Best Time to Visit Bandar Seri Begawan

February and March: the easiest stretch

Bandar Seri Begawan is hot and wet all year, so don't expect a true dry season. The temperature barely moves. Days sit around 28 to 30°C and nights stay warm. What changes is how much rain falls.

February and March score best for us. They're the least rainy months here, though it still rains on about two days in three. Expect short heavy downpours with grey skies in between. It's a good time for walking the water village, Kampong Ayer, and for the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque. You'll still get sticky afternoons, so plan outdoor stops for the morning and keep the museums for later.

The in-between months

April to September are steadier than they look. May has the most rain of this stretch, with 264 mm. Many days have showers, but they often pass quickly. Mornings are your best bet for the Ulu Temburong National Park canopy walk, a boat ride from town and then a trek into the rainforest. Rain can close the walk, so keep a spare day.

If you're travelling with kids, this is a fine time. Jerudong Park and the Empire Hotel's beach are easier on a showery day than a scorching one. Wildlife fans can take an evening river cruise to look for proboscis monkeys, the big-nosed monkeys that live along the Brunei River.

October to December: the wet months

This is the rainy season, and it's honest to say it. December is the wettest month at 346 mm. January is also very wet, at 315 mm on 27 days, so the wet spell really runs from October to January. Skies are dull, with under two hours of sun a day on average. Rivers run brown, and some jungle trips get cancelled.

There's a trade-off. Crowds are thin, since Brunei never gets many tourists. You'll find quiet streets and easy tables at the Gadong night market, where you can try *ambuyat*, a sticky sago dish eaten with bamboo forks. If you don't mind getting wet, it's a relaxed time to go.

Events and crowds

Brunei has no big tourist high season, so prices and queues change little. Crowds follow local holidays instead. Hari Raya Aidilfitri, which ends Ramadan, brings open houses and busy family travel, and the date shifts each year. National Day on 23 February fills the capital with parades and flags, which is another reason to choose February. The Sultan's birthday on 15 July is also celebrated. During Ramadan, many daytime restaurants close, so check hours before you go.