Find places in Brunei

Must-Haves

• Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque (Old town)
  The golden domed mosque beside its lagoon and royal barge, the symbol of Brunei.
• Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque (Kiarong)
  Brunei's largest mosque, with twenty nine golden domes and lavish gardens.
• Royal Regalia Museum (Old town)
  The Sultan's coronation chariot, crowns and state gifts in a domed gallery.
• Kampong Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery (Kampong Ayer)
  Explains life in the water village, with a tower looking over the stilt houses.

Off the Beaten Path

• Tomb of Sultan Bolkiah (Kota Batu)
  The quiet tomb of the fifth sultan, who ruled during Brunei's golden age.

Must-Haves

• Kampong Ayer water taxi (Waterfront)
  A splashy boat ride across the river into the world's largest stilt village.
• Brunei River proboscis monkey cruise (Brunei River)
  Dusk trips into the mangroves to spot long nosed proboscis monkeys.
• Istana Nurul Iman river view (Brunei River)
  See the Sultan's vast palace from the water on a river trip.

Fun for Everyone

• Istana Nurul Iman Hari Raya open house (Jalan Tutong)
  For three days after Ramadan, the public can enter the palace and meet the royal family.
• Taman Mahkota Jubli (Waterfront)
  A riverside park with views across to Kampong Ayer and evening breezes.

Must-Haves

• Tasek Lama Recreational Park (Tasek Lama)
  Forest trails, a small waterfall and macaques minutes from the city centre.
• Bukit Subok Recreational Park (Subok)
  A ridge walk and canopy bridge with views over Kampong Ayer and the river.

Off the Beaten Path

• Bukit Shahbandar Forest Recreation Park (Jerudong road)
  Hilly forest trails and lookout towers loved by early morning runners.

Fun for Everyone

• Persiaran Damuan riverside walk (Damuan)
  Flat paths for walking and cycling along the river at sunset.

Must-Haves

• Aminah Arif (Kiulap)
  The best known place in the capital to try ambuyat, Brunei's sago dish.

Fun for Everyone

• Excapade Sushi (Gadong)
  A long established local Japanese chain, busy with families.
• Yayasan food court (Old town)
  Plenty of local choice in the air conditioned shopping complex.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Nasi katok stalls (Gadong)
  Brunei's favourite cheap snack: rice, fried chicken and sambal wrapped to go.

Must-Haves

• Kopi at a kedai kopi (Kiulap)
  Order sweet coffee with condensed milk and roti in a local coffee shop.

Fun for Everyone

• Kiulap café strip (Kiulap)
  Brunei's café scene, with specialty coffee, desserts and brunch.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Kuih stalls at Tamu Kianggeh (Kianggeh)
  Colourful traditional cakes, wrapped in leaves and best fresh in the morning.

Off the Beaten Path

• Teh tarik at Gadong (Gadong)
  Pulled tea made theatrically at mamak style stalls.

Must-Haves

• Gadong Night Market (Gadong)
  The capital's evening social hub, a feast of grilled wings, satay and juices.

Great for Date Night

• Mocktail cafés in Kiulap (Kiulap)
  Where young Bruneians go out at night for elaborate alcohol free drinks.

Fun for Everyone

• Late night mamak stalls (Gadong)
  Roti canai and teh tarik into the night with families and friends.

Off the Beaten Path

• Old town mosque after dark (Old town)
  Quiet evening walks around the lit domes and the lagoon.

Must-Haves

• Tamu Kianggeh (Kianggeh)
  The riverside market for jungle fruit, herbs, fish and handmade snacks.
• The Mall Gadong (Gadong)
  The capital's main mall for shopping, food and the cinema.

Fun for Everyone

• Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex (Old town)
  A shopping centre facing the mosque, with a supermarket and food court.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Hua Ho Department Store (Gadong)
  A homegrown store chain popular for snacks, clothes and household goods.
• Gadong market produce stalls (Gadong)
  Local snacks and souvenir foods to take home, like kelupis and dodol.

Must-Haves

• Sultan's Birthday celebrations (Nationwide)
  Mid July parades, fireworks and events in the capital.
• National Day (Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien)
  23 February parades and celebrations of independence.

Fun for Everyone

• Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Nationwide)
  The end of Ramadan, with open houses and the palace open to the public.
• Chinese New Year lion dances (Gadong)
  Lion dances around shops and temples in Brunei's Chinese community.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ramadan bazaars (Gadong)
  Evening food markets selling dishes for the breaking of the fast.

Must-Haves

• The Rizqun International Hotel (Gadong)
  A grand hotel next to The Mall Gadong, close to the night market.
• Radisson Hotel Brunei Darussalam (Old town edge)
  A reliable international hotel with a pool, near the old town.

Fun for Everyone

• The Centrepoint Hotel (Gadong)
  A mid-range base in the shopping district, near food and malls.

Must-Haves

• Ulu Temburong National Park (Batang Duri)
  Pristine rainforest reached by longboat, with a canopy walk above the trees.
• Ulu Temburong canopy walk (Ulu Temburong)
  Steel towers rising above the jungle canopy, magical at sunrise.

Off the Beaten Path

• Bukit Patoi (Peradayan Forest Reserve)
  A steep forest hike to views over Temburong and Brunei Bay.
• Peradayan Forest Reserve (Labu)
  Lowland forest with trails to two hilltop viewpoints.

Must-Haves

• Temburong Bridge (Brunei Bay)
  Drive across one of the longest bridges in Southeast Asia over the bay.

Fun for Everyone

• Temuai longboat ride (Batang Duri)
  Boatmen push through shallow rapids into the national park.

Must-Haves

• Ulu Ulu Resort (Ulu Temburong)
  Riverside lodge inside the national park, the classic overnight stay.

Must-Haves

• Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park (Merimbun)
  Brunei's largest lake, tea coloured and ringed by forest, with a walkway to an island.
• Pantai Seri Kenangan (Tutong)
  A sand spit beach between river and sea, busy with weekend picnics.

Must-Haves

• Tamu Tutong (Tutong town)
  The district's weekly market for jungle fruit, fish and handmade cakes.

Fun for Everyone

• Tutong River sunset (Tutong)
  Watch the sun drop over the river mouth from the beach road.

Must-Haves

• Billionth Barrel Monument (Seria)
  A seafront monument marking a billion barrels of oil, with nodding donkeys nearby.

Off the Beaten Path

• Kuala Belait shophouses (Kuala Belait)
  Old Chinese shophouses and temples in the grid of the old town.
• Nodding donkeys of Seria (Seria)
  Oil pumps working among the houses and along the shore.

Must-Haves

• Kuala Belait beach (Kuala Belait)
  A long sandy beach for sunset walks near the river mouth.

Fun for Everyone

• Anduki Recreational Park (Seria)
  A lake and forest park with picnic spots between Seria and the airfield.
• Sungai Liang Forest Recreation Park (Sungai Liang)
  Easy trails and a canopy tower in lowland forest.

Off the Beaten Path

• Luagan Lalak Recreational Park (Labi)
  A seasonal swamp lake with a boardwalk deep in the Labi hills.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Kuala Belait kopitiam (Kuala Belait)
  Chinese coffee shops for kaya toast, noodles and kopi.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sungai Tujoh border to Miri (Sungai Tujoh)
  The road crossing into Sarawak for onward Borneo travel.

Must-Haves

• The Empire Brunei (Jerudong)
  A palatial beach resort with marble halls, pools and a golf course.

Must-Haves

• Jerudong Park (Jerudong)
  The royal playground with rides and gardens, lively in the evening.

Must-Haves

• Pantai Muara (Muara)
  A long sandy beach shaded by casuarina trees.

Fun for Everyone

• Serasa Beach (Serasa)
  The base for water sports, sailing and kayaking.

Off the Beaten Path

• Pantai Meragang (Meragang)
  A long quiet stretch, often called Crocodile Beach, for sunset walks.
• Pantai Tungku (Tungku)
  A seaside road with food stalls and sunset views close to Gadong.

Great for Date Night

• Pantai Jerudong at sunset (Jerudong)
  Sunset over the South China Sea from the beach road.

Great for Date Night

• Empire Brunei restaurants (Jerudong)
  Dining by the sea in the grand resort, open to non guests.

Fun for Everyone

• Jerudong Park by night (Jerudong)
  The playground's lights and evening rides draw families after dark.