Brunei Darussalam on Borneo Island offers rainforests, some of Asia’s most beautiful mosques and almost a complete lack of tourists. But sadly, the tiny Sultanate does not register on most travellers’ radars. Here are the reasons to visit Brunei and why you should put it on your Southeast Asian itinerary.
1, Brunei is far from touristy
Brunei may not have the allure of other more popular travel destinations in Asia but one thing you can be sure that it is absolutely not touristy. You can explore the city of Bandar Seri Begawan on foot or visit attractions without literally rubbing elbows with other tourists. A lot of people may find this a disadvantage but come to think of it, this also means no opportunistic individuals like taxi drivers or tour operators who prey on unsuspecting tourists. Plus, the attractions will not be crowded and there will be no one to ruin your best shots of a mosque or the Sultan’s palace with perfectly timed photobombs.
2, Brunei is supremely safe and clean
Brunei is an amazing destination hardwired for solo travelers and for those traveling abroad for the first time. Not only does it exude a peaceful charm, but it is supremely safe as well, making it the perfect destination for folks traveling solo. As a matter of fact, the crime rate in Brunei is so low that you can explore its capital freely, even solo at night. What’s more, the consumption of alcohol is illegal for Muslims and strictly restricted for non-Muslims, meaning you are less likely to bump into drunken people behaving disorderly in Brunei.
3, Food is awesome in Brunei
The food in Brunei is a mix of Indian,
Malaysia,
Singaporean,
Chinese, and
Indonesian cuisines. Must-try food during your visit are nasi goreng, ayam penyet, roti, kolo mee, chicken laksa meehoon, nasi katok, rending, and assam pedas.
Brunei has an emerging food scene so you will not have a problem finding good halal or non-halal restaurants and eateries.
4, An affordable cultural experience
It has no secret that the Sultan of Brunei bathes in wealth and lives a well-documented opulent lifestyle. But he also makes substantial investments into the country. As a result, many of the attractions and museums (at the time of writing in 2018) are free. Water taxis to and from Kampong Ayer typically cost B$1 ($0.66) too.
5, There are plenty of attractions in Brunei
They say there is not much to do in Brunei for foreign travelers. But, guess what? There are dozens of places to visit, fabulous sights and incredibly fun things to do in Brunei for Pinoy travelers. From photography connoisseurs to casual sightseers, Pinoy travelers will love the country’s collection of attractions and diversions, including Kampung Ayer, Sultan’s Palace (Istana Nurul Iman), Jame Asr Hassanil Bolkia Mosque and Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque.
Additionally, the country has a handful of treasure troves that will give you a deeper insight of its history and culture, including Malay Technology Museum, the Brunei Museum and Regalia Royal Museum.
6, Shopping is the favourite pastime in Brunei
Because nightlife is close to nonexistent in Brunei, shopping is arguably Brunei’s favourite pastime. There are markets, malls, and shopping centres to satisfy your retail therapy needs. Not to be missed during your trip to Brunei is the shopping scene at Gadong, the commercial centre in Brunei that is about 5 kilometres away from Bandar Seri Begawan. Check out the ‘The Mall,” an eight-storey shopping and entertainment complex.
7, Good location
Another one of our top reasons to visit Brunei relates to its location next to
Malaysian Borneo. The tiny slither of land lies sandwiched between Sarawak. Buses connect Miri to Bandar Seri Begawan within two hours. Daily flights pass between cities in both Sabah and Sarawak. Visitors can take the ferry from Bandar Seri Begawan to duty-free Labuan too.
See more:
Visit the most stunning mosques in Brunei
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