Muscat best: Excellent
Coastal capital with a grand mosque, a souk and quiet beaches.
The historic capital and largest city
Vitamin D in Oman: best months for sun and a travel guide
The best months for vitamin D in Oman are November to April. In April, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 7 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 8.4 usable sun hours a day. For a beach stay it is too hot from May to October.
Oman month by month
Oman is rated at its median coastal place, for skin type III at age 30. Click a month for the details.
| Month | Rating | Sun window | Peak UV | Full dose, age 30 | Full dose, age 65 | Afternoon high | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Good | 6.5 h | 5.7 | 9 min | 18 min | 26°C | 2/30 |
| February | Good | 7.0 h | 6.6 | 8 min | 15 min | 26°C | 4/30 |
| March | Excellent | 7.7 h | 7.6 | 7 min | 13 min | 29°C | 2/30 |
| April | Excellent | 8.4 h | 8.0 | 7 min | 13 min | 32°C | 2/30 |
| May | Too hot | 8.8 h | 8.3 | 6 min | 12 min | 37°C | 1/30 |
| June | Too hot | 9.2 h | 8.6 | 6 min | 12 min | 41°C | 0/30 |
| July | Too hot | 8.8 h | 8.5 | 6 min | 12 min | 40°C | 0/30 |
| August | Too hot | 8.8 h | 8.3 | 6 min | 12 min | 38°C | 0/30 |
| September | Too hot | 8.3 h | 8.1 | 7 min | 12 min | 37°C | 1/30 |
| October | Too hot | 7.4 h | 7.1 | 8 min | 14 min | 34°C | 2/30 |
| November | Good | 6.8 h | 6.0 | 9 min | 17 min | 31°C | 0/30 |
| December | Good | 6.1 h | 5.4 | 10 min | 19 min | 26°C | 0/30 |
Sun window is the number of hours a day with UV Index 2.5 or higher. Full dose is the minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm out of 30.
Travel guide: why go to Oman
Why go
Oman is a calm, welcoming country of mountains, wadis, desert and long beaches, with a strong traditional culture.
Best for
Couples, road-trippers, nature and culture lovers.
What to expect
Extremely hot summers in the north, though Salalah turns green with monsoon mist (khareef) from June to September. October to March is ideal. Dress modestly.
Places in Oman
Each place has its own climate, so its best months can differ from the country as a whole.
Salalah best: Excellent
Green southern city with banana farms and beaches, and a cool monsoon.
The south, which is almost tropical at the time of the Kareef
Sur best: Excellent
Traditional dhow-building port and a base for turtle beaches.
Where dhows are still made by hand
Khasab best: Excellent
Fjord-like coast of the Musandam peninsula, with dhow cruises.
Nizwa best: Excellent (inland)
Historic fort town and goat market in the interior.
Contains one of the best-known forts in Oman
Some short descriptions come from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Questions about vitamin D in Oman
When is the best time to visit Oman for vitamin D?
The best months for vitamin D in Oman are November to April. In April, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 7 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 8.4 usable sun hours a day.
Can you get vitamin D from the sun in Oman in December?
Yes, but slowly. In December a full dose takes about 10 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 6.1 usable hours a day.
How long do I need in the sun in Oman?
In April, the best month, about 7 minutes at midday with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III at age 30; about 13 minutes at age 65. Darker skin needs longer and fair skin burns sooner, so keep sessions short. This is an estimate for planning, not medical advice.
Which months should I avoid in Oman?
For a beach stay, avoid the months when it is too hot from May to October.
What is the best place in Oman for vitamin D?
In April the strongest sun of the places we rate is around Salalah. Each place has its own rating, so open the place list to compare them.
Plan by month
- Jan Good
- Feb Good
- Mar Excellent
- Apr Excellent
- May Too hot
- Jun Too hot
- Jul Too hot
- Aug Too hot
- Sep Too hot
- Oct Too hot
- Nov Good
- Dec Good