Abuja to Muscat Flights

  About Abuja

The city of Abuja, overlooked by the dominating Aso Rock, is the capital city of Nigeria. Located right in the middle of the country, Abuja is a planned city that was developed in the 1980s. It actually managed to replace Lagos to be the new capital of Nigeria.

Best time to visit Abuja

Due to its proximity to the equator, the city of Abuja is hot through most of the year. However, out of the heat that you do face, they are pleasant and mild in some months in Abuja. The city also witnesses some moderate rainfall which adds to the humidity you might face. You will have to prepare yourself mentally concerning the heat as you will face a lot of it. The months January through July though, are pleasant. In fact, January to March is recognised as the best time to visit Abuja. The temperature is at a friendly 26 degree Celsius, and the humidity in the air is quite mild. This helps the tourism industry to attract more crowds. You will actually see a slew of tourists during these months as the mild temperatures are easy on the senses. Due to the peak season though, there is a surge in the hotel prices. You will find cheap hotels also spike up their rates during the peak season. Hence, it would be ideal for making prior hotel bookings to Abuja to avoid the last-minute surge in prices. The good thing is, the flight tickets are quite decent, irrespective of the peak season.

From May through August, you will witness a rise in the humidity level in the air. Even though the temperature is slightly mild, the humidity will make things a little difficult. Travelling within the city or engaging in tourist activities might become tough. You will have to constantly carry bottles of water and ensure that you stay hydrated throughout the day. The humidity will sap out all your energy. Avoiding these months would be the best choice. Unless you're okay with the excess heat, you should at all cost, not plan a trip to Abuja during these months. Instead, you can opt for the months of September through November. These months also see a moderate temperature where the humidity is also not too much. It would be nice to carry equipment such as moisturisers and bottles of water to survive in Abuja. But these mild months would be refreshing and paint a new colour to the vibe of Abuja. You can make prior bookings of flight tickets and accommodations in Abuja to avoid any excess cost. You might even receive some online deals.

Places to visit in Abuja

As part of your Abuja rendezvous, you can start your exploring by checking out the famous Zuma Rock. The rock is composed of gabbro and granodiorite. In the past, the Gbagyi tribe people used the rock to defend themselves from invasions and attacks from neighbouring tribes. You can take up trekking and hiking as an activity to reach the peak of the rock. You should also visit the National Mosque of Abuja. The beautiful structure has a golden dome and boasts Islamic architecture. It is Nigeria's national mosque and holds tremendous religious significance. It was constructed back in 1984 and is open to non-Muslims as well. Aso Rock is another interesting natural granitic rock that is situated on the outskirts of the capital city. Important buildings such as the Supreme Court and the Nigerian National Assembly are both located close by. Another beautiful mosque that you can visit is the An Noor Mosque. The place is quaint and quiet.

Things to do in Abuja

One of the best ways for you to spend your time in Abuja would be to hang out at the Millennium Park. The park is in proximity with the former Presidential Palace. It is beautiful and has the Zuma Rock in the background too. You can actually take a picnic basket and spend your time in leisure at the park. You can also indulge in a boating rendezvous at the Jabi Lake. The scenic landscape is sure to marvel you. You should also visit the National Children's Park and Zoo Abuja. It has some basic animals, including turtles, jackals and more. The IBB International Golf & Country Club is definitely another place that you should visit. The vast expanse is certainly a spectacular sight, plus you can also explore the golf course. Pack yourselves a nice lunch basket and head to Usuma Lower Dam for a lovely afternoon. The place is gorgeous and soothing to the senses, especially since it is not surrounded by the city's noise and bustle. You can also indulge in some waterfalls excursions. The Gurara Falls is one such place that you simply cannot miss. You also should go exploring at the Pedam Lake.

Food and restaurants in Abuja

Abuja's food culture is heavily influenced by the tribal traditions of Nigeria. You would majorly find a lot of dishes that celebrate the Nigerian cuisine and style of cooking. It would actually be a good opportunity for you to try out some exquisite authentic Nigerian cuisine. Their tribal dishes are a rage in the city of Abuja. Over the years though, they have managed to infuse much of their traditional cuisines with European flavours to promote tourism. You will find some lovely African meals favouring European-style cooking. The food culture is a trip on its own and you can make the most of it in Nigeria's capital, Abuja. You can start your culinary excursion in Abuja from the Salamander Café. It is recognised for its cool vibe and manages to attract a slew of native crowds. The quaint cafe offers not just extraordinary coffee but also books to indulge in while you sip on the beverage. The menu is also curated to serve the natives as well as the international crowd. You will find Indian cuisine also in Abuja as the city has the famous Wakkis, a restaurant that boasts Indian cuisine.

From murgh malai to tandoori chicken, if you are in no mood to experiment with the traditional Nigerian cuisine, then you can simply make regular visits to Wakkis. The staff is friendly, and the cooking styles are very indigenous to the raw Indian culture. BluCabana is an interesting restaurant that doesn't just limit to African food but also expands to Middle Eastern cuisine. You will find some exquisite Lebanese food as well as global cuisine such as sandwiches, pastas, pizzas, salads and more. The fish suya is a big seller which basically consists of grilled skewered meat that has been perfectly coated with aromatic spices. At the Bukka at the Hilton, you will find traditional African spread. The dining hall is a vast and beautiful spot which leaves enough room for the fresh breeze to pass through. Not to mention how the classic dishes such as oha soup, pounded yam, jollof rice, egusi soup, to name a few, can be found here. Other restaurants that you can check out are The Charcoal, Vanilla, Jevinik, Dunes Continental and Chez Victor.

How to reach Abuja

As the capital of Nigeria, Abuja enjoys great flight connectivity with other international cities. Abuja does witness some flight action as it is an important city. Although there are no direct flights to Abuja from Indian cities, they do have international airlines that accommodate flights to Abuja. There are many international routes connected to Abuja, such as from Addis Ababa, Kigali, Dubai and Cairo. However, Addis Ababa and Dubai are recognised as the most popular routes to Abuja. Airlines such as RwandAir, Ethiopian Airlines, EgyptAir, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Etihad Airways, Air France and British Airways have flight services to Abuja. Most of these airlines have layovers in their domestic cities. You do not need a specific transit visa when travelling to Abuja. A transit visa is only required when you are travelling from European cities. If you do pick Air France as your airlines to travel to Abuja, then you will need a Schengen transit visa. Similarly, the only other route to Abuja where you would require a transit visa is if you travel by Emirates.

The flight duration of Abuja is quite decent. It takes about 12 hours to 15 hours to reach the city. Flying to Abuja is the only way to reach the Nigerian capital. The flight tickets are a little steep. In fact, they actually start from INR 35,000 and from here, the graph only goes up. Since the flight tickets to Abuja are so pricey, the best way to go about booking a ticket would be to search for online deals. It comes in handy to find great flight deals online to Abuja. You will be surprised by the drastic drop in the ticket prices to Abuja with the addition of discounts. This means you will actually have to invest a lot of time to ensure that you get some good flight deals. You can also use this time to make hotel reservations as that would further reduce the total cost of the trip. These can be found online as various platforms and airlines have sale and discounts. Another way to go about this would be to use up your miles if you are collecting them. You might be eligible for some more discounts depending on the program.

  About Muscat

Located on the shores of the gorgeous Gulf of Oman is the capital of the country, Muscat. It is a very popular city which is highly renowned for its luxe lifestyle and upscale living. The city was once colonized by the Portuguese and hence, has many Portuguese=-influenced monuments and tourist attractions.

Best time to visit Muscat

Muscat's location is directly above the Tropic of Cancer. Due to this, the weather is hotter and the landscape, arid. Even though it does have the Gulf of Oman on one side, the climate remains hot and dry throughout the year. In fact, summers here are rather unbearable as the temperatures average at 40 degree Celsius. Summers in Muscat start from April and last till October. Out of all the months, June is considered to be the hottest month in Muscat. Hence, travelling to the capital of Oman during these months would be unfavourable for your travel plans. You should know that tourism is at its low due to the excess heat. The summer heat actually makes people stay indoors. With such striking temperatures, it would certainly not be ideal for planning a trip to Muscat. The hotel prices drop drastically in Muscat during the summers. Unsurprisingly, with lack of tourism, the hotel prices are cheap in Muscat during the summers. But since the weather is not ideal for touristy activities, the city witnesses fewer crowds.

With October through February though, the temperatures are extremely low and favourable. The winters months bring forth lovely cold winter breezes. Much like a majority of the desert countries of the Middle East, Oman too, witnesses the same kind of winter where the temperatures drop to a pleasant low and the days are bearably hot. This is considered the ideal time to visit Muscat. November and December are especially the most favourable months to visit Muscat. You can indulge in a plethora of tourist activities, visit some of the finest attractions and engage in some beach fun too. Everything about Muscat turns beautiful and alluring during these months. The hotel and flight prices also see a spike as tourists turn their attention towards Muscat. The price range for hotel and flight bookings see a dramatic spike. The best way to deal with this conundrum would be to make advance bookings of flights and hotels in Muscat. That way, you will be able to make good savings. Not to mention how you can make good use of the money saved for other activities. Muscat also witnesses rainfall with February considered as the wettest month in the city.

Places to visit in Muscat

Muscat's The Royal Opera House is a famous venue that celebrates the music, art and culture of Oman. The white structure with golden and brown interiors is gorgeous and was built on orders by the royal Sultan Qaboos of Oman. The architecture reflects the ubiquitous Omani-style and is perfect to enjoy a luxe evening in the city. The Mutrah Corniche is another lovely place which is located by the Gulf of Oman. While the waterfront offers a stunning view, the structure is heavily inspired by the Arabic architecture. The Al Mirani Fort is also a tourist attraction which is located by the harbour of the Old Muscat. The brown structure built by the Portuguese is quite an attraction in the city. Perched up the harbour of the Old Muscat is the Al Jalali Fort. It was originally built under the role of Philip I of Portugal. The structure was made to protect the harbour after the Ottoman forces attacked the city of Muscat. The historical structure has seen quite a lot of bloodbath and hence, plays an important role in the city's history. You should also visit the Al Alam Palace, which is a ceremonial palace that has been built by Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said.

Things to do in Muscat

The best way to understand more about the history and cultural significance of Oman is to head to the Bait Al Zubair Museum. The place sees many interesting costumes and weapons used in the ancient times. Right outside the museum is the famous Omani village along with souk. Souk is basically a spice village where you will find some of the most exquisite Arabic spices. It is certainly a place to check out and even purchase if you wish to. The Mutrah Souq is one place that would excite the shopaholic in you. The Souq market has room for all kinds of spices, goods and even ethnic Omani jewellery. While there are many tourist attractions that can be checked out in the city, the nightlife and shopping districts are quite the indulgence. From sheshaa parlours to luxe dining restaurants, you will have a great time in the city. The beaches in Muscat are also quite blue and pristine. You can visit the beaches and even take some lovely pictures with the blue waters in the background.

Food and Restaurants in Muscat

Oman's population is predominantly of international descendants. Hence, the restaurants and food establishments are usually constructed in a design to please the international crowd. It is majorly seafood as the city's proximity with the Gulf of Oman enables this. You will find some of the most elegant restaurants and fine dining establishments in the city. Much of them are high-priced and offer an upscale food culture. However, with the exquisite experience, indulging in this scene is certainly recommended. You can visit the Slider Station to relish some tasty hamburgers with an array of slider options provided to the customers. Their gooey chocolate desserts are also a big hit among tourists. To get a more authentic food experience in Oman's Muscat, you should visit Ubhar. The place offers the city's finest Omani cuisine with an exemplary ambience. Their halva and camel biryani are a must-have so do not miss them. The Beach has a luxury overview and faces the breath-taking Gulf of Oman. Not just delicious food but also a stunning view helps this establishment to attract a crowd.

The restaurant offers a slew of interesting seafood including mussels with kaffir lime, lobster tail carpaccio and grilled fish. The platter is certainly to blow your mind. Bin Ateeq in the city has a nice Arabic vibe with the decor reflecting the Omani culture. The dishes are also quite interesting as they range from mutton magbous to harees. The place would give you quite the taste adventure that you have been seeking in Muscat. For a more European and British ambience, you should check out Duke's Bar Muscat. The place is known to be one of the best pubs that you will find in all of Muscat. Not just a fancy pub vibe but the place also has impeccable food with lamb chops, tangines, kebabs and curries taking top honours. Tché Tché is a Jordanian vegetarian cafe. For those who do not wish to revel in a seafood platter or mutton meat, this cafe is perfect for you as you will find the best vegetarian food, including sandwiches, fukhara, salads accompanied by flavoured hookah pots and pipes. It is fairly new and has managed to spread its wings.

How to reach Muscat (Transportation)

Muscat is one of the most accessible cities from India with excellent flight connectivity. There are connecting flights as well as nonstop direct flights to Muscat from many Indian cities such as Mumbai, Kochi, Mangalore, Bangalore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, to name a few. The demand for Oman and Muscat from India is quite high as many flock over to the Middle Eastern country for employment prospects. Due to this, the flight connectivity to Muscat has also improved drastically. Airlines such as Oman Air, flydubai, GoAir, Srilankan Airlines, IndiGo, Saudia, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, have dedicated flights to Muscat. A majority of airlines of the Middle East have plane services flying to Muscat. Although several direct flights are available to the city, the most popular route to Muscat chosen by airlines is to fly from the West coast of India. In fact, some of the flights have layovers in Dubai and Bahrain. Besides direct flights, other international routes to Muscat fly from Dubai and Bahrain as they have the best connectivity.

The flight duration to Muscat from India ranges from three hours and forty minutes to seven hours and forty minutes. The prices for cheap flight tickets to Muscat depend on the duration and airlines chosen. The flight tickets to Muscat are quite cheap and affordable. Aside from tourism, a majority of the crowd from India travel to Muscat for professional purposes and hence, the demand is always prevalent. Booking flights to Muscat will come with great online deals. As long as you choose a good airline with great miles benefits, you will be able to snag some cheap flight tickets to Muscat. In fact, if you book in advance and do not opt for peak tourism season, you will be able to avail some online flight deals to Muscat. Booking flights, as well as hotels in Muscat, would further lead you to some massive discounts online. It is essential that you make prior flight bookings to Muscat if you want to be eligible for some of their online deals. The hotel prices vary depending on the tourism season. The dry and hot season witness fewer tourists with a drop in the hotel prices.

  About Muscat Airport

Muscat International Airport, which was formerly referred to as Seeb International Airport is located in Seeb, which is about 32 km away from the capital city of Oman, Muscat. The airport plays as a hub to domestic carriers Oman Air and Salam Air, both featuring flights that fly from Muscat International Airport to regional and international destinations.

About Airport Terminals

Muscat International Airport started with one passenger terminal but soon expanding to introduce a new terminal building to add to its infrastructure. Currently, there are two functioning terminal buildings out of which, the newer terminal has been built to cater to world-class stature for being extravagant.

Terminal 1 is the new state-of-the-art building that is located in the north of the original terminal. It opened in 2018 and has since managed to accommodate a capacity of 20 million passengers in a year. More expansion plans are under works as the airport body plans to increase the terminal's passenger capacity from 24 to 48 million in a year. The terminal is sprawled over 580,000 sqm with about 118 check-in counters, 82 immigration counters, ten baggage claim conveyor belts, 45 gates and an Air Traffic Control tower which stands at the height of 97 m. Terminal 1 nestled between the old and new runway and also has the capacity to handle massive aircraft, including the Airbus A380s and Boeing 747s.

Terminal 2 is a solo building that is two-storyed and was opened back in the 1970s. The airport with this terminal came into existence as a replacement to the Bait al-Falaj airport. Over the years, the terminal has witnessed several expansions and upgradations to accommodate the growing numbers of passengers flying in and out of Oman. There are 58 check-in counters, four baggage claim conveyor belts, 23 departure gates, service counters and duty-free shops. The terminal does not have jetbridges but transports passengers and crew using shuttle bus services within the airport premise. Ever since the new terminal opened in 2018, all the flight operations, both international and domestic, have been shifted to the new building. Plans to develop the old terminal are in the works. The airport authority is outlining a proposal to build the terminal into a low-cost carrier.

The airport originally had a single runway which is capable of accommodating aircrafts such as Boeing 747-400 and Boeing 777. The new runway though is far more accomplished as it can accommodate bigger aircrafts such as Antonov An-225, Boeing 747-8 and Airbus A380. The older runway is currently shut down for expansion purposes, along with the old terminal.

About Airport Authority

Muscat International Airport is owned and operated by Oman Airports. Over the years since the operations of Muscat Airport fell under Oman Airports' wings, the airport authority has been working tremendously on expansion and development plans to upscale the airport's premise.

Top airlines flying from Muscat International Airport

Oman sees tremendous flight action from Indian cities and the Middle East ones, respectively. Muscat International Airport has reserved flight operations for Indian airlines. Some of the important Indian airlines operating from Muscat International Airport are Air India, Air India Express, GoAir, IndiGo and SpiceJet. They have dedicated flights that fly to and from various Indian cities. Most of the cities that have direct flights to Muscat include Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai, Mangalore, Hyderabad and more. Specific cities in Kerala such as Kochi, Kannur, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram have direct flights connecting to Muscat International Airport. Hence, there is space accommodated for activities of Indian airlines.

Similarly, there are many international airlines too that operate from Muscat International Airport. Air Arabia, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, British Airways, EgyptAir, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways, KLM, Oman Air, Pakistan International Airlines, Qatar Airways, SalamAir, Saudia, Srilankan Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and US-Bangla Airlines, are some of the airlines that operate from Muscat International Airport. These airlines connect to major international cities such as London, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Cairo, Paris, Istanbul and Bangkok. The airport can only accommodate one cargo carrier namely, Cargolux, which travels to Luxembourg.

Facilities at Muscat International Airport

Lounge - Muscat International Airport has the famous Primeclass Lounge which offers a slew of facilities that are open 24/7. The lounge is on the fifth floor of the terminal. They offer game zone, private suites, prayer areas, family rooms, spas, smoking areas, cinema and more such facilities. They also have buffet services and international cuisines.

Hotels - You can make hotel bookings at the airport as there are dedicated booths and counters. It would be easy to get an idea of the numerous airports located in Oman.

Baggage - The airport has excellent baggage services such as trolleys, porter facilities and luggage wrapping. You can find access to trolleys at all convenient places at the Muscat International Airport. Along with this, you can also avail porter services. You will need to book porter services from the airlines, though. Or you can also go to the airport's information desk and book a porter service. There are plastic wrapping services for luggage. It is recommended as sealing bags would help evade damage, mishandling, drug smuggling, theft and more.

Smoking zones - Smoking in public is prohibited. Hence, the airport has reserved specific smoking zones where passengers can smoke. They are present in the Departures transit area as well as Arrivals public concourse.

Medical services - The airport caters to medical services along with emergency paramedic. There are first aid rooms that are present at various locations of the airport. Pharmacies are also available at regular intervals of the terminal.

Prayer rooms - There are separate dedicated prayer rooms for men and women at the airport terminal. The prayer rooms are located in pairs and are present at the departure and arrivals zones of the terminal. Details of the same can be found on Muscat International Airport's website as well as the information desk of the airport.

Nursing stations - To cater to new mothers with infants, the airport has installed various nursing stations and baby care rooms. The maps located at the airport will guide you to these rooms. They are well-maintained and regularly sanitized. Not to mention how they also have baby essentials, in case the parents exhaust their products.

WiFi - Free WiFi can be availed at the airport. You can log in to the system by learning about the same at the airport's information desk. You can further receive more details on Muscat International Airport's website.

Special assistance - You can opt for special assistance at the airport. It would be more convenient to get in touch with the airlines as that would give them time to arrange for all the necessary requests. Special assistance is mostly granted to senior citizens, expectant mothers, mobility disabled and more.

Spa - Muscat International Airport has a dedicated Be Relax Spa which would transport you from all the hustle-bustle of the airport. The spa's decor is of high quality, and the services are also world-class. One can easily relax at the airport's spa while waiting to board flights. There is premium also offers available for travellers. The spa offers a plethora of services ranging from aromatherapies to nail care.

Restaurants and cafe - Food establishments and joints are spread across the terminal of the airport. You can find all kinds of food at the airport from vegetarian to non-vegetarian to vegans. Muscat International Airport also has exquisite dining experiences at the lounge facilities.

How to reach Muscat International Airport

Muscat International Airport is perfectly located between Muscat and Al-Seeb cities. If you are travelling from Muscat, you should take Sultan Qaboos Highway which connects from the west of Muscat City. The same route needs to be followed if you are coming from Seeb. Reaching the Muscat International Airport from other parts of Oman is very easy.

Public buses and shuttle services

If you have booked your accommodations within the city, then you can avail shuttle bus services. It would be imperative that you complete your immigration and other essential formalities before you can get to the bus. Besides the hotel shuttle buses, there are public transportations also available at the airport. Operated by Mwasalat Transport Company, the bus station is situated on the ground floor, close to Muscat International Airport building. Business and first-class passengers get the luxury of services provided by the airport where they will be transported to their destinations from the airport. You can do the same to reach the Muscat International Airport.

Car rentals and taxicabs

Right outside the Muscat International Airport, you can find taxi services. There are booths at the arrivals where you can book car rentals and taxicabs as well. If you check out the Muscat International Airport's official website, you will be able to directly call up some of the car rental services and book them online or on the phone. The offices are open 24/7, making it perfect for travellers. Besides this, there are taxicab services and airport shuttle cars also available from hotels and accommodations.