Travel to Brunei - Getting There

More than one million visitors come to Brunei each year, the vast majority of them arriving at the main airport in the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. The nation’s location in the heart of Southeast Asia means it is well-connected, with flights to about 30 destinations around the region and world. Royal Brunei Airlines is the national carrier, flying direct to most large cities in Asia, the Middle East as well as to Frankfurt and London.

Brunei is connected by express ferry from the capital Bandar Seri Begawan to the Malaysian island of Labuan off Sabah’s coast, as well as Sarawak’s towns of Limbang and Lawas. An extensive network of roads allows access to Brunei from neighboring Sarawak and Sabah. Coaches run from main cities like Kalimantan, but overland travel remains underused by foreign visitors. There are two border crossings at Lawas and Limbang in Malaysian Sarawak if you are arriving by coach.

Entry Points

You can enter Brunei at:

  • Brunei International Airport
  • Muara, which connects by boat to Lawas (Sarawak) and Pulau Labuan (for connections to Sabah)
  • Kuala Lurah, bordering Sarawak

Requirements

  • Passport: A passport with at least six months validity from the date of departure is needed to enter Brunei.
  • Visas: Depending on the traveler’s country of origin, they may be able to enter without a visa. Nationals from the United Kingdom are permitted to stay for 30 days, nationals from Canada up to 14 days, nationals from the USA up to 90 days and nationals from Australia up to 30 days visa-free. Nationals of other countries and those wishing to stay longer are advised to visit their local Brunei embassy or consulate.

Getting There by Air

Brunei has only one airport, which is located approximately seven miles from the city center of the capital. The national airline is Royal Brunei Airlines (website: www.bruneiair.com), which serves direct flights between most major Asian destinations including Jakarta, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Hong Kong.

Approximate Flight Times

There are no direct routes connecting to the USA so flight times to Brunei can be long with layovers possible in multiple Asian cities. From Los Angeles to Brunei takes upward of 18 hours and from New York approximately 24 hours.

Main Airports

Brunei International (BWN) (Bandar Seri Begawan) (website: www.brunet.bn/gov/dca/fids/) is located just seven miles from the capital city of Bandar Seri Begwan, or approximately 15 minutes’ drive by taxi.

To/from the airport: taxis can be found in abundance outside the main terminal, but there may be extra charges for services after 22:00. Taxis can also be found at the airport’s outside parking area for a discounted rate.

Facilities: restaurants, bars, duty-free shopping, car rental offices, banks, money exchange, internet facilities, postal services, lost luggage, accommodation reservations and newsstands.

Departure tax: Passengers are required to pay Br$5 departure tax for all flights to Kota Kinabalu and Kuching and Br$12 for all other destinations. Departure tax is payable at the airport check-in desk in local currency.

Airline Freequent-Flyer Groups

Star Alliance - Singapore Airlines (to Singapore)
Others – Royal Brunei Airlines (to Hong Kong, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, London, Manila, Brisbane, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Dubai).

Getting There by Water

Main port: Muara (website: www.ports.gov.bn/en/index.html) is located approximately 10 miles from Bandar Seri Begwan and has ferry services between Brunei and Limbang in Sarawak and Pulau Labuan in Sabah. Some cruise liners also dock in Muara.

Getting There by Rail

There are no connections to Brunei by rail.

Getting There by Road

There are some access roads to Brunei in the west from Sarawak although some are unpaved and traffic is slow moving.

Border Crossings

Brunei/Malaysia crossings at: Sungai Tujoh/Miri Sarawak, Kuala Lurah/Limbang, Puni/Limbang and Labu/Lawas.

Popular Crossings

The Puni/Limbang and Labu/Lawas are the most popular border crossings, with the Temburong district of Brunei located separate to the main area of Brunei.

Tips

  • Booking onward flights within the Southeast Asian region well in advance can net some great bargains.
  • One of the best ways to get around Brunei is by hiring a car from the many agents available at the airport, or you can book in advance for a better deal.
  • Although the ferry services are a great way of arriving at and getting around Brunei, during the rainy season the seas can be rough, causing uncomfortable journeys.