Bandar Seri Begawan

Brunei's capital is a quiet, compact city along the Brunei River, built around the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque with its green and gold dome reflected in an artificial lagoon. The cruise terminal is at Muara, about 25 minutes away by car. Dress modestly when visiting mosques, which means covering knees and shoulders, and shoes come off at the door. Kampong Ayer, the world's largest stilt village, spreads across the river and is best reached by shared water taxi. The Royal Regalia Building displays the Sultan's coronation treasures, which are as lavish as you'd expect. Mangrove river tours offer a chance to see proboscis monkeys in the wild. For food, try ambuyat, a sticky sago paste eaten with spicy side dishes. Brunei has no alcohol sales, so the focus is entirely on food and culture. Local buses cost about 2 SGD.