Cities and regions／Brunei
City or town ·

Bandar Seri Begawan

Bandar Seri Begawan is Brunei’s capital, in Brunei-Muara District. Near the city centre, Kampong Ayer offers a view of a lived-in riverside community connected by water and walkways.

Bandar Seri Begawan
Photo by Tuya70 Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
The place

What makes it special

  • Kampong Ayer, a group of riverside communities built on stilts.
  • The Kampong Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery, with exhibits on local history and traditions.
  • The river as a route for everyday transport in Kampong Ayer.
Walkway and stilt houses in Kampong Ayer, Brunei.
Photo by Jorge Láscar from Melbourne, Australia Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY 2.0
Bandar Seri Begawan
Photo by Yu Chu Chin Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Travel atlas

Articles in Bandar Seri Begawan

Guides to this place

4 articles

Bandar Seri Begawan

journal.travel Editorial

Guides to this place

4 related guides

Generic Southeast Asian urban setting, not identified as a specific place in Brunei.

Brunei’s capital, currency and flight details to verify

A first guide to locating Brunei, checking its key facts and verifying transport information before you travel.

Read guide →
Documentary view of Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei's capital

Brunei: Bandar Seri Begawan, Malay and the national currency

Brunei is in Southeast Asia, and its capital is Bandar Seri Begawan. Malay is the recorded language, and the Brunei dollar is the national currency.

Read guide →
Stilt houses and water taxis in Kampong Ayer on the Brunei River.

Kampong Ayer on foot and by water taxi from Bandar Seri Begawan

A leisurely visit to the village on the river: which walkways to explore, how to hire a boat and why to add a museum to the route.

Read guide →
Walkway and stilt houses in Kampong Ayer, Brunei.

Kampong Ayer in Brunei, where boats connect a living neighbourhood

Kampong Ayer is best understood as a network of inhabited neighbourhoods, jetties, walkways, schools and small local economies—not as a photo excursion. This guide suggests a slower visit: start with context, then take a boat, and only afterwards walk, making practical choices about negotiating the fare, respecting privacy and recognising accessibility limits.

Read guide →
Information in context

Sources and references

This profile summarises our destination guides. Their research sources and the geographical reference are listed below.

Profile updated: 11/10/2026