HomeAsiaSoutheast AsiaBrunei 6 Places to Visit in Brunei + Things To Do for First-Timers By Marcos Detourista. Updated on January 2, 2019. Where to go in Brunei? Achieve your travel goals with this list of beautiful destinations, things to do, best places to visit, Brunei tourist spots, attractions & more. You may have already known of Brunei as a small yet wealthy nation. If not, this easily missed sultanate is known for having the largest oil fields in Southeast Asia one of the world’s highest standards of living. Laid-back capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, gleams with magnificent mosques that contrast with a massive stilt house water village and lush mangrove forests nearby. Inspire your trip in Brunei with these must-visit places and things to do for first-time travelers. 1. Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque View of Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque from Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque & ceremonial stone boat in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Location: Jalan McArthur, Bandar Seri Begawan BS8711, Brunei. Save on Google Maps. Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque towers over the laid-back city of Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei’s capital. This lavish mosque is the country’s most famous landmark and among Southeast Asia’s most beautiful places of worship. How to go: Located along Jalan McArthur, smack dab in the center Bandar Seri Begawan, Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque is really easy to spot thanks to its towering golden-topped towers. It is an easy 5 to 15 minute way away from most hotels in the city center. Brunei Travel Essentials: Where to stay in Brunei (click below to see rates and book online)Cheapest Rates | Best Reviews Brunei Tours & Discounts Philippines WIFI/SIM Card See also: Places to visit in Malaysia | Where to go in Indonesia. To help with your trip planning, I’ve added links to the locations on Google Maps. Feel free to click/tap on the links posted. Then, use the “save” feature on the Google Maps app for easy reference. I’ve also shared photos from my Instagram feed. Use Instagram’s save feature for quick access to your travel/feed goals. Follow me on Instagram 2. Kampung Ayer Local boat crossing the Brunei River to Kampung Ayer (Water Village) in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. Save on Google Maps. Kampung Ayer, which means “water village” in Malay, is one of the largest stilt house settlements in the world. It is located across the river from the city center of Bandar Seri Begawan. Flag a water taxi (ferry) from the waterfront for a quick tour around Kampung Ayer to see local life in the village. How to go: Kampung Ayer is located across the river from the city center. You can already see it standing on one of many riverside promenades. A ferry crossing to the other side costs BND 1. From there, you can walk around the stilt-supported pathways and see the village up close. 3. Brunei River & Proboscis Monkey Boat tour along the Brunei River in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Mosque at the stilt village in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Proboscis monkey spotted along the Brunei River in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. Save on Google Maps. After a quick spin around the water village, venture out of the city center and explore the scenic mangrove-lined Brunei River. The highlight of this trip, if you are lucky, is getting to see Proboscis monkeys in the wild. How to go: Either join an organized tour or charter a river taxi from the city center. If you are lucky, you can spot Proboscis Monkeys hanging on the mangrove forest, a couple of kilometers down the Brunei river. River taxi charters usually cost less than BND 20. 4. Brunei Museums Royal Regalia Museum in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Save on Google Maps. Bandar Seri Begawan is home to many museums that showcase the colorful history, culture, and grandeur of the monarchy. Popular museums include the Brunei Darussalam Maritime Museum and Royal Regalia Museum. Many of Brunei’s museums are located within or a short taxi/bus ride away from Bandar Seri Begawan city center. See the list below for opening times, location & travel tips. Brunei Darussalam Maritime Museum — Located on 482 Jln Kota Batu, Brunei. Opens 9 AM to 4:30 PM. Brunei Museum — Jln Kota Batu, Brunei. Reachable on Bus 39. Opens 9 AM to 5 PM. Malay Technology Museum — Located on Simpang 482, Kampung Kota Batu, Brunei. Opens 9 AM to 5 PM. Royal Regalia Building — Located on Jln Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien, Bandar Seri Begawan. Opens 9 AM to 5 PM. Brunei Forestry Museum — Located on Liang, Brunei. Bubungan dua belas (House of Twelve Roofs) — Jalan Residency, at the foot of Bukit Subok Forest Reserve Recreational Park. 5. Brunei City Center City Center Riverside in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex with Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. Save on Google Maps. Bandar Seri Begawan’s city center is small, very compact, easily explored on foot. Occupying much of the city is a sprawling shopping mall called Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex, which reflects a mix of traditional and modern architectural styles. Head to the waterfront for a nice view of the Brunei River. How to go: Start your tour at Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex, located on Jalan Pretty – Jalan McArthur, near the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque. From here it’s an easy walk to the waterfront parks & museums. 6. Kianggeh Market Kianggeh Market in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Location: Jln Sungai Kianggeh, Bandar Seri Begawan BS8111, Brunei. Save on Google Maps. This market, especially busy during the early morning hours, is a great way to see and photograph local life in the city. It also has many food stalls that prepare ready-cooked local food. How to go: Kg Kianggeh Open Air Market is located along Jln Sungai Kianggeh, Bandar Seri Begawan. From the waterfront, simply take a turn at Jln Sungai Kianggeh and follow the road. The Open Air Market is on the right ride and can be reached by crossing the foot bridges. What places have you added to your bucketlist? Have you been to beautiful places in Brunei that should be on this list? Feel free to share your thoughts! Places to visit in Brunei Brunei tourist spots, things to do in Brunei, where to go in Brunei & more. 1. Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque 2. Kampung Ayer 3. Brunei River & Proboscis Monkey 4. Brunei Museums 5. Brunei City Center 6. Kianggeh Market Note: Destinations featured above are not listed by rank. Book your way to Brunei How much does it cost to travel to Brunei? Click below to compare flight, ferry & buses fares posted on these booking sites: 12go.asia Where to Stay in Brunei Click below & search recommended Brunei hotels/hostels/home rentals within your budget. Remember to set your min/max price, travel dates, and sort by review ratings. I often book online with these trusted booking sites below for rock-bottom prices & convenient bookings. AgodaBooking.com Book sooner rather than later if you already have your dates set. Cheaper-priced rooms and hotels with high reviews tend to get fully booked faster, especially during busy days like weekends, holidays & peak tourist seasons. Brunei Essentials & Top Discounts Click below to see more on: Klook Don’t Stop Here Click below for more travel inspiration: 8 Places To Visit in Kota Kinabalu 8 Places To Visit in Kota Kinabalu 25 Places To Visit in Indonesia 20 Places To Visit in Malaysia Share your travel goals with #detourista Follow on Instagram Pin on Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/detourista/best-of-detourista/ Don’t leave yet. There’s more! 32 Places to Visit in The Philippines + Things To Do for…14 Places to Visit in North India + Things To Do for…5 Places to Visit in Laos + Things To Do for First-Timers25 Places to Visit in Indonesia + Things To Do for… Discover more blogs and travel tips in: Brunei Southeast AsiaAsia See all places Find more posts about:FeaturedBest PlacesBest Things To Do Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Email * Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.Comments Said alih Kalun Sha says September 14, 2017 at 6:43 am Dear Marcos, I am from Balabac, Palawan. Can you come again and meet me to let you explore my goat farm. Can i ask your contact no i wanted to talk with you Reply Marcos Detourist says September 16, 2017 at 11:02 am Hello, haven’t got definite plans to come back to Balabac. Thank you for the message :) Reply iraonherdreams says October 24, 2018 at 8:51 am Thanks for this post. It’s very helpful now that we’re in Brunei. Keep sharing your travels! Reply
Said alih Kalun Sha says September 14, 2017 at 6:43 am Dear Marcos, I am from Balabac, Palawan. Can you come again and meet me to let you explore my goat farm. Can i ask your contact no i wanted to talk with you Reply
Marcos Detourist says September 16, 2017 at 11:02 am Hello, haven’t got definite plans to come back to Balabac. Thank you for the message :) Reply
iraonherdreams says October 24, 2018 at 8:51 am Thanks for this post. It’s very helpful now that we’re in Brunei. Keep sharing your travels! Reply