Overview
Take a trip to Bandar Seri Begawan on your Brunei Darussalam Vacation
Bandar Seri Begawan is the capital of Brunei and is its largest city. Originally known as Brunei Town, it was named after the Sultan’s late father, Omar Ali Saifuddien, in 1970.
Located on the northern bank of the Brunei River, Bandar Seri Begawan is a city of two terrains. Water villages make up some of the city’s historic aquatic districts, with its beaches offering vibrant sea life. On drier land, museums, mosques and historic sites provide a cultural aspect to a Brunei vacation.
The gold-domed Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque was built in 1958 and features an interior of Italian marble walls, carpeting and an elevator. The tunnels in the mosque are frequently used by the Sultan to journey through town.
The James Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, also known as Kiarong Mosque is the largest in Brunei and was built to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Sultan’s reign.
Believed to be the world’s largest residential palace, The Istana Nurul Iman Palace is the residence of the Sultan of Brunei. It is located a few kilometres south of the city centre, on a leafy, riverside sprawl of hills.
The Brunei Museum, located on an archeological site at Kota Batu about 5 km from Bandar Seri Begawan, is the largest museum in the country. Officially opened in 1972, the museum focuses on Islamic history, natural history, Brunei artifacts and customs, ceramics and Brunei’s rich oil industry.
Even with a recent geographic expansion, Bandar Seri Begawan is still considered a fairly modest city, while providing interesting sites, found along both water and land on Brunei tours.
The James Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, also known as Kiarong Mosque is the largest in Brunei and was built to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Sultan’s reign.
Believed to be the world’s largest residential palace, The Istana Nurul Iman Palace is the residence of the Sultan of Brunei. It is located a few kilometres south of the city centre, on a leafy, riverside sprawl of hills.
The Brunei Museum, located on an archeological site at Kota Batu about 5 km from Bandar Seri Begawan, is the largest museum in the country. Officially opened in 1972, the museum focuses on Islamic history, natural history, Brunei artifacts and customs, ceramics and Brunei’s rich oil industry.
Even with a recent geographic expansion, Bandar Seri Begawan is still considered a fairly modest city, while providing interesting sites, found along both water and land on Brunei tours.
At a Glance
Languages
MalayCurrency
Brunei Dollar (BND)What do the experts say?
Aminah Arif Restaurant is a great local favourite where you can enjoy Brunei's national dish, ambuyat. It's their specialty!
A lesser-known spot I recommend visiting is the Kampong Ayer Stilt Villages. You'll find them just beyond the main tourist areas.
The National Mosque of Brunei
Jameasr Hassanil Bolkiah mosque is a must inclu...
Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque
Sultan Omar Ali Saifudding mosque
Most Popular Time to Travel
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Place
Conditions
Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall
Bandar Seri BegawanMostly Cloudy
33°C / 91°F
30mm / 1.2"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.Popularity rating
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ExcellentBased on 5,219 ReviewsThe booking processs was really easy. Katie was very communicative and was very responsive. Every change we asked for, she quickly replied. The room arrangements had a small hiccupp but Katie fixed it within minutes! All the excursions were a blast and well planned.
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Thank you to Bijal for the excellent African Safari that you put together for us. You were wonderful.Nancy HayWe enjoyed our trip very much. I was very pleased by the hotel, tours, and itinerary selections that Alice Teramoto made for us. It was all well organized and easy to follow.
Thank you very much for helping us have a great experience in Peru.INEverything was planned perfectly. The excursions were so small and personal. Ask for Mark! I have already planned another trip back to the Oregon wine country with Mark. Claire
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