Season guide · Muscat · Oman
Muscat in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Izeberg007, CC0
Quick answer
Peak season with warm days, cool evenings, festivals and the busiest hotels; ideal for every activity. Expect highs up to 26°C (79°F) and lows around 17°C (63°F), with about 6 rainy days across December–February. December–February are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 17°C (63°F) to 26°C (79°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 6
- Sea
- 23°C (73°F) to 25°C (77°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25°C (77°F) | 17°C (63°F) | 2 | 10.8 h | 5/5 |
| February | 26°C (79°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 2 | 11.3 h | 5/5 |
| December | 26°C (79°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 2 | 10.7 h | 5/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 26°C (79°F) against a yearly 33°C (91°F), and 6 of the year's roughly 10 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 5/5 and hotel prices 5/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Muscat Nights winter festival (usually January–February)
- February: Muscat Nights winter festival (usually January–February)
Make the most of the weather
Waterfront · Mutrah
Mutrah Corniche
A 3-km seafront promenade curving around Mutrah harbour, with traditional merchant houses on one side and dhows and fishing boats moored on the other.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- After dark
- Photo spot
Museum · Old Muscat
Muscat Gate Museum
Stop on the drive between Mutrah and Old Muscat; parking is next to the gate.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Off the beaten path
Park · Mutrah
Riyam Park and incense burner monument
At the eastern end of the Corniche, Riyam Park has playgrounds and lawns below a hill crowned by a giant sculpture of an incense burner, a landmark visible from much of Mutrah.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Views
- Outdoors
Beach · Qurum and Shatti Al Qurum
Qurum Beach
Go for a late-afternoon swim and stay for sunset; dress modestly away from hotel beaches.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Couples
Park · Qurum and Shatti Al Qurum
Qurum Natural Park
One of the city's largest parks, with a lake, fountains, gardens and play areas, next to the protected Qurum mangroves where wading birds feed at low tide.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Day trips in winter
- Nizwa (About 2 hours by car) — The former capital of the interior has a 17th-century fort with a huge round tower, a busy souq for silverware and pottery, and a weekly livestock market usually held on Friday mornings.
- Jebel Akhdar (About 2–2.5 hours by 4WD) — The 'Green Mountain' plateau, about 2,000 metres up, has terraced villages, rose gardens used for rose water in spring, walnut and pomegranate orchards and cliff-edge walking paths, with temperatures far cooler than the coast.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Muscat?
Yes: December–February are among the best months. Peak season with warm days, cool evenings, festivals and the busiest hotels; ideal for every activity.
+What is the weather like in Muscat in winter?
Highs of up to 26°C (79°F) and lows around 17°C (63°F), with about 6 rainy days over the season.