Major city · Oman
Surصور
One night is enough: dhow yard in the morning, Al Ayjah at sunset, then Ras al Jinz turtles or Wadi Shab the next day.
Sur is a working port on Oman's east coast, about 2.5 hours by car from Muscat, and the only place where wooden boats are still built by hand. It is a stop on the coastal loop, not a destination on its own: the dhow yard, the Al Ayjah headland and the fish market fill a morning and an evening, and the real draw is what sits around it — Ras al Jinz turtles, Wadi Shab and Wadi Tiwi. Sleep one night, two if you want a slow beach day.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- OMR
- Best months
- Nov–Mar
- avoid Jun–Aug (40°C (104°F)+ and humid)avoid Jun–Aug (104°F (40°C)+ and humid)
- Airport
- MCT
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 5
- Oman ↗Check entry rules and apply for any e-visa only on the Royal Oman Police e-visa portal (evisa.rop.gov.om); lookalike sites charge extra.
- Oman ↗Dress modestly in public: shoulders and knees covered; swimwear only at beaches and hotel pools.
- Oman ↗Alcohol only in licensed hotels and restaurants; no drinking in public and drunkenness is an offence.
- Oman ↗Never drive or camp in a dry wadi when rain is forecast upstream; flash floods arrive without warning.
- Oman ↗The road up Jebel Akhdar is 4x4-only past the Birkat al Mawz police checkpoint; saloon cars are turned back.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Sur9999 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Sur, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?OMR (rial) is pegged to the US dollar at about 2.6 dollars per rial; 1 OMR is 1,000 baisa.Oman-wide
- SIM or eSIMOmantel and Ooredoo sell tourist SIMs at Muscat airport arrivals; passport and biometric registration needed…Oman-wide
- Tap waterDesalinated tap water is treated and generally safe in Muscat, but most residents and visitors drink bottled; large bottles cost OMR 0.2–0.5.Oman-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is added.Oman-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets G. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 240 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Oman-wide
- SafetySur is calm and safe for tourists; the real risks are heat, unlit roads at night and swimming in wadis after rain inland.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels, malls, fuel stations and forts; bidet hoses standard.Oman-wide
- Emergency numbers9999 police, fire and ambulance · 9999 Royal Oman Police traffic (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysFriday midday prayers close many shops 11:30–14:00; the Grand Mosque is closed to visitors on Fridays…Friday midday prayers close many shops 11:30 AM–2:00 PM; the Grand Mosque is closed to visitors on Fridays…Oman-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportMCT Muscat International (No airport in Sur; drive 2.5 h south on Highway 17, or take the Mwasalat bus from Muscat, about 4 h 15 min via Ibra).
- Getting aroundNo public transport in Sur.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or karak teaOMR 0.3–0.8
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi ride inside SurOMR 0.15 flat (check)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekOMR 3–8
- Museum or sight ticketFort entryOMR 0.5 (check)
- Budget bedBasic hotel double room, a night, per roomOMR 24
- Mid-range bedBasic hotel double room, a night, per roomOMR 30
- High-end bedBasic hotel double room, a night, per roomOMR 45
A day, not counting the bed: Budget OMR 20 · Mid OMR 45 · High OMR 90
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- MCT Muscat International (No airport in Sur; drive 2.5 h south on Highway 17, or take the Mwasalat bus from Muscat, about 4 h 15 min via Ibra)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Feb
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Mar
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Apr
not flagged
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
May
not flagged
41°C (106°F)106°F (41°C)
Jun
Avoid
42°C (108°F)108°F (42°C)
Jul
Avoid
41°C (106°F)106°F (41°C)
Aug
Avoid
39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)
Sep
not flagged
39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)
Oct
not flagged
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
Nov
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Dec
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Best: Nov–Mar. Avoid: Jun–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jun (42°C (108°F)108°F (42°C)), coolest Jan (18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C) low), wettest Jan (3 rain days), driest May (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Sur: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
3 rd
Feb
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
3 rd
Mar
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
2 rd
Apr
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
1 rd
May
41°C (106°F)106°F (41°C)
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
0 rd
Jun
42°C (108°F)108°F (42°C)
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
0 rd
Jul
41°C (106°F)106°F (41°C)
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
0 rd
Aug
39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
0 rd
Sep
39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
0 rd
Oct
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
0 rd
Nov
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
1 rd
Dec
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
2 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
No public transport in Sur. Taxis charge a flat 150 baisa for any ride inside town; agree the price before you get in. A hire car is the practical choice because the sights around Sur — Ras al Jinz, Wadi Shab, Wadi Tiwi — are 40–90 minutes away with no bus.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Ras al Jinz turtle reserve
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Drive south on the coast road, about 45 min
Ranger-led night viewing only, booked ahead; turtles nest all year, peak hatching in the cooler months.
Wadi Shab
goDoor to door: 1–1.5 h
Drive north on Highway 17 toward Muscat, about 1 h, then a short boat crossing and a 40-min walk
Go early: the pools are in full sun by midday and the cave swim needs a dry bag.
Wadi Tiwi
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
Drive north on Highway 17, about 50 min
Paved road runs through a lived-in village; drive slowly and keep to the main track.
Ibra
goDoor to door: About 1.5 h
Drive west on Highway 23, about 1 h 30 min
Wednesday women's market and old quarter; pairs well with the drive to Nizwa.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Al Ayjah
Across the bridge from the dhow yard; lighthouse, watchtowers and the newest hotel. Best for a first night.
Sur centre / souq
Walk to the fish market, souq and bus stop; basic hotels, cheapest beds.
Al Murtefeh beach strip
North of town on the coast road; resort-style rooms with a pool, need a car or taxi for everything.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- OMR 20–35 excl. bed
- Mid
- OMR 35–70 excl. bed
- High
- OMR 70+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range hotel double room1 × 1 night × OMR 55 | OMR 55 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × OMR 45 | OMR 90 |
| Mwasalat bus Muscat → Sur, one way2 × OMR 3 · check | OMR 6 |
| Taxi ride inside Sur, flat1 × OMR 0 · check | OMR 0 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × OMR 5 | OMR 10 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | OMR 16 |
| Trip total≈ OMR 89 per person per day, bed included | OMR 177 |
2026 estimate in Omani rial; car hire and fuel excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or karak tea | OMR 0.3–0.8 |
| Vegetarian dish with rice (Indian restaurant) | OMR 1–1.5 |
| Meat dish with rice | OMR 1.3–1.8 |
| Taxi ride inside Sur | OMR 0.15 flat (check) |
| Fort entry | OMR 0.5 (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | OMR 3–8 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Summer heat: June to August tops 40°C (104°F) and the coast is humid; do sights before 10:00 or after 16:00.Summer heat: June to August tops 40°C (104°F) and the coast is humid; do sights before 10:00 AM or after 4:00 PM.Summer heat: June to August tops 104°F (40°C) and the coast is humid; do sights before 10:00 or after 16:00.Summer heat: June to August tops 104°F (40°C) and the coast is humid; do sights before 10:00 AM or after 4:00 PM.
- Some forts are closed for renovation or have irregular opening; check locally before driving out.
- The dhow yard is a working site — ask before walking into a shed, and never step over tools or timber.
- Fuel stations thin out south of Sur toward Ras al Jinz; fill up in town.
- Swimming at Wadi Shab and Wadi Tiwi: flash floods after rain inland, and no lifeguards.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire and ambulance
- 9999
- Royal Oman Police traffic
- 9999
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Surصور
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
إلى هذا العنوان، من فضلكTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire and ambulance9999
Embassy
No embassies in Sur; most are in Muscat. US, UK, Canadian and Australian missions are all in Muscat — check the address before you go.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Taxi inside Sur: OMR 0.15 flat, agree first (check)
- Muscat → Sur, Mwasalat bus: about OMR 3, 4 h 15 min via Ibra (check)
- Muscat → Sur, private taxi: about OMR 25; shared about OMR 5 (check)
Say or show
- مرحبا — Hello (marhaba)
- شكرا — Thank you (shukran)
- كم السعر؟ — How much is it? (kam al-si'r)
- وين المصنع؟ — Where is the shipyard? (wein al-masna'?)
- أقدر أدفع بالبطاقة؟ — Can I pay by card? (agdar adfa' bil-bitaqa?)
- وين الحمام؟ — Where is the toilet? (wein al-hammam?)
The dhow yard is a working site, not a museum: mornings are best, and the shipwrights sell model boats from a shed with erratic hours.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Sur. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Mar · avoid Jun–Aug (40°C+ and humid) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for MCT: last Mwasalat departure to Sur, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: dhow yard and corniche, souq and fish market, Al Ayjah headland.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (dhow yard, Fatih Al-Khair, Sunaysilah Fort, Al Hamooda Fort) and eat pages with last orders.
- Ras al Jinz booking fixture and a heat-day plan so gates A–D can go green.