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Brunei Darussalam Travel Restrictions

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Traveling from the United States to Brunei Darussalam

Open for vaccinated visitors

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Not required

Not required for vaccinated visitors

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Not required in public spaces, enclosed environments and public transportation.

Brunei Darussalam entry details and exceptions

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Can I travel to Brunei Darussalam from the United States?

Most visitors from the United States, regardless of vaccination status, can enter Brunei Darussalam.

Can I travel to Brunei Darussalam if I am vaccinated?

Fully vaccinated visitors from the United States can enter Brunei Darussalam without restrictions.

Can I travel to Brunei Darussalam without being vaccinated?

Unvaccinated visitors from the United States can enter Brunei Darussalam without restrictions.

Do I need a COVID test to enter Brunei Darussalam?

Visitors from the United States are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result upon entering Brunei Darussalam.

Can I travel to Brunei Darussalam without quarantine?

Travelers from the United States are not required to quarantine.

Do I need to wear a mask in Brunei Darussalam?

Mask usage in Brunei Darussalam is not required in public spaces, enclosed environments and public transportation.

Are the restaurants and bars open in Brunei Darussalam?

Restaurants in Brunei Darussalam are open. Bars in Brunei Darussalam are .

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Brunei Travel Guide

Brunei Darussalam is a tiny, oil rich Muslim country on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia, and its capital city (Bandar Seri Begawan) only has a population of about 100,000 people. This entire country is mostly overlooked by tourists, but there are dozens of big, fancy mosques here that are definitely worth checking out.

The two main mosques in Brunei are  Omar Ali Saifuddien and Jame’Asr Hassanil Bolkiah . These are real works of art, with huge golden domes and 60 meter tall minarets. Even if you're not a big architecture buff, it's easy to admire the intricate showy designs, especially when you throw in some palm trees and blue skies in the background (this is Southeast Asia, after all).

Read through this complete Brunei travel guide for more info on what to expect!

Quick Facts

Malay; 'Thank you' is 'terima kasih'

Bruneian Dollar (BND)

Bandar Seri Begawan

VOA or visa free access for 60+ countries

Tropical; hot & humid year round. Dry season is Feb - April

Power Plugs

The only international airport in Brunei is in Bandar Seri Begawan (code: BWN), which has direct flights from other Southeast Asian cities like Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and Singapore. You can shop for flights to Brunei on Skyscanner.

Brunei is one of the safest countries in the world, with an extremely low violent crime rate of 0.5 per 100k inhabitants (92% lower than the global average). I've walked around the capital city at night and never felt unsafe. Terrorism is not an issue in Brunei at all, and attitudes toward foreigners seem welcoming.

The climate of Brunei is tropical, so there's no bad time to visit. It's hot and humid year round, but there is a dry season lasting from February to April.

Brunei is a surprisingly budget friendly travel destination, although it's not as cheap as other parts of SE Asia. Hostels are available from $25 Bruneian dollars ($18 USD) and private hotels from $40 BND . Meals are not too expensive, costing about $7 to $15 BND depending on location.

Transportation in Brunei is generally by car rental or taxi. The only transportation app is  Dart , which works similar to Uber.

Where To Stay

Some top hotel picks in Bandar Seri Begawan

Rimbun Suites

Al afiah hotel, radisson hotel.

This Brunei travel guide contains affiliate links. Whenever you buy something through one of these, I may get a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

As an affiliate, I only recommend products and services that I feel are high quality and helpful to my readers.

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There are two main mosques to check out in Brunei, one of which is Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque — named after the country’s 28th sultan. It …

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Feel free to contact me if you have travel questions, comments, or suggestions! I'll try to get back to you!

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Travel in Brunei: 13 must-know travel tips for Brunei Darussalam

December 18, 2017 by Karen Turner 26 Comments

I chose to visit Brunei Darussalam this year after two Bruneian friends invited me to visit Bandar Seri Begawan. I love reading blogs, but I can’t believe how  wrong  some of them were about travel in Brunei for Westerners.

Let’s set the record straight about must-knows before you travel to Brunei, what to wear in Brunei without offending folks, and what to expect when traveling in Brunei. (Thanks to B., C., and D. for showing us around Brunei.)

• 1 Don’t underestimate this small Asian sultanate
• 2 Controversial statement: Bruneians are some of the friendliest people you’ll meet while traveling
• 3 Sharia law doesn’t apply to everyone in the same way, but use your judgment
• 4 Brunei is boring if you’re trying to party in Brunei
• 5 How to dress appropriately in Brunei
• 6 What to wear in Brunei for women
• 7 What to wear in Brunei for men
• 8 Politics are better not discussed.
• 9 Public transit isn’t that commonly used.
• 10 Bruneian food y’all.
• 11 Everyone speaks English and people are super friendly
• 12 Don’t miss Ulu Temburong National Park
• 13 LGBT rights
• 14 Brunei isn’t cheap
• 15 In Bandar Seri Begawan, don’t miss the Kampong Ayer water village
• 16 When is the best time to visit Brunei?
• 17 Have you been to Brunei? What do you recommend that tourists traveling in Brunei know?

Don’t underestimate this small Asian sultanate

A lot of people only visit one or two days in Brunei, but I’d say at least four days in Brunei is perfect.  There’s more to do than people realize, so if you’re only visiting Brunei for two days, you won’t get to visit Ulu Temburong National Park.  It’s a fascinating country and not the kind to rush through.

Controversial statement: Bruneians are some of the friendliest people you’ll meet while traveling

Bruneians LOVE tourists and Brunei might be one of the friendliest places to visit in the world. Every single street, people would welcome me to Brunei before asking where I’m from.

Even as we got onto a bus going to Malaysia, we were welcomed to Brunei by a friendly local who passed by the luggage hold.  (It was a bit awkward to explain we were about to get on the bus to Miri.) Bruneians absolutely love travel, so expect to hear some stories about what they thought of your country too.

The whole reason I went to Brunei was that I met two girls from Brunei who invited me to visit Brunei.  This was years ago.  True to their word, our Bruneian hosts showed us around, took us out to dinner, and tried to ensure that we tried traditional Bruneian food by showing them a little slice of their lives in Brunei.  My most important tip: Make Bruneian friends! I recommend using Couchsurfing to make new friends .

Sharia law doesn’t apply to everyone in the same way, but use your judgment

Brunei has sharia law, but sharia law doesn’t equally apply to non-Muslims depending on the law .  This is a  big misconception I see on a lot of blogs written about travel in Brunei.  This was told to us by so many people and although I had no plans to break the law, I was a bit nervous before our trip.

Once we were in Brunei, I was shocked how laid-back Brunei felt.  That said, don’t be stupid and stick to your best behavior as tourists are still a rarity in Brunei. We don’t need a bad reputation abroad (We’re both Americans…)

Many Bruneians that we met were frustrated by Brunei’s perception abroad, due to stories by sensationalist newspapers elsewhere. This is not to say that you should be careless, but it’s good to stay informed about recent changes in Brunei, including the 2019 update to Sharia law in regards to theft and homosexua lity.

Tourists are beloved, but still, try to be respectful and use your judgment.  This involves trying just a little bit with dressing respectfully with not wearing sheer/ripped clothing that might attract attention at home.

Brunei is boring if you’re trying to party in Brunei

My mother-in-law likes to say only boring people get bored.  A lot of people find Brunei boring as it doesn’t have nightlife, but we loved Brunei.  I went all in trying to experience local Bruneian culture and came with an open mind.

• No, you can’t wear your short shorts.
• Yes, there are no nightclubs or bars.
• Yes, there’s no alcohol sold in most of Brunei. However, it’s allowed if you’re drinking the homemade rice wine with the Iban in the Temburong district during the harvest festival.

That said, Bruneians love lingering at coffee shops and restaurants over long dinners and coffees at night, so you’ll find many restaurants open until 10/11pm still serving food.

If you’re into culture, sustainable tourism, and elaborate architecture, you will probably enjoy traveling in Brunei.

Bruneians are proud of their country and happy to show a little piece of Brunei to foreigners, but you also need to be interested in experiencing Brunei. If you’re following the Southeast Asia party route, you’ll hate Brunei.

How to dress appropriately in Brunei

Although I read a lot of blogs about travel in Brunei and I asked a lot of people about what was appropriate to wear in Brunei, so I came off my flight wearing a hijab, a long-sleeve shirt, and a long skirt.  Immigration asked me if I was Muslim. I had to explain that I was trying to be respectful before the officer was like …. Thanks, but you don’t need to try hard.  Okay officer. 😉

I was lucky to visit friends in Brunei who told me not to worry much about appropriate clothes in Brunei while other female travelers in the travel community told me to dress very conservatively.

I think somewhere in between the two is best as one girl at our homestay did not dress appropriately (crop tops / sheer clothing / short shorts with rips) both inside/outside the home. It was not appreciated by our host.

Brunei is very humid and as a tourist, you’ll be walking around in the heat day-time, so keep this in mind when looking for clothing for Brunei.

What to wear in Brunei for women

What did I wear in Brunei? Most days, I wore a non-sheer loose fitting t-shirt, jeans, a silk scarf, and sandals.

On some days, I wore a tulle skirt (MISTAKE as it is a really heavy material) with a t-shirt. I’d recommend a lighter material.

Do not wear short shorts in Brunei and stick to lighter fabrics (think cottons). If you’re planning on visiting the national park, bring a bathing suit to go swimming in the waterfall!

Just in general, avoid excessive skin, cleavage, sheer clothing, and clothing with holes that might be seen as revealing. Use your judgment and try to dress appropriately in Brunei.

To get into the major mosques in Brunei, they will give you a garment to wear over your clothes and as well as a hijab, so no need to bring your own.

You see some Bruneian women dressed more conservatively, but I saw some women who were not Muslim wearing shorts (let me clarify: knee-length shorts). For women, I’d recommend a comfy appropriate skirt /t-shirt combination with a cotton/silk scarf.

I recommend a scarf as it’s nice to be able to cover up your arms when you’re in restaurants/cafes as the air conditioning can be quite high and you don’t want anything heavy.

I don’t recommend a dress as I ended up sweating through my dress while walking around day-time.

A skirt/t-shirt combination allows more possibilities for a clean outfit if you’re not packing a lot of clothes as you can just swap your t-shirt out for a clean one the next day!

For going out to eat at sit-down Bruneian restaurants, bring a nice modest knee-length dress as eating out is a big deal in Brunei. People definitely dress up for a nice sit-down dinner, so I recommend getting dolled up with a nice dress and makeup.

What to wear in Brunei for men

For men, we’d recommend wearing pants with a plain t-shirt (preferably white to help with the heat) are okay. My husband is a metalhead and toned it down while we were in Brunei although we saw some wearing printed/band t-shirts (although not metal t-shirts) around Brunei. We did see some Westerners in knee-length shorts too.

Politics are better not discussed.

Be careful what you say about Brunei, especially about the Sultan.  This is a sensitive topic, with legal implications, and it’s best not to discuss politics in Brunei, especially if you have something critical to say.  Remember:  Brunei does not have freedom of speech.

Public transit isn’t that commonly used.

I asked my Bruneian friends about it and they drive everywhere. If you’re visiting without a car, be wary of planning your journey entirely by public bus.  There is  a bus from the airport to the city center, but it does not run late.

Brunei’s waterfront is fairly walkable, however for further distances or on especially hot days, you will want to take a taxi.  It’s best to stay close to the city center unless you’re willing to splurge on taxis. (Note:  there aren’t  that many hotels in Brunei, so book ahead as the good ones sell out.)

For taxis (or something similar to Uber), download Dart to get rides around Brunei. This is a local app where you can provide your location, see the cost, and have a local taxi driver pick you up.

Bruneian food y’all.

I thought  Singaporeans loved food, but I had never visited Brunei.  Bruneians are HUGE foodies, so don’t leave without trying ambuyat and sampling the Bruneian food at the night markets . The seafood is fresh and very spicy, so if you see a local food centre, consider trying some seafood.  I swear, I gained 5 pounds while in Brunei.

A local also recommends ‘Nasi Katok’ .  I had a number of traditional dishes and I wish that I could remember the names of all the food that I had.  Just be adventurous and it will be delicious ( I hope).  I also really loved the dried squid with chili.

Everyone speaks English and people are super friendly

Bruneians speak flawless English.  In case you forgot, Brunei used to be a British protectorate, so not surprisingly, English is still taught in schools.  That said, many menus may be in Malay, but if you ask, the locals are happy to help.

Don’t miss Ulu Temburong National Park

Brunei may produce a lot of oil, but the government has made significant conservation efforts to preserve its incredible environment, and Brunei has some of the best preserved virgin rainforests in the world.

60% of the country is made up of virgin rainforest, which is unaffected by human activity.  The parts of Ulu Temburong that the public can access are limited, but incredible.

From the top of the slightly terrifying canopy bridge (not for those with a fear of heights..), you an see rainforest for miles… and the boat ride upstream in a traditional boat is worth it.

Read tips for visiting Ulu Temburong National Park.

LGBT rights

We can’t avoid talking about LGBT rights in Brunei as many people avoid going to Brunei for this specific reason.  Let’s be clear: there’s a death penalty for same-sex sexual activity, and non-gender conforming people may have issues . Recent changes in Bruneian law mean that LGBT travelers should show significant caution prior to traveling in Brunei.

We met some LGBT travelers who told us that LGBT travelers could visit Brunei with no problems with some precautions regarding appearances, getting separate hotel rooms if traveling together, not posting photos on social media, keeping a low profile, and being very careful as the government takes homosexuality seriously.

That said, travelers who are coming to Brunei will be surprised by the friendliness of its citizens towards any foreign tourists, but it’s your call if you’re willing to visit a country where homosexuality is illegal and enforced by law. I think that Meg Cale’s article about travel in anti-LGBT destinations is a good read if you’re on the fence.

Brunei isn’t cheap

You’ll find hotel prices in Brunei similar to prices in Singapore although hotel prices were surprisingly high.

If you’re coming from Malaysian Borneo, brace yourself for hotel prices that are generally higher than $50.  Homestays are catching on within Brunei, so consider doing a homestay if you want to experience a bit beyond the hotel.

 We stayed at the  Kunyit 7 Lodge , a sustainable tourism homestay in the middle of the Kampong Ayer water village.  Book your accommodation in Brunei as there’s not  that  many hotels in BSB.  The good ones that are affordable book up. I was about to book two different hotels and both rooms actually sold out for the dates that we visited Brunei in December after I waited a few days just to decide. 

Check hotel prices in BSB now!  

Nearly all the attractions in BSB are free, so expect to save some money on sightseeing although you’ll end up spending money on drinking ice cold coffee as it’s pretty hot day time.  Similarly, visiting Ulu Temburong isn’t cheap, but it’s worth it 100%.

In Bandar Seri Begawan, don’t miss the Kampong Ayer water village

I’ve visited a lot of countries and a lot places, but few places have inspired such awe in my mind.  Kampong Ayer is a fully functional village on stilts and it’s not just for tourists; people actually live there. I have no idea how it’s not a UNESCO attraction, but I suspect that it might become one in the future.  See it before the rest of the world discovers it…

When is the best time to visit Brunei?

Probably not summer as it’s hot year-round, but especially hot in summer.

There are four great times to visit Brunei:

• July 15th for the Sultan’s Birthday. If you’re considering visiting for the Sultan’s birthday, bring a fancy modest outfit that covers your arms, closed toe shoes, and a hijab (ladies). You will not be admitted otherwise. There’s a long line to get in, but if you’re curious what the sultan’s palace looks like, this is your chance to get in!  According to a kind local, you will only see the Sultan’s car on this day.
• Apparently the best day is Eid Day (date varies).  Men will be able to meet the Sultan while women can meet the Queen.
• We were luckily enough to visit just in time for the Regatta to see the boats racing on the Brunei river.  There’s a few each year, so check for events ahead.
• If you’re into fireworks and celebrations, visit for the National Day celebrations on February 23rd.
• June 1st for the Harvest Festival in the eastern part of the country.   It might shock people visiting Brunei for the first time, but there are non-Muslims living in Brunei.  One of the major ethnic groups of Brunei is Iban.  The Iban have their own culture and villages in the Temburong province, so consider visiting to take part in the annual harvest festival in Bangar.  It’s considered lucky if the vat of homemade rice wine prepared by each family is finished before the end of the festival, so non-Muslims, expect to give some assistance.

Have you been to Brunei? What do you recommend that tourists traveling in Brunei know?

Enjoyed this? Click for tips on things to do in Bandar Seri Begawan , visiting Ulu Temburong National Park , my complete Borneo itinerary , or an insider’s guide to Singapore.

About Karen Turner

New Yorker–born and raised. Currently living in the Hague, the Netherlands after stints in Paris and Amsterdam. Lover of travel, adventure, nature, city, dresses, and cats.

Reader Interactions

December 19, 2017 at 1:55 am

OMG! I cant believe the office said that to you! But thanks for clarifying!

January 17, 2018 at 1:26 pm

Hello! Thank you SO much for these great posts about Brunei! I’m off to Brunei tomorrow, and I’m so excited! Can I ask you about transportation? What’s the best way to get from the airport to BSB? And what’s the best way to get around on daily basis? Thanks in advance 🙂

January 17, 2018 at 5:56 pm

Hi Lene, There’s a public bus that goes into the city that costs $1 as soon as you leave Arrivals. You should see a sign for a Public Bus, so just ask if you don’t. Just ask for directions as soon as you get there. Once you’re in the city, it’s very walkable besides getting to the water village (water taxi) although you might want to take a cab if you go to one of the further spots. Some hotels will arrange pick up for you. It’s best to carry a little cash on you for taxis and water taxis.

Glad these helped and hope you enjoy!

Best, Karen

January 24, 2018 at 7:07 pm

Hi Che, I heard the buses stop early and you’ll need to take a taxi if it’s late. I wish you a great trip in Brunei. 🙂

January 31, 2018 at 2:40 am

Hi Karen, As a Bruneian i see that many of your information is spot on. Glad to see some tourists appreciate Brunei which is underrated in terms of tourism. Just to add information and just a small correction. 1) During the Sultan’s Birthday you will only see him in his car when he passes by from the palace to the city centre where the main event takes place. If you want to see the Sultan in person and shake his hand is on Eid Day (You have to check your calendar as Eid Day falls at different dates every year) and only men are allowed to see the Sultan while the women are allowed to see the Queen. Just brace yourselves for the long que.

2) Another best time to visit Brunei is during the National Day celebrations which falls on the 23rd of February.

3) For local delights, i recommend eating ‘Nasi Katok’ that is rice with fried chicken with a little red spicy sweet sauce wrapped in paper. Its sold in many food stalls or the Gadong food market. It’s cheap (BND1) and most important delicious. A fast food restaurant called ‘Ideal’ and try their roasted chicken. It’s unique. There are many other delicacies but these two are the most famous among ‘ambuyat’ that i heard from other visitors.

February 24, 2018 at 9:24 am

Your posts regarding Brunei are really helpful, thanks a lot! 🙂

Do you have any updated info on the public buses in BSB? Been trying to search online but it is so limited. Would like to travel by public buses during my short trip in BSB.

February 24, 2018 at 10:56 am

Hi Shanice, let me shoot a message to my friends about it (I’ll reply once I hear back) although I know ALL of them drive. It’s best to stay close to the city center as not to inconvenience yourself as the main bus line goes between city center of BSB and the airport. Once you’re in Brunei, it’s possible to arrange transportation on private buses/ferries to nearby cities if you talk to anyone in the tourism industry.

Glad to hear that!

March 3, 2018 at 2:16 pm

Thanks Karen!

And yes, will just be trvelling around BSB but there are some places ie. The Mall & the night market @ Gadong that is located a little far out from my accom, which requires me to arrange transport. A new public transport Dart was also launched just months ago too!

Hope to hear from you soon! 🙂

March 3, 2018 at 4:54 pm

Hi Shanice, I haven’t heard anything back from my friends yet, however Gadong shouldn’t be too far by taxi from the center (maybe 15 minutes). Curious what you think about the Dart public transit option when you’re there. 🙂

I’ll remind them to answer.

Apologies, Karen

May 11, 2018 at 5:10 pm

hello! is the hariraya scheduled on june? or july? thank you very much!!

May 13, 2018 at 7:39 pm

In 2018, it’s 15 Jun to 19 Jun.

June 19, 2018 at 5:33 am

hi .. may i ask if its possible to get a taxi late night ? or do they have grab ? we will be arriving around 11.45 pm from manila Philippines.

June 20, 2018 at 3:38 am

Look up DART! It’s a new app similar to Grab for Brunei.

June 20, 2018 at 7:49 am

Very informative post! Thanks a lot for writing in such detail. Planning t trip to Brunei and your blog is immensely helpful!

Keep writing!

October 14, 2018 at 1:23 pm

Is Brunei safe for solo female travelers?

October 14, 2018 at 2:55 pm

Hi MM, A few female friends of mine have traveled solo in Brunei. They were quite comfortable. 🙂 Best, Karen

April 4, 2019 at 11:54 am

Thank you so much for the very informative article! Many things you said there will come in handy for my up coming trip there.

I have a question, what is you view on… I am going there with my opposite sex partner. We are non-Muslim and are not married. We are planning to stay in same hotel room. Is that just a no no? I am very worried about the newly in place adultery punishment! Some people said it doesn’t apply to foreigners, some say it does… Any idea?

And again, thank you for the article and for sharing your travel experience 🙂

April 5, 2019 at 6:05 pm

Hi Julz, I was married when I visited, but I’ve met others who were unmarried and had no problems traveling in Brunei. I’d skew on the side of more conservative if asked about your marital status.

Kind regards, Karen

July 15, 2019 at 12:47 pm

SO interesting and I want to travel there but there’s the thing I worry the most is : seafood allergy which I have, There’s any restaurants without seafood? Brunei is know for seafood right?

July 17, 2019 at 12:21 am

Hi Melody, I hope that it’s not an issue, however, I can’t say for sure. I recommend asking your hotel or accommodations to look up restaurants that cater well to other allergies. Hopefully, you’ll find somewhere good!

October 9, 2020 at 11:44 am

Wow this is very interesting! I’ll like to visit Bunrnel sometimes very soon. Love your write ups and hints! Very handy and straight forward! Thanks for this.

February 21, 2022 at 1:37 am

Hi this post is so helpful thankyou! I’m thinking of spending 1 week here as I travel around aisa but I’m struggling to find transport out of the country. I’m going to the Indonesian area of the island next making my way down to evenutaully et to Jakarta. Do you have any information on how to leave Brunei and where to travel to next?

Thanks in advance!

March 17, 2022 at 9:38 pm

The world is a weird place right now, so I would recommend checking the options for flying out of Brunei (mostly Royal Brunei air).

October 16, 2022 at 10:12 pm

Is Brunei ok for one to migrate to,what I mean is did they have jobs that pays well? Thanks for your write up bro.

[…] you might be visiting a couple restaurants with intense air conditioning during your trip (especially in Brunei) I recommend having a comfortable light layer that you can put […]

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Travel in Brunei: Everything You Should Know Before You Visit

Categories Destinations , Asia , Brunei

I have to be honest. Travel in Brunei has never been at the top of my list for a variety of reasons. Life had other plans and I landed up spending three months in the country, making Borneo the island that I had spent the longest on.

One thing that I did realize after those three months is that I had been wrong about the country on so many counts and right in a few others. Do I miss Brunei? I do.

I miss the forests and the peace that the country has and most of all I miss Shawn because he had to stay back for a couple of months while I returned to India. With three months of exploring and travel in Brunei, I feel competent enough to write a detailed guide to the country so let’s plunge in shall we?

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Read my disclaimer for further information.

The Global Consensus And Actual Travel In Brunei

Before I headed out to Brunei, I did a lot of research on the place. I looked at the news articles and the travel blogs. I must say that while the Brunei travel blogs talked about a smattering of things to do in Brunei, the media talked about how restrictive the country was.

Staying for three months in such a country did not seem pleasant to me but at that point I did not have much of a choice. Three days in however and my whole perspective took a drastic change. Why?

The thing about Brunei is that it has been in the news for all the wrong reasons and since traveling through the country is not popular because of its location, it is hardly ever explored properly. It doesn’t take you long to realize that the people in Brunei are some of the friendliest people you will meet.

I had someone hand me a box full of jackfruit on day one for free just because I said I loved it. It was something that happened (with other things) over and over again throughout my stay and it emphasizes just how generous people are.

What about the Sharia Law?

Now while I did fall in love with the country, I have to say that I did not agree with a lot of things. The Sharia law was one of those things. Unfortunately for us, we were in the country when the second wave of the Sharia law implementation took place.

My particular beef was with the laws involving the LGBTQ community. Luckily, the Sultan was forced to backtrack from some of the harsher punishments that were due to be implemented.

To Write Or Not To Write About Travel In Brunei

With all this in mind, I found myself at a crossroads. Do I write about travel in Brunei or not? I finally decided that I would write about it largely to talk about my feelings and the things that I did like about the country.

After all, Brunei is not very well documented, and I found myself exploring lesser visited destinations. Talking to the expats and the locals in the smaller town that I lived in reminded me that I wrote for the people who needed it. Factual tips about travel and living in a country that I spent a long while in.

Navigating Through The Brunei Travel Guide

In order to help you navigate through Globetrove’s Brunei Travel Guide, I have divided it into sections so that you can scroll directly down to the part of the post you want to access.

Expect the post to be long because I have a lot to share and talk about. I hope that the Brunei Travel Guide will help you if you do consider travel to the country or find yourself inside its borders for some reason.

• Facts about Brunei
• Facts for the visitor
• Things to do in Brunei

BRUNEI TRAVEL GUIDE: Facts About Brunei

Travel in Brunei is not complete without visiting the board walk.

Let’s talk about the country before we get into the specifics about travel in Brunei. I always find that knowing about the location you head to in advance gives you a more immersive feel when you actually touch down. That is why I like to read up a bit on the weather, geography, history and culture before I start exploring.

Brunei has an interesting past. Today, the country is ruled by a Sultan but it wasn’t always so. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate. Till date you will find a British Garrison in Brunei. Things however began to change around 1929 when petroleum production began.

It was this production that turned the tides for Brunei and till today it is what sustains the economy of the country. For a brief period during 1941-1945 in the World War II, Brunei found itself being occupied by he Japanese. The British however later returned and eventually, negotiations were made for the independence of Brunei.

Once Brunei stabilized politically in the 1970’s, it quickly rose to become one of the most flourishing economies in the world thanks to the amount of petroleum that was and continues to be produced in the country. It does not come as a surprise therefore that there are a lot of expats (who are linked to the oil industry) that live in the oil towns of Brunei.

One of the first things that I realized during my travel in Brunei was that the entire landscape appears green. Okay, you may not see as much of this in Bandar Seri Begawan which is the capital of Brunei but the moment you start heading out of the city, the landscape changes rather dramatically.

The forest cover of the country is spectacular and many of the locals love walking through the numerous forest reserves and natural parks . Ulu Temburong however remains the most popular natural park that tourists visit.

Brunei has a tropical climate which means that you can expect it to be hot and humid. It rains during a large part of the year and when I say rains, I mean that it pours! So you need to plan what to pack accordingly. I recently wrote a whole guide to what to pack when visiting Brunei. You can find the link to the post below.

RELATED ARTICLES: The Ultimate Packing List For Brunei

The currency in Brunei is called the Bruneian Dollar and is often abbreviated as BND. Since it is benchmarked against the Singaporean dollar, both currency are valid tender in the country. I found this rather surprising at first but then I realized that it was part and parcel of life in Brunei.

One of the things that surprised me about travel in Brunei was the food. The food is surprisingly multicultural with large influences from the Malaysian, Singaporean,, Indonesian and Indian cuisines. That however isn’t all. It also has a thriving fast food industry.

Burgers are big deal in the country and you see them at all the local stalls. Italian food is also highly loved. I won’t do into the details of it since I have already written an in depth article about the food in Brunei.

RELATED ARTICLES:

• A Detailed Guide To Food In Brunei
• Guide to places to eat in Kuala Belait

BRUNEI TRAVEL GUIDE: Facts For The Visitor

If you are considering travel in Brunei, then you may want to arm yourself with a couple of facts like how to get into the country, what is the transportation like, where should you stay etc. In order to make your quest for this information a bit easier, we have compiled as much pertinent information as we could in this segment of the Brunei Travel Guide.

Entering The Country

There are two main ways to enter Brunei and those are by the land borders and by air. I have however heard that the government is encouraging cruise ships to dock in Brunei to promote tourism in the country.

Flying into Brunei is a popular choice if you are heading just to the country itself. Many however choose to take one of the cheaper flights to either Kota Kinabalu (Sabah, Malaysia) or Miri (Sarawak, Malaysia) and then backpack their way through. There are a couple of cheapish flights that ply between these cities and the route through remains a popular one.

One of my pet peeves in Brunei was the transport. There is not much public transport to talk off. A couple of stray buses that head out of the main city but that is it. Everyone owns a car and, in some cases, multiple cars. There are cabs but they are extremely expensive when you compare the rates to the rest of Asia. Yes! Brunei is expensive so keep that in mind too!

Accommodation

Accommodation is definitely something that you will need to consider when you think about travel in Brunei. While we personally stayed closer to Kuala Belait which is a small town in Brunei, I wouldn’t recommend heading that far out if you are just passing through.

Most of the spots that you would see as a tourist are in or close to the capital city named Bandar Seri Begawan. Finding accommodation there would be the wisest. If you are looking for an experience, then think of staying in Kampung Ayer also known as Brunei’s water village.

One of the things that you should keep in mind when it comes to travel in Brunei is the dress code. While there are a couple of foreigners that wear knee level shorts, I would suggest staying modest. Loose cotton clothes is the way to go especially since the weather is hot and humid.

Avoid thicker fabrics. I preferred white and light colours for this very same reason. Carry a scarf or a shawl that you can use to cover your head when you enter a mosque or religious building. As a rule, most people are not bothered about what you wear but I would still err on the side of caution.

BRUNEI TRAVEL GUIDE: Things To Do In Brunei

Travel in Brunei should definitely include visiting the different religious structures in the country.

When I talk about travel in Brunei, a lot of people stop me and ask me where Brunei is. Unlike its popular neighbours Malaysia and Indonesia, Brunei covers just a small piece of land on the mighty island of Borneo. A large part of this land is covered with forests and hence it does not come as a surprise that there are few tourist related activities to indulge in.

Main Cities In Brunei

Bandar Seri Begawan is the capital city of Brunei and is the place with most of the activities that as a tourist you would seek out. In fact, as far happening places in Brunei go, this is as bustling as it gets. The other cities are smaller and definitely less touristic.

Kuala Belait and Seria are two sleepy towns that lie closer to the Malaysian border. These two are oil towns and are largely populated by expats. Jerudong, Tutong and Gadong are other popular cities.

Religious Monuments

One of the main items that everyone talks about when they head to Brunei is the gorgeous mosques in the country. While I have had a chance to just visit one of them, I have seen many of them as we passed by. They are without a doubt gorgeous and well worth exploring if you have the time.

National Parks

Remember when I mentioned that Brunei is covered by forests? You can see this as you swoop in with your flight. Brunei has a number of forests that are protected and luckily deforestation is not a threat here as compared to neighbouring Malaysia.

They do however have some problems with forest fires during the hotter months and it can get bad with the highways being closed. Most of these forests however have parks that are incorporated into them so you can trek and enjoy nature. They are so profuse that you will definitely find a green spot no matter which part of Brunei you stay in.

RELATED ARTICLES:  Forest Reserves and Recreational Parks in Brunei

BRUNEI TRAVEL GUIDE: Experiences You Should Not Miss

As with every country, you will find that while you travel in Brunei, there are a couple of experiences that you really should not miss. While most of the notable sites can be covered in a two to three days (if you choose to visit Ulu Temburong), most of the sites are within the city of Bandar Seri Begawan and you don’t have to travel far. 

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