🇧🇳 Brunei Darussalam: 3D2N Itinerary for First-Time Visitors (Updated 2025)
🌟 Brunei isn’t just oil wealth and opulent mosques—it’s serenity, culture, and subtle charm. Despite being compact, it’s filled with historical, religious, and architectural gems you can explore in just a few days. While nightlife here is quiet due to the country's Islamic values, a 3D2N trip is more than enough to get a glimpse of its wonders.
If you're planning your first trip to this peaceful nation, here's a sample itinerary based on our own experience—complete with tips, key attractions, and honest impressions.
✈️ Getting There
Brunei is served by Brunei International Airport (BWN) in Bandar Seri Begawan, with direct flights from major cities like Manila, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore via Royal Brunei Airlines, AirAsia, and others.
🏨 Where to Stay
We stayed at Jubilee Hotel, a budget-friendly option located near the city center. It’s walkable to major spots like the Royal Regalia Museum and Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque. They offer a complimentary return trip to select destinations—a huge plus!
📍 Jalan Kampong Kianggeh,
Bandar Seri Begawan
☎️ +673 2228070
🏨 Hotels in Bandar Seri
Begawan: 2025 Guide with Contact & Tips
🏨 Top Hotels Outside
Bandar Seri Begawan Brunei Darussalam 2025 | Best Stays & Contact Info
🏨 Where to Stay in Brunei
Darussalam – Hotels, Homestays & Budget Options (2025)
🏨 Top Hotels Outside
Bandar Seri Begawan Brunei Darussalam 2025 | Best Stays & Contact Info
🚕 Getting Around
- Walking: Many spots in the capital are walkable.
- Hotel Shuttle: Take advantage of free drop-off and pick-up.
- Water Taxi: For Kampung Ayer and riverfront areas.
- Taxi & Car Rental: Limited taxis, so renting or arranging transport in advance is best.
🗓️ SUGGESTED ITINERARY FOR 3 DAYS / 2 NIGHTS (Prepared Before the Trip)
📅 DAY 1: FEBRUARY 23, 2014 (Sunday)
🕐 1:40am – Arrival
at Brunei International Airport
🏨
2:00am–6:00am – Arrival at Jubilee Hotel | Wait at lounge
🛏️
6:00am–8:00am – Check-in | Rest | Breakfast
🎉
8:30am–10:00am – Watch National Day Celebration
🚗
10:15am–11:00am – Quick City Drive-By
🍽️
12:00pm–3:00pm – Lunch/View at Empire Hotel & Country Club
🎢
3:15pm–3:45pm – Jerudong Park (optional, based on time/budget)
🚘
4:00pm–4:45pm – Travel back to hotel
⛪
5:15pm–6:30pm – Attend Mass at Church of Our Lady of the Assumption
🍛
7:00pm–8:00pm – Dinner at Kainggeh Tamuh (Nasi Katok/Nasi Lemak
for B$1)
📅 DAY 2: FEBRUARY 24, 2014 (Monday)
🌅 6:30am – Wake-Up
Call
🥐
7:30am–8:30am – Breakfast
🏛️
9:00am–9:30am – Brunei History Center
🏰
9:45am–10:15am – Royal Regalia Building
📸
10:30am–11:00am – View The Lapau & Dewan Majlis (exterior only)
🌳
11:15am–11:45am – Visit Tasek Lama Park (optional)
🍴
12:00pm–1:00pm – Lunch at local eateries
🕌
1:30pm–2:30pm – Visit Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque
🏘️
3:00pm–4:00pm – Explore Kampung Ayer & Cultural Gallery
👑
4:30pm–6:00pm – Stop by Istana Nurul Iman from riverside
🌙
7:00pm onwards – Free Time | City walk
📅 DAY 3: FEBRUARY 25, 2014 (Tuesday)
🌅 6:30am – Wake-Up
Call
🥐
7:30am–8:30am – Breakfast
🕌
9:00am–10:00am – Jame'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque
🏛️
10:30am–11:00am – Malay Technology Museum
🏛️
11:15am–11:45am – Brunei Museum
🍴
12:00pm–1:00pm – Lunch
⚰️
1:15pm–1:45pm – Sultan Bolkiah Mausoleum
🧳
2:00pm–3:00pm – Refresh | Check-out
🧵
3:30pm–4:00pm – Arts & Handicrafts Centre
🏡
4:15pm–4:45pm – House of Twelve Roofs
🛍️
4:30pm–10:00pm – Final City Exploration
✈️
10:30pm – Transfer to Airport
🎒 ACTUAL ITINERARY FOR 3 DAYS / 2 NIGHTS (What Really Happened)
📅 DAY 1: FEBRUARY 23, 2014 (Sunday)
🛬 1:40am – Arrival
at Airport
🚖
2:15am – Check-in at Jubilee Hotel
☕
2:30am–8:45am – Rest | Breakfast
🛍️
8:50am–9:00am – Visit Kampung Kianggeh Market
🍳
9:15am–10:15am – Breakfast at DeRoy@le Café
🚐
10:25am–12:00pm – Attend National Day at Stadium
😵
12:00pm–2:00pm – Walk aimlessly (figuring out transport 😅)
🍜
2:00pm–5:00pm – Light lunch | Rest
⛪
5:15pm–6:30pm – Mass
🍽️
7:00pm–7:45pm – Dinner at Kainggeh Tamuh
🕌
8:15pm–9:15pm – Evening stroll at Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque
🛏️
9:30pm – Bedtime
📅 DAY 2: FEBRUARY 24, 2014 (Monday)
🥐 8:30am–9:30am –
Breakfast
🏛️
9:30am–10:00am – Walk | Photos of History Center, The Lapau
👑
10:00am–11:20am – Royal Regalia Museum
🌳
11:50am–12:30pm – Tasek Lama Park
🍱
1:00pm–2:30pm – Lunch at Kaizen Sushi
🏘️
3:30pm–4:30pm – Explore Kampung Ayer
🕌
5:00pm–5:15pm – Mosque visit
🛍️
7:15pm–8:15pm – Window Shopping at Yayasan Complex
🕌
8:15pm–9:15pm – Return to Mosque for Night View
🛏️
9:30pm – Bedtime
📅 DAY 3: FEBRUARY 25, 2014 (Tuesday)
🕌 8:00am–9:00am –
City Drive-By
👑
9:30am–9:45am – View Istana Nurul Iman
🧵
10:00am–10:20am – Handicrafts Centre
🏛️
10:40am–11:30am – Malay Technology Museum
🎉
11:40am–11:45am – Stop by 60th Monument
🍽️
12:00pm–1:00pm – Lunch at Kopi Bandar
☕
3:00pm–4:00pm – Snack at Café
🌟
5:00pm–7:00pm – Visit Empire Hotel & Country Club
🕌
7:20pm–7:50pm – Visit Jame'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque
🍱
8:15pm–9:15pm – Dinner at The Mall’s food court
🧳
10:30pm – Check-out | Transfer to Airport
✨ Brunei is clean, peaceful, and culturally rich, but nightlife is limited. The actual itinerary ended up being more laid-back, giving us time to enjoy the city's calmness. Some sites were unexpectedly closed or limited, so flexibility was key!
📝 Travel Tips
🚌 Transport: Taxi
is expensive; walking is common
🕌
Dress Modestly: Especially in religious sites
📵
Quiet Evenings: Most shops close early
💰
Currency: Brunei Dollar (BND) – Same value as SGD
Brunei may not be your usual Southeast Asian adventure, but its peaceful charm, grand architecture, and cultural depth make it a unique stop. It’s safe, clean, and offers a refreshing pause from the hustle of its neighbors. Three days are enough—but it’s the kind of place that stays with you longer.
🗨️ Have a question or need help planning your Brunei trip? Drop a comment below! I’d be happy to help you tailor your own itinerary.
👉 Planning your own Brunei trip?
Save this post, share it with your travel buddy, or leave a comment if you’ve been to Brunei! I'd love to hear your experience. 💬👇
Hello, I just wanted to ask if the itenerary above is the one you showed in the customs at the airport before departing to brunei? coz im having a hard time to figure out what to write in my 7 days itenerary that the customs will like and let me go there ^_^
ReplyDeleteHi Maria, wow you have 7 days to explore Brunei?! Make sure you visit all the interesting places there. Anyway, are you referring to the immigration? I did not show them our itinerary, the old man at the window where I was called only asked for the hotel booking confirmation and that's that. It was actually my first time to travel out of the country and I was worried about the immigration, but he didn't give me a hard time. My friend warned me about them being not pleasant so I was expecting a long interview or something. Not sure if because I had a big smile when I was called, the old man in the window even smiled back at me. Just be natural when you're called and smile even if they don't. If you need help with your itinerary, just let me know :) Enjoy Brunei!
DeleteOh only the hotel confirmation? Wow thats simple :) , actually its my 2nd out of the country trip the first one was in hongkong but then I was not worried before because the trip was arranged through the travel agency but now going to brunei I did not because its too expensive 20k each person, thats why I booked it independently and im really having a hard time :( . And also Their buses wont work when it strikes 6pm? What if im still in the mall that time and didnt know the time so what will I ride back to the hotel?
ReplyDeleteAre you traveling alone? If yes, it might be expensive if you rent a car to tour you around. Where are you staying? I asked because if you are staying at the centre of Bandar Seri Begawan, then my advice, go to the farthest attraction in the morning so by afternoon you will be in the attraction near the hotel and you can just walk. You can check my other posts (day 1 to day 3) for the attractions so you'll have an idea. I also included a map there so you will see which one is the farthest and the nearest. Hope it helps.
DeleteSorry, it's this post: http://www.lakwatserangligaw.com/2016/09/30-things-to-see-do-in-brunei-muara.html
DeleteNo, im travelling together with my family and we will be staying at qing yun resthouse in gadong and actually I copied your itinerary because it is so perfect. Great job (y) ����
ReplyDeleteGlad I could be of help. For more additional helpful information, please visit http://www.lakwatserangligaw.com/2016/10/negara-brunei-darussalam-my-first-out.html. Also, you might want to contact Jubilee Hotel to get the contact details of their Driver, Muhamar for the tour around Brunei. He only charges minimal compare to hotel's service. Enjoy!
DeleteSure,thank you so much ^^ and btw did you wear shorts in brunei? coz its like its so hot there and do we really need to wear jeans? :(
DeleteNo, I didn't. I wore jeans on our 3 days visit there. It's really hot, but I still wore it. I also carry a scarf around just in case I need to cover my face when visiting a mosque or other religious sites. We've met one Filipina there and she's wearing a tokong and 3/4 sleeve blouse, but other than that, I didn't see anyone wearing shorts. Brunei is a Muslim country, and unlike the neighboring country Malaysia, they are more conservative when it comes to dress code. Bring something to cover your face just in case you have to. For Do's and Dont's in Brunei, please visit: http://www.lakwatserangligaw.com/2015/12/brunei-darussalam-dos-donts.html
DeleteHi Mam, ask lang po about transportation ano po ma advise nyo sakin? from airport to jubilee hotel and roaming around BSB? thank you.
ReplyDeleteOh, thanks so much for sharing your itinerary. It's really detailed and useful for those who intend to visit this country. I feel nothing special there other than the magnificent mosques.
ReplyDelete