Missed Day 0? Read: My Arrival in Brunei →

My first full day in Brunei started with a little misunderstanding.

I woke up at around 7 AM in my dark hotel room and could hear what sounded like heavy rain outside. Rain was actually in the forecast that day, so I thought my plan of exploring Bandar Seri Begawan on foot might have to wait.

The sound was so convincing that I stayed in bed and decided to get up at around 8:30 AM instead.

Then I opened the curtains.

It was completely sunny outside.

Apparently, the “heavy rain” I had been hearing was actually coming from the large outdoor unit of the hotel’s split-type air-conditioning system. It sounded so much like heavy rain that it completely fooled me. Haha.

So much for the rainy morning.

I had breakfast, got ready, and started my walking tour of Bandar Seri Begawan.

Walking Around BSB

From Badi’ah Hotel, I made my way towards the city center. It was a Sunday and the streets were relatively quiet, which made Bandar Seri Begawan feel very peaceful.

The weather, however, was another story.

It was really hot and humid.

I was wearing a T-shirt and pants, and quickly regretted that I haven’t worn my dri-fit long sleeve to spare my arms from the scorching heat!

My first stop was Jambatan Pejalan Kaki, followed by Taman Mahkota Jubli Emas, a huge open park near the heart of the city. I also came across three baobab trees here, which apparently came all the way from Australia.

From there, I continued towards the BIBD Frame, a popular photo spot where you can perfectly frame the iconic Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in the background.

Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque

Of course, I had to see the mosque up close.

The golden dome is already impressive in photos, but seeing it in person was different. With the mosque sitting beside the lagoon right in the center of Bandar Seri Begawan, it’s easily one of the landmarks that immediately comes to mind when you think of Brunei.

From here, I continued walking to my next stop.

Royal Regalia Museum

Next was the Royal Regalia Museum, where I got a closer look at Brunei’s royal history.

Inside are ceremonial items and royal regalia connected to Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, including the massive royal chariot used during royal ceremonies.

Entrance was BND5 during my visit.

And at this point, after walking outside in the heat, I was also very thankful for the air-conditioning. Haha.

Around the City and Waterfront

After the museum, I continued towards Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien, the large ceremonial field in the middle of the city.

From there, I made my way towards the waterfront, passing Mercu Dirgahayu 60 and eventually checking out some of the large murals around the area, including The Big Wall Brunei.

By this time, the heat and humidity were really starting to get to me.

I was hungry, tired and already feeling a little dehydrated, so I finally decided it was time to stop walking and get some lunch.

Time for Lunch

My original plan was to have lunch at Mei Kong Coffee Shop, a local coffee shop I had read about while researching for this trip.

But at that point, I really didn’t feel like walking any farther just for lunch. So I ended up stopping somewhere nearby instead, grabbed something to eat and, more importantly, had a much-needed cold drink.

After hours of walking under the Brunei sun, sitting down for a proper break felt so good.

And apparently, I still wasn’t done exploring.

Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque

After lunch, I booked a Dart paid 5.5BND and headed to Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque.

Compared with the places I visited earlier, this one was outside the main walking area, so taking Dart made much more sense—especially after everything I had already walked that morning.

The mosque is massive, with its golden domes and beautifully landscaped surroundings. It has a completely different feel from Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, so I’m glad I made time to visit both.

But apparently, I still hadn’t had enough walking for the day.

A Short Hike at Tasek Lama

My last stop before heading back was Tasek Lama Recreational Park for a short hike. So from the mosque, I booked Dart again to the recreational Park.

Yes, after complaining about the heat and walking all morning, I somehow decided that adding a hike was a good idea. Haha.

I didn’t do anything too ambitious, though. It was just a short visit and hike around the park before finally calling it a day.

I arrived back at Badi’ah Hotel at around 4 PM, tired, sweaty and definitely ready for a proper rest.

Is Bandar Seri Begawan Walkable?

For the city center, I would say yes.

Many of the main attractions are relatively close to each other, so exploring on foot is possible. But the heat and humidity can make those distances feel much longer than they look on Google Maps.

If you want to follow a similar route, start early, wear light clothing, bring enough water and take breaks whenever you can. You can always use Dart for places farther outside the city center.

Despite the heat, I managed to cover quite a lot on my first full day in Brunei.

And the day wasn’t over yet.

After resting at the hotel, I headed back out before sunset, where I ended up negotiating with a local boatman and cruising into the mangroves in search of Brunei’s famous proboscis monkeys.

But that deserves a story of its own.

READ NEXT: Hunting for Proboscis Monkeys on a Sunset River Cruise in Brunei →