Bandar Seri Begawan

About 60,000 people lived in the capital city of Brunei. Bandar Seri Begawan is the only town of any size. The city is neat, clean, and modern with wide roads and extravagant public buildings. Tourists will feel awed with the Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, one of the most impressive and modern mosques in the East. This giant golden-domed mosque was originally built in 1958 near to the Brunei River in its own artificial lagoon. It was built with pure luxury in mind - the interior is covered with Italian marble walls, plush carpeting and an elevator.

At the Brunei River is Kampung Ayer, a centuries-old collection of 28 water villages built on stilts. 30,000 people inhabit the place and a visit to this place would be a real highlight to any tourists. Kampung Ayer is a strange mix of modern and ancient. Do not miss out on this place!

The capital city also sports some excellent museums. There is the traditional Brunei Museum and the lavish Malay Technology Museum. Here, you will get to see exhibits on water village architecture and the various technologies used by the people who lived in them. Should you wish to visit the Sultan's magnificent palace, you must plan your visit towards the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. The Istana Nurul Iman is open to the public then.

If you are looking for a happening nightlife, this is not the place for you. The streets are almost deserted at 9 pm. Overall, the people are friendly and easy to get along with.

Wasai Kandal

About 12 kilometers (7 miles) southwest of Bandar Seri Begawan is Wasai Kandal. In reality, it is a forest area with waterfalls and pools. Do not miss out on the beautiful Air Terjun Tinggi waterfalls. There is a wide and easy-to-follow path that leads past picnic ponds and pools towards it. Another waterfall a distance away is the Air Terjun Rendah. It has its own picnic area too. To get there, you will need a car.

Pantai Seri Kenangan

Pantai Seri Kenangan is also popularly known as Pantai Tuton, a famous beach with picnic tables and simple restaurant. On one side of Pantai Tuton, you'll see the ocean and on the other side is the Tutong River. The white-sand, casuarina-lined beach is definitely the best in Brunei. Daily, there is a market in the nearby town of Tutong. The beach itself is quiet and perfect for camping. Tutong is located on the main highway, halfway from the capital city of Seria. You can easily get there by bus.

Batang Duri

There is an Iban longhouse on the Temburong River known as Batang Duri. It is located about 40 kilometers southeast of Bandar Seri Begawan. If you are on a visit here, it is advisable to introduce yourself to the chief before checking out the place. For those who are a lover of nature, then hop on a boat to the Kuala Belalong Field Studies Center. It does researches on tropical rainforest species. The surrounding forest is a beauty, rich in flora and fauna with lots of exciting walking trails and some accommodation. Do check out the Taman Batang Duri zoo located nearby as well. The zoo has a collection of animals such as civets, monkeys, otters and birds.

Peradayan Forest Reserve

Bukit Patio and Bukit Peradayan is located within the Peradayan Forest Reserve. You can reach the peaks by walking along a trail. It is the most accessible rainforest in Brunei. Here, you'll get to admire unique wildlife such as squirrels, treeshrews, moonrat, and mouse deer, amongst others. You might not have the opportunity to see many of these nocturnal species but you will probably get the chance to see hornbills.

Pulau Ranggu

Pulau Ranggu is home to a large colony of proboscis monkeys. It is located in the middle of the river near the royal palace. There are also a number of macaques here. It is a thrilling experience to tour the place on a water taxi. You may even spot some monkeys at sunset.

Jerudong

Jerudong is the sultan's favorite place. Here, he indulges in polo. Jerudong Park has a huge complex with a polo stadium, luxurious stables, a golf course and other facilities for trapshooting and croquet. However, entry is by invitation only. There is also a massive new amusement park at Jerudong. The number of rides is huge. Located just behind the park is the Jerudong Beach with great cliffs offering great views. There are also stalls that sell fishes. To get to Jerudong, head north off the main highway between Bandar Seri Begawan and Tutong. The place is best visited by car.

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