Bandar Seri Begawan

Brunei’s principal airport is Brunei International Airport.

Getting there/getting there: A 20-minute cab ride from the airport to the city center costs roughly B$25. Some hotels (such as the Grand City Hotel) may offer complimentary transportation from the airport to the hotel. A covered walkway leads to a bus stop for Purple buses to the city center (B$2) at the end of the car park away from the Terminal (turn right after emerging from Arrivals).

Except for those in the remote Temburong Districts, all major highways in Brunei go to Bandar Seri Begawan. The primary route into and out of Bandar Seri Begawan links to the coastal road through Tutong, Seria, and Kuala Belait, which leads to the Sarawak border. Other major highways run to Muara and Kuala Lurah, both of which have a border crossing into Sarawak’s Limbang division. If you’re heading to Temburong, use this route; however, you’ll have to pass through two immigration crossings – at Kuala Lurah (Tedungan on the Sarawak side) and Puni (Pandaruan on the Sarawak side) – before reaching Bangar, the district administrative center.

The city’s major bus station, where all long-distance and local buses depart and arrive, is located on Jalan Cator. It is located on the ground floor of a multistory parking garage.

• To/from Seria

Regular buses leave from the main bus station towards Seria (where you may change buses to Kuala Belait and then to Miri). The departure time is generally shown on the windscreen. The trip takes around an hour and costs B$6 one way. Make sure you start early if you want to go all the way to Miri. The Miri Belait Transportation Company offers buses between Brunei’s Kuala Belait and Sarawak’s Miri. At the Sungei Tujoh border gate, the travel necessitates a bus change. Through tickets, on the other hand, are available from Miri for RM12.20.

It should be noted that buses from Miri have been reported to refuse to travel all the way to the border, stopping just before the Asean Bridge at Kuala Baram due to the bridge’s high toll price. The final 5 kilometers between the border and the bridge may necessitate the employment of taxis. There are buses from Kuala Belait to Seria (B$1), where you may change to a bus to Bandar Seri Begawan (B$6). If you are traveling from Miri to Bandar Seri Begawan or vice versa, start early because the full route takes around 5 hours and only a few buses operate on each portion of the journey each day.

• To/from Kuala Lurah

Throughout the day, local purple buses travel from the bus station to the Kuala Lurah checkpoint. The trip takes around half an hour and costs B$1 one way. Walk across the border into Limbang from Kuala Lurah and take a bus or cab.

• To/from Muara

Regular buses, including some direct non-stop buses, depart from the bus station (first departure 6.30 a.m.). Check before boarding because not all Muara buses travel to the Serasa Ferry Terminal. Take bus #39 to Pekan Mura, have your ticket stamped, and then board bus 33 to Serasa Ferry Terminal. The cost is B$1, which includes the transfer. Up to 2 hours in length.

• To/from Temburong: From the jetty near the foodstalls at Jalan Residency, just across the bridge across Sungai Kianggeh to the east of the city center, speedboats depart for Bangar in Temburong District. Throughout the day, regular boats travel between Bandar and Bangar.
• To/from Limbang: From the ferry port on Jalan McArthur in the city center, speedboats depart towards Limbang, Sarawak. When the boats are completely full, they depart.
• To/from other destinations: Boats depart from Muara’s Serasa Ferry Terminal towards locations like as Labuan, Lawas, Sundar, and other Sarawak towns. You can even get to/from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, in a day if you change boats in Labuan.

Please keep in mind that the ferry terminal is quite a distance from the container port in Muara town. Bandar Seri Begawan is roughly 25 kilometers from the terminal. Speedboats run between the town’s Bandar Seri Begawan jetty and Limbang. They only leave when they are completely filled.

Getting there/away: The Bandar Seri Begawan bus station in Jalan Cator is where purple buses depart towards the ferry port. It’s worth noting that not all Muara buses stop at Serasa. The Serasa Ferry Port in Muara is Brunei’s primary ferry terminal, with numerous daily crossings to and from Labuan and one daily ferry each to and from Lawas and Sundar, both in Sarawak.

Pick yourself a copy of Brunei Darussalam’s official map, as it’s easy to read and the public bus lines are well-marked. Bruneians are kind and helpful, so don’t be shocked if they offer you a ride to one of the attractions after a few minutes of chat, since they realize how much faster it is to drive there than to go there any other way.

Water taxis may be hailed from practically any port, however the most popular spot is behind the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah mall or at the canal market. Riding in them is a lot of fun.

Even though they do not run at frequent intervals (typically 20-minute intervals) and terminate service early, public buses are the cheapest mode of transportation in the city (at about 6PM). All of them start and complete their journeys at the Jalan Cator bus station. They cost $1 regardless of distance and may drop off or pick up passengers wherever along the route (so if you want to stop, just indicate it to the conductor on the bus, and the same thing if you want to get on).

The buses are really enormous purple vans that can seat up to 20 passengers and are typically clean and comfortable to travel. Bus routes 01 (Circle Line) and 20 are the most popular (Business Centres Line). The detailed bus itineraries are posted on a board attached to the front windshield of the buses, as well as on the information board at the Jalan Cator terminal.

Request a tour van at the ticket desk to drive you about Brunei and take you to the sights. Before you agree to board the van, talk about the fee.

The Mukims that make up the city are as follows: (subdivisions of a district)

• Kianggeh
• Burong Pinggai Ayer
• Sungai Kebun
• Sungai Kedayan
• Peramu
• Saba
• Tamoi
• Berakas A
• Berakas B
• Gadong A
• Gadong B
• Kilanas
• Kota Batu
• Lumapas
• Sengkurong

MARKET / SUPERMARKET

RESTAURANTS

ENTERTAINMENT

PERSONAL CARE

CLOTHES / SHOES

TRANSPORTATION

Manikar Beach

The South China Sea may be seen from this beach. In the area, there is also a resort. Only go there if you can afford to drive there, as it is quite a distance from the city center. Enjoy the beach and the South China Sea’s gorgeous seas. The resort is pricey, but the service is exceptional.

Layang-layangan Beach

This one, too, has a view of the South China Sea. It can be found on Jalan Pancur Hitam. It’s a tranquil and calm setting where you may unwind and recover at your own speed.

Pancur Hitam Beach

This is a lovely beach, with lots of sun, sand, palm trees, and water. It is an uncomplicated location with a peaceful ambience for visitors.

Pohon Batu Beach

This beach, which is also located on the South China Sea’s borders, is great for relaxing and having a laid-back vacation. Apart from sunbathing and swimming, there isn’t much to do. Try one of the beach resorts if you are interested in water sports and would want to try them. These are pricier than the free beaches, but you can do whatever you want. Golf may also be played directly on the beach. The South China Sea is home to almost all of the resorts. Pick one that appeals to you, then have fun with it.

They are an excellent place to unwind or entertain business associates. The majority of the resorts also offer fully equipped business centers. In some of them, you’ll be able to see the lagoon. They have everything you could possibly want in terms of water activities. A resort is undoubtedly the way to go if you’re searching for a more adventurous vacation. The beaches around the South China Sea are all beautiful, with brilliant blue seas and fine sand. The sea is clean and tranquil. Choose one of the many resorts near the beaches to make your vacation in Bandar Seri Begawan one to remember.

• Brunei Museum (Muzium Brunei) – This museum is the country’s largest, and it’s located on an archaeological site at Kota Batu, about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from Bandar Seri Begawan. It was founded in 1965 and has been in its current location since 1970. The museum, which first opened its doors in 1972, concentrates on Islamic history, natural history, Brunei artefacts and traditions, ceramics, and Brunei’s oil sector. oil, the drilling process, processing, the history of Brunei’s petroleum sector, and a map illustrating present oil fields
• Malay Technology Museum – The museum first opened its doors in 1988.
• Royal Regalia Building Museum – This museum honors Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and is located on Jalan Sultan. The coronation and Silver Jubilee Chariots, gold and silver ceremonial armoury, and traditional jewel-encrusted coronation crowns are all on exhibit in the main gallery. The same structure has a collection of papers that traces the Sultan’s life up to his coronation, as well as a constitutional history gallery.
• The Brunei History Centre – The Brunei History Centre is located on Jalan Sultan, near to the Royal Regalia building. The institution was founded in 1982 with the goal of researching Brunei’s history. A large part of that endeavor has been establishing the sultans’ and royal family’s ancestry and history. The public exhibition includes replicas and brass rubbings of tombs, as well as a wealth of information on these themes. At the entryway, there is a flow chart depicting the Brunei sultans’ full ancestry.
• Brunei Stamp Gallery – The Brunei Stamp Gallery, which opened recently on Jalan Sultan, is housed within the post office building.
• Bubongan dua belas – The House of Twelve Roofs, as its name suggests, is located in Jalan Residency. It was formerly the official house of British citizens and high commissioners in Brunei, and was erected in 1906. It is one of Bandar Seri Begawan’s oldest remaining structures. It is presently used as a gallery to display the Sultanate’s long-standing ties with the United Kingdom.
• The Arts and Handicrafts Centre – It was founded in 1980 and is located at Jalan Residency. Brunei’s fine arts and crafts have a long history and are an important component of the country’s proud heritage. Silverware, brassware, woodcarving, songkok-making, weaving, and basketry are all taught in the Arts and Handicrafts Centre.

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque is open to tourists while it is not having prayers. You must remove your shoes before entering and will be given a robe to wear. The towering dome, which is plated in pure gold, is the most outstanding aspect of this opulent Islamic mosque. The mosque, which stands 52 meters tall, is known for its Renaissance and Italian architecture. A remarkable and intriguing sight is the water hamlet of Kampong Ayer, where hundreds of buildings float on the Brunei River.

Although it is preferable to take a water taxi to tour the hamlet, you may still do it on foot, beginning behind the Sultan’s Mosque. Many of the Sultan’s magnificent presents are on exhibit in the Royal Regalia Museum. The Brunei Museum’s Islamic Art Gallery, located on Kota Batu Road, houses artworks. Two ancient graves of Brunei’s third and fifth sultans, Sharif Ali and Sultan Bolkiah, are located at a short distance from the museum. While at Bandar Seri Begawan, you should surely pay a visit to the Sultan of Brunei’s Palace. It boasts 1,788 rooms and is considered the world’s biggest palace.

It is, however, closed to the public except for the Ramadan fasting month’s Hari Raya Aidil Fitri holidays. The “Mosque with a Golden Heart,” the Jame’Asr Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque, is also known as the “Mosque with a Golden Heart.” It is Brunei’s largest mosque, with golden domes and roofing, and is located in the heart of Kiarong in Bandar Seri Begawan. Traditional Brunei handicrafts such as silver, basketry, keris, brassware, and gold brocade weaving are available at the Brunei Arts and Handicrafts Center. You may also take a picturesque trip to Seria Oil Town to see the country’s scientific and technological advances.

The Lambir Waterfall National Park is a must-see for nature lovers. It contains a forest that is perfect for botanists and researchers, and it has regional and worldwide conservation value. The park is also known for its numerous waterfalls and a sandy beach pool. You may do jungle trekking, bird viewing, or explore the Summit Trail in addition to bathing in this pool.

Finally, don’t forget to stop by the food courts to sample some local specialties like roti prata, nasi lemak, lontong, mee goreng, nasi goreng, and soto.

• Aminah Arif Restaurant. One of a few local eateries that serves ambuyat, a Bruneian delicacy, as well as a variety of other dishes.
• RMS Portview, opposite the Yayasan Shopping Centre. The patio has a beautiful view of Kampong Ayer and is ideal for cooling off after a day of touring.
• Gerai Makan, is located on the waterfront in the city’s southeast corner, just over a bridge. There are a variety of inexpensive and good outdoor eateries in this area. It’s a nice area to unwind and take in the scenery. Views of stilt communities and water taxis zipping back and forth are spectacular.
• PGS Cafe, near the Palm Garden at Kiulap. Charges buffet dining at B$6 per head in a pleasant air-conditioned restaurant.

Locals patronize the many tiny local Kedai Kopi (coffee shops) in town, which provide basic, inexpensive, and good meals.

Brunei is well-known for its shophouse architecture. The following are the retail districts:

• Gadong Central – Many retail malls, boutiques, and restaurants can be found in Gadong Central (e.g., The Mall Gadong, Western fast food restaurants and Ayamku, the local fast food chain). Pasar Malam Gadong, a night market, is also available.
• Serusop Complex, Near the Brunei International Airport, there are a few modest commercial malls and shopping complexes.
• Rimba,is a medium-sized shopping center containing a Giant supermarket.
• Tungku-link Commercial Complex, numerous shophouses, local and Korean eateries, textile businesses, and carpet.
• Kiulap Commercial Precinct in Kiarong, Kiulap Mall, private universities, banks, and a variety of eateries ranging from local to Pakistani to Korean.
• Abdul Razak Complex and Seri Complex in Jalan Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha, Kiarong

• Tamu Kianggeh, Several small vendors sell local vegetables, fruits, live poultry and fish, potted plants, diverse meals and beverages at the open market.
• Pasar Malam (Night Market), a few meters from The Mall Gadong, brings together a variety of small businesses, similar to Tamu Kianggeh, but focuses on selling delicacies such as sate, soto, national specialties such as Nasi Katok and Ambuyat, as well as fruits and drinks. It’s where local botanists sell their potted plants during the day.