Bandar Seri Begawan Travel Guide — Best Time, Things to Do & Where to Stay

Why Bandar Seri Begawan

Bandar Seri Begawan serves as the capital, largest urban center, and primary municipal area of Brunei. Located in the Brunei–Muara District along the Brunei River, the city forms the political, commercial, and cultural core of the nation. Although the surrounding district is the smallest in the country by land area, it houses more than seventy percent of the total population. Renowned for its cleanliness and safety, the capital has hosted major international gatherings, including the 20th Southeast Asian Games in 1999 and the 8th APEC Summit in 2000.

The history of the city traces back to a Malay stilt settlement on the water, which served as the capital of the Bruneian Sultanate beginning in the sixteenth century. After becoming a British protectorate, the town began transitioning onto dry land in the early twentieth century under British administration, encouraging river dwellers to resettle on the mainland. During World War II, Japanese forces occupied the territory in December 1941, and subsequent Allied bombardment left much of the infrastructure destroyed before Allied troops secured the area in June 1945. Following post-war reconstruction, Brunei officially declared its independence at midnight on January 1, 1984, in a square located at the city center. Long known as Brunei Town, the municipality was renamed in 1970 to honor Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III for his contributions to the country's modernization.

Visitors to the capital can view several world-renowned architectural and historical landmarks. The city is home to Istana Nurul Iman, recorded by Guinness World Records as the largest residential palace in the world, as well as the iconic Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque. Dominating the riverfront is Kampong Ayer, a vast collection of traditional stilt communities often referred to as the Venice of the East or Venice of Borneo. Houses in this historic water village stand on wooden piles above the tides, preserving the riverine lifestyle that formed the foundation of the original capital.

Administered by the Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Board under the Ministry of Home Affairs, the municipal boundaries were officially expanded in 2007 to cover more than one hundred square kilometers. Today, the urban layout encompasses multiple subdistricts and villages, with modern commercial and public developments stretching outward along major northern and western roadways from the central business district.