Muscat to Shanghai Flights

  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 Shanghai

Shanghai is one city that believes in 'Change is the only constant' and actually implements it. If the old restaurants in the city aren't changing their decor or remodelling, they get replaced by a new store. Shanghai is a city that has been developing rapidly. It is one of the most dynamic cities in China and has a vibrant nightlife. You will also find a lot of tall buildings and skyscrapers in the city. Shanghai is also known for its rich history, trendy architecture and several Michelin star restaurants. There is very little chance of you finding vegetarian food in the city, but otherwise, the culinary experience here is stunning. Even if you are not an art lover, you will find yourself appreciating the art museums and galleries in the city. Shanghai also has a lot of water towns in the city, which offer a tranquil getaway. Shanghai has a lot of towns that represent places like Great Britain, Italy, Germany, Spain and Sweden. The city is also well-connected to other cities in China if you are planning to explore them.

Best Time to Visit Shanghai

Autumn is the peak tourist season for Shanghai. April and May is the spring season in the city with the temperature ranging from 10 to 23 degree Celsius. There are several national festivals celebrated in the city during this time, which means there will be a surge in hotel prices. Make sure you book your hotel in Shanghai well in advance if you are planning to visit during these months. You must also book your flight tickets to Shanghai well in advance. However, it is advisable to not plan your trip to Shanghai in April or May. You can attend events like the Qingming Festival and Youth Day. It's also May Day or Labor Day on 1st May. This is not the busiest time for the city, but you will get to witness beautiful blossoms in the parks in the city.

June to September is the peak travel season in Shanghai and the busiest time for the city. The temperature ranges from 20 to 31 degree Celsius, and the weather is not very pleasant. The room rates are quite high, and you will find a lot of tourists in the city, too. There are also possibilities of typhoons in the city during late summer. It also rains quite a lot in the city during this time. You can attend events like the Dragon Boat Festival and Army's Day. The city also celebrates International Children's Day on 1st June. Since this is peak tourist time, hotels will be completely booked. Make sure you book your hotel in Shanghai several weeks in advance, so you get a decent deal and for a low price. There are slim chances that you will get cheap flight tickets to Shanghai during this season.

The fall season begins in October and lasts till November. The temperature ranges from 8 to 22 degree Celsius and hotel prices drop considerably. While the days are warmer, the nights are quite chilly, so make sure that you pack a couple of warm clothes, too. The weather provides quite a relief from the scorching summer heat. The rainfalls also reduce quite a lot in the fall season. The first week of October attracts a lot of Chinese tourists, owing to the public holiday. December to March is the winter season in Shanghai. It doesn't get as cold as it does in Beijing, but it is still not the best time to visit the city. With Chinese New Year in January/February, the hotel prices and flight tickets to Shanghai witness a surge. The temperature ranges from 0 to 13 degree Celsius. It is best to avoid travelling to Shanghai during this time since there will be a lot of traffic and it will be difficult to enjoy a vacation in Shanghai during this time. It goes without saying that you will also find it difficult to get good flight deals to Shanghai in winter.

Places to Visit in Shanghai

While Shanghai seems like it is just a concrete jungle, but it has quite a lot of sightseeing options in store for you. The Bund is a very attractive building in Shanghai. While it is a very common site for the locals, if you are visiting the city for the first time, you will be completely blown over. Try to visit the building at sunrise for the best experience. You will find a lot of pensioners flying kites and practice tai chi. The Propaganda Poster Art Centre is an art museum that you can visit even if you are not interested in art and history a lot. Eight ancient water towns surround Shanghai. You can either visit them all, or you can just stop at Qibao to experience it all. It is known for its delicious street food, and you can also go on a shopping spree here without burning a hole in your pocket. Fuxing Park is another popular spot in the city. It was one of the largest parks in the city and is a common hangout spot for the senior citizens in the locality. M50 is an architectural landmark which is short for Moganshan 50. It is a very hip and happening contemporary art district. You will find some of the best art galleries in the neighbourhood.

Caojiadu Flower and Bird Market is another popular place where you can go on a shopping spree. While the first floor has a lot of outdoor plants, herbs, birds, turtles and other animals, you can shop for wedding supplies and home decor items on the second floor. You can also head to Shanghai Disneyland. The speciality of the amusement park is that the rides have been modified to cater to the Chinese audience. Shanghai Science and Technology Museum is dedicated to nature, earth, robotics, space travel and is a popular place to visit. You can also head over to the Longhua Temple. You will find a lot of peace here. Chongming Island is another popular tourist attraction in the city that is worth visiting. If you want to go on a shopping spree, you can also head to Xintiandi, a very popular mall in the city. You cannot leave Shanghai without checking out the Shanghai Circus World.

Things to do in Shanghai

You can opt for a sightseeing tour of the city or explore it on your own. However, it is advisable that you hire a tour guide to get to know the city better. The city has a lot of museums that you can head to whether or not you love art and history. If you love science, you must definitely head to the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum. Zhujiajiao is like the Venice of Shanghai and is worth a visit. Shanghai is also known for its unique cuisines. You can either sign up for a food tour or join a cooking class to learn how to make a few Chinese cuisines. If you want a spiritual experience, you can head over to Longhua Temple. You can also offer your prayers as you learn more about Buddhism. Catch an acrobatics show at the Shanghai Circus World.

Food and Restaurants in Shanghai

Local street food is highly recommended if you are visiting Shanghai for the first time. However, you will also find a lot of fine dining, Michelin star restaurants in the city. It might be a tad expensive, but completely worth it. It will be quite difficult to find vegetarian food on the menu here or at local food joints. However, if you love meat or seafood, you can try the Xiaolongbao here or Liang pi. While the street food here is quite famous, a lot of locals prefer it for breakfast only. Aura Lounge and Jazz Bar at The Ritz-Carlton is a popular place to head to for dinner. The ambience and service here are impeccable. You can also head to The Roof for a couple of drinks and delicious food. Jin Xuan Chinese Restaurant is another restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton where you will find a variety of Chinese and Asian food. Yi Cafe at Pudong Shangri-La is another popular place to try seafood and Asian cuisine. Sakemate is another restaurant that you must try. The menu includes Japanese, Peruvian, Latin and Asian cuisines.

How to reach Shanghai (Transportation)

Shanghai Pudong International Airport serves the city. The flight connectivity to Shanghai from India is excellent. Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, ANA All Nippon Airways and Cathay Pacific Airways have frequent flights to Shanghai from India with layovers at Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo and Hong Kong. If you travel during the offseason, you might get cheap flight tickets to Shanghai. You will get taxis or car rental services from the airport quite easily to your hotel. However, it is best that you book your tickets and hotel in advance so you don't end up paying a high price and make the most of the deals you might find online.

  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.