Popular Airport | George Best Belfast City Airport |
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Popular Airlines | |
Approximate Flight Duration | 7 hour 50 min |
Approximate Travel Distance | 6260 Km |
Muscat, the capital city of Oman with a population of about 1.5 million, is a large port city in the Gulf of Oman stretching along the Arabian Sea. The road connections between Muscat International Airport, a busy airport, and the city center are quite extensive. These routes, which are linked to both the other cities of Oman and the neighboring cities outside the country, are close to Muscat Airport.
It is recommended for you to have a guide map with you at the taxis or rental cars that you can use to get to the airport from the city center of Muscat.
Because the city has many districts, you must find the roads or the means of public transport leading to Muscat Airport on the internet.
There are 60 bus stops serving permanently in Muscat. The rapidly growing population of the city and its reputation for tourism has created the need to expand public transport in the city. Sixteen of the forty new buses built under the leadership of the Oman National Transportation Company (ONTC) have replaced old buses on the route of Ruwi-Wadi Kabir.
With the new modernized buses, the new Ruwi-Wadi Adai line was opened. As a result of increasing the number of stops, there has also been an increase in urban public transport usage. New buses connecting to Ruwi and Muscat Airport started service at the end of 2015.
Busses serving between 6 am and 10 pm pass through the Sultan Qaboos motorway to reach the airport, just like any other means of transport.
There are few taxis in some places in Muscat, while there are more in some other place. Where there are plenty of taxis, the prices are lower because of the competition.
Muscat city is both the capital and the biggest city of Oman, so you can come across taxis very often. At least if you are familiar with the following information, it will be easier for you to bargain with the taxi drivers: if the distance to your destination is below 2 kilometers the average you would pay is 0.5 riyals, and it is 2.5 riyals if the distance is about 5 kilometers. From Ruwi, one of Muscat's most important settlement centers, it costs around 8 riyals to go to the Muscat Airport by taxi.
There are two varieties of taxis in the city; one is white, and the other is orange. The vast majority of taxi drivers are Omani. Orange taxis are local, while white ones are a bit more upscale, airport taxis. You often find orange taxis in the city. If you are going to the airport from the city center, we suggest you prefer the orange car in terms of being cheaper.
As a foreign visitor, you can use your driver's license for 1 month within the boundaries of Oman. You can rent a car from the offices of car rental companies in the airport or at Muscat city center. Although the daily car rental fee is about 40 riyals, this price may vary depending on the characteristics of the car and whether or not you negotiate a bit.
To reach the airport from any point of the city, you have to enter the Sultan Qaboos motorway. If you are coming from the city center, you can follow the signs of the airport by entering this highway on the west side of the city and continuing from the right lane. Do not forget to rent also a navigation device while renting your car. The car rental option, which offers much cheaper opportunities than the taxi, is also the type of transportation preferred by tourists because oil is cheap in the country.
The name of Muscat International Airport, opened in 1973, was originally Seeb Airport until 2008because it was located in Seeb region. Located 30 kilometers west of Muscat city center, the airport's annual passenger capacity is approximately 6 million. Muscat Airport, Oman's largest airport, is also the primary airport of Oman Airlines.
The airport has airport shuttle buses with a capacity of seven people operated by the airport which are more expensive than public transport. You can visit the official website of Oman Airlines travel agency and contact the company. Oman is a country with high levels of cars in the traffic. Therefore, Muscat Airport has a parking area with a capacity of 396 vehicles.
On the first floor of the airport is the Tourist Information Office. There is a mosque in an area very close to the airport terminal. There is a free Wi-Fi service, a currency exchange office serving 24/7, ATMs, a clinic providing health services that you can find open all the time in the airport. Showering areas, smoking areas, travel agencies, car rental companies, retail stores, playground for children are other platforms can also be found in Muscat Airport.
You can shop at duty-free where the perfume, jewelry and other things are cheaper at the departure terminal of the airport. The airport is home to world famous eating and drinking areas such as Coffe & More, Costa Coffee, Subway, DQ Grill & Chill, The Irish House (Bar), Automatic Restaurant (Gulf region regional cuisine), Curry Kitchen (indian cuisine) and idli.com (South Indian food).
Belfast International Airport is located about 23 km from the city center. The airport offers convenient transportation alternatives to get to the city. You can get to the city by car, bus, taxi, or rental car.
Bus
One of the most economic transportation alternatives to get to the city center from the airport is by bus. The Airport Express 300 buses are also a convenient way to get to the city. Buses to the city take off from the stop located right next to the terminal exit. Buses offer regular service between the airport and the city center 7 days a week. Buses departing from Belfast International Airport pass through Templepatrick, Royal Avenue and Belfast Europa Buscentre. Airport Express 300 buses take between 30 to 40 minutes to get to the city center, depending on traffic.
Buses from the airport to the city cost 7.5 pounds for a one way ticket. If you purchase a round trip ticket then the total comes out to 10.50 pounds, which is more economical. If you travel between Belfast International Airport and the city center frequently then it would be more practical to purchase a multi-journey card. These cards are valid for 10 journeys and cost 48 pounds.
Car
You can get to the city center from Belfast International Airport by car in a short amount of time via the A57 and then by connecting to the M2. If you are visiting Belfast for the first time you run the risk of getting lost. We recommend using a GPS device to help navigate your way to the city. The airport contains short-term and long-term parking lots for those considering traveling to and from the airport by car.
Taxi
Another transportation alternative to get to the city center from the airport is by taxi. Taxis are a convenient and fast alternative. The official taxi operator at the airport is the International Airport Taxi Company. Taxis are readily available at the airport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A list of sample fares can be found displayed in the exit hall.
A taxi to the city center from Belfast International Airport costs an average of 30-40 pounds, a taxi to Ballymena from the airport costs 27 pounds, and a taxi to Lisburn city center from the airport costs around 30 pounds. For more detailed information about taxi services at the airport you can call +44 (0) 28 9448 4353 before your flight or visit www.belfastairporttaxix.com.
Rental Car
There are international rental car companies located at Belfast International Airport. Rental car companies that you can choose from include Enterprise, National, Alamo, Europcar, Hertz, and Budget. To contact National, Alamo, and Enterprise call +44 (0) 28 94451940, to contact Europcar call +44 (0) 28 9445 9747, and to contact Hertz call +44 (0) 28 9442 2533. After you rent a car, we recommend getting a city map or using a GPS device to help navigate your way to the city.