Top places to visit in Bandar Seri Begawan

• Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque

  royal mosque · 4.7 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Brunei's royal mosque completed in 1958, with a 52m marble minaret and a stone-clad ceremonial barge (replica of a 16th-century royal barge) in the lagoon beside it. Closed to non-Muslim visitors during prayer times.

• Jame'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque

  national mosque · 4.8 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Brunei's largest mosque, completed 1994 to mark the 25th year of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's reign; 29 golden domes and 4 minarets, in Kampong Kiarong near Gadong.

• Royal Regalia Museum

  royal history · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  National museum displaying the ceremonial regalia, royal chariot and gifts of Brunei's Sultan; visitors go barefoot/socks-only inside. Free admission.

• Tasek Lama Recreational Park

  park · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Forested park around a reservoir near downtown BSB with a waterfall, jogging trails and a suspension bridge; managed by the Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation.

• Malay Technology Museum

  ethnography · 4.1 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Museum near the Brunei Museum in Kota Batu showcasing traditional Malay house architecture, water-village life and traditional crafts.

• Bukit Shahbandar Forest Recreation Park

  forest park · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Forest recreation park with hiking trails through heath forest and viewing towers, in Kampong Jerudong 'B', Brunei-Muara.

• Kampong Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery

  cultural gallery · 4.1 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Gallery in Kampong Ayer opened 2009, exhibiting handcrafted goods, ceramics, woodworking and weaving from the water village.

• Gadong Night Market (Tamu Gadong)

  night market · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Brunei's best-known night market/food bazaar in the Gadong commercial district, with stalls selling Malay/Bruneian street food daily from late afternoon.

• Jerudong Park Playground

  amusement park · 4.2 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Amusement/recreation park in Jerudong, ~15 minutes from BSB, originally built as a gift from Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah; scaled back from its 1990s heyday but still operating rides and an amphitheatre.

• Istana Nurul Iman (exterior viewing)

  royal palace · 4.5 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Official residence of the Sultan of Brunei and one of the largest residential palaces in the world; viewable from the Brunei riverfront year-round, open to the public only during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house (2nd-3rd day).

• Tamu Kianggeh

  wet market · 4.1 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Brunei's oldest wet market, on the bank of the Kianggeh River near downtown, selling fresh produce, fish, herbs and local snacks since the 1960s.

• Brunei Museum

  national museum · 3.9 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Brunei's national museum in Kota Batu covering natural history, Islamic art and Brunei's oil industry.

Things to do

• Proboscis Monkey River Safari Wildlife · 2 h · from BND 85 per person
• Kampong Ayer Water Village Boat Tour Cultural · 1 h
• Brunei River Sunset Cruise Sightseeing · 3 h
• Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque Visit Cultural · 0.8 h
• Jame'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque Visit Cultural · 0.8 h
• Tasek Lama Jungle Walk Nature · 1 h
• Gadong Night Market Food Crawl Food · 1.5 h
• Jerudong Park Playground Visit Activity · 2 h

Where to stay in Bandar Seri Begawan

• City Center about BND 3,000 per night

  Brunei capital with accommodation

Hotels

• K.H. Soon Resthouse 1-star · BND 38 to BND 45 per night
• Radisson Hotel Brunei Darussalam 4-star · BND 128 to BND 280 per night
• Terrace Hotel 3-star · BND 40 to BND 61 per night
• The Brunei Hotel 3-star · BND 44 to BND 71 per night
• The Rizqun International Hotel 5-star · BND 107 to BND 115 per night
• The Empire Brunei (Empire Hotel & Country Club) 5-star · BND 213 to BND 350 per night

Where to eat

• Aminah Arif Restaurant (Kiulap) Bruneian, Malay · about BND 8 per person
• Pondok Sari Wangi (Gadong) Indonesian · about BND 8 per person
• Thien Thien Restaurant (Kiulap) Chinese · about BND 8 per person
• Fratini's Restaurant (Centrepoint, Gadong) Italian · about BND 22 per person
• Gadong Night Market food stalls Bruneian, Malay, Street food · about BND 8 per person
• Tamu Kianggeh food stalls Bruneian, Malay · about BND 8 per person

Getting to Bandar Seri Begawan

Airport: Bandar Seri Bagawan (BWN)

How visitors arrive in Bandar Seri Begawan

• Flight to Brunei International Airport By air from International · common

  Brunei International Airport is the country's main airport and serves the capital. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Road from Sarawak, Malaysia By road from Sarawak (Miri, Limbang) · common

  The coastal road connects to the Sarawak border via Kuala Belait, Seria and Tutong; there is also a crossing into Limbang. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Ferry from Labuan By ferry from Labuan · common

  Ferries from Labuan arrive at Muara, the main ferry terminal, with onward connections to Kota Kinabalu and Lawas. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Taxi from Brunei International Airport

  Taxis run from the terminal to the city centre. Some hotels also arrange airport transfers. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• DART private hire from the P2 car park unconfirmed

  DART private-hire cars can collect passengers, but only from the P2 car park, a short signposted covered walk from the terminal. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Public bus from the airport stop unconfirmed

  The bus stop is to the left as you leave the terminal. Ask locally whether the service is running before relying on it, as posted operating details may be unreliable. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Boat

  Water taxis run between the city's waterfront and Kampong Ayer, the traditional stilt-village district on the river.

• Car With Driver
• Taxi limited to a few areas

  Taxis are generally booked by phone or through your hotel, as hailing one on the street is difficult away from the airport.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Currency exchange poor rate

  Major tourist zones

  Unlicensed money-changers offer suspiciously good rate, then short-change or pass counterfeit.

  How to avoid it: Use licensed money-changers (Maybank, HSBC). Avoid street offers.

Best time to visit Bandar Seri Begawan

• Jan 33°C
• Feb 33°C
• Mar 34°C
• Apr 35°C
• May 35°C
• Jun 35°C
• Jul 35°C
• Aug 35°C
• Sep 35°C
• Oct 34°C
• Nov 34°C
• Dec 34°C

Frequently asked questions about Bandar Seri Begawan

How many days do you need in Bandar Seri Begawan?

A typical trip to Bandar Seri Begawan is 2-3 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Bandar Seri Begawan?

The highest-rated places in our Bandar Seri Begawan guide are Jame'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, Bukit Shahbandar Forest Recreation Park, Istana Nurul Iman (exterior viewing), Royal Regalia Museum.

Where should I stay in Bandar Seri Begawan?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Bandar Seri Begawan: City Center.

How do I get around Bandar Seri Begawan?

Ways to get around Bandar Seri Begawan covered in our guide: Boat, Car with driver, Taxi, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Bandar Seri Begawan?

Scams reported to us for Bandar Seri Begawan include Currency exchange poor rate. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Bandar Seri Begawan?

Average daytime highs in Bandar Seri Begawan run from 33°C in Jan to 35°C in Aug.

Which airport is nearest to Bandar Seri Begawan?

The nearest airport to Bandar Seri Begawan has the code BWN.