Brunei
An Introduction to Brunei
A sparkling jewel on the north-west corner of Borneo, the Sultanate of Brunei is most well known as one of South-East Asia’s wealthiest countries, with a very high standard of living for its citizens.
The capital of Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan, or ‘BSB’, features an impressive display of modern architecture. Its most impressive site is the Sultan’s Royal palace, known as the Istana Nurul Iman, the largest residential palace in the world. The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, with golden domes and coloured glass windows is particularly stunning at night, with green lights illuminating the dome and casting a lovely reflection in the pool below. Don’t miss the free Royal Regalia Building, a museum of the sultan’s many treasures, including the royal chariot and the jewel- encrusted coronation crowns.
A highlight of any trip to Brunei is a tour to Kampung Ayer, the ‘Venice of the east’. The world’s largest water village is home to more than 30,000 people and offers a centuries-old web of homes, schools, mosques, medical clinics, fire and police stations hovering on stilts over the Brunei River.
Top 5 things to do:
1. Visit Omar Saifuddin Mosque
2. Explore the Brunei Museum
3. Enjoy the countryside
4. See Istana Nurul Iman Palace
5. Experience Kampung Ayer
Map of Brunei Darussalam
Gap Facts - Brunei
The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, is well known for being a car enthusiast. At one time, he reputedly had more than 530 Mercedes-Benzes, 500 Rolls-Royces and 360 Ferraris in his car collection.
Gap Facts - Brunei
Brunei is located on Malaysian Borneo and belongs to the Commonwealth of Nations.
