Bandar Seri Begawan travel guide

Getting around

Downtown Bandar is tiny and easy to negotiate on foot. Water taxis are the major form of transport. A short hop should cost no more than about B$2, while a 45-minute tour of the water village will cost about B$20 (less if you barter). The Brunei Museum, Malay Technology Museum and the suburb of Gadong are accessible on Central Line buses (daily 0630-1800), which pass through the bus station on Jalan Cator. Buses run every 15-20 minutes and pick up and drop off on request. There are no buses after 1800. Fares start at B$1. Metered taxis cost B$3 for the first kilometre (B$4.50, 2100-0600) and B$1 for every subsequent kilometre.

Ins and outs

Getting there

Brunei International Airport is 11 km south of Bandar Seri Begawan. Between 0630-1800, there are regular buses from the airport to the bus station on Jalan Cator, in downtown Bandar. Buses from Sarawak and other parts of Brunei also terminate here. A taxi from the airport costs about B$25, or B$30 after 1800.

Bandar Seri Begawan

Air

Royal Brunei Airlines, T221 2222, http://www.bruneiair.com.

Boat

Boats, of course, are the main form of transport around Kampong Ayer. Small, speedy tambang depart from the jetty behind the Yayasan Complex from dawn until late at night. A short journey across to the water village should cost no more than a couple of Brunei dollars. Regular speedboats leave from the Jl Residency jetty in Bandar Seri Begawan to Bangar, the main town in Temburong District (hourly 0630-1630; B$6). Speedboats also depart from the main jetty to East Malaysia: Labuan, Lawas and Limbang . Access upriver to the interior of Brunei is by indigenous longboat. Journeys need to be pre-arranged (best to speak to a tour operator).

Bus

Buses serve Bandar Seri Begawan and the Brunei Muara district fairly regularly. There are 6 bus routes: the Eastern, Western, Northern, Southern, Central and Circle Lines, each of which runs buses every 20 mins, 0630-1800. The handiest route is probably the Central Line, which links the main bus station in Bandar Seri Begawan (on Jl Cator) with Gadong and the Brunei Museum (B$1.50). Long-distance buses also depart from the bus station on Jl Cator. It is located in the ground floor of the multi-storey car park. Destinations served include Seria (for onwards connections to Kuala Belait and Miri), I hr, B$6, Kuala Lurah, 30 mins, B$1, and regular buses to Muara (for ferries to Labuan).

Car hire

Companies include: AA Car Rental, Unit 26, Simpang 69-44, Jl Kiarong, T242 7238, aacarrental@gmail.com; Avis, 16 Haji Daud Complex, Jl Gadong, T242 6345; Hertz, Lot Q33, West Berakas Link, T239 0300 (airport T245 2244), http://www.hertz.com; Qawi Enterprise, PO Box 1322, Gadong, T265 5550.

Taxi

Metered taxis ferry people about Bandar and its suburbs, with fares set at B$3 for the first kilometre (B$4.50 between 2100-0600) and B$1 for every subsequent kilometre. For longer journeys, it makes sense to hire a car. Taxis can be waved down. Otherwise call T222 2214 (Bandar Seri Begawan); T333 4581 (Kuala Belait); T322 2030 (Seria); T234 3671 (airport).

Banks

Citibank NA, Jl Sultan; HSBC, Jl Sultan; Malaysian Banking Berhad, Jl Pemancha; Overseas Union Bank, RBA Plaza, Jl Sultan; Standard Chartered Bank, Jl Sultan.

Embassies and consulates

Australia, Level 6, DAR Takaful IBB Utama, Jln Pemancha, T222 9435, http://www.bruneidarussalam.embassy. gov.au; Canada, 5th floor, 1 Jl McArthur, T222 0043, http://www.international.gc.ca/missions/ brunei; Malaysia, 27 Simpang 396, Lot 9075, Kampong Sungai Akar, Jl Kebangsaan, T234 5652, http://www.international.gc.ca/missions/ brunei; New Zealand, 36A Seri Lambak Complex, Jl Berakas, T233 1612; Singapore, 8 Simpang 74, Jl Subok, T226 2741, www.mfa. gov.sg/brunei; UK, Level 2, Block D, Yayasan Complex, T222 2231, http://www.ukinbrunei.fco. gov.uk; USA, 3rd floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jl Sultan, T222 9670, http://www.brunei.usembassy.gov.

Internet

Deltech Communications, Unit 5, ground floor, Bangunan Hj Mohm Salleh, Simpang 103, Jl Gadong, B$5 per hr; E-Mart Cyber Junction, GP Properties Building, Jl Gadong, B$3 per hr.

Laundry

Superkleen, 95 Jl Pemancha, T224 2372.

Medical

services

Jerudong Park Medical Centre, Jerudong, T261 1433. RIPAS Hospital, Jl Putera Al-Muhtadee Billah, T224 2424.

Post office

General Post Office Building, corner of Jl Sultan and Jl Elizabeth Dua, Mon-Thu and Sat 0745-1630, Fri 0800-1100, 1400-1600.