The Empire Brunei Hotel: Travel Guide To The 7-Star Luxury Hotel

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The Empire Brunei Hotel

The Empire Brunei is Brunei’s premier hotel.

It’s one of the world’s few 7-star hotels (along with Dubai’s Burj al-Arab and Milano’s Galleria Vik). The Empire is one of Brunei’s architectural marvels, including the national mosques and Istana Nurul Iman (the world’s largest residential palace).

In this travel guide, we’ll cover the Empire Brunei Hotel.

We’ll explore the hotel’s layout, amenities, things to do inside (free entrance for all visitors!), how to arrive from central Bandar Seri Begawan, how to book a room, and the best ways to find and book lodging in Brunei (if you decide to stay elsewhere).

*Agoda.com sells quality, discounted hotel rooms (UP TO $50 OFF!). To see today’s deals for The Empire Brunei (or other hotels in Brunei), click here.

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Table of Contents

• Layout And Amenities

• The Empire Brunei's Interior

• The Empire Brunei's Exterior

• How To Get To The Empire Brunei

• Prices And Booking

• Other Accommodation Options

• Conclusion

• Best Way To Find A Hotel In Brunei

• About The Author (Taz Zaidi)

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Layout And Amenities

The Empire Brunei Hotel has been one of Southeast Asia’s most luxurious hotels since its grand opening in October 2000. Yet, and luckily, it’s still reasonably priced and remains accessible to all visitors. The hotel (officially “Empire Brunei Hotel & Country Club”) sits on a massive property featuring many amenities for guests and visitors. In fact, you can be entertained for a full weekend without leaving the premises.

The property contains a theatre, 5 swimming pools, squash courts, tennis courts, bowling alleys, a grand reception hall and a private beach. Perhaps the hotel’s most notable feature though, is a 18-hole golf course, called the “Empire Country Club”. The course was designed by golf legend, Jack Nicklaus, and is widely regarded as one of Asia’s best courses.

Empire Brunei Hotel and South China Sea - AzriSuratmin/Shutterstock

The hotel has more than 500 rooms, including nearly 50 suites and 16 villas. Its most “exclusive” room is called the “Emperor Suite”, which has hosted many celebrities and world leaders over the years. Emperor Suite’s 600 square feet of lavishness include a private pool and cinema. Hotel guests can request a staff-led tour of the suite, provided it’s unoccupied.

The Empire Brunei offers a wide variety of tours and activity packages to its guests, including hiking, scuba diving and organized trips to Kampong Ayer and Ulu Temburong. There are 7 restaurants within the property, providing a range of international cuisine and high tea options. Visitors (non-hotel guests) may visit Empire Brunei during the day, free of charge.

The Empire Brunei offers multiple dining options - cherry-hai/Shutterstock

*Agoda.com sells quality, discounted hotel rooms (UP TO $50 OFF!). To see today’s deals for The Empire Brunei (or other hotels in Brunei), click here.

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The Empire Brunei’s Interior

As a visitor, you’ll be greeted by a colorful mosaic-style tiled floor as you approach the hotel’s entrance. Upon entering, you’ll notice the massive golden chandelier centerpiece, said to be worth ~1 million USD. From there, you’ll enter the lobby. The walls, columns, arches and ceiling are all constructed of bright marble and granite, accented in gold.

Tropical sun rays peer through the unobstructed glass walls, further emphasizing these bright colors. The lobby is airy and uncluttered, gifting you views of the six floors above and the swimming pools and South China Sea just outside. Visitors can use the lobby escalators and/or walk the crafted staircases.

Glass walls let sunlight highlight the fine marble

*Agoda.com sells quality, discounted hotel rooms (UP TO $50 OFF!). To see today’s deals for The Empire Brunei (or other hotels in Brunei), click here.

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The Empire Brunei’s Exterior

There’s much to do in the hotel’s outer yards. You’ll notice a relaxed, easy-going vibe that only a coastal luxury hotel can provide. Because the Empire Brunei is located in Jerudong (a suburb of Bandar Seri Begawan), it’s never overrun with visitors.

The first thing you’ll notice outside is the massive swimming pool - stretching from the building to the coast. From certain angles, the pool appears to curve into the South China Sea behind it, offering a truly breathtaking first impression. A coastal walking trail fringes the perimeter. The trail is short, calming and one of the best spots to see a sunset in Brunei (along with Pantai Seri Kenangan and the Billionth Barrel Monument). Signposts will help you orient.

Beach in foreground, walking trail in background

*Agoda.com sells quality, discounted hotel rooms (UP TO $50 OFF!). To see today’s deals for The Empire Brunei (or other hotels in Brunei), click here.

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How To Get To The Empire Brunei

The Empire Brunei Hotel is roughly 20 kilometers from Bandar Seri Begawan city center, within the Jerudong suburb (by Universiti Brunei Darussalam). All taxi drivers know the hotel. If you have a car, the drive from Bandar Seri Begawan to Empire Brunei is straightforward and makes for a convenient stop on your way to Tutong or Belait (Western Brunei).

Taking a bus from the city center would be the most budget-friendly option. Just find the green Northern Line buses inside Bandar Seri Begawan Main Station. The bus passes Brunei International Airport and can drop you off at the Empire Brunei’s grand entrance. Your third transport option is to take Dart, Brunei’s ride-sharing app (Uber and Grab are unavailable in Brunei). For more about Dart, click here.

*Agoda.com sells quality, discounted hotel rooms (UP TO $50 OFF!). To see today’s deals for The Empire Brunei (or other hotels in Brunei), click here.

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Prices And Booking

As of this guide’s last update (September 2024), the nightly rates of rooms in the Empire Brunei range from 300 BND for a Superior Room to 980 BND for an Executive Suite. You may find the Empire’s rooms listed at a lower price on Agoda.com than on the Empire Brunei’s official website. Agoda is well-known in Brunei (and Southeast Asia) for offering great deals on hotels. For the Empire Brunei Agoda listing, click here. For the official site, click here.

Inside a room in the Empire Brunei - cherry-hai/Shutterstock

*Agoda.com sells quality, discounted hotel rooms (UP TO $50 OFF!). To see today’s deals for The Empire Brunei (or other hotels in Brunei), click here.

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Other Accommodation Options

• Most foreign visitors choose to visit the Empire Brunei for a few hours as part of a day trip from Bandar Seri Begawan city center. This is a nice option if you’d rather be centrally-located (most of Brunei’s major attractions are in or near central BSB).

  • As mentioned above, Agoda.com is one of the best sites for finding local hotels.

  • Airbnb.com also offers wide-ranging and unique lodging options in the city.

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Conclusion

Hopefully you found this guide helpful.

It’s not everyday you’ll have the opportunity to step foot into a 7-star luxury hotel. The Empire Brunei Hotel is just a short drive or bus ride from central Bandar Seri Begawan. To learn more about Brunei, explore our guides below.

Enjoy your travels!

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Other Popular Attractions In Brunei

• 7 Marvelous Mosques To Visit In Brunei (Incredible mosque architecture)

• Gadong Night Market (Best place to eat in Brunei)

• Istana Nurul Iman (World’s largest residential palace)

• Ulu Temburong National Park (The “Green Jewel of Brunei”)

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Here are some 5-star customer rated tours of Brunei, organized by Viator and run by locals!

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Best Way To Find A Hotel In Brunei

Agoda.com is well-known in Brunei (and Southeast Asia) for providing amazing deals on a wide range of accommodation options. You’ll find luxury or budget hotels, resorts, villas, hostels, apartments, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, and unique/alternative types). Use the widget below or click here to search in Brunei.

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