River settlements, mosques, and rainforest excursions

Visiting Brunei: how long to stay, costs and entry rules

Updated 24 September 2026

Brunei at a glance

Brunei suits a short stop: the mosques and Kampong Ayer water village of Bandar Seri Begawan, plus a day in the Ulu Temburong rainforest. Two to three days covers it. Budget travellers spend about US$40-45 a day and mid-range travellers US$45-80. February to April is the drier stretch, and alcohol is not sold anywhere.

Brunei quick facts
Best months	February-April (drier); wettest November-January
Trip length	2-3 days, including a day trip to Ulu Temburong
Daily budget	US$40-45 backpacker, US$45-80 mid-range
Visa	90 days visa-free for US, UK, Canadian and EU passports; Australians get a 30-day visa on arrival
Currency	Brunei dollar (BND), about 1.28 to US$1; Singapore dollars accepted at par
Main gateways	Brunei International Airport (BWN); land and sea crossings from Malaysian Borneo
Getting around	Metered taxis, the Dart ride-hailing app, BND 1 buses (6am-8pm) and water taxis to Kampong Ayer

Where to stay

Find hotels in Brunei

Choose a destination to check live rates and availability for your dates.

How many days do you need in Brunei?

Two to three days is enough for Brunei: one or two for Bandar Seri Begawan and a full day for Ulu Temburong National Park.

The capital's main sights fit into one full day: the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, a water-taxi tour of Kampong Ayer, the Royal Regalia Museum and the gold-domed Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, with the Gadong night market in the evening. Ulu Temburong needs a separate full day on a guided trip. Brunei is often combined with Kota Kinabalu or Miri in Malaysian Borneo.

Where should you go in Brunei?

Base yourself in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital, and make Ulu Temburong National Park your one day trip.

Bandar Seri Begawan: the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque (completed in 1958), Kampong Ayer, where about 30,000 people live in stilted houses over the Brunei River, and the free Royal Regalia Museum. The Istana Nurul Iman, the Sultan's palace, opens to the public only during the three days of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Ulu Temburong National Park: primary rainforest in the Temburong District, which is cut off from the rest of Brunei by a strip of Sarawak. Licensed operators run full-day trips (about BND 150-250 per person) with a longboat ride upriver and a 60-metre canopy walkway.

Sights, hotels and transfers: Bandar Seri Begawan travel guide.

How much does Brunei cost per day?

Budget travellers spend about US$40-45 (BND 50-60) a day in Brunei and mid-range travellers US$45-80 (BND 60-100).

Dorm beds cost about BND 15-25 a night and simple guesthouse rooms BND 25-40. Hawker meals are BND 1-5, buses about BND 1 a ride and Kampong Ayer water taxis BND 1-2. Costs climb once you leave the capital: Dart rides start at about BND 5 and rental cars run BND 60-100 a day. These figures come from published 2025-2026 travel guides rather than independent price checks, so treat them as ballpark.

Breakdown: Brunei costs in the Southeast Asia cost guide.

When is the best time to visit Brunei?

February to April, the drier stretch between the two monsoon seasons; temperatures stay around 24-32°C all year.

The wettest months are usually November to January, though rain at any time of year tends to come as brief afternoon showers. If you travel during Ramadan, note that being seen eating or drinking in public during fasting hours is against the law. The Istana Nurul Iman opens to visitors only during Hari Raya Aidilfitri, the festival that ends the fasting month.

Do you need a visa for Brunei?

US, UK, Canadian and EU passport holders can visit Brunei visa-free for up to 90 days; Australians buy a 30-day visa on arrival for BND 20 or 30.

Japanese and South Korean citizens get 30 days visa-free and Chinese citizens 14 days; Indian passport holders need a visa in advance. The Foreign Ministry's category pages do not name countries, so Australians should confirm with the Brunei High Commission in Canberra. Everyone passing through immigration must register the free E-Arrival Card at imm.gov.bn before travelling by air, land or sea, and passports need 6 months' validity.

Every passport: Brunei visa requirements.

Is Brunei safe?

Crime is low in Brunei; the bigger risks for visitors are its strict laws, occasional petty theft and saltwater crocodiles.

Laws: drug offences carry severe penalties, in some cases death; being seen eating or drinking in public during Ramadan fasting hours is illegal; criticising the Sultan or royal family can lead to legal action.
Theft: UK advice reports occasional petty crime against tourists; never leave belongings in a car, even out of sight.
Wildlife and hiking: saltwater crocodiles have killed people fishing on riverbanks around Bandar, and police advise against hiking alone in the forest.

UK advice lists no scams specific to Brunei. Emergency numbers: police 993, ambulance 991, fire 995.

SIM cards and eSIMs in Brunei

DST and Progresif both sell tourist SIMs at Brunei International Airport; bring your passport, which visitors must show to register a prepaid SIM.

Under rules from AITI, Brunei's telecoms regulator, in force since 4 September 2024, visitors register with their original passport, either in person at an operator's or authorised reseller's store or through the operator's online platform. DST's Easi Tourist SIM is sold at its airport branch (turn right in arrivals) and at selected DST branches. Progresif's Tourist Plan can be collected at its stores in the airport arrival hall, The Mall Gadong or Times Square in Berakas; online orders, with a scan of your passport, must be placed at least 3 days before arrival.

Getting around Brunei

Use metered taxis or the Dart ride-hailing app around the capital, and rent a car if you want to explore beyond it.

Brunei Tourism lists taxi fares from BND 3.50, plus BND 3 to or from the airport and 50% extra between 6pm and 6am. Uber and Grab do not operate in Brunei. Buses cost about BND 1 a ride but run only from 6am to 8pm (Moovit has routes and timetables), and rental cars cost BND 60-100 a day. Speedboat water taxis cross to Kampong Ayer; agree the fare before boarding.

Brunei International Airport (BWN): about 15 minutes by car from central Bandar Seri Begawan. Taxis wait outside arrivals; public buses are cheap but infrequent and run only in daytime, so book a hotel pickup for a late arrival.

Explore Brunei

Bandar Seri Begawan

Golden mosques, water village, and royal heritage.

Bandar Seri Begawan travel guide

Visiting Brunei

Is alcohol available in Brunei?

Alcohol is not sold anywhere in Brunei. Non-Muslim visitors aged 17 and over may bring in 2 bottles of liquor (up to 1 litre each) or 12 cans of beer (330 ml each), according to the Royal Customs and Excise Department. You must declare it to customs on arrival, wait at least 48 hours before importing more, and drink it only in private; it cannot be given or sold to anyone else.

Can you bring cigarettes into Brunei?

There is no duty-free allowance for cigarettes. You must declare them on arrival and pay excise duty of BND 0.50 per stick, and UK government advice notes that the sale of tobacco in Brunei is illegal.

What currency is used in Brunei?

Brunei uses the Brunei dollar (BND), at about 1.28 to US$1 in November 2026. It is interchangeable with the Singapore dollar at par, so Singapore notes are accepted at face value. Cards are taken at most hotels, larger restaurants and shopping centres, and ATMs are easy to find in Bandar Seri Begawan; carry cash for markets and water taxis.