Brunei
Nation of Brunei, Abode of Peace
South-Eastern Asia · BRN
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Brunei
Brunei is a short, low-key Southeast Asia stop for travelers who want mosques, rainforests, and a calm pace rather than a packed checklist. It works best as a compact Bandar Seri Begawan stay with one or two nature or river additions.
Popular For
Things To See
- Bandar Seri Begawan
- Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque
- Kampong Ayer
- Ulu Temburong National Park
- Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- A short trip is usually enough to cover the main sights.
- River and forest experiences are the clearest payoff beyond the capital.
- Weather is humid year-round, so keep activities compact.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Brunei.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Brunei Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Brunei.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Bandar Seri Begawan
- Population
- 455,500
- Area
- 5,765 km²
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia
Languages
- Malay
Currency
Brunei dollar ($)
BND
Singapore dollar ($)
SGD
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
36.9
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 66.1
- Restaurants
- 33.3
- Rent
- 15.5
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Bandar Seri Begawan (4.88°N, 114.93°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
15/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 0/100
- Lived safety
- 60/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal❌
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.837
Very high human development
- 5-year change
- 0.000
- 10-year change
- -0.005
- Trend
- stable
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.993
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.257
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.600
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 39.9%
- Forest cover
- 72.1%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 37
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 39
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
46/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
76/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
There were no changes to the advisory level or risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated. Advisory summary Brunei is generally a safe destination for travelers. Basic emergency medical care is available throughout Brunei. However, response times may be limited in rural areas. Read the Health section of the Travel Guidance on this page for more information. Review our travel guidance for Brunei to learn how to prepare for a safe trip. If you decide to travel to Brunei: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Brunei. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest Travel Health Information for Brunei. Whether you’re a first time or frequent traveler, use the International Travel Checklist. We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data