Brunei is a tiny little country in northern Borneo which is mostly unheard of to the Western world. On the other hand, one will always hear remarks about Brunei from people who have been there, labeling the country as “boring” and “just a layover destination”.
As someone who has been to Brunei several times, I always argue that people should give Brunei a chance, because the people here are amazing, the food is great, and the kind of peace it brings to people is something you will never find anywhere else. Sure, traveling around without a car can be a pain (because Brunei is a car country and no efficient public transportation system exists), but there’s always a way to find beauty in everything, right? Moreover, options on where to stay, such as top hostels in Brunei, are on the rise along with the rise of tourism in the said country.
I have compiled here my other travel guides about Brunei which you can check out by clicking on each item below:
- Your Southeast Asia Flight Guide to Brunei
- 32 Local Bruneian Food to Try as a Traveler
- 20 Restaurants to Try in Brunei
- 23 Instagrammable Spots in Brunei
So, are you looking for top hostels in Brunei, like, right now?
Are you planning a backpacking trip or perhaps you are a solo traveler to Brunei? I saw you just Googled “best hostels in Brunei”! Kidding! But I’m sure you are looking for a hostel to stay at this point in time. Well, the good news is, I did the research for you and picked the top hostels in Brunei that you could choose from! I extracted the basic and essential information for you, and I even compared them side by side! So are you ready to choose your hostel in Brunei? Let’s go!
TOP HOSTELS IN BRUNEI: SHERLYN’S CRITERIA
Personally, whenever I would visit another city and look for hostels, I usually use the following criteria:
- LOCATION AND DISTANCE FROM LANDMARKS: As a backpacker/solo traveler on a budget, I would choose a hostel that is in a good location because I want to explore the cities by foot as much as possible and have access to basic establishments, such as convenience stores, public transportation, and such.
- DISTANCE FROM THE AIRPORT: Factors such as time of our flights are important to consider choosing a place to stay vis-a-vis their distance from the airport. Some of us are staying in hostels for a layover and some of us just want to make sure we do not miss our next flights. Also, if we fly in or out at wee hours, public transportation is possibly not available and taxi is our only option, which can be more expensive depending on the distance of out hostels.
- WI-FI CONNECTON: Most of us need an internet connection to do research about places to go and eat and things to do, or update out social media accounts with details from our travels, or connect with our loved ones. Whatever our purposes are, having a wi-fi connection at our hostels is a big factor.
- FREE BREAKFAST: I am a morning person and I need to have breakfast, so this factor personally matters to me. I believe other budget travelers also consider getting their tummies full with a complimentary hostel breakfast before going out to explore the city.
- RESTAURANT/COFFEE SHOP/BAR INSIDE THE HOSTEL: Some of us just wants to have access to these facilities at the comfort of being inside the premises of our hostels (especially after a long day of exploring!).
- FREE BOTTLED WATER: A hydro homie here! This may not be popular in hostels, but most hostels have water dispensers provided but you have to bring your own bottle.
- TOILETRIES: This is a deciding factor to me since as much as possible I don’t want to experience the hassle of bringing in liquids inside my carry-on luggage (only to get confiscated at the airport! Ouch!), so if basic toiletries are available at the hostel, I might only bring what I really need.
- WASHING MACHINE/LAUNDROMAT: Light packers usually bring enough set of clothes, but any type of packer might run out of clean clothes to wear. Hence, it is a big deal for me personally if the hostel has a laundromat or a washing machine.
- ACTIVITIES: Hostels are also places for socialization with other travelers, right? I am an introvert, but if I ran out of things to do or if I feel like socializing or maybe do something inside the hostel, this criteria matters.
- AIRPORT TRANSFERS: Some hostels offer free airport transfer and we all should maximize this! However if I indicated a ‘yes’ answer for the airport transfer criteria here, please check with the hostel first if it is free or not.
TOP HOSTELS IN BRUNEI
So, without further ado, let’s proceed to reviewing and comparing the hostels picked!
CO.LIVING HOSTEL
LOCATION
Jalan Gadong, Co.Living Hostel, No. 2 Second Floor, Muhibbah Complex 1, Gadong, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
DISTANCE FROM THE AIRPORT AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
- 3.9 km from Brunei International Airport
- 14.7 km from Limbang Airport Malaysia
- 3.5 km from Bandar Seri Begawan Bus Station
- 5.2 km from Bandtoo Sdn Bhd Rimba Depot Bus Station
NEARBY LANDMARKS
- The Mall Cineplex – 930 m
- Our Lady of the Assumption Church – 1.48 km
- Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque – 1.5 km
- Tasek Lama Recreational Park – 2.63 km
- Royal Regalia Museum – 2.92 km
FACILITIES
| Wi-Fi Connection | Yes |
| Free Breakfast | Yes |
| Cafe | Yes |
| Bar | No |
| Kitchen | Yes |
| Free Bottled Water | No |
| Toiletries | No |
| Washing Machine | Yes |
| Activities | No |
| Airport Transfer | No |
HOSTELITE BRUNEI
LOCATION
Unit 101, 1st Floor, Sumbiling Lama Flat Jalan Istana Darussalam, Kianggeh, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
DISTANCE FROM THE AIRPORT AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
- 5.8 km from Brunei International Airport
- 12 km from Limbang Airport Malaysia
- 850 m from Bandar Seri Begawan Bus Station
- 7.8 km from Bandtoo Sdn Bhd Rimba Depot Bus Station
NEARBY LANDMARKS
- Sultan Omar Ali Saifudden Mosque – 360 m
- Royal Regalia Museum – 450 m
- Teng Yun Temple – 790 m
- Mercu Dirgahayu 60 – 820 m
- Kg Kianggeh Open Air Market – 910 m
FACILITIES
| Wi-Fi Connection | Yes |
| Free Breakfast | No |
| Cafe | No |
| Bar | No |
| Kitchen | Yes |
| Free Bottled Water | No |
| Toiletries | No |
| Washing Machine | No |
| Activities | Game Room |
| Airport Transfer | No |
AE BACKPACKERS HOSTEL
LOCATION
Simpang 88,unit 3-F (1st flr) and (2nd flr),Lot 30116 Kg Kiulap Bandar Seri Begawan, Kianggeh, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
DISTANCE FROM THE AIRPORT AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
- 5.5 km from Brunei International Airport
- 12.9 km from Limbang Airport Malaysia
- 1.8 km from Bandar Seri Begawan Bus Station
- 7.1 km from Bandtoo Sdn Bhd Rimba Depot Bus Station
NEARBY LANDMARKS
- Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque – 880 m
- Plaza Athirah – 1.05 km
- Sultan Omar Ali Saifudden Mosque – 1.27 km
- Royal Regalia Museum – 1.34 km
- Tasek Lama Recreational Park – 1.69 km
FACILITIES
| Wi-Fi Connection | Yes |
| Free Breakfast | No |
| Cafe | No |
| Bar | No |
| Kitchen | Yes |
| Free Bottled Water | No |
| Toiletries | Yes |
| Washing Machine | Yes |
| Activities | Game Room, Bicycle Rental |
| Airport Transfer | No |
MILLENNIUM MALE HOSTEL
LOCATION
LOT 47323, 2nd Floor, No 11, Bangunan Arafah, Kampung Kiarong,, Kianggeh, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
DISTANCE FROM THE AIRPORT AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
- 2.7 km from Brunei International Airport
- 13.5 km from Limbang Airport Malaysia
- 2.7 km from Bandar Seri Begawan Bus Station
- 6.7 km from Bandtoo Sdn Bhd Rimba Depot Bus Station
NEARBY LANDMARKS
- Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque – 430 m
- The Mall Cineplex – 1.35 km
- Sultan Omar Ali Saifudden Mosque – 2.18 km
- Royal Regalia Museum – 2.31 km
- Mercu Dirgahayu 60 – 2.56 km
FACILITIES
| Wi-Fi Connection | Yes |
| Free Breakfast | No |
| Cafe | No |
| Bar | No |
| Kitchen | Yes |
| Free Bottled Water | Yes |
| Toiletries | No |
| Washing Machine | No |
| Activities | Garden |
| Airport Transfer | No |
OURPLACE
LOCATION
Jalan Kiulap Unit 4, thien and Chuan building, Kianggeh, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
DISTANCE FROM THE AIRPORT AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
- 5.5 km from Brunei International Airport
- 12.7 km from Limbang Airport Malaysia
- 1.6 km from Bandar Seri Begawan Bus Station
- 7.2 km from Bandtoo Sdn Bhd Rimba Depot Bus Station
NEARBY LANDMARKS
- Plaza Athirah – 980 m
- Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque – 1.06 km
- Sultan Omar Ali Saifudden Mosque – 1.1 km
- Royal Regalia Museum – 1.17 km
- Teng Yun Temple – 1.54 km
FACILITIES
| Wi-Fi Connection | Yes |
| Free Breakfast | No |
| Cafe | No |
| Bar | No |
| Kitchen | Yes |
| Free Bottled Water | No |
| Toiletries | No |
| Washing Machine | No |
| Activities | No |
| Airport Transfer | No |
EZ LODGINGS
LOCATION
2nd floor Unit 16, Block J, Abdul Razak Complex, Gadong, Gadong, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
DISTANCE FROM THE AIRPORT AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
- 4.7 km from Brunei International Airport
- 14.8 km from Limbang Airport Malaysia
- 3.7 km from Bandar Seri Begawan Bus Station
- 5.2 km from Bandtoo Sdn Bhd Rimba Depot Bus Station
NEARBY LANDMARKS
- The Mall Cineplex – 80 m
- Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque – 1.15 km
- Tasek Lama Recreational Park – 3.14 km
- Royal Regalia Museum – 3.19 km
- Sultan Omar Ali Saifudden Mosque – 3.2 km
FACILITIES
| Wi-Fi Connection | Yes |
| Free Breakfast | No |
| Cafe | No |
| Bar | No |
| Kitchen | Yes |
| Free Bottled Water | No |
| Toiletries | Yes |
| Washing Machine | No |
| Activities | No |
| Airport Transfer | No |
TOP HOSTELS IN BRUNEI: COMPARISON
| Co.Living Hostel | Hostelite Brunei | AE Backpackers Hostel | Millennium Male Hostel | OurPlace | EZ Lodgings | |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free Breakfast | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Cafe | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Bar | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Kitchen | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free Bottled Water | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Toiletries | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Washing Machine | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Activities | No | Game Room | Game Room, Bicycle Rental | Garden | No | No |
| Airport Transfer | No | No | No | No | No | No |
TOP HOSTELS IN BRUNEI: YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE WELCOME! 🙂
There you have it! I hope you were able to decide by now and book your corresponding chosen hostel in Brunei, based on the criteria I picked. Btw, if you think other criteria needs to be included in this list, or if you want me to add more hostels to compare, please let me know! 🙂 Happy travels to Brunei and please share me your experiences with your chosen hostel from this list!
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