Salalah is a spread-out city with no useful public transport. A rental car is strongly recommended — not just for getting around the city but for reaching the surrounding sites, which are anywhere from 20 to 75 km away and not accessible by taxi at reasonable cost. Car rental agencies operate from the airport and in town; rates run around 12–18 OMR per day for a standard car.
Taxis are available but negotiate the fare before getting in — rates for tourists are typically inflated. The airport-to-city fare is a fixed 3 OMR. For journeys to remote sites like Wadi Darbat or Mughsail, hiring a driver for the day (negotiate directly with hotel taxis or through accommodation) is more economical than individual trip fares.