Continuing from the previous article on world-class wreck diving, the right way to do a Brunei dive trip is to dive in the morning and explore on land in the afternoon. After wrapping up a packed three-dive morning, the afternoons and free land-tour days are where you truly begin to unlock the culture of this mysterious country. If you haven't read the previous article yet, head over to 《Being Seriously Underrated Wreck Dive Sites! Complete Brunei Dive Travel Guide: Pre-Trip Prep ✕ 6 Dive Sites Scouted》 to fill in the underwater itinerary before coming back to this land-tour edition.
By the time you've finished reading this article, you'll know how to make the most of Brunei's best land-side highlights:
- Street food treasure hunt on night one: Gadong Night Market's budget bites and culture shock moments.
- Top land-tour attraction picks: Cross-sea bridge, Proboscis Monkey boat cruise, and tips on avoiding the pitfalls at landmark mosques.
- Beyond-five-star hotel review: Just how luxurious is The Empire Brunei?
- High-value leave strategy: An honest breakdown of the itinerary and budget costs.
Day 1 Arriving in Style: Head Straight to Gadong Night Market for Budget Street Food
Flying in on Royal Brunei Airlines on an afternoon departure, we touched down just after 5 p.m. — the whole transit experience was wonderfully smooth. For the first night's dinner, the top pick is hands-down the Gadong Night Market (also known as the One-Dollar Night Market).
The local snacks here really do cost just 1 to 2 Brunei dollars each (roughly NT$24 to NT$48). the Editor strongly recommends arriving on an empty stomach to go treasure-hunting: fragrant satay skewers, soulful nasi lemak, and outrageously good grilled chicken tail are all on offer, and the environment is impressively clean — no need to worry about an upset stomach.
- Nationwide 100% alcohol ban: You absolutely cannot buy any alcoholic beverages at any convenience store or restaurant in Brunei (non-Muslim visitors may legally bring a small quantity of alcohol for personal use into the country, but it must be consumed only in-room).
- Extremely strict smoking regulations: Outdoor smoking must be done at least 6 metres away from any building. The sale of single cigarettes or e-cigarettes is prohibited. Cigarettes brought in upon entry are counted individually and taxed (0.5 Brunei dollars per cigarette) — make sure to declare them honestly.
There are no beachside nightclub party scenes or tipsy nights out here. Instead, you're greeted by a quieter, more authentic evening steeped in local Muslim culture.
Day 2 & Day 3 Post-Dive Land Tour Bonus: Everything Is Close — Mix and Match as You Like
The best part about diving in Brunei is that you can wrap up a solid three-dive session before 1 p.m. After a shower in the afternoon, all that extra time is yours to fill with land-side activities. Because the sights around Brunei's city centre are all relatively close together, you can freely combine them based on your energy level and available time.
Temburong Bridge
This is the longest bridge in Southeast Asia, connecting the two physically separated parts of Brunei that are divided by Malaysia. While crossing it, the Editor even spotted massive Bornean hornbills soaring overhead. Sixty percent of Brunei's land area is a protected primary forest reserve, and the ecological integrity is staggeringly high. If your holiday is long enough and your energy holds up, it's strongly recommended to spend a day crossing the bridge to visit Ulu Temburong National Park and tackle the renowned Canopy Walkway — standing atop its towering steel platform among the treetops, gazing down over an endless tropical rainforest, offers a perspective that is truly unforgettable.
Royal Regalia Museum
You must remove your shoes before entering this Sultan memorial museum. Inside, you'll find the regalia used at the Sultan's coronation, lavish state gifts presented by foreign nations, and the King's own childhood treasures. The air conditioning inside is absolutely freezing — after a day of diving, remember to bring a light jacket.
Kampong Ayer Water Village
Known as the "Venice of the East," this floating city is extraordinary. Hop on a water taxi and weave through it, and you'll discover a floating police station, a floating fire station, schools, and mosques — the entire community is completely self-sufficient. Cats wander freely throughout the village, making it a paradise for cat lovers. The best time to visit is in the afternoon, perfectly avoiding the scorching midday sun so you can stroll around comfortably with the sea breeze.
Day 4 Land Tour Highlights: Must-Visit Mosque and Searching for Proboscis Monkeys
Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque: Best Visited in the Evening
As Brunei's most iconic landmark, the golden dome and white walls are incredibly photogenic. A reminder for female visitors: no shorts and no bare shoulders (robes are available to borrow for free at the entrance). The most beautiful photo opportunity, however, is at night when the lights are on — capturing the mosque together with its reflection is spectacular.
Proboscis Monkey Boat Cruise: Borneo's Living Treasure Lives Right Behind the Water Village
Charter a water taxi through the water village and you'll enter the mangrove reserve behind it, where you can search for wild Proboscis Monkeys. Because Brunei prohibits the commercial logging of mangroves, the Proboscis Monkey population here is far more stable than in neighbouring countries. On this trip, the Editor also lucked into spotting a wild baby crocodile — two of Borneo's star species in a single boat ride, making it exceptional value.
Checking into The Empire Brunei: A Luxurious One-Day Sultan VIP Experience
On the evening of Day 4, the Editor checked in at The Empire Brunei. This resort — officially rated beyond five-star — was originally the Royal Sultan's brother's private royal guesthouse. Its most impressive feature is an 18-hole championship golf course that has hosted international tournaments, plus a wealth of complimentary recreational facilities. Because the grounds are so expansive, free golf cart transfers are available anytime you don't feel like walking. the Editor's personal luxury experience staying here: 5 top-tier pools ✕ private beach, complimentary leisure activities, and an utterly exclusive, whole-resort-to-yourself feel.
- Exceptional value room rates: Think staying in a top-tier palace-level resort means breaking the bank? Think again. A standard deluxe room typically runs around NT$8,000. For an internationally recognised, ultra-luxury five-star resort, that price is remarkably reasonable.
- Check-in and scheduling tips: It's strongly recommended to check in promptly at 2 p.m., leaving the entire afternoon and evening to enjoy the hotel's facilities. The next morning, take your time, then check out at 11 a.m. sharp to maximise every minute.
- Hidden transport cost heads-up: The hotel is located in the Jerudong area, which is quite a distance from Bandar Seri Begawan city centre. If you plan to get a taxi to and from the city, a single trip costs around 30 Brunei dollars (approximately NT$720). Consider splitting the fare with your dive buddy, or simply check in and stay elegantly put without venturing out at all.
Day 5 Seria Oil Fields: Understanding the Economic Lifeblood of Brunei
For the final day's land tour highlight, the Editor drove an hour out to Brunei's financial backbone: the Seria Oil Fields. Honestly, the Editor was feeling a bit lazy before setting out — but after the visit, the genuine conclusion was: if you haven't seen the oil fields, you haven't truly understood what Brunei is as a country.
Here stands the famous Billionth Barrel Monument. Drive along the coastline and you'll see a row of nodding donkey pump jacks stretching to the horizon, endlessly bobbing up and down, pulling crude oil to the surface. With a brilliant tropical blue sky as the backdrop and the industrial-strength pump jacks in the foreground, the stark visual contrast is nothing short of surreal.
A Roadside Surprise on the Way Back: Macaque Park
Next to the oil fields, there's a "Macaque Park" where wild macaques brazenly swing around on children's playground equipment — slides, swings, the lot. The scene is hilariously surreal and makes for a perfect rest stop on the long drive back to the city.
Shopping at The Mall Gadong Back in the City: Is It Worth It? The Editor's Honest Take
Back in town in the evening, the Editor decided to check out The Mall Gadong, the largest and most well-known shopping mall in central Brunei.
Is it worth a visit? The Editor's honest answer: it's more of a wander-around-and-soak-in-the-vibe kind of place. The style inside is very everyday and local. That said, it's a great spot to experience the everyday life of locals, and you can follow up with a stroll through the nearby Gadong streets to take in the neighbourhood scenery.
In Every Brunei Driver's Car: The Surprising Local Treasure — Decorative Car Diffusers
A lot of visitors scratch their heads over what to buy as souvenirs in Brunei. On this trip, the Editor discovered a mysterious local gem. While riding in cars around Brunei, the Editor noticed that nearly every single driver had a decorative reed diffuser hanging in their car.
The Editor eventually tracked one down in a small vendor stall — similar to a cubby shop — inside The Mall Gadong. Each bottle works out to just over NT$100, comes in a wide variety of scents, and the fragrance profiles are quite different from the typical scents you find in Taiwan — they smell wonderfully pleasant and refined. If you want to bring back a unique, genuinely local, and highly practical souvenir to give to people back in Taiwan, the Editor wholeheartedly recommends this driver-approved car diffuser.
How to Actually Buy Souvenirs in Brunei? The Editor's Last-Resort Strategy
Honestly speaking, buying souvenirs in Brunei is genuinely tricky. As a country that runs primarily on oil wealth, roughly ninety percent of everyday consumer goods, snacks, and biscuits are imported from Malaysia or neighbouring countries — it's surprisingly hard to find anything that's truly marketed as a "Brunei specialty."
If you're like the Editor and have a gift-giving compulsion — needing to bring something stamped with "Brunei" back home — here's the Editor's insider final move: buy at the airport. Don't waste your time rummaging through department stores in the city centre. After checking in for your flight the next day, the departure hall has several dedicated local souvenir shops. You'll find premium-packaged chocolates, creative goods and specialty confections featuring Proboscis Monkeys or the iconic mosque.
The Editor's Itinerary Breakdown: Two Versions for Different Holiday Budgets
4-Day Highlights Itinerary (Take Thursday and Friday off — two days' leave)
- Thursday: Depart in the afternoon, arrive in Brunei in the early evening, Gadong Night Market, stay at dive shop accommodation.
- Friday: Three dives plus afternoon land tour, stay at dive shop accommodation.
- Saturday: Three dives plus afternoon land tour, stay at dive shop accommodation.
- Sunday: Arrive back in Taiwan around noon.
6-Day Extended Itinerary (Take Thursday, Friday, Monday, and Tuesday off — four days' leave)
- Thursday: Depart in the afternoon, arrive in Brunei in the early evening, Gadong Night Market, stay at dive shop accommodation.
- Friday: Three dives plus afternoon land tour, stay at dive shop accommodation.
- Saturday: Three dives plus afternoon land tour, stay at dive shop accommodation.
- Sunday: Morning land tour, check in to The Empire Brunei.
- Monday: Full day land tour, find your own accommodation.
- Tuesday: Arrive back in Taiwan around noon.
Overall costs come to roughly NT$30,000-something (excluding The Empire hotel fees), including flights, accommodation, diving, and meals — excellent value by Southeast Asia dive travel standards.
When people ask the Editor whether they'd go back — the answer is yes. Next time, the Editor wants to add on the Ulu Temburong National Park tropical rainforest canopy walkway, and take on the deeper WWII wrecks at the Blue Water Wreck site. Got your leave application and scuba tank ready?
If you haven't read the diving section yet, head back to the previous article 《Being Seriously Underrated Wreck Dive Sites! Complete Brunei Dive Travel Guide: Pre-Trip Prep ✕ 6 Dive Sites Scouted》 to complete the underwater scouting. If you want to jump straight to the dive site map to find your next destination, head to the Brunei dive sites page for full details on all 6 sites.
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