Just a 30 minute boat ride from Bali, the Nusa islands are a trio of tropical islands with white sandy beaches and breathtaking scenery. With a slower pace of life and a more laid-back vibe, a visit to the Nusa islands should be right at the top of your list of things to do on your trip to Bali.
Each with its own unique character and charm, the three islands all have something special to offer. This guide will cover everything you need to know about visiting the Nusa islands. From how to get there to what you need to bring, and even which island is best for you to visit.
Getting to the Nusa Islands
Boats to the Nusa islands leave from Sanur several times each day, and there are a number of companies who service the route. 12Go Asia is a great site for finding up to date schedules and prices, and for booking your tickets. You can also buy your tickets at the check in desks at the harbour.
My personal recommendation for travelling to Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Ceningan is Rocky Fast Cruise. During the booking process, you have an option to select with or without hotel transfers. It is absolutely worth paying a little bit more to have them collect you and drop you off. Just be aware that for accommodation on Nusa Ceningan, the shuttle will drop you off at the Nusa Lembongan side of the Yellow Bridge.
Click here to read my 2 week Bali itinerary
Make sure to wear shoes that will slip on and off easily, as you will need to take them off when boarding and disembarking. There is no pier at Sanur or at any of the Nusa islands, so you will need to wade through the water getting on and off the boat.
You should also consider having a dry bag for any electronics or other items which you do not want to risk getting wet. Your main bag will be loaded onto the boat by very hardworking baggage handlers who will carry it above their head so as not to get it wet. It will be your own responsibility to make sure that your hand luggage and personal belongings stay dry.
What to bring to the Nusa Islands
- Sunscreen: I recommend a high factor, and use a reef friendly option if possible, particularly if you plan on spending a lot of time in the ocean.
- A sun hat or bandana.
- Bug Spray: In the 5 months I spent in Bali in 2022, the Nusa islands were where I was bitten the most.
- An underwater camera or waterproof phone case, especially if you plan on doing any snorkelling, diving or cliff jumping.
- Comfortable walking shoes.
- Cash: ATMs are not plentiful on the islands, and many places do not accept card.
- A camera.
- A sense of adventure.
Nusa Penida
The largest of the 3 islands, Nusa Penida is where you will find the most dramatic views and scenery. It is also the least developed, with bumpy roads and a much more local, less touristy feel. The many points of interest are spread out around the island, and travel times between them can sometimes be a couple of hours. If you want to really explore all that Nusa Penida has to offer, I recommend spending at least 3 nights and 2 full days here.
It is possible to take a day tour to Nusa Penida from one of the other Nusa islands, or even from mainland Bali. This is definitely worth doing if you are on a tight itinerary but want to see some of the highlights of the island. Just remember that you will be limited as to what you can see in just one day. The organised day tours often take very similar routes too, so you will probably experience a lot of crowds.
Where to stay on Nusa Penida
Depending on how long you plan on staying on Nusa Penida, it might be practical to first decide where you want to go and what you want to see on the island before choosing a place to stay. Once you have your sightseeing route planned, try to choose an accommodation that will complement this. This will help you to make the most of your time on this beautiful island, instead of spending excessive amounts of time in a car or on a scooter.
What to see on Nusa Penida
There is so much to see and do on Nusa Penida, and many of the popular points of interest have the option of a couple of hours of walking or hiking. You could honestly spend a week here and never be bored or run out of new places to see. If your time is limited though, try to choose your activities and plan your daily routes based on particular areas on the island.
West Nusa Penida
- Angel’s Billabong
- Manta Point
- Broken Beach
- Kelinking Viewpoint and Kelingking Beach
- Crystal Bay Beach
- Peguyangan Waterfall
For Kelingking and Peguyangan, the popular views from the top are just a starting point. If you have enough time at either of these places and are up for the challenge, there is an option to hike down to Kelingking Beach, and to the sacred water temple at Peguyangan.
East Nusa Penida
- Diamond Beach
- Atuh Beach
Both of these beaches require a steep hike to reach them, so you will need some time and a reasonably good level of fitness if you plan to walk to the bottom. Many people visit just to enjoy the views from the top and to take some epic photos.
My Recommendations
If you do not have much time and are trying to decide what the absolute best places are to visit, I recommend prioritising Diamond Beach and Kelingking. The views are stunningly beautiful, some of the most jaw-dropping I’ve ever seen anywhere in the world, and I feel like no visit to Nusa Penida would really be complete without seeing them.
Although Crystal Bay is one of the most popular beaches on Nusa Penida, and certainly the most accessible, I was quite underwhelmed by it. The neighbouring Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan have much nicer beaches, so I suggest skipping Crystal Bay and spending more time at some of the other sights.
I didn’t actually get to visit Peguyangan Waterfall, even though it was one of the top places I wanted to see. The reviews I read of the walk down described it as sketchy at best. I decided that my fitness levels were not quite good enough to attempt the hike.
Click here to read my full guide to the best things to do on Nusa Penida
Nusa Lembongan
My personal favourite of the 3 Nusa islands, Nusa Lembongan has a more relaxed feel than Nusa Penida. It is smaller and easier to get around, but still has plenty of impressive views and sights to see. The beaches are much more accessible, and there are plenty of beach bars and beach clubs to relax at after a day of exploring.
If you are visiting purely to see the sights and the views, then one day on Nusa Lembongan will be plenty. You can drive around the entire island in just a couple of hours. If you have time in your itinerary though, I recommend spending a couple of nights here to soak up the tropical beach vibes.
Where to stay on Nusa Lembongan
Nusa Lembongan has plenty of varied accommodation types, ranging from smaller homestays to beach clubs, hotels and private villas. The Mushroom Bay area is my favourite part of the island. This is where I have chosen to stay on my visits to Nusa Lembongan. Jungut Batu is also popular though. It has a busier, more local feel, but still has plenty of tourist accommodations and activities.
221 Garden Cottages
This is where I stayed on my first visit to Nusa Lembongan back in early 2020. It is a short walk from Mushroom Bay beach, where you will find a good selection of restaurants and cafes. The rooms are comfortable but affordable, and the pool area is peaceful and relaxing. The staff there were also very helpful whenever I had questions or needed help booking transportation back to mainland Bali.
Click here to see 221 Garden Cottages on Booking.com.
Le Nusa Beach Club
If you’re looking for something right on the beach, then Le Nusa Beach Club is a great option. I stayed there in 2022, and loved the beachfront location. The rooms are basic but clean and comfortable. There is a cafe and bar, 2 swimming pools, and direct access to Mushroom Bay beach. I could actually hear the ocean from my room when I was going to sleep at night.
The rooms are set away from the pool area, in a quiet, relaxing garden. As a beach club, it was very quiet and didn’t have much of an atmosphere. But as a comfortable, affordable accommodation in a fantastic location, I can absolutely recommend it.
Click here to see Le Nusa Beach Club on Booking.com.
What to see on Nusa Lembongan
Nusa Lembongan is small enough to explore on foot or by bicycle, but big enough to have plenty of hidden gems to discover. You can rent a bicycle, an e-bike or even a golf cart, and spend a day exploring the coastal views, beach clubs, mangrove forest, and finish the day off with an epic sunset.
The highlights and must-sees of this beautiful island paradise are:
- Devil’s Tears
- Dream Beach
- Sandy Bay
- Mushroom Bay Beach
- Nusa Lembongan Lookout
- Jungut Batu
- Mangrove Forest
Click here for my full guide to what to see and do on Nusa Lembongan
Nusa Ceningan
The smallest of the 3 Nusa islands, Ceningan has a bit of a deserted island feel and is the perfect place to go to unwind for a couple of hours or even a couple of days. With an area of less than 3 square kilometres, the entire island can be explored on foot in just a couple of hours.
Most of the main sights and points of interest are found on the west coast of the island, along a stretch of road that runs between the Yellow Bridge and Mahana Point that is less than a kilometre long. This is also where you will find many of the island’s bars, restaurants and accommodations.
It is possible to see the main attractions on Nusa Ceningan in a couple of hours, and this can be done by crossing the Yellow Bridge from Lembongan. However, if you have more time and would like to spend a couple of days just relaxing in some very beautiful surroundings, then this is the perfect place to do it.
Where to stay on Nusa Ceningan
Nusa Ceningan has a number of accommodation options on offer, mainly located on the west coast of the island. Most of these have beach views and are perfect for a couple of nights of relaxing, as well as being perfectly located to see the island’s main views and points of interest.
Le Pirate Beach Club
This small beach club on the west coast of Nusa Ceningan has just 10 beach huts and is an adult only property. Each of the eco friendly huts has its own terrace area with a hammock overlooking the pool, the sea and Nusa Lembongan. The rooms are small but bright and cheerful, and the views and the chilled out atmosphere are the main attraction.
Click here to see Le Pirate Beach Club on Booking.com.
What to see on Nusa Ceningan
As it is the smallest of the 3 Nusa islands, it is possible to see the main sights in a few hours. My main recommendations are:
- The Blue Lagoon
- Mahana Point cliff jump
- Secret Beach
- Sea Breeze bar and restaurant
- The Yellow Bridge
Click here for my full guide to what to see and do on Nusa Ceningan
Which of the Nusa islands is best for you?
Now that you know how to get to the Nusa islands, what to bring, and what each of the islands has to offer, you are probably wondering which of the islands is best for you.
- Nusa Penida: For the more adventurous traveller, who doesn’t mind the longer drives on bumpy roads to get to the epic viewpoints.
- Nusa Ceningan: For relaxing and soaking up the sun, with the option to do some sightseeing.
- Nusa Lembongan: A mixture of the other 2 islands, and the best of both worlds. Nusa Lembongan has more to do than Nusa Ceningan, but less ground to cover than Nusa Penida.
Day tripping between the islands is quite easy. Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan are connected by the Yellow Bridge, so you can actually move from one to the other by bike or scooter or on foot. Day trips run from Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Penida, and vice versa. Just ask at your accommodation and they’ll be able to help you to organise it.
Thanks for reading my guide to the Nusa islands.
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