Brunei
Brunei: Coastal Enclaves and Inland Forests on Borneo
Brunei occupies two separate coastal areas on northern Borneo, divided by Malaysia’s Limbang district, with 161 km of South China Sea coastline. Bandar Seri Begawan’s Kampong Ayer water village sits along the Brunei River, linked by the Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Bridge to the forested Temburong District.
Fast facts
- Country
- Brunei Darussalam
- Region
- Borneo Island
- Population
- Approx. 460,000
- Currency
- Brunei Dollar (BND)
- Known for
- Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, rainforests, oil wealth, Malay culture
Brunei consists of four districts across two non-contiguous coastal enclaves separated by Malaysian territory.
The capital region, Brunei-Muara, contains Bandar Seri Begawan and the Kampong Ayer water village.
Temburong District stands apart geographically, accessed via the 30 km Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Bridge. The country’s tropical climate includes a drier northeast monsoon season attracting most visitors from January to March.
Kampong Ayer Village
Walk wooden pathways over the Brunei River in Kampong Ayer, a water village home to up to 13,000 residents living in stilt houses.
Ulu Temburong Park
Visit Ulu Temburong National Park in the isolated Temburong District for rainforest trails and canopy walkways, reachable via a day trip.
Getting There
Brunei International Airport (BWN) handles all scheduled international flights, located about 6 km from Bandar Seri Begawan’s center.
Book Brunei tours, activities and tickets
Bookable Brunei tours and tickets are live now via the partners we trust. The full editorial guide is being expanded — check back as new sections land.
Where is Brunei?
Brunei in context — see the neighbouring countries and the region your trip sits within. Zoom in to explore cities, regions and major roads inside the country.
Find a place to stay in Brunei
Hotels, apartments and independent stays in Brunei, sourced from the partners we use ourselves. Pricing and availability are real-time on each partner.
Get in touch about Brunei
Are you a hotel, tour operator, local guide, contributor, or potential partner? We're expanding the Brunei guide and would like to hear from you. Send us a note and we'll reply personally.
- → Direct reply, no auto-responder
- → Typical response within 1–2 business days
- → Partnerships, listings and offers reviewed personally