Damuan Recreational Park

The basics

In addition to the sculptures by prominent ASEAN artists, highlights of Damuan Recreational Park include a well-equipped playground, a running track, and a seafood restaurant. The park is often included on sightseeing tours of Bandar Seri Begawan, which typically combine it with a boat ride to the Kampong Ayer water village and the Royal Regalia Museum, home to hundreds of opulent artifacts that demonstrate the richness of this tiny nation.

Things to know before you go

• Damuan Recreational Park has bathrooms and showers that you can use after exercising.
• The riverside location of the park means there are mosquitos, so cover up or wear insect repellent to avoid getting bitten.
• You can sometimes spot monkeys and crocodiles around the river in the park. That said, it’s not a good place to take a dip.

How to get there

Damuan Recreational Park is on the outskirts of Bandar Seri Begawan; it’s 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the center via Jalan Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha, which takes 20 minutes to drive. There’s no public transportation, but you can use the rideshare app Dart for a convenient option.

When to get there

It’s best to visit Damuan Recreational Park outside of Bandar Seri Begawan’s peak hours of sun and heat. Arrive in the morning or toward sunset—the park is illuminated at night, and the Istana Nurul Iman looks particularly fabulous when it’s lit up against the night sky.

Exploring Kampong Ayer

Nicknamed the “Venice of the East” by locals, Kampong Ayer is one of the world’s largest settlements on water. Founded 1,000 years ago, the village features wooden houses on stilts and all of the amenities you’d expect from a more conventional town, including shops, hospitals, and restaurants. You can explore the village and the surrounding mangroves on a boat tour, during which you might even spot proboscis monkeys.