Brunei is an independent Islamic sultanate in south East Asia. Brunei is very low on population but very high on per capita income. Brunei is one of the wealthy sources of oil in the world. It’s a beautiful and peaceful country with lovely and colorful people around. Visitors, Tourists, or any other foreign nationals welcomed in Brunei respectfully.

So, if you want to explore or you want to develop your cultural sensitivity Brunei is one of the best options you have. There are some best places to visit in Brunei that can increase your quest to explore more.

So, let’s see some of the popular places to visit in Brunei

Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque

It is one of the most beautiful architectural mosques in the Asia pacific situated in the capital of Brunei (Bandar Seri Begawan). This beautiful mosque is one of the major historical sites and popular places to visit in Brunei. Well, you must have seen this place in various photos because this is a contouring landmark and a symbol of national pride, most probably because it really reflects the immense wealth of Brunei and on the other side it highlights the importance of religion to the people. If you are walking around in the capital Bander Seri Begawan, you impossibly can’t miss this place as it is visible basically from every corner.

The prayer room interior presents an abundance of precious carpets from Belgium and Saudi Arabia, and it is estimated that around 3000 people can worship together in this humongous prayer hall. Non-Muslims are only allowed access when no prayers are taking place.

Snow white Italian marble from Italy is used as a building material with granite from Shanghai in the museum. It has gem crystal fixtures from England, lavish rugs from Saudi Arabia, and a principal vault of unadulterated gold. The memorable moment is when your vision came across a massive golden dome that shine out in the sky. This mosque is a masterpiece of Malay and Mogul architecture. The best time to visit the mosque is during sunset.

Sunset at Empire Hotel

This must be one of the best places to visit in Brunei during your visit. This place is a bit far from the capital, therefore, you need to go there by cab. Once you enter this hotel you soon get overwhelmed by its magnificent interior. Its name will no longer surprise you, as you truly will feel that you are standing in a palace. The best thing about this place is that tourists can enter the hotel and its beach for free. You should really not miss out on the visit here. Experiencing the picturesque sunset from the beach is a lifetime experience.

Jame’ Asr Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque

The mosque was built in 1994 is surrounded by beautiful gardens, landscapes, and fountains. This worship place is named after the current sultan of Brunei. This is another popular place to visit in Brunei. This beautiful mosque is a bit outside of the heart of bander Seri Begawan; however, you can easily access this place by taking a cab. The suitable time to come here is during the sunset and definitely, you will not regret coming here.

Kampong Ayer – Venice of East

 If you would like to explore the traditions of Brunei, then kampong Ayer is the place to go. It’s an old floating village near Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque. Brunei tourism board call this place Venice of East. It is one of the best places to visit in Brunei to dive into the traditional Malay lifestyle. If you are lucky, you can even see one of the people practicing traditional fishing. It is highly recommended to visit the southwestern side of Kampong Ayer as walking on the pier you would come across traditional Malay houses as well as schools, police stations, or even floating mosques. You can also experience this beautiful place in Brunei by taking water taxis.  

Mangrove Forest Tour

This place in Brunei provides an impression of different things. This tour is a must for all nature lovers. Tour starts by first passing through the modern side of kampong Ayer by boat and all the way taken to Brunei’s ancient mangrove forests. Once you reach there soon you going to appreciate the beauty of this natural habitat, listening to the sounds of jungles and shadows of the trees, you probably going to be calm and relax. There are sky-high temperature and high humidity. If you are lucky you may even spot one of the famous species of monkeys known for their noses. It’s an amazingly different world to visit once in a lifetime.

Ulu Tembourng National Park

This is the must to visit place in Brunei as it has incredibly beautiful scenery of 140-million-year-old rainforest. The Tembourng district is a little bit difficult to reach as a longboat and walk through a shaking ropeway is required to reach canopy walk. The canopy is 43 meters in height and from there you can see trees beneath you. The kind of flora found in Temburong national park includes gingers, begonias, gesneriads, aroids, palms, ferns, mosses, and lichens. If we talk about wildlife, you can spot different mammals, reptiles, butterflies and insects, and birds.

Royal Regalia Museum

This museum is located in the center of bander Seri Begawan. This museum is a tribute to the royalty of the sultan of Brunei. Entry to this historical center is free of charge. In the museum, there are imitations of the sultan’s seat, different crowns, outfits, weapons, and awe-inspiring instances of recognitions offered to the Sultan. The royal gallery exhibits the childhood days of his majesty to the time of his coronation, such as jewel-engraved crowns, garments, and Majestic silver dagger. The Silver Jubilee Gallery in the museum celebrates His Majesty’s 25th ruling year.

Billionth Barrel Monument

This structure was built in 1991 in Seria. The billionth barrel monument is an image of the production of the billionth barrel of oil produced in the onshore oil field in Seria. The success of Brunei’s oil production. Each element in this structure has a different meaning. The arch symbolizes the crude oil is coming under the earth to the surface. Five curved pillars symbolize five pillars of Islam. The national emblem on the top of the structure signifies the prosperity of its people and nation.

Muzium Brunei

The air condition exhibition rooms of the Brunei museum feature various objects dated back to prehistoric times including huge dinosaurs’ bones. On the first floor, there is an anthological collection that focuses on Malayan culture with clothing and scenes of everyday life. This museum of Brunei also features domestic tools from its history which indicates the great transformation that has taken place here. You must visit this place in Brunei if you have an interest in knowing their tradition and culture.

Pasar Gadong Market

Pasar Gadong market is a busy fish market in Brunei and a popular place to visit in Brunei for Seafood lovers. After the arrival of fresh catches in the market, it displayed on the stalls. Potential customers inspect the food and bargains for the best price, if the sale agreed upon, the vendors prepared it skillfully.

Brunei is a country of beautiful mosques and mesmerizing unforgettable sunsets. The best time to visit Brunei is between January and May as the weather supposed to be warm and dry but not too hot. But the tourist’s preferred seasons are between June and September.

Wrapping up

. Language: Standard Malay is the official language of Brunei,

. Currency: The Bruneian Dollar is the currency of Brunei Darussalam

. Capital of Brunei: Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital and largest urban centre.

. Calling code: +673

. Natural resources available in Brunei: petroleum, natural gas, timber

Also Read: Famous Food of Brunei