Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque
The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in central Bandar Seri Begawan is one of the finest mosques in Southeast Asia. Its main golden dome is covered in 3.5 million glass mosaics laid over gold leaf, and the whole structure is mirrored in the lagoon that surrounds it. At sunset the reflection turns extraordinary. Non-Muslims are welcome outside prayer times — dress modestly and remove your shoes at the entrance.
Kampong Ayer
Around 30,000 people live in this ancient water village above the Brunei River, connected by 38 kilometers of wooden walkways. Houses, schools, mosques, and shops all sit on stilts. It looks like it should be a tourist set-piece but it is a real, functioning neighborhood that has been here in some form for 600 years. Take a water taxi across from the Bandar Seri Begawan waterfront to explore it properly.
Ulu Temburong National Park
Brunei's greatest natural asset: 50,000 hectares of primary rainforest in the Temburong district that has never been logged. Getting there requires a longboat ride up the Brunei River, which is half the experience. At the park, a 60-meter-high canopy walkway lets you look out over an unbroken canopy, with hornbills, gibbons, and countless butterflies if you are lucky. Access is by guided tour only — book in advance, especially in the dry season.
Istana Nurul Iman
The Sultan's official palace is not open to the public in the ordinary sense, but during Hari Raya Aidilfitri (the end of Ramadan), the gates open and thousands of people queue to greet the Sultan and receive his hospitality. If you happen to be in Brunei at the right time, joining that queue is a rare and memorable experience.
The Royal Regalia Museum
Free to enter and genuinely impressive, this museum in the capital houses the ceremonial regalia of the Sultan — gold carriages, jeweled state crowns, and the silver-and-gold chariot used at his coronation. The sheer scale of the royal wealth on display is its own kind of attraction.