Hostels in BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, BRUNEI

Bandar Seri Begawan- God’s Town

Located at the heart of country on the banks of river Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan is the largest city of Brunei. Bandar Seri Begawan also known as BSW or Bandar is the capital of the country. It houses world’s largest residential palace, the Istana Nurul Iman, the residence of the sultan of Brunei. Kampong Ayer, a water village is an acclaimed site and Bandar’s delight. Beautiful mosques and museums dot the city.

Accommodations Options and Languages Spoken
There is plethora of high-end accommodation options in Bandar Seri Begawan as it’s an expensive location. But for budget travellers, there are few guesthouses available too. It houses a single youth hostel and is the cheapest option to spend your night. The hostel is located in Bandar and has good facilities. There are few budget hotels too which are a bit away from Bandar.

Most hotels have excellent facilities like air conditioned rooms, Wi-Fi services, and television and telephone access. Hotels here are safe and provide good security. If you can splurge, there are ample 5-star hotels. Restaurants located in Bandar serve various delicacies. Being in an alcohol free land, you won’t get boozes in restaurants. You need to carry drinks of your own, but under permission.

History
Bandar Seri Begawan was named after Sultan’s late father Sir Omar Ali Saifuddein. Begawan is a Sanskrit word for God and Seri refers to Sri and Bandar means town in Malay. As we trace back, Bandar Seri Begawan had settlements as those of Kampong Ayer back in 7th century.

Popular Places
Bandar Seri Begawan has some of the magnificent mosques which are a must see for every traveller. Jame'asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque is the largest mosque of the city. It is indeed an architectural wonder. Also the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque is worth a visit.

One can visit some of the splendid museums which include the Brunei museum. Royal Regalia, Malay technology museum and Brunei history centre too are worth checking out. Kampong Ayer and Istana Nurul Iman are Bandar’s pride. One should not miss out on these splendid places.

One can also visit the two tombs namely Tomb of Sharif Ali and Tomb of Sultan Bolkiah.

Getting Around
The water taxis are highly preferred for visiting Kampong Ayer to witness the scenic beauty along the ride. One can also opt for speedboat to reach the destination quickly. Buses are cheap and effective mode of transport. The ticket price is just one Brunei dollar irrespective of the distance. One can also hire taxis, which are rare and expensive. Hiring a guide would be of great help moving through the city. You can also hitch a ride by sticking out your thumb.

Places of Entertainment
One can head to The Mall for entertainment and shopping. Alternately, one can have fun taking famous boat ride from Bandar to Bangar. You can attend some of the cultural events of Bandar or check out the local handicrafts and arts.

Currency
The official currency of Brunei is Brunei dollar. Brunei dollar is at the par with Singapore dollar. One can get the current rates via news and internet.

Group accommodation in Bandar Seri Begawan | Cheap Hostels & Budget Hotels