Borneo · South China Sea
Hotels & Apartments in Brunei
The "Abode of Peace" is one of Southeast Asia's quietest surprises: a small, safe sultanate of golden-domed mosques, stilt-house water villages and some of the oldest rainforest on earth, edged by the South China Sea.
Why visit Brunei
A compact, welcoming country you can see in a few days, with a fraction of the crowds of its neighbours.
Brunei Darussalam sits on the north coast of Borneo, wrapped almost entirely by the Malaysian state of Sarawak and looking out over the South China Sea. Forest still covers more than 70% of the land, the pace is unhurried, and Bruneians have a deep reputation for hospitality. It rewards travellers who come for rainforest, grand mosques, the Kampong Ayer water village, proboscis monkeys and long, quiet beaches, rather than nightlife. Two things worth knowing before you arrive: Brunei is a dry country, so no alcohol is sold publicly, and modest dress is expected, especially at religious sites.
Brunei's four districts
A small country, easily split into four distinct corners.
Brunei-Muara
The smallest district but the most populous, home to the capital Bandar Seri Begawan, the Kampong Ayer water village, the two grand state mosques and the Royal Regalia Museum. The natural first base for culture and city travellers.
Belait
Brunei's largest district and the heart of its oil-and-gas industry, about 100km west of the capital. Its towns are Seria and Kuala Belait, with long South China Sea beaches and quirky landmarks. Our Brunei stay sits here, on the Kuala Belait seafront.
Tutong
Between the capital and Belait, around 30 minutes from the city and the country's most ethnically diverse district. Home to Tasek Merimbun, Brunei's largest natural lake, and the quiet sands of Seri Kenangan beach.
Temburong
The "green jewel", an exclave reached by the Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Bridge that opened in 2020. Densely rainforested and the hub of Brunei's ecotourism, home to Ulu Temburong National Park and its canopy walkway.
Top things to see and do
From golden-domed mosques to a 50-metre rainforest canopy walk.
- Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque — Brunei's most photographed landmark, a 1958 golden-domed mosque on an artificial lagoon with a ceremonial stone barge.
- Jame'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque — the country's largest mosque, with 29 golden domes and four 58-metre minarets in Bandar Seri Begawan.
- Kampong Ayer — the "Venice of the East", tens of thousands of residents across 42 stilt villages on the Brunei River.
- Ulu Temburong National Park — protected rainforest reached by longboat, with a canopy walkway rising 50 metres above the forest floor.
- Royal Regalia Museum — the Sultan's gilded coronation chariot and royal regalia, tracing the monarchy's lineage.
- Tasek Lama Recreational Park — a green escape in the heart of the capital, with hiking trails, a lake and a waterfall.
- The Empire Brunei, Jerudong — the country's flagship 5-star beachfront resort with a Jack Nicklaus golf course.
- Billionth Barrel Monument, Seria — a seafront monument among the oil field's nodding-donkey pumps, with rigs on the horizon.
- Belait beaches — long, quiet sands along the South China Sea, made for sunsets, on the doorstep of our Kuala Belait stay.
- Tea-Pot Roundabout, Kuala Belait — a giant teapot sculpture marking the town's busiest roundabout, a much-loved local landmark.
When to visit
Hot, humid and green all year; pick the drier months for the easiest trip.
Brunei has a tropical equatorial climate, roughly 24 to 32°C year-round with high humidity and no truly dry season. The wettest stretch runs around November to January, peaking in December, while February to April are the driest and sunniest months and the best window for a visit. The government-backed, month-long Brunei December Festival brings food, culture and family events across all four districts. If you travel during Ramadan, eating, drinking and smoking in public during daylight hours is not permitted for anyone, including visitors, and many attractions run reduced hours, so plan dining and sightseeing around it.
Getting there and getting around
Getting there
Brunei International Airport (BWN), just north of the capital, is the hub of Royal Brunei Airlines, with direct links across Southeast and East Asia, the Middle East and London Heathrow. There are also land borders with Sarawak in Malaysia. Most visitors from the UK, US, EU and Canada enter visa-free for up to 90 days, New Zealanders for 30 days, while Australians need a visa on arrival (30 days). All arrivals must submit an e-Arrival Card before travel, and entry rules change, so check the latest before you book.
Getting around
Brunei drives on the left, and fuel is famously cheap. There is no Uber or Grab; the homegrown Dart app handles ride-hailing, and car hire runs around B$60 to 100 a day. Public buses are limited, town fares are about B$1, and there is no direct bus between Kuala Belait and the capital, so you change at Seria. On the Belait coast, the purple Seria–Kuala Belait buses run every 10 to 15 minutes.
Good to know
A few practical things that make a Brunei trip run smoothly.
Where to stay in Brunei
Bandar Seri Begawan has the widest choice of hotels, and the flagship luxury resort is The Empire Brunei in Jerudong. Our first featured Brunei stay sits on the quiet Belait coast.
Sea View Resort Hotel & Apartments
A long-established beachfront hotel and serviced apartments a minute's walk from Belait Beach on the South China Sea, with sea-view rooms, a year-round outdoor pool and free parking. A relaxed, fair-value base on Brunei's western shore, and a consistently well-reviewed one.
View Sea View ResortMore Brunei hotels and apartments across Bandar Seri Begawan and the Belait coast are on the way. Back to ShoutHotels.
ShoutHotels is an independent travel guide. This page contains affiliate links; if you book through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.