Besides the islands Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan Nusa Penida is an island you should definitely visit. This little paradise can be found on the east coast of Bali. The beautiful white beaches and cliffs make for breathtaking views! And although it's only 35 min by boat from Bali, it's a completely different world. Tourism has grown on the island in recent years due to popular spots like kelingking Beach and Angle's Billabong. But it is still a lot quieter than Bali. Apart from the popular spots, you will find real Indonesian life on Nusa Penida.
All about Nusa Penida
Pinning on Nusa Penida
If you go to any of the islands around Bali, it is important to know that ATMs are not always available. As far as we know, there are 2 ATMs on Nusa Penida, one of which we found close to the port. You can withdraw with your debit card here but we still recommend you bring cash or your credit card (VISA or MASTERCARD).
Transport to and on Nusa Penida
From Sanur to Nusa Penida is about 35 minutes by boat. Tickets can be bought at the port for around IDR 200,000 (€12.00). From Nusa Lembongan, it's about 10 minutes by boat for around IDR 50,000 (€3.00). We recommend that you always visit multiple ticket counters as prices can be very far apart. Bear in mind that your travel time may be longer, as in Bali they don't keep tight departure times or sailing schedules.
When you arrive on Nusa Penida, there are plenty of drivers who can take you to your hotel or hostel. Through Airbnb or Booking.com, a pick-up service is often offered directly.
Tip: Always agree on a price in advance, so you never pay too much.
If you are on Nusa Penida then we recommend renting a scooter. This is because the distances between the various popular spots are long. Keep in mind that you can't always ride on nicely paved roads here. Some roads are quite a challenge but a scooter gives you enormous freedom of movement.
- Scooter costs: From €5 per day
- Where to hire: Often rent from the hotel/hostel where you are staying.
Tip: Bring an international driving licence with you. This can easily be requested from a ANWB shop in your area.
Tip: If you are going to drive yourself, we recommend using the following route app: Maps.me.
Where is the best place to stay on Nusa Penida and for how long?
Nusa Penida is a lot bigger than Nusa Lembognan and Nusa Ceningan. However, it is a lot less ‘developed’. You cannot speak of a centre where you find all the hotels, hostels and restaurants. On large parts of the island, you will find nothing more than building sites, palm trees or the jungle. If you still prefer to have all conveniences close at hand, we recommend staying in the north. This is where you will find most hotels on the main street that runs from east to west. If you prefer to stay a bit further away from the tourist area, choose a stay a bit further away.
How long you want to stay on Nusa Penida depends entirely on what you want to see. If you want to visit all the places below, we definitely recommend staying 3 to 4 days.
What is there to do on Nusa Penida?
As we mentioned above, Nusa Penida has many beautiful spots, lovely beaches and lots of greenery! With a scooter or a private driver, you will get to all the places that make Nusa Penida so incredibly beautiful. Keep in mind that driving on Nusa Penida can be challenging and so you will be on the road for a long time. To make your route as efficient as possible, we have separated the east coast and west coast.
West coast of Nusa Penida
Kelingking Beach: You must have seen this view passing by on Instagram or Pinterest. Kelingking Beach has spectacular views of the famous ‘dinosaur head’ and a beautiful white beach. We definitely recommend you go here. But... you won't get to all this beauty easily. The view from the top is already breathtaking but if you want to get closer, you have to expect a hefty hike.
- Hike of about 45 min.
- No stairs, but a rock wall where you have to hold yourself well.
- No safety measures, make sure you have good shoes
- Bring plenty of water for the way there and back. You can also buy water downstairs but we cannot say for sure that this is the case every day.
- Go early in the morning so it is not so crowded. Do you go later in the day? Then make sure you get back before it gets dark.
Once you arrive downstairs? YOU ARE AMAZING!!! Make sure you look after your belongings and be careful out by the sea. This is because the sea is very rough, has high waves and strong undercurrents.
West coast of Nusa Penida
Angel's Billabong & Broken Beach: From Kelingking Beach, it is a 45-minute drive to Broken beach. Here you will find a natural gate and spectacular views. There also appears to be a natural infinity pool 150 metres away that you can swim in. Have you found it, let us know!
Peguyangan waterfall: A 150-metre-high blue staircase takes you to a small waterfall. The way down is already quite an experience because of the open staircase and the enormous height. We recommend not going there just for the waterfall as it will be disappointing.
Snorkelling with Manta Rays: On Nusa Penida, you can arrange snorkelling and diving trips at several places. In fact, in the sea around Nusa Penida, manta rays swim from 2 to 3 metres across. If you want to experience this once, we recommend doing it here. In fact, you have a good chance of encountering them all year round. Just be aware that Manta rays eat plakton and so they are best found in these areas.
Tip: Are you stung by plakton and getting bumps, don't panic. Get out of the water and let your skin dry. With half an hour, the bumps will be gone.
East coast of Nusa Penida
The east coast is still a little less developed than the west coast. You will find here besides Diamond and Atuh beach, many viewpoints, Rumah Phon Treehouse, the underground temple Giri Putrui and Teletubbies Hill.
Diamond and Atuh beach: You have surely seen these two beaches pass by on Instagram. They are right next to each other and are therefore easy to combine.
Many attractions are close together and therefore easy to combine!
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