Duqm · avoid non-essential travel · France, US
- Musandam · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, France, US
Also named by one government: Strait of Hormuz and other sensitive maritime areas (New Zealand), High seas of the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea (Ireland), Salalah (France)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | Regional tensions | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Reconsider travel | Oct 23, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Avoid non-essential travel | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | No advice against the whole country (regional advisories) | Oct 29, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Exercise increased caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs) | High Degree of Caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Increased caution across the whole country (zone de vigilance renforcée) (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Nizwa
Nizwa is an inland Omani town known for its 17th-century fort, a Friday livestock market and date-palm groves watered by falaj channels.
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Nizwa is an inland town in the Ad Dakhiliyah region of Oman, about 140 km southwest of Muscat. For centuries it sat on routes between the coast and the interior. Its best-known landmark is Nizwa Fort, a 17th-century fortress with a large round tower. The old souq is a working market, and its Friday morning livestock market, where farmers sell goats, sheep and cattle, is part of weekly life.
Nearby, falaj irrigation channels still water date-palm groves, a system that is on UNESCO's World Heritage List. The Jebel Akhdar range rises above the town, with terraced villages and winding roads. Silversmiths and makers of the khanjar, the traditional curved dagger, work in the souq. Nizwa suits travelers who want the interior as well as the coast. Two nights leave time for the fort, the market and a mountain drive. The cooler months, November to March, are the most comfortable for walking around town and the oases.
Nizwa in five
- Go to the Friday livestock market earlyNizwa's livestock market is held on Friday mornings. Arrive early, before the stalls and the heat build up.
- Carry Omani rials for the souqCarry cash in rials for the souq and the Friday market. Cards are accepted at larger hotels in town.
- Drive from Muscat or book a transferNizwa is about 140 km from Muscat, roughly 1.5 to 2 hours by highway. A car also lets you reach Jabrin, Bahla and the mountain villages on your own schedule.Getting around
- Dress modestly for the fort and mosquesCover shoulders and knees at the fort, the souq and the villages. Bring a scarf for women to cover their hair at mosques, and shoes that are easy to take off.
- Set up a local SIM or eSIM on arrivalSignal is weak in parts of the mountain villages and wadis, so download offline maps before you leave town. Compare eSIM plans before you land.Phones and eSIM
Need to know
- Currency
- Omani rial (OMR)
- Entry
- Visa on arrival or eVisa for many passports; check first Read more
- Emergency
- 9999 police, 999 ambulance, 997 fire
- Tipping
- Not expected; small change or rounding up is appreciated
- Time
- UTC+4, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear3 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Cool, pleasantJanuaryClear
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 16 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, pleasant
- FebruaryClear3 rainy daysHigh20°Low11°Cool, dryFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, dry
- MarchClear6 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°Mild, warmMarchClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 34 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, warm
- AprilClear6 rainy daysHigh27°Low18°Warming upAprilClear
Good
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warming up
- MayClear5 rainy daysHigh30°Low21°Hot, dryMayClear
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 23 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- JuneClear1 rainy dayHigh34°Low24°Very hotJuneClear
Poor
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 4 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- JulyClear8 rainy daysHigh33°Low24°Very hotJulyClear
Poor
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 53 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- AugustClear4 rainy daysHigh32°Low24°Very hotAugustClear
Poor
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 25 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- SeptemberClear1 rainy dayHigh31°Low22°Hot, drySeptemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 5 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- OctoberClear4 rainy daysHigh27°Low18°Cooling downOctoberClear
Good
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 29 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cooling down
- NovemberClear2 rainy daysHigh22°Low14°Mild, pleasantNovemberClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 11 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, pleasant
- DecemberClear3 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Cool, pleasantDecemberClear
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 10 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, pleasant
Average daily high and low in Nizwa, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Nizwa
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
25
- Feels like
- 23°
- Humidity
- 27%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Nizwa
03:23 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today33°22°0%Tuesday: Clear. High 33°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed32°21°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 32°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu32°21°0%Thursday: Clear. High 32°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri32°21°2%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 32°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sat32°22°2%Saturday: Clear. High 32°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sun32°22°0%Sunday: Clear. High 32°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 12:24 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.3845 OMR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Muscatabout 1.5 to 2 hours by carThe capital, with the Grand Mosque and the old port of Mutrah. Best as a day trip if you only have one day.
- Jabrin Castleabout 40 minutes by carA 17th-century fort with painted ceilings, a short drive west of Nizwa.
- Bahla Fortabout 30 to 40 minutes by carA large mud-brick fort on UNESCO's World Heritage List, worth pairing with Jabrin on the same loop.
- Jebel Akhdarabout 1 to 2 hours by carThe mountain range above Nizwa, with terraced villages and walks that are cooler than the town.
Before you go to Nizwa
Rules for Nizwa, checked
- Check entry rules on Oman's eVisa portal before you book, since visa on arrival and eVisa depend on your passport.
- Mosques expect modest dress, and women should cover their hair. Ask before entering and follow the signs at each site.
- Alcohol is sold only in licensed hotels and some shops, and drinking in public is prohibited.
- Drones need prior permission from the Civil Aviation Authority before flying. Check the rules before you pack one.
- Ask before photographing people, especially women, at the souq, the market and in villages.
Plan around Nizwa
Regions, entry rules, transport and money for an Oman trip
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs a visa or eVisa, and how to apply
Read the guideGetting aroundCar hire and transfers from Muscat, and the drives between towns
Read the guideMoney and costsCash, cards and what things cost on the ground
Read the guideWhere to stayOld town guesthouses, main road hotels and mountain bases
Read the guidePhones and eSIMData on arrival and offline maps for the drives
Read the guideNizwa FAQ
Is Nizwa worth visiting from Muscat?
Yes, for the fort, the old souq and the Friday livestock market. It is about 140 km from Muscat, so a day trip works, but one night lets you see the market and the fort without rushing.
How do you get from Muscat to Nizwa?
Drive about 1.5 to 2 hours on the highway, or book a private transfer. A rental car gives the most freedom for Jabrin, Bahla and the mountain villages.
How many days do you need in Nizwa?
One night covers the fort, the souq and the Friday market if your visit falls on a Friday. Two nights add a day for Jabrin, Bahla or the Jebel Akhdar villages.
What is the Nizwa Friday goat market?
It is a weekly livestock and produce market held on Friday mornings. Go early, before the midday heat, and bring cash.
Do you need a car in Nizwa?
Not for the fort and old town, which you walk. A car helps for Jabrin, Bahla and the mountain villages, which are spread out.
When is the best time to visit Nizwa?
November to March, when days are mild and the fort and souq are comfortable to walk. Summer is very hot and hard going at midday.