Wondering how to pay for metro and bus rides in Brunei - cash only, or do cards work too?
So, when you get on a public bus in Brunei, you have to pay with cash. There's no card reader or anything like that. The fare is typically BND$1, which is super cheap, but you need to have a few small notes on you. It’s not like in Singapore with their EZ-Link cards. You just hand the cash to the driver when you get on. If you're coming from the airport, the buses that pass through are the Northern Line and Eastern Line, both of which only take cash. So, before you leave the airport, grab some BND from the ATM.
You'll find that for public transport in Brunei, particularly the buses and water taxis, cash is king. I tried to use my Revolut card everywhere and it was pretty useless for these small, everyday transactions. The bus fares are a standard BND$1, and you pay the driver directly. There's no metro system here, so it's all about the buses and water taxis. For those, cash is the only accepted payment. Save your cards for larger purchases at hotels, major retailers, or for services like the Dart ride-sharing app, which does accept Visa and Mastercard.
Navigating the bus system in Brunei is a bit of an adventure, and you can only pay with cash. There are six main lines that cover the Muara District, and the fare is a flat BND$1. I remember trying to find a card payment option and it was a no-go everywhere I looked. Forget about tapping your debit or credit card. The system is entirely reliant on you having the correct change. It's a good idea to break a larger note at a shop or a cafe beforehand so you're not stuck trying to pay for a cheap ride with a big bill.
For bus rides in Brunei, your best bet is to have cash on you, specifically Brunei dollars (BND). The public bus system, often called the 'purple buses,' operates on a cash-only basis. A typical bus fare is very cheap, usually around BND$1 per ride, so you don't need large bills. Don't expect to use a credit card like a Visa or Mastercard on the bus itself. It's a bit old-school, so make sure you hit an ATM first. The Baiduri Bank ATMs are common in Bandar Seri Begawan and accept international cards, so grab some small notes there.