Fodor's Expert Review Sultan Omar Ali Saidfuddien Mosque
Opened in 1958, this mosque in the heart of the city on the Kedayan River was commissioned and named for Brunei's 28th Sultan, father of the current ruler. The gleaming white building is replete with the finest Italian marble, gold mosaics, and stained glass, facing an artificial lagoon featuring a replica of a 16th-century mahligai (royal barge). The mosque's 144-foot minaret is the tallest structure in Bandar Seri Begawan; ask permission to ride the elevator—or climb the spiral stairs, if you prefer—to its top to enjoy the panoramic view.