In a nutshell
- Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan are two small, laid-back islands east of Bali. Connected by a bridge and far less touristy than Bali — this guide covers all the highlights so you don’t miss a thing.
- The islands have some seriously cool attractions and quiet sandy beaches perfect for sunbathing and swimming. We especially love the peaceful Secret Point Beach and the dramatic spray at Devil’s Tears.
- You can reach both islands easily from Bali, but we recommend coming from Nusa Penida — it’s only a 10–15 minute boat ride and saves you time.
- You can see the top must-sees in a day, but 2–3 days lets you really soak up the relaxed island vibe. Our top hotel pick: Water Blow Huts — right on Dream Beach.
Sights on Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan on a Map
Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan are located 12 kilometers east of Bali.
Most of the highlights are on Nusa Lembongan.
It’s worth crossing the bridge over to Nusa Ceningan as well. There are two seriously cool attractions over there and a few great restaurants right on the water.
The bridge between the two islands is pretty narrow. Even so, two scooters can pass each other side by side.
The Best Sights on Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan
Yellow Bridge
What you need to know: This is the bridge that connects the two islands. The 140-meter-long bridge is a sight in itself — it’s bright yellow and narrow, yet two scooters can still squeeze past each other. Don’t even think about trying it in a car, though.
Is it worth it? Crossing the bridge at least once should definitely be part of your Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan experience. You’ll have to cross it anyway unless you plan on swimming from one island to the other.
Our tip: From the middle of the bridge you get a great view of both islands. If you’re walking across, you can easily stop for a photo — just make sure you’re not blocking any scooters.
Devil's Tears
What you need to know: At Devil’s Tears, the sea has carved a kind of cave into the cliff. With every wave, water shoots out as a fine mist — and sometimes rainbows form. The unusual name comes from that spray, though it doesn’t really look like tears. A little further along the cliff, the water also often shoots up in fountains.
Is it worth it? Totally! This spot charges 25,000 IDR admission, but it’s absolutely worth it for the photos.
Our tip: Peer down into the middle of the basin. We spotted a sea turtle there — they seem to hang out here pretty regularly.
Dream Beach
What you need to know: The name says it all — Dream Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on Nusa Lembongan. It sits in a relatively small bay, yet the beach itself is quite wide. The water is great for cooling off, just don’t swim out too far since the currents can be dangerous.
Is it worth it? The beach is gorgeous. That said, a fair number of day-trippers pass through. Your best bet is to come in the morning or after midday.
Our tip: One of our favorite beachfront hotels in Bali is right on this beach. The Water Blow Huts has a private stretch of beach — perfect when you want a little peace and quiet.
Mangrove Beach
What you need to know: In the north of Nusa Lembongan there’s a large mangrove forest. You can take a boat tour through it, but our top recommendation is to snorkel at Mangrove Beach. The coral garden is huge and colorful fish are absolutely everywhere.
Is it worth it? Mangrove Beach is the best snorkeling spot on the two islands. The coral reef is still in great shape and there are tons of fish to see.
Our tip: Decide in advance whether you want to book a boat to the coral reef or swim out yourself. Locals will approach you as soon as you arrive, so it helps to already have a price in mind. Expect to pay around 300,000 IDR (about 17 euros). Swimming out (about 50 meters) is also doable at high tide — just keep in mind that currents can make it tiring.
Blue Lagoon
What you need to know: We’ve rarely seen water as turquoise as at the Blue Lagoon! The bay is pretty small and you can’t get down to swim, but the view from above is simply stunning.
Is it worth it? A quick photo stop is all you need here — and for that, the Blue Lagoon is perfect.
Our tip: Sunset from the cliffs next to the Blue Lagoon (view on Google Maps) is absolutely beautiful. Just be careful — there’s no railing here.
Secret Point Beach
What you need to know: After your photo stop at the Blue Lagoon (number 5), you absolutely have to check out Secret Point Beach — it’s right next door. We think it’s one of the best beaches in Bali. Very few tourists make it here, and in the morning the trees behind the beach provide some welcome shade.
Is it worth it? Absolutely. You can watch the surfers out in front of the bay while sipping coconuts — which you can grab from the hotel bar at Secret Point Huts above the beach. You don’t have to be a guest to order.
Our tip: Don’t come at high tide. The beach gets very narrow, and even with just a handful of people it gets surprisingly crowded. You can easily check tide times online.
Bonus Tip: Sunset at Jungutbatu Beach
What you need to know: Jungutbatu Beach is the longest beach on Nusa Lembongan — a classic stretch of sand with loungers and small beach bars and restaurants lined up along the shore. But the real standout here is the sunsets directly over the water. The colors are absolutely explosive.
Is it worth it? If you’re spending several days on the islands, plan on watching at least one sunset at Jungutbatu Beach. We’ve rarely seen sunsets this beautiful anywhere. For swimming, though, it’s not ideal — the beach slopes very gradually into the water and many boats dock right on shore.
Getting to Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan
The only way to reach Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan is by boat. Boats always dock on Nusa Lembongan. From there, you can quickly get to Nusa Ceningan via the bridge.
From Nusa Penida, the boat ride takes 10–15 minutes. A ticket costs 50,000 IDR (about 3 euros). You can easily buy it on the spot — we showed up five minutes before departure and still got tickets. Boats run roughly every hour.
From Bali, most speedboats to the islands depart from Sanur, and the ride takes about 30 minutes. You can book tickets online through 12go Asia and pay around 7–8 euros. At the harbor, budget an extra 10 to 15 minutes since you’ll need to pick up your tickets at the counter first. Ferries run roughly every half hour.
Note: Plan your island visit at the beginning or middle of your Bali trip. When the waves are too rough (especially during rainy season), speedboats won’t run back to Bali. That can become a real problem if you’re on the islands right up until your return flight. A buffer of three to four days before your flight is enough.
Here you can read about when the rainy and dry seasons are:
Hotel Tips for Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan
On Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan, it doesn’t really matter where you stay. You can get everywhere quickly by scooter. Just pick a place you like. These are our three favorites:
Getting Around Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan
There are three ways to get from sight to sight on Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan: by scooter, bicycle, or taxi.
We recommend a scooter, just like on Bali. You’ll need to rent one on the island, though — you can’t bring one over on the boat.
That’s not a problem. There are rental shops at the harbors, or even better: ask at your accommodation. They’ll be happy to arrange a scooter for you. To get from the harbor to your accommodation, scooter taxis and regular taxis work just fine.
Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan are small islands, which means a bicycle is also a great option. There are a few rental shops for those too. The islands have a few small hills, but otherwise you can get around easily by bike.
Grab and Gojek are not available on Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. There aren’t many traditional taxis either — most are pickup trucks. You’ll find them mainly at the harbors and near the main attractions. Alternatively, ask your accommodation to arrange a taxi.
Overall, the roads are really good — much better than on Nusa Penida. There are of course still a few potholes here and there.
Our Restaurant Tips for Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan
- The Sand on Nusa Ceningan: A beautiful spot right on the water. Down at the water’s edge there are even swings for the perfect Instagram shot. The food is seriously good, with Indonesian dishes, burgers, pasta, and breakfast on the menu.
- The Beach Shack on Nusa Lembongan: right on Jungutbatu Beach. If you order food or drinks here, you can use the loungers and beanbags. Prices are higher than at other restaurants, but the fresh juices are really worth it.
- Bumbu Oma Bali on Nusa Lembongan: Great smoothie bowls in a cool atmosphere with colorful murals.
ATMs on Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan
There are a few ATMs on Nusa Lembongan, mainly in the western part of the island.
Sometimes the machines run out of cash, so bring enough cash with you to the islands. You’ll need it anyway, since generally only the larger restaurants accept credit cards.
Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan or Nusa Penida?
Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan sit right next to the famous island of Nusa Penida.
All three islands are only half an hour to three-quarters of an hour from Bali by boat, making it easy to include all of them in your Bali itinerary.
But if you only have time for one stop, the question is: which island?
For a classic Bali trip, we’d clearly recommend Nusa Penida. There’s more to see, plenty of great photo spots, and beautiful beaches.
We recommend Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan more as an add-on — for example as a day trip from Nusa Penida. You can cover all the highlights of both islands in a single day. 2–3 days is even better, though — that’s what we did, and it was the perfect mix of sightseeing and relaxed beach days.
All our tips for Nusa Penida can be found here:
Frequently Asked Questions about Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan
How long does it take to get from Sanur to Nusa Lembongan?
The boat from Sanur on Bali to Nusa Lembongan takes about 30 minutes.
How do you get from Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Ceningan?
The two islands are connected by a bridge. You can simply walk across or ride a scooter or bicycle over it.
Cars don’t fit across the bridge.
How long should you stay on Nusa Lembongan?
One day is enough to see the highlights of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan.
That said, 2–3 days is even better. The islands are totally relaxed and laid-back — a great way to work a few chill days into your Bali itinerary.
How do you get from Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Penida?
Boats run between the two islands. The trip takes about 10–15 minutes and costs 50,000 IDR (around 3 euros).
Is Nusa Lembongan expensive?
Prices on Nusa Lembongan are roughly the same as in Bali. Check out our Bali travel costs guide for a full breakdown of what to budget.
What does a scooter cost on Nusa Lembongan?
A scooter costs around 70,000–100,000 IDR per day. That’s 4–6 euros.
