Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque
Brunei's best-known mosque, with a gleaming golden dome and a tall minaret reflected in a lagoon beside the river. Visitors are welcome in modest dress, and shoes are removed at the entrance.
Bandar Seri Begawan
The Royal Regalia Museum, the Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah mosque and the Omar Ali Saifuddien mosque are what the capital is known for.
Attractive locations
Royal Regalia Museum
Museum in the city centre showing gifts and ceremonial items linked to the Sultan's reign, including a large golden chariot used in processions, crowns and decorated weapons.
Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque
Large modern mosque in the Kiarong area, with golden domes and many minarets lit up at night. Visitors may enter in modest dress, and non-Muslims are asked to respect prayer times.
Brunei Darussalam Maritime Museum
Museum in Kota Batu that shows ceramics and objects recovered from an old shipwreck found off the coast, giving a picture of the sea trade that once passed Brunei.
Malay Technology Museum
Museum in Kota Batu that explains traditional Malay skills, such as boat-building, weaving, fishing and metalwork, with displays about life in the water village.
Airports
Brunei International Airport BWN
It is about 3 km in a straight line from Bandar Seri Begawan.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan26.7 °C285 mm
- Feb26.5 °C143 mm
- Mar26.9 °C155 mm
- Apr27.7 °C212 mm
- May28.0 °C241 mm
- Jun27.8 °C258 mm
- Jul27.6 °C249 mm
- Aug27.7 °C229 mm
- Sep27.5 °C253 mm
- Oct27.3 °C312 mm
- Nov27.3 °C321 mm
- Dec27.2 °C333 mm
Driest months: Feb, Mar, Apr. Wettest months: Oct, Nov, Dec.
Costs
Prices here are about 35% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
religious
Hari Raya - Istana Nurul Iman open house
Visitors can enter the palace during the three days that follow Eid.
culture
Sultan's Birthday (15 July)
A royal procession and celebrations are held in the capital.
Who can help
Emergency
Police 993. Ambulance 991. Fire 995.
local government
Tourism Development Department, Brunei
Helps with: Brunei's tourism department, under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Contact it for tourism information. It lists a phone, an email and office hours Monday to Thursday and Saturday.
Who qualifies: Anyone visiting Brunei or planning a trip there.
Phone: (673) 238 2822
Email: info@tourism.gov.bn
Address: Tourism Development Department, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Jalan Dewan Majlis, Bandar Seri Begawan BB3913
local government
Police emergency number 993
Helps with: Reaches the police in Brunei. The number comes from UK government travel advice.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors, can call this number.
Phone: 993
local government
Ambulance emergency number 991
Helps with: Reaches the ambulance service in Brunei. The number comes from UK government travel advice.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors, can call this number.
Phone: 991
local government
Fire emergency number 995
Helps with: Reaches the fire service in Brunei. The number comes from UK government travel advice.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors, can call this number.
Phone: 995