Top 7 Things To Do In Brunei

Located on the island of Borneo in South East Asia. Brunei, the smallest non island country outside Europe, is a peaceful Muslim country blessed with vast reserves of oil and beautiful rainforest full of wildlife. Check out our Top 7 Things To Do In Brunei.

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Kampong Ayer

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Dubbed as the “Venice of the East” by Antonio Pigafetta, Kampong Ayer is located on the Brunei River about 14 km (9 miles) from its mouth on Brunei Bay. The village of Kampong Ayer is not unlike any other small settlement, the fully-functional community has over 4,200 structures includin shops, restaurants, schools, a police station, mosques, and a hospital.

Gadong Town

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Gadong is a suburb of the capital Bandar Seri Begawan, that is just 5 km (3.1 miles) away from the city center. It is the largest metropolitan area in Brunei, and it is known as the commercial center for young and old people alike. On any given day, this district has many activities going on, and major shopping outlets such as the Jaya Hypermart and Seri Kenangan Complex. Source: thehungrypartier

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque

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The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque dominating the skyline of the city centre of Bandar Seri Begawan. The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque accommodates approximately 3000 people and it is said to be one of the most beautiful mosques in the Southeast Asian region. It is considered amongst the people of Brunei as the country‘s major landmark, symbolized the country’s official religion of Islam.

Jame Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque

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Jame’Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque is a magnificent Masjid built to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the current Sultan of Brunei in 1994 (Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah). It is the largest in Brunei and one of the grandest in the region. With its golden domes, it is the centerpiece of Brunei’s Islamic heritage. It is located in a huge complex with beautifully kept gardens. Inside the Masjid, it is intricately decorated. No cameras are allowed inside the mosque. Source: crescentrating

Ulu Temburong National Park

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Trek the jungle trails, climb the canopy walkway and experience unspoilt rainforest. In Ulu Temburong National Park the magnificence of Borneo’s lowland rainforests can be truly experienced. Botanically the area is possessed of astounding diversity. In fact the forests teem with wildlife, but these creatures are invariably shy and are quick to avoid human contact. The most exciting activity is on the Canopy Walkway where you can see the green forest from over 60 meters (196 ft) above the ridge of the mountain. This walkway, built with steel towers supporting the cable way. Source: ecologyasia

Istana Nurul Iman

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*Brunei is the home to the largest residential palace in the world today. The Istana Nurul Iman is more than 0.5 km (0.31 mile) long and 0.25 km (0.16 mile) wide, and has 1788 rooms, 338 mote than the vatican in Rome. It is official the residence of the sultan of Brunei. The palace is situated on a luxuriant, riverside trail of hills on the banks of the Brunei River south of Bandar Seri Begawan, a few miles outside the city center. Istana Nurul Iman, which means Palace of the Light of Faith. The palace is only open to public during Hari Raya season in Brunei. Source: jyppe

Empire Hotel & Country Club

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See the architectural masterpiece that is the Empire Hotel & Country Club. This is not just a hotel but an attraction in its own right. It is a beachfront, 7 star hotel complete with pools, golf course and many other facilities. It is Brunei’s most exclusive resort.

Just So You Know…

• Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah belongs to the same family that has ruled Brunei for over 600 years.
• Besides cars as the main mode of transport, the most common form of vehicle are boats.
• There is no free speech in Brunei, and the media is controlled by the government, including Brunei’s two major newspapers, The Brunei Times and the Borneo Bulletin.
• Whenever Bruneians enter someone else’s house, they always take off their shoes.
• It is illegal to drink alcohol in public in Brunei
• Visit the Kianggeh Market, it has local foods and hand-crafted goods. The best times to go are on Friday and Saturday morning.
• The Proboscis Monkey, also known as Bengkatan, is one of nature’s most unlikely creatures, with an impossibly long nose, protruding belly and thick orange hair. Brunei is home to the world’s largest population of these monkeys, with 10,000 still in the wild , thanks to its intact rain forest habitat.
• Blessed with vast reserves of oil in the region, the country’s countries economy is based on natural gas, and oil.
• Geographically Brunei is located in both the western and northern hemisphere.

Get Some Culture:

• Brunei Museum – With large collection of Islamic art, traditional Bruneian culture and natural history.
• Kampong Ayer Cultural & Tourism Gallery – About the history of the water village of Kampung Ayer and the crafts traditionally practiced there.