Discovering Brunei with Kids – Is it worth a visit?
As one of the smallest and most expensive countries in Southeast Asia, Brunei often gets skipped over as a tourism destination. And since it also has a bit of a reputation for not having a lot for tourists to do, you’d be forgiven for not already having it on your Southeast Asia itinerary.
However, my family decided to check it out for a few days to see what it was like and we came away pleasantly surprised! While it isn’t a place I would suggest spending a long time as a tourist, there are definitely some great things to do there that make it worth a visit!
Brunei may be a small country, but it still has some pretty big reasons for visiting. Fans of engineering will definitely want to check out the largest overwater stilt village in the world and the longest bridge in Southeast Asia. Nature lovers, on the other hand, have the chance to explore some of the world’s oldest rainforests. Around 75% of Brunei’s land is covered in tropical rainforest, and most of it is protected virgin rainforest that’s completely inaccessible to loggers.
Plus, due to Brunei’s relatively small size as a country, it’s completely possible to explore most of the larger attractions in just a few days!
I’ve marked the locations mentioned on this blog on the map below as a quick reference.
Cruise the Brunei River in search of Proboscis Monkeys!
As nature lovers, this was probably the highlight of our time in Brunei. Especially since Proboscis monkeys are part of the Borneo Big 5!
Proboscis monkeys are an endangered species of monkey endemic to the island of Borneo, meaning that they don’t live anywhere else in the world. As such, the mangroves along the Brunei River are one of only a few places in the world where visitors can find them in the wild.
They tend to sleep near the river, which means that mornings and late afternoons are usually the best times for spotting them. However, my family chose to take a river cruise during the middle of the day and still managed to spot a fairly large family in the trees just off the shore.
Of course, proboscis monkeys aren’t the only animals that live along the river. If you’re lucky, you may also spot snakes, monitors, macaques, or even the fearsome saltwater crocodile (another or Borneo’s Big 5!).
We found our river guide while wandering along near the river and were able to negotiate a great price, but if you want to book a boat trip in the early morning when the animals are most active, it’s best to book in advance.
This is a half-day guided boat tour on the Brunei River. It is highly likely that you will spot some proboscis monkeys and other nocturnal creatures on this tour, though it isn't guaranteed.
Check out the largest stilt settlement in the world, Kampung Ayer
Our boat tour of the Brunei River ended with a stop for lunch at a small shop on Kampung Ayer, but it is quite possible to visit the settlement all on your own!
Kampung Ayer is a village built on stilts above the Brunei River. It covers nearly 4 square miles of area, which makes it the largest water village on earth with an estimated 40,000 residents! It is also one of the oldest inhabited areas of Brunei, and has been around for over 1000 years.
Everything that the village needs, from schools and mosques to firefighting services and an electrical plant, all exist within the borders of the village itself. Systems of (mostly) covered walkways connect the different parts of the village so inhabitants can quickly get where they need to go on foot, and most families also have boats for when they need to head to shore.
The village is a fascinating look at Brunei’s pre-oil history and is definitely worth a visit. However, be aware that there are parts of the village that are in disrepair. It’s common to see broken planks on the wooden boardwalks, and the water below the houses is often filled with garbage thrown from the village above.
Explore one of the largest floating villages in the world! Take a look inside the houses to see how the locals live, take some time to enjoy the view, and relax over tea before heading back to shore.
Explore Brunei’s many beautiful Mosques
Brunei is primarily an Islamic nation which has led to a huge number of elaborate mosques being built, especially in the area around the capital. The architecture of these buildings is impressive, and several feature gold covered domes and fine building materials from around the world.
Do note that if you plan on visiting any of these mosques, proper attire is required, though there are robes available to put on over your clothes if you come unprepared.
Here are a couple to get you started!
Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque
Entry Fee: Free!
Hours:
- 8:30am-12pm most days
- 1:30pm-3pm most days
- 4:30pm-5:30pm most days
Closed (to tourists) on Fridays
Named after the sultan who ordered its construction, the Omar Ali Saifuddien mosque was the only mosque that we managed to visit during out short stay, but I’m glad we took the time to do so!
It is a beautifully crafted building with tall, gold-covered domes and a luxurious interior. The materials for its construction were imported from around the world. Italian white marble, Chinese granite, and hand-crafted chandeliers from London all add to the Mosque’s beauty.
However, it is only second largest of the country’s mosques, with room for 3,000 people inside.
The mosque is also surrounded by an artificial pool with a large stone boat that was modeled after similar boat from the Sultan’s dreams.
Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque
Entry Fee: Free!
Hours:
- 8am-11:30am most days
- 2pm-3pm most days
Closed (to tourists) on Fridays
Built in 1992, the Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque is the largest of Brunei’s many mosques and can accommodate an impressive 5000 people at once! It was built to celebrate the 25th year of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s reign.
It features 29 golden domes because it was built for for Brunei’s 29th sultan, and has four 58m(190ft) minarets that rise above the rest.
Basically, it is a work of architectural art, and is well-worth a visit!
Learn about Brunei’s past in their many museums
Every country has a history, and you can tell that Brunei is proud of theirs. Museums are dotted throughout the capital, each with its own focus. They’re enjoyable both as a way of learning about how Brunei became the country it is today and as a great way to beat the Southeast Asian heat!
Royal Regalia Museum
Entry Fee: B$5/adult | B$2/child
Hours:
- Most days: 9am-5pm
- Sundays: 8:30am-4:30pm
Closed on Fridays
The Royal Regalia Museum is the place where Brunei’s special royal ceremonial pieces are kept, as well as where the many, many gifts given to the sultan are. Our kids especially like looking at the ceremonial chariot that was used in the coronation, while I really liked seeing what gifts the different nations from around the world shared with Brunei!
I wouldn’t say it’s a super educational museum, but it is interesting, and we had a lot of fun looking at everything!
And just a heads-up: the whole museum is a shoes-off space, and any bags that you might have with you need to be put into a locker near the entry. Plus no large cameras are allowed inside. Just cell phones.
Kampong Ayer Cultural & Tourism Gallery
Entry Fee: Free!
Hours:
- Daily 9am-5pm
- Fridays 9am-12pm
This cultural gallery is located within Kampong Ayer, so you’ll need to hire a boat to visit, but if you’re interested in the cultural history of Brunei it is well worth it!
The museum has several very informational exhibits detailing the history of Kampong Ayer, including the unique architecture of the village, details on the villager’s daily lives, and several artifacts related to Bruneian culture and history.
It’s not a particularly large museum, so be sure to explore a bit of the village after you finish!
Malay Technology Museum
Entry Fee: B$3/adult | B$1/child
Hours:
- Most days: 9am-5pm
- Sundays: 8:30am-4:30pm
Closed on Fridays
While the word “technology” has a definite association with computers and phones in today’s modern world, it really refers to any and all of the tools that humans have been using for millennia to make our lives easier. Your laptop is technology, but so are steam engines, weaving looms, and cannons. All of which can be seen at the Malay Technology Museum!
If you’re a fan of history, archeology, or indigenous cultural information, this museum is a great choice for your family.
Brunei Energy Hub Museum
Entry Fee: Free!
Hours:
- Most day: 9am-5pm
- Sundays and Mondays: 9am-4pm
Closed on Fridays
Fun fact: Brunei doesn’t have income or sales taxes! Instead, the government gets its money from the production and sale of the country’s vast natural gas and petroleum reserves.
The Brunei Energy Hub is a museum with a focus on these energy reserves, including information on how much of these resources Brunei produces, what products are made from them, and how the country as a whole has benefited from their production.
Unsurprisingly, the museum is very pro-petroleum, though there is also an exhibit on the ways that Brunei is preparing for the world’s move towards greener forms of energy through investments in other energy tech, like solar.
Explore Brunei’s Virgin Rainforests in Ulu Temburong
The only reason this is so far down on the list is because Ulu Temburong is far enough outside of town that it becomes something of a full-day commitment, or even an overnight trip. However, if your family loves spending time in nature or diving into incredible adventures, Ulu Temburong cannot be missed!
Ulu Temburong National park is a vast stretch of virgin rainforest covering over nearly 200 square miles of Brunei’s southern reaches. Most of that is completely inaccessible to visitors, though, for those who are willing to make the journey, there is a canopy bridge strung among the forest’s treetops offering a glimpse into the beauty of the forest.
However, there is no road to get there. Instead, visitors must take a boat down the Temburong River!
This was our plan when we set out. However, despite years of experience with booking adventures, I somehow managed to miss out on the fact that all the companies that run the boats require booking in advance so they can be sure to have a boat available for you.
We ended up taking a car all the way out to the river only to find that there wasn’t any space for us on the boats!
So, instead of taking a boat deep into the forest and doing the canopy walk, we spent the morning at Freme Rainforest lodge climbing their climbing wall and zip-lining across the river. Not what we had planned, but not a bad way to spend a morning, either.
However, if you don’t want to repeat our mistake, be sure to book a spot on a boat with one of the three companies listed below!
Freme Rainforest Lodge
This is the lodge where we ended up spending our morning. They didn’t have space on their boats for us, but we still enjoyed our time there!
Book Tour: Explore Temburong (B$155/adult | $B95/child)
Email: fremebsb@freme.com
Phone: +6732234277
Trandie
Trandie advertises themselves as being the longest-running Temburong tour in Brunei, but they looked closed when we went by to check them out, and the website listed on their Facebook page is a broken link.
Even so, there are fairly recent reviews for them that look positive, so it may be worth getting in touch!
Facebook: Trandie Marina Resorts
Email: trandiebrunei@gmail.com
Phone: +673 719 3179
Sumbiling Eco Village
Sumbiling is another resort in the area that I’ve heard does river trips to the canopy bridge. They also advertise some glamping options, so they might be a great choice for families looking to stay nears Temburong!
Contact Page: Sumbiling Eco Lodge
WhatsApp: +673-8719616
Email: sales@borneoguide.com
The Practical Bits – What is it like traveling in Brunei with kids?
One of the biggest criticisms I’ve heard about Brunei is that there’s not a lot happening for travelers in the way of night life. And, I have to say, we found Brunei to be one of the quietest countries that we’ve ever visited. That said, as parents who want their kids in bed at a decent hour, that’s not really a bad thing!
We stayed just across from a mall, so food options were plentiful and anything that we wanted to buy was basically at hand. It was more expensive than other Southeast Asian countries, but still less expensive than shopping in the States.
Really, the biggest thing that stuck out to me was the pedestrian crosswalks. Anytime we came up to a crosswalk traffic immediately and completely stopped for us to cross, every time without fail. I don’t know if I’ve ever been to a place where pedestrians were accommodated like that, and it felt pretty surprising, especially after spending a few months in Vietnam!
How to get around in Brunei?
The only thing that was a bit difficult for us in Brunei was getting from Point A to Point B.
Brunei doesn’t use most of the popular rideshare apps like Uber or Grab, though it does have an app called DART which only works in Brunei. Unfortunately, it requires a local phone number to use, and we skipped out on getting a local SIM card for this trip since we were only staying a few days.
Instead, we ended up asking a security guard at the mall to help us hire a taxi, who we used for basically the rest of our time in country.
Where should I stay in Brunei?
For the vast majority of families who are just wanting to check Brunei out, finding a place in Bandar Seri Bagawan that fits your budget is probably the best move.
For instance, my family tries our best to travel inexpensively when we can, and we were able to find a room at a low-cost hostel accommodation called Miniinn. We had a private room with a bed and a bunk bed for the kids, with shared bathrooms and a small shared kitchen space, but for the few days we were there it was perfect.
Not exactly what you’re looking for? Be sure to check out the map below!
