Transportation in Bandar Seri Begawan

Bandar Seri Begawan runs on a slower clock than its Southeast Asian cousins, and its transport follows suit. Forget metros or light rail. Taxis are the visitor's lifeline, reliable, air-conditioned, and priced at moderate rather than bargain levels. The public bus network does cover the main corridors and is cheap. Yet buses appear infrequently and the timetable rewards patience, not punctuality. Budget travelers can wait. Itinerary hawks cannot. Walking? Rarely practical. Heat slams down, footpaths vanish, and attractions sit farther apart than the compact map implies. The river water taxi, the *tambang*, deserves its own chapter. These small wooden boats dart across the Brunei River to Kampong Ayer, the large stilt village. They beat any road route for speed, cost a fraction of a taxi fare, and run all day, thinning toward dusk. Skip them and you waste time plus miss one of the city's most useful transport experiences. From Brunei International Airport, taxis remain the only realistic ride into town. No rail, no airport bus. Travelers on tight schedules or with luggage should budget for a metered cab. Check the meter is running before you roll; short-trip haggling happens. Yet the meter sets the honest price. Planning day trips beyond the capital? Car hire is the smart play. Brunei's roads are smooth, and a rental is the only practical way to reach out-of-town sights on your own clock.