How many days in Brunei? 3 days: golden mosques, the water village and the Temburong rainforest
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Brunei is a small, quiet sultanate on Borneo, smaller than many cities, and most of what visitors come for lies within 20 minutes of the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. Three days is right: one for the mosques, the water village and the museums, one for monkeys and markets, and one for the untouched rainforest of Ulu Temburong National Park. It is calm, safe and alcohol-free, and the sights are cheap or free.
Short answer
Two days covers the capital: the mosques, Kampong Ayer, the Royal Regalia Museum and a river trip to see proboscis monkeys. The third day is for Temburong.
The 3-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Mosques, the water village and the Royal Regalia
Morning. Visit the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque (1958) when it opens to non-Muslims, usually around 8:30; its golden dome rises over a lagoon with a replica royal barge. Entry is free; robes are lent at the door. Then walk 5 minutes to the river and hire a water taxi to Kampong Ayer, the stilt village of about 10,000 people linked by 30 km of boardwalks.
Afternoon. On Kampong Ayer, visit the Kampong Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery (free), which explains the village's 1,000-year history, then walk the boardwalks past houses, schools and mosques on stilts. Back in town, cool down in the Royal Regalia Museum (free; shoes off), which displays the coronation chariot and gifts from world leaders.
Evening. Eat at the Tamu Kianggeh riverside stalls or the small food courts around the waterfront, where nasi katok (rice, fried chicken and sambal) costs B$1-2. The mosque is floodlit after sunset and reflects beautifully in the lagoon.
Water taxis are long, low boats; a short hop across costs about B$1-2, but agree a price before you go for a tour (roughly B$20-30 for an hour).
Day 2: Jame' Asr Mosque, monkeys and Gadong night market
Morning. Take a taxi 10 minutes north to the Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, built in 1994 for the Sultan's 25th year on the throne, with 29 golden domes (he is the 29th Sultan). Then drive past the Istana Nurul Iman, the Sultan's palace with about 1,800 rooms, which only opens to the public during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri holiday.
Afternoon. Join a late-afternoon boat trip on the Brunei River (about B$30-50 per person, 1.5-2 hours) into the mangroves to see proboscis monkeys, the long-nosed monkeys found only on Borneo, plus macaques, monitor lizards and sometimes crocodiles. The boat passes the palace from the water.
Evening. Go to the Gadong Night Market (Pasar Malam Gadong), open from about 16:00 to 22:00, for satay sticks at a few for B$1, grilled fish, kuih cakes and fresh fruit juices. It is where Bruneians eat, not a tourist show.
Many sights close on Friday between about 12:00 and 14:00 for prayers, and mosques close to visitors at prayer times every day. Plan Friday mornings carefully.
Day 3: Ulu Temburong National Park
Morning. Leave at about 6:00 for Temburong, the eastern part of Brunei, cut off from the rest of the country by Malaysian land. Since 2020 the 30 km Temburong Bridge has linked it to the capital in about 45 minutes. In Bangar, transfer to a longboat (temuai) for the ride upriver, about 45 minutes through rainforest.
Afternoon. In Ulu Temburong National Park, climb about 1,000 steps to the canopy walkway, a series of metal towers rising 50 metres above the forest floor, with views of untouched rainforest to the horizon. Then swim in the river or float down rapids in an inner tube. Most visitors go with a tour: about B$120-200 per person with lunch and the park fee.
Evening. Return to the capital by around 17:00. For a last dinner, try ambuyat, the sticky sago starch eaten by twirling it on bamboo chopsticks and dipping it in sour sauces, at a traditional restaurant (about B$10-20 for two).
The park is reached only with a licensed guide or tour. Book at least a day ahead; leech socks and a waterproof bag are worth bringing.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, do Day 1 and Day 2 as written. You see the essential capital sights and the monkeys but miss the rainforest canopy of Temburong.
Got extra days?
A 4th day can go west to Tutong and Seria, where the Billionth Barrel Monument marks the oil that made Brunei rich, or to Jerudong, with the Empire Brunei resort on the beach. Many visitors continue overland or by air to Miri or Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia.
Where to stay in Brunei
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Bandar Seri Begawan centre | Simple hotels and the youth hostel within walking distance of the mosque and river. | B$40-80 |
| Mid-range | Waterfront / city centre | Walk to the mosque, Kampong Ayer jetties and the Royal Regalia Museum. | B$90-160 |
| Mid-range | Gadong | Next to the night market and malls, 10 minutes by taxi from the centre. | B$90-150 |
| Comfort | Jerudong (Empire Brunei) | Huge beach resort with pools and golf, 25 minutes from the capital. | B$250-600 |
Getting around
Brunei has very few taxis on the street. Use the Dart ride-hailing app, which most visitors rely on; a ride across the capital costs about B$5-10, and the airport to the centre about B$15-20. Purple public buses run from the central bus station on Jalan Cator, costing B$1, but they are infrequent and stop around 18:00. Water taxis cross the river to Kampong Ayer. Car hire (about B$60-100 a day) is useful for Temburong and the western districts.
What to eat in Brunei
Bruneian food is close to Malay cooking. Nasi katok (literally 'knock rice', after people knocking on doors late at night to buy it) is the national snack: rice, fried or curried chicken and sambal, for B$1-3. Ambuyat, the national dish, is sticky sago eaten with a sour tempoyak or binjai sauce. Try nasi lemak for breakfast, roti canai with dhal, grilled fish with sambal belacan and sweet kuih at the markets. Brunei is dry: no alcohol is sold anywhere. Non-Muslim visitors over 17 may bring in a small duty-free allowance (two bottles of spirits or wine and 12 cans of beer) for private use, declared at customs.
Best time to visit
Brunei is hot and humid all year, around 24-33°C. February to April is usually driest. November to January is the wettest, with heavy afternoon rain. During Ramadan, restaurants close in daylight and eating in public is not appropriate. The palace opens to the public for three days at the end of Ramadan, during Hari Raya Aidilfitri, when the Sultan greets visitors.
Month-by-month weather for Brunei →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | B$30 | B$65 | B$180 |
| Food & drink | B$12 | B$30 | B$70 |
| Sights & tickets | B$10 | B$45 | B$120 |
| Local transport | B$5 | B$15 | B$40 |
| Total per person, per day | about B$57 | about B$155 | about B$410 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Brunei dollars, which are on par with the Singapore dollar and used interchangeably with it. The sights-and-tickets column includes one guided Temburong day; there is no tourist tax.
Before you go
Common questions
Is Brunei worth visiting?
Yes, for two or three days. It is not a party destination, but the mosques are among the finest in Southeast Asia, Kampong Ayer is the largest stilt village in the world, and Temburong is pristine rainforest that is easy to reach. It is also one of the safest and least crowded countries in the region, which suits families and slow travellers.
What are the rules for visitors in Brunei?
Brunei follows Sharia law for Muslims, and some parts apply to everyone. In practice, visitors need to dress modestly in public, avoid public displays of affection, never drink alcohol in public and respect prayer times and Ramadan. Drug offences carry severe penalties. Tourists who follow these rules rarely notice restrictions in daily life.
Can I visit the Sultan's palace?
Only during the three days of Hari Raya Aidilfitri at the end of Ramadan, when the Istana Nurul Iman opens to the public and the Sultan and his family greet visitors. The rest of the year you can see it from the road or, better, from a boat on the Brunei River, which gives the best view of its golden domes.
How do I get to Brunei?
Royal Brunei Airlines and others fly to Brunei International Airport from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Dubai and London, among others. Overland, buses connect Bandar Seri Begawan with Miri in Malaysian Sarawak in about 3-4 hours, and with Kota Kinabalu in Sabah in about 8 hours, with several border stamps on the way.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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