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 200 foot 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!
Climate
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.
Safety
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. Brunei is a Muslim country, but terrorism is not an issue here at all and attitudes toward foreigners seem welcoming.
Budget
Brunei is a surprisingly budget friendly travel destination, although it’s not as cheap as other parts of SE Asia. Hostels are available from $18 and private hotels from $30. Meals are not too expensive, costing about $5 to $10 depending on location. Transportation in Brunei is generally by car rental or taxi. The only transportation app is Dart, which works similar to Uber.
Quick Tips
- Language: Malay; ‘Thank you’ is ‘terima kasih’
- Currency: Bruneian Dollar (BND)
- Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
- Visa: VOA or visa free access for 60+ countries
- Climate: Tropical; hot and humid year round. Dry season is Feb – April
- Power Plugs: Type G
- Apps: Dart
Where To Stay
Some top hotel picks in Bandar Seri Begawan!
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.
Posts
My latest blog posts about Brunei
Jame’Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque In Brunei
Jame’Asr Hassanil Bolkiah is the biggest mosque in Brunei, and also one of the most iconic. It’s even featured on the $10 Bruneian Dollar notes! I visited this… Read More
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque In Brunei
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 may… Read More
8 Top Things To Do In Brunei & Bandar Seri Begawan
Brunei 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… Read More
20 Brunei Pictures That Will Make You Want To Travel
This is a collection of Brunei pictures from my latest visit to Bandar Seri Begawan. Brunei is a tiny, oil rich Muslim country on the island of Borneo… Read More
Brunei International Airport Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan
The first mosque you see after arriving in Bandar Seri Begawan will be the Brunei International Airport Mosque. This is a smaller mosque with a big blue dome… Read More
Brunei Visa On Arrival (VOA) Info
Planning a visit or transit stop in Brunei? Hopefully this post clears up any confusion on the immigration process. 55 countries have visa free access to Brunei. This… Read More