The 13 best free attractions in Bandar Seri Begawan

Many men have man caves, though not this opulent. In this museum, you learn a little about the history of Brunei, and the Sultan. Not much is shared about remaining family members. In this museum, you will see lots of glitter, gold that’s part of the lives of the royal family, along with gifts and swags given to the Sultan from rich and powerful connections. And it may cross your mind that those are not really gifts that one would want to put in their homes. So if you rule a country, have unlimited resources, have more money than you need for many lifetimes, you too may build something to house all of that. It’s interesting to see what world leaders gift each other. Definitely ranges from interesting, thoughtful to what?? 🤔 There is a fee to enter. Bags need to be placed in lockers. No outside shoes permitted. It’s not a huge museum, though not small either. Plan for at least 1-2 hours to take in everything.

굳이라는 생각이 든다. The Royal Regalia Museum is a must-visit spot in Bandar Seri Begawan for anyone interested in Brunei’s monarchy and cultural heritage. The building itself is grand and well-maintained, and the exhibits are impressive — from royal chariots and ceremonial weaponry to gifts from other nations. The museum offers a unique glimpse into the life and traditions of the Sultanate, with well-preserved items and detailed explanations. Best of all, it’s free to enter. Make sure to store your bags at the entrance, as photography isn’t allowed inside. A quiet and educational stop that adds depth to your understanding of Brunei.

We all friends visted this Royal museum at Pusat Bandar, entrance fees is $5 brunei dollar per person, you can see lot of photos, so ,many things which Royal Sultan of Brunei used from his earlier age to now, so many gifts presented by various peoples, and it has descriped how the the Kingdom is live his life, his wifes and his ministry and the people of Brunei Darussalam.How he kind with his people and how he administrate this country. It is worth to visit.

Definitely worth a visit to learn about Brunei and its mysterious royal family. The museum is well maintained with a lot of treasures.

A collection of items gifted to the Sultan of Brunei who is either a man loved by the people or loved by himself — a distinction that is hard to tell. The line between honorific and self-indulgent feels blurred here. But, there are plenty of beautiful items on display. A pleasant, if not slightly dull, way to pass an hour in Brunei.

A museum that shows the coronation and life of the Sultan. It was impressive at first but slowly made me feel like I’m just looking at gifts that he got all over the world but had no space in his home. The staff wasn’t particularly welcoming and quite choppy. Only words I got from them are “write here” and “five ringgit”.

A slightly odd museum that seemed more like a glamorous storage place for the sultans gifts than a cohesive museum for learning. Still pretty cool. No shoes inside and my feet got very chilly 🦶🏼

A must-visit landmark in Bandar Seri Begawan. The golden dome of the mosque is stunning, especially during sunset when it reflects beautifully over the water. The surroundings are peaceful, and the architecture is both grand and elegant. Non-Muslims can enter during designated hours, but make sure to follow the dress code. It's free to visit and definitely worth stopping by if you're in Brunei. One of the most iconic spots in the country.

The capital city of Brunei, where silence is golden, much like the domes. A place so clean and orderly, you’ll feel guilty for chewing gum too loudly. Everything looks polished, peaceful, and possibly watched by a CCTV operated by someone in royal attire. Expect gleaming mosques, air-conditioned museums, and entire streets where the loudest noise is your own flip-flops. Locals are warm, roads are wide, and traffic is so calm it feels rehearsed. There’s oil money somewhere underfoot, but above ground, it’s all modest smiles and slow living. Come for the iconic Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, stay for the surreal calm and leave wondering if you accidentally trespassed into a billionaire’s backyard that also happens to be a country. Home to one of the world’s richest reigning monarchs, the Sultan of Brunei, whose palace has over 1,700 rooms, and that’s just the official count. You won’t see him, but you’ll definitely feel the royal footprint in every perfectly trimmed hedge and overachieving fountain. A surreal blend of wealth, calm, and quiet confidence..like a luxury car that never honks. Oh ya.. there’s an actual road called Jalan Pretty. Not sure if it’s a compliment, a trap, or just a passive-aggressive reminder to moisturize.

This place is within walking distance from the Regalia museum, we came right after the museum. We were wearing shorts at that time which is not allowed when entering the mosque but the staff lent us a robe so we can enter. We were only allowed to walk around a small area of the mosque but we still get to enjoy the air-con and see the interiors of the mosque. I think we are only allowed to walk around small area is because there are locals coming to pray while tourists are visiting. It's shame that we left the area the mosque after leaving the interior, as there are actually some outside area that we can explore. Visited on 19 May 2025

Very beautiful mosque, nice garden ext to it. Tranquility zone, not busy outside prayer times

Beautiful & huge mosque. The dome is made of 24k gold! Just beside the waterfront. Great view.

Spectacular n definitely worth a visit. d gold dome can be seen when u drive around d city area. This mosque is v big n grand with rugs fr Saudi Arabia n walls made with Italian marble. Free to enter. Footwear must be removed at entrance. Males shd wear long pants, no tanks tops or sleeveless. Females must put on d green robe provided. Do remember to walk fr d side of d mosque to d back to take pictures of d picturesque manmade lagoon n boat.

This is a national landmark in the tiny nation of Brunei. Beautiful. The mosque is surrounded by an artificial lagoon that serves as a reflecting pool, mirroring its gleaming golden domes. Go in the day and at night. Try and time the visit so you can hear the adhan (the call given to announce that it is time for a particular obligatory prayer). Dress modestly when going inside. They will give you a robe and footwear must be removed. Staff are very pleasant and friendly. Also suggest doing a river cruise as you have a lovely view of the mosque from there too. Stunning setting. Smaller than I imagined.

I met the Sultan of Brunei today at his palace. It's a huge place lots of bedrooms and bathrooms , I also had a nice lunch and well .

I am sure the palace and the gardens are beautiful unfortunately from the gate you don’t see much at all. So worth a visit only if you want to have a picture at the gate.

Great place! So clean and peaceful.

It’s Brunei Sultan’s residence and tourists can only enter it during Raya, when there is an open house organised.

Huge and clean palace. Awesome!

Returned here after 16 years. Beautiful palace with beautiful garden. You can only enter during Hari Raya Ied 2,3,4 because the Sultan holds an "open house"

14/06/25 Alhamdulilah we and Mantoys Brotherhood Overlander Team Can Visit this Istana

Foreigners who are nature lovers and have 90 minutes to spare in Bandar Seri Begawan should definitely visit this place. Upon entering, start by visiting the Tasek Wooden Tower, which can be reached by following the Tasek Twin Stairs. The trail might be slightly rough and challenging, but the effort is good for your body. There's not much up there except for the wooden platform, but it offers a nice view. There are two trails leading to other mountains, but they are a few kilometers further. Afterward, you can retrace your steps and head toward the water reservoir. At the Tasek Reservoir, you’ll find a tall Tasek Tower that you can climb. The trail to the tower features various species of pitcher plants, including very tiny and big ones. Next, visit the Tasek Lama Waterfall. Lastly, take some time to relax in the recreational park. There are also monkeys here having their best time of their lives

Wonderful place to hike - suitable for those who want cemented or dirt ground, and flat/incline/stairs/rough terrain. A few things are in disrepair, like the playground. Trees provide enough shade for hot days. FYI you can go either side of the dam gate for more hiking paths. Lots of parking space.

Great little place for hiking. Extremely unstable trails if you go off the more well worn ones, so a positive if you’re experienced as you can control your difficulty level well. Con is that there are no markings, so you can only really learn routes by experience / GPS and the topography data won’t be enough for you to really gauge what you’re putting yourself up against until you hit it.

It’s a nice place to go for a walk. Locals use it mostly for jogging and exercising. It’s very hot in the afternoon though, so better to vome in the morning or late afternoon. There is a beautiful waterfall here, but the deck doesn’t look safe anymore. Some parts are closed off already. There is a public toilet in the park

A clean and tranquil park near the city. It's just maybe a 25 mins walk from the city center (i walk really fast though). There's a tower for viewing but most sides of the views are obstructed by tree branch. Maybe the tower is not tall enough. There's also a trail for those who wants to do a bit of hiking. Although being with local guide is a must as there's not a lot of waypoint at the trail. I even have to turn back after 5/6 way reaching sarang elang because idk why there's no more waypoint. Anyway, i gave 4 star because it's not a "must visit" place for tourists. If i stay at BSB i'll definitely rate it a 5 because i'll most likely will do a lot of workout there. Running, jogging and uphill running.

Lots of trails to hike or cycle, and play areas for kids. Some of the walking trails are steep and slippery, so wear decent walking boots if you decide to venture up into the woodland.

It’s a beautiful place for hikes with great nature and a waterfall. You can choose your trail from the different options and even if some of them could be a little bit improved in terms of maintenance. There is a kids playground around there too, monkeys jumping around and a free parking.

I visited on a Sunday at 9am and was glad to find it not too crowded. Do check the visiting hours in advance. The mosque is truly one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen—its architecture is simply stunning. The surrounding garden and fountains make it a perfect spot for photos. This is definitely a must-visit when in Brunei. Just remember to dress appropriately and be respectful during your visit.

They say the dome of this mosque is made with 25% gold, and it really shows in its beauty. What I love is that even non-Muslims or visitors who aren’t dressed modestly can still enter by wearing a robe provided here. The unique design makes every corner feel grand and luxurious honestly, it’s the kind of place where you can’t resist snapping a photo.

One of the largest mosques in Brunei, with gold leaf on the top of the minaret. The inside is very beautiful. The guards here still maintain the solemnity and are very friendly to tourists. Free entrance fee, about 1 hour to visit here. If you come here and your clothes are not suitable, you will be able to borrow a robe for free to visit.

First top for most tourist. Plenty of photos opportunities. We felt welcomed at the entrance especially if you can speak Malay/from Malaysia. Very picturesque place.... No entrance fees. A good place to stop by. Pls make sure you check the time for praying as they will closed during that time. If I'm not mistaken, mosque will closed from 1130am to 230pm for non Muslims.

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah summoned John Lawson to the country's capital, in the early 1990s after being inspired by the Englishman's work. Lawson was asked to design the glass dome for a new mosque that would be constructed to honour the Silver Jubilee of Hassanal Bolkiah. Although it was first officially called the Kiarong Mosque, it would go on to be renamed as Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque.

Beautiful mosque, interesting and unique architecture, outside prayer times is not crowded and is a perfect spot for nice instagram pictures. Free to visit, free parking.

The biggest mosque I've ever seen. Super beautiful and the attendant shared that the chandelier in men's section is made in Austria and the marble walls are made from Italy. Very peaceful

Nice place. Hard to reach by bus aa they vome only once per hpur but you dont know when exactly. The museum is nice. Bit to read. They removed to mannequins which you can see on other pictures. Still recommended if you have some free time.

If you like learninng traditioonal way of. Local people and ethnicc groups in Brunei river arreea and surrounds , this place. Is a must, openinng hours-9:00 am -16: pm . Real llife dispplay of houses in Kamppongvayer area, and houses of ethnic groups in this area, acraaftts, tools for livinng in this area, cleverness of traditionsl prople to live snd survive in this area.

I appreciated the models of houses and boats. These gave an idea of how people lived long ago. The staff were friendly. It was a pleasant visit

The museum is about Malay Culture and how they used to live in previous days. The museum is well maintained and there are always staff nearby to help you out if you need any assistance. One of the recommended museums that the tourists can drop by whenever they come to Brunei.

Learn about the different ways of fishing . Learn about the existence and buildings of the Water Village. Learn about the traditional games play by children in the old days. Learn about the craft industries and how it is preserved till today

Worth visiting. An informative museum. The staffs are nice and helpful. Lockers are provided before entering the galleries. Galleries full of dioramas about the the malay way of life, living on stilts, different industries and livelihoods adapted on the swamps. A good itenerary for a day trip that includes the nearby museums, archaeological sites and grave sites of the former sultans. A trail nearby would lead to the ruins and excavations inside the forested area. The same area as the maritime museum.

Yet another great museum in Brunei's little museum complex. As with the others, admission is free. Although I believe you aren't supposed to take photos here - as is the case with seemingly every museum in Brunei - they didn't seem to strict about that, and with the beautiful exhibits of Kampong Ayer and the other less-developed parts of Brunei, you will definitely want to snap a couple photos!

The park is located between the river and the mosque. Aside from the river forming a natural barrier, it's fairly open on all other sides. If you're coming from the northeast of the city, you can also enter the park via my favorite route, the "Jambatan Pejalan Kaki Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Bridge." The bridge, with its cool design, offers a great view of the park, the river, and the mosque from its elevated position. During the day, it's almost deserted, but in the evening, it's bustling with people, inviting people to jog and stroll. Absolutely worth seeing! Excellent 🫶🏻

Beautifully-kept park with many plants, trees and flowers and lovely views of the mosque in its entirety – you’ll also find ‘the frame’ which is a famous photo op to capture the mosque through. Hope you don’t arrive when a Japanese or Singaporean bus load of tourists swarm the place – but these are few and far between and they don’t stop too long. The park is sandwiched between the river and the mosque. Apart for the river creating a natural barrier it’s fairly open on all other sides. If you’re coming from the north-east of the city, you can also enter the park in my favourite way – via the bridge (Jambatan Pejalan Kaki Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien). The bridge with its cool design (as you can see on Google Maps), in its elevated position allows you great views of the park, up/down river and the mosque too. There’s a café, car park and public toilets in the park but I didn’t use these. There’s not much shade so take this into account.

Beautiful place for an evening stroll by the river. It's well lit at night with interesting trees like baobabs and nearby photo spots like the frame and the bridge.

Taman Mahkota Jubli Emas Taman Mahkota Jubli Emas (from the Malay name, literally 'Golden Jubilee Crown Park'), initially known as Eco-Corridor Park (Malay: Taman Eko-Koridor), is a riverfront public park in the former Mukim Sungai Kedayan of Bandar Seri Begawan, The capital of  Brunei Darussalam. The park was inaugurated on 22 October 2017 in conjunction with the Golden Jubilee of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's accession to the throne as the 29th and current Sultan of Brunei Darussalam. The Taman Mahkota Jubli Emas is a 12-hectare riverfront park situated alongside the grand Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque and the tranquil water village, Kampong Ayer. Enjoy a walk down the promenade, where you can bask in the tranquil gardens full of tulips and baobab trees. Many come here to enjoy a peaceful sunset stroll with their families and children's. You can even rent a 2-seater, 4-seater or 6-seater bicycle for a captivating ride with your children's. If you’re strolling after dark, watch as the monuments as they light up the park! Don’t forget to stop by The Frame Brunei Darussalam to snap a commemorative photo of your trip to Brunei Darussalam. One of the safe and peaceful Islamic land in the southeast asia. 🇧🇳 O ALLAH! Grant us security in our lands, and continue to bless us with peace and settlement there. With Your Mercy, O Most Merciful!

Oh yes I love this country so much. Brunei is the most smiling people I have encountered since I have been traveling to different countries in Asia. A very peaceful place,. A very quiet place. I just love the people. I love how the cars stop as soon as they see you about to cross the roads even if you are not in pedestrian lanes. A very very clean county.

A clean, relaxing and peaceful park with picturesque view. It's a good place for family, regardless of age, to chill and unwind. There are dedicated exercise areas meant for people to practice calisthenics and there is also a jogging track. Do practice caution when strolling along the pathway as there are people riding bicycles and tricycles. These small vehicles can be rented from the vendors at the park. There are also food vendors in the vicinity of the park.

Spacious and peaceful park . Good place for exercise or jogging in the morning and sightseeing in the late afternoon towards sunset. Its more lively in in the afternoon though especially towards evening as mobile street foods stalls are set up for the locals and tourists . You may also find bike rentals wherein for two or four can ride together . At night you will enjoy the lights of the park with the beautiful mosque at the center.

went there last year as part of an excursion trip hosted by the girl guides association of brunei darussalam! this may be one of the chillest places we went to out of everywhere else, as it was mainly a guided tour followed by a lot of shopping for souvenirs. the place is quite clean and neat, with many displays presenting traditional art pieces by bruneian artists. the most insightful section of the centre is the gallery on one of the higher levels, and more exotic pieces are displayed there. the communal batik cloth station was really interesting as well, and you get a chance to leave your mark there. also really enjoyed looking at the different cloths used in traditional brunei apparel and the vibrant kebayas and baju kurungs on sale there. in the end, i bought many hairpins made with traditional batik cloth as souvenirs, and some other tokens that include the tie-dying technique used in batik art.

Nice collection of traditional crafts to see and purchase. We encountered only two lovely staff members, one who walked with us and gave us a bit of explanation about the different objects and the security ladies are lovely. The other staff members, especially the till lady were not as nice. I tried to pay by card but the payment got rejected because I didn't have enough money left on this particular card. When I asked to get wifi in order to transfer the funds into my card to be able to then pay, the lady made a big fuss and was really rude. We are only in Brunei for 4 days and so don't have our own Sim. Then, another staff member suggested Hotspot but she still insisted to make me pay cash instead. After 5 minutes of conversation with another staff, she finally gave me Hotspot. This took approximately 30 seconds to do, I was able to sort my card and pay immediately. An easy process which everyone else in Brunei was happy to assist us with, it seemed the lady was just extremely reluctant to be of any help to us. A shame as we were making an expensive purchase from them! Finally, we felt that the place was lacking information about the crafts, and you are supposed to be able to see how the crafts are made, but almost nobody is there showing you. The only lady that was making something stopped working and looked exceptionally uncomfortable/hid her face as soon as we looked into the viewing cabinet. We tried to interact with another craft woman and she genuinely looked terrified of us and refused to interact, perhaps because we are foreign but we were told by other staff it was the purpose of these viewing cabinets for us to be able to watch them at work. Disappointing experience and we felt really weird about it. You are also not able to take any pictures whatsoever or touch anything. Lastly, we had to come twice because the first time we arrived at 3pm and it was already closed. We had made a 45min walk for nothing. It would be really beneficial to update the opening hours on Google as Brunei is not easy to get around if you are a tourist with no car! During Ramadan, the centre shuts at 3pm most days.

A wide selection of Brunei's produce - wood carving, silverware, weaving, batik, etc. Prices range fr few BND dollars to few thousands BND dollars. Many beautiful items for sales n there's live demonstration. Will prefer more description n notes to be put up for us to read instead so we needn't rely on d guides or staff to explain. Purchasing process is quite slow - record items on paper receipt/invoice before payment is to be made at cashier. Cash payment preferred.

A good place to get good quality souvenir made using Brunei's traditional art and craft techniques and materials.

This place doesn't have much to see but impressed with the design of the building and the display of products inside.

The interior of this building is lovely. It's a high-end shop of items made by Bruneian artisans. Silver, bronze, batik, weaved goods. Prices are high, but some affordable Bruneian-made items. Worth stopping in. Staff were friendly but not so attentive. (relaxed as Bruneians are)

Working time is incorrect, they have their own schedule so better call before u come

Beautiful and historical place. Often used for His Majesty’s big occasions such as Independence Day, Birthday, and Maulud celebrations etc. A meaningful memorial spot since my childhood.

Historically blessed

Very good 👍

(Translated by Google) It's not clear whether this place is a park or a stadium or both, but this place is definitely the largest event venue in the Kingdom of Brunei. When we arrived (August 2023), it was always quiet. (Original) Nơi này không rõ là công viên hay sân vận động hoặc là cả hai nhưng chắc chắn nơi đây là điểm tổ chức các sự kiện lớn nhất của vương quốc Brunei, thời điểm chúng tôi đến (08/2023) nó luôn luôn vắng lặng.

(Translated by Google) Alhamdulillah, today there is an event at SOAS Park. Cycling + there is also a Karate performance.. Alhamdulillah, I got to greet HM & the Prime Minister 😍 (Original) Alhamdulillah, today ada event di Taman SOAS. Cycling + ada persembahan Karate jua.. Alhamdulillah jua, sampat besalam sama HM & Perdana Wazir 😍

(Translated by Google) It seems like it's usually closed, but I was allowed in while they were cleaning. (Original) 普段は締まっているようだが、掃除をしているところから入らせてもらえた。

(Translated by Google) Sri Omar' Ali Saifuddien Haji Park looks nice too (Original) Taman Haji Sri Omar' Ali Saifuddien kelihatannya bagus juga

Celebrated my niece bday here recently, this playground offers a lot in terms of amenities but falls short in some areas. The space is spacious and well-designed, providing a comfortable environment for both children and adults. One of the standout features is the variety of dishes on the menu. There are plenty of options to choose from, and the food tastes good overall. However, the serving time can be quite long, likely due to the large crowd. Speaking of crowds, the playground can get very busy, especially during peak hours, which can make it difficult to fully enjoy the experience. Despite this, the management has thoughtfully included a prayer room, which is a great convenience for those who need it. Overall, it's a good spot for families looking for a fun day out.

Spent a morning with 2 grandsons, and they loved the playground ❤️. Fresh fruit juices and cappuccino were good. The food, like is common practice in Brunei apparently, was too sweet spoiling the appetite. Table cleaning services needs improvements as our empties were only removed after we asked for it 2 hours later (very few customers).

The cafe is clean and has a cordoned-off section for families during Ramadan. It is also wheelchair accessible and has free parking.

My first time going there and I was surprised the food was actually good!

Cafe with kiddie land. Great time for the childrens. Cafe also offering great menus for foods (Pizza, noodles, rice and other eastern & western choices) drinks and beverages.

A mid-range indoor kids playground in Brunei. It is not a big as expected, with mainly kiddie slides and soft ball play area. Pros: good price per entry ($3-4), looks clean and nicely maintained, push chair accessible, friendly staff, food not too bad ($8-12 per person), free parking outside (common in Brunei). Cons: playground not big enough. Considering it’s price, I will give a 5 star for this playground. Nice place for the kids and adults alike to chill out.

Absolutely fantastic food, cakes and coffee. Can't get enough of their Thai beef salad and fresh Thai spring rolls. Great Western and Asian options. Going for the 3rd time in a week :)) Super option with kids as they love the play area, but we often go without the kids too!

nicep place for hiking and swimming

Unfortunaly no fountain is working the central plateau is dried out. So it‘s still hot inside the park.

Nice place for family outing. Food trucks during night time.

A good place to exercise. The place is calming

the place seems like a tragedy waiting to happen. relevant authorities need to ensure that the park is safe for families to spend their weekends at.

Nice designed park. Plenty space. Garden maintained. But water features are no longer active and needing some repairs

A local park in the city. Best time to go in the evening if you don't want to get sun-tanned. Can be reached easily by foot, car or boat (depending on the tidal situation). The only drawback is the river can be smelly and laden with rubbish.

One of the biggest parks in Bandar. Maintenance is not up to the standards. No proper lighting in all places. Good for walks and jogging. If it rains difficult to find a shelter.