Why Brunei?

It may be one of the world’s smallest countries, but this Islamic sultanate has exorbitant wealth due to the success of Shell oil company. A range of attractions are onsite, including traditional Malay villages, beautiful mosques and pristine forests. Expect peaceful evenings, glorious architecture and limitless amenities.

Ratings

• Tourist Attractions: 4
• Islands and Beaches: 4
• Natural Scenery: 4
• Historical Attractions: 3
• National Parks / Wildlife: 4

• Adventure Travel: 4
• Treking / Hiking: 4
• Cultural Experiences: 3
• Festivals and Events: 4
• Shopping: 4

• Food: 4
• Safety: 5
• Hospitality: 3
• Tourism Infrastructure: 3
• Nightlife: 1
• Value for Money: 3

Tourist attractions: 4 – While there are few famous landmarks in Brunei, the nation features a wide range of stunningly beautiful natural features such as rainforests filled with wildlife like orangutans, sun kissed beaches and national parks. Brunei’s mosques are dramatic and its cities are teeming with attractions such as amusement parks.

Islands and beaches: 4 – Featuring 60kms of picturesque coastline, Brunei features a number of sun kissed beaches and islands where visitors can simply lay back and work on their tans or hire equipment and practice water sports such as snorkeling, scuba diving and wind surfing. Although there are no islands, popular beaches include Muara, Serasa and Lumut Beach.

Natural scenery: 4 – Visitors to Brunei are treated to a broad spectrum of stunning natural scenery, from beautiful beaches with crystal clear water to dense rainforests. Brunei doesn’t attract as many tourists as many surrounding nations, meaning that these areas of natural beauty are rarely crowded.

Historical attractions: 3 – Brunei features a large number of impressive historical attractions such as the Mausoleum of Sultan Bolkiah, Brunei Museum and Istana Nurul Iman, home of the sultan and the world’s most lavish palace. However, nearly all these historical attractions are located in the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan.

National parks / wildlife: 4 - Brunei is home to some of Asia’s best loved nature reserves, such as Ulu Temburong National Park, while areas such as Tasek Merimbun allow visitors to explore the nation’s natural beauty and discover animals such as the rare Bornean proboscis monkey. The only downside with these areas is that few tourist facilities are provided.

Adventure travel: 4 – Brunei’s rainforests offer the adventurous a chance to explore off the beaten path and it is even possible to camp out. Brunei also offers a wide range of other adventure tourism activities such as rock climbing, scuba diving and white water rafting.

Trekking / hiking: 4 - Hiking and trekking tours are available at Temburong National Park, where tourists can embark on a two-day tour of the jungle wilderness and rainforest. There is plenty of wildlife to observe and accommodation is available in lodges or tents. 

Cultural experiences: 3 – Brunei is mainly Islamic and there is little cultural diversity in the country. However, Brunei is known for some unique dances, which can be observed during the country’s many festivals. Those who explore the Temburong district will have the chance to see the unique Iban and Dusun tribes.

Festivals and events: 4 – there are a large number of vibrant festivals and many of these feature singing and dancing, making them great times for visitors to discover Brunei’s unique culture. However, many of these festivals are purely religious and center around Brunei’s mosques and temples. Brunei’s businesses often close during festivals.

Shopping: 4 - Those who enjoy shopping will find plenty of large modern shopping malls in the cities, while flea markets can be found all over the country. Major credit cards such as Visa are accepted in most city stores.

Food: 4 – Brunei’s cuisine is unique, incorporating Arabic, Indian, Malay and Chinese styles into its main dishes. There are a wide range of dishes for visitors to try and a tasty meal is never far away. However, Brunei is rather lacking when it comes to Western food.

Safety: 5 – Brunei is one of the safest places to visit in the world as the crime rate is extremely low. The country also rates low when it comes to tropical diseases such as malaria, there is no volcanic activity in Brunei and freak weather conditions such as earthquakes are extremely rare.

Hospitality: 3 – People in Brunei are generally friendly to tourists as long as they observe the country’s strict Muslim traditions. The country’s hospitality industry is still getting underway but is not as developed as in many Southeast Asian countries.

Tourism infrastructure: 3 – Although there are plenty of services and facilities for visitors, Brunei doesn’t receive as many tourists as many other Asian countries. This is due in part to the fact that the cost of accommodation is quite high here, almost on a par with hotels in Western countries.

Nightlife: 1 – Those in search of vibrant nightlife will probably want to skip Brunei as this is a dry country, meaning that the consumption of alcohol is prohibited by law. It is possible to bring a limited amount of alcohol through customs upon obtaining an alcohol license, but this is probably more trouble than it’s worth.

Value for money: 3 – Brunei is quite expensive by Southeast Asian standards and the costs of tourism are roughly the same as in Singapore. Accommodation tends to be costly, although there is a certain amount of budget accommodation available in the cities.

More Reasons

Opulent Mosques

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque is the crowning glory of Brunei. It presides over a manmade lagoon and boasts an enormous, golden dome. Visitors can climb to the top of the minaret for views of the capital. The other resident mosque is Jame’asr Hassanal Bolkiah, which was built more recently. Both mosques welcome non-Muslim visitors outside of prayer time.

Staying in Extravagant Hotels

Brunei’s accommodation scene rivals Dubai’s, albeit on a smaller scale. The hotels here are luxurious and spare no expense, with spacious suites and every amenity imaginable. Even better, visitors will find that the supply outweighs the demand so discounts are often available to those who aren’t afraid to ask for them. Those who don’t travel on a royal stipend will find plenty of mid-range options.

Istana Nurul Iman

It comes as no surprise that Brunei’s royal palace, home to one of the wealthiest people in the world, is excessively ornate. It boasts thousands of rooms, cost hundreds of millions of dollars to build and is larger than the palace in Vatican City. The best time to see it is in the evening, when it’s bathed in floodlights. The doors open once every year after Ramadan.

Beachside Picnics

Several beaches (pantai) are situated close to the capital. Pantai Meragang is the best picnic destination. Visitors can choose from a few food stalls or can self-cater from the city. Pantai Muara also has picnic tables, while Pantai Serasa is equipped with yacht and water sports facilities.

Venice of the East

Kampung Ayer is the hub of Brunei’s water village territory. A total of 28 villages are home to more than 30,000 people in what is arguably Brunei’s most fascinating asset. Shops, schools, homes and restaurants are arranged on stilts and connected by interlinking wooden gangplanks with water taxis navigating the canals. Despite the traditional undertones, Brunei’s water villages are equipped with a range of modern amenities.

The Exotic Capital

Bandar Seri Bagawan is an unusually wealthy city, founded on the tenants of Islam and bolstered by the advent of oil. Opulent palaces and elegant mosques are the main sightseeing attractions. Many of the scenes are reminiscent of Arabia, with a heavy overlay of Malay culture and a sprinkling of Chinese architecture (including a temple)

First-Rate Museums

All of the oil revenue pouring into Brunei has paved the way for cultural programs and impressive museums. Foremost among these is the Brunei Museum with its unrivaled Islamic Gallery, a collection of jewelry, ceramics and precious metalwork. Another worthwhile institute is the Malay Technology Museum, with exhibits covering indigenous cultures, the water villages and local handicrafts.

Upscale Shopping

Brunei’s elite residents are discerning shoppers though tourists are a major supplement for the commercial scene. Shopping enthusiasts can head straight to the YSHHB Complex, a collection of boutiques selling accessories, home furnishings fit for a sultan, jewelry and electronics. Less lofty shopping outlets are found in the malls of Gadong, less than three miles outside of the capital.

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