Istana Nurul Iman

Istana Nurul Iman stands on a rise above the Brunei river southwest of the capital and is the largest residential palace in the world by floor area, with something like eighteen hundred rooms, a mosque, a banqueting hall for several thousand and a garage for hundreds of vehicles. It was completed in 1984 and designed by Leandro Locsin. It opens to the public for three days at the end of Ramadan and at no other time.

What you actually see

• The scale - the largest residential palace anywhere by floor area.
• The golden domes - the roofline visible from the river and the road.
• The riverside setting - the palace on its rise above the Brunei river.
• The open house - the three days at the end of Ramadan when it admits the public.

When to go

The three days of Hari Raya Aidilfitri at the end of Ramadan are the only public access. At all other times it is exterior views only. Evenings show the floodlighting.

Honest expectations

It is closed all year except for the Hari Raya open house, and those days involve very long queues. Otherwise it can only be seen from the road or from a river boat. Photography from close range is restricted.

Nearby

Bandar Seri Begawan is northeast, and Kampong Ayer is on the river.