Can You Visit Brunei Without a Car? How to Get Around and Plan Your Stay
Yes, you can visit Brunei without a car, as long as you adapt your itinerary.
For a few days focused on Bandar Seri Begawan, walking, water taxis and Dart already make it possible to see many of the main sights. But as soon as you want to reach the beaches, Jerudong, Kuala Belait or several places outside the capital, renting a car becomes much more convenient.
The right choice therefore depends mainly on what you want to see.
To prepare your trip, also read Brunei: Rules, Alcohol, Dress Code & Things to Know Before You Go. And for a better idea of costs, see Is Brunei Really an Expensive Destination?.
Can You Explore Bandar Seri Begawan on Foot?
For the most part, yes.
Central Bandar Seri Begawan is relatively compact. From the Waterfront, several places are easy to reach on foot: Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, the Royal Regalia Museum, Teng Yun Temple, The Big Wall, markets and riverside walks.
In our itinerary, Kianggeh Market is around a 10-minute walk from the Waterfront, while Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque is only about 5 to 10 minutes away.
For a two- or three-day stay focused mainly on the capital, a car is therefore not essential.
Is Dart a Good Alternative?
Yes.
Dart is Brunei’s local ride-hailing app, similar to Grab elsewhere in Southeast Asia. Our guide considers it one of the most useful ways to complement walking.
From the airport, for example, it takes around 15 minutes by Dart to reach central Bandar Seri Begawan. The bus is cheaper, but the routes are less intuitive for visitors.
The main thing to keep in mind is that ride-hailing and taxi availability remains limited compared with places such as Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok. It is therefore better not to build an itinerary where every journey depends on finding a car at the last minute.
Can You Use the Bus?
Yes, but we would not build an entire trip around the public bus network.
Buses do operate, including between the airport and the city center, but the network is not especially easy for visitors to understand and schedules can be irregular. In our guide, we consider them more of an occasional option than the best way to explore the country.
Several routes connect the airport with Bandar Seri Begawan, including bus 34, but some alternatives take long detours.
For a short stay, we would therefore prioritize walking + Dart + water taxis.
What About Kampong Ayer?
This is actually one of the easiest places to visit without a car.
Water taxis leave directly from the Waterfront and reach Kampong Ayer within minutes. A simple crossing costs very little, and you can also negotiate a longer tour of the village or river.
You can even ask the boatman to drop you near the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Bridge and then walk back toward the Waterfront.
In Bandar Seri Begawan, the river therefore becomes almost a form of public transportation in its own right.
And if you are still wondering whether the destination is worth including in your trip, read Is Brunei Worth Visiting? Our View After Traveling There.
When Does a Car Become Really Useful?
As soon as you want to regularly leave the capital.
Public transportation is scarce outside Bandar Seri Begawan, and our experience clearly showed that having a car gives you far more freedom to reach beaches, districts and scattered sights.
For example:
- Serasa Beach is around 30 minutes from Bandar Seri Begawan.
- Muara Beach is another 15 minutes or so away.
- Kuala Belait takes nearly two hours by road.
- The Empire Brunei, Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque and Istana Nurul Iman are easy to combine on the same driving loop.
The rental price we observed during our stay was around €33 per day, plus roughly €5 for fuel.
Driving is on the left, but traffic is generally light, so adapting is relatively easy.
What About Ulu Temburong?
This is a special case.
The easiest option is usually to book an organized excursion, since transportation, boats, permits and the guide can all be included. Access to the park itself requires a guide anyway.
You therefore do not necessarily need to rent a car just for this excursion.
So, Can You Really Visit Brunei Without a Car?
Yes, for a short stay focused on Bandar Seri Begawan.
Our condensed three-day itinerary is designed precisely around the capital and its immediate surroundings. For a six- or nine-day stay, however, the route extends toward the beaches, Ulu Temburong, Kuala Belait, Jerudong and the Brunei River.
That is where renting a car becomes genuinely useful.
For official tourism information, also see Brunei Tourism.
Our view: for 2 or 3 days, Brunei is very easy to visit without a car. If you want to explore more of the country, renting one becomes the simplest way to save time and travel freely.
Planning Your Trip?
Our TAMAP Brunei Guide brings together our itineraries, the routes we actually traveled, access information, prices, difficulties and practical advice to help you organize your stay without wasting time once you arrive.