Nusa Penida near Bali: Top Attractions & Our Honest Tips

Nusa Penida Sights on a Map

Nusa Penida is located east of Bali. It’s only a 20–30 minute speedboat ride to the island. That’s why you should definitely include it on your Bali road trip.

Most of the things to do on Nusa Penida are along the west coast, but there are also a few highlights in the south and east of the island.

The Most Beautiful Sights on Nusa Penida

Nusa Penida has one thing above all else: an endless number of dream beaches. That’s why most of our picks here are beaches.

But we’ve also got a few other standouts on Nusa Penida for you.

Kelingking Beach

What you need to know: Probably the most famous photo spot on Nusa Penida. It’s really more about the cliff behind Kelingking Beach — from above, it looks like the head of a T-Rex. But the beach and the turquoise water are absolutely stunning too. You can hike down to the beach, though the trail is genuinely tough and can be tricky in places — it’s steep and unguarded in some sections. Plan on about half an hour to an hour each way.

Is it worth it? Yes, definitely for the photo. But be prepared for lots of other tourists. If that’s not your thing, you’ll need to walk all the way down — there are far fewer people at the bottom.

Our tip: Only head down to the beach in the early morning. That way, the exhausting climb back up won’t be in the worst of the heat.

Note: Kelingking Beach is not suitable for swimming. The ocean here has dangerous currents.

Broken Beach

What you need to know: Technically, Broken Beach is just a small cove. What makes it special are the rocks surrounding it — there’s a large hole in the rock through which the sea flows into the cove. The natural rock bridge makes for a seriously stunning shot.

Is it worth it? Broken Beach is unfortunately very touristy. Even though there are tons of great vantage points, you’ll have to wait in line for your shot. On top of that, the last stretch of road to Broken Beach is one big bumpy ride. But the view makes it all worthwhile.

Our tip: The road to Broken Beach is really rough — unpaved and full of potholes. If you’re not confident riding your scooter on it, leave it further up the road and walk the last stretch. It’s about 10 minutes on foot from the main road.

Angel's Billabong

What you need to know: Right next to Broken Beach (number 2) you’ll find Angel’s Billabong. There are natural pools carved into the rock. At low tide and when the waves are calm, you can technically swim in them — but it can be dangerous. The current can easily pull you out to sea.

Is it worth it? The water has gorgeous colors for photos. But it’s just as touristy as Broken Beach.

Our tip: Less than five minutes from both spots, there’s also Dolphin Beach. It’s almost completely quiet there. The sunsets from the cliff are stunning, and with a bit of luck you might spot dolphins in the evening.

Crystal Bay

What you need to know: Crystal Bay is one of the few coves on the west coast where you can actually swim comfortably. Bring your snorkel too — even close to shore, there are plenty of colorful fish in the water. And you can drive right up to Crystal Bay without having to climb any stairs.

Is it worth it? The beach is really great for snorkeling. But it’s no longer a lesser-known spot in Bali and can get very crowded.

Our tip: At high tide, the beach area gets very small. When there are a lot of people, it gets really cramped. Try to come at low tide instead.

Diamond Beach

What you need to know: If we had to picture a dream beach, Diamond Beach would come pretty close. White sand, turquoise water, and sheer cliffs in the background — with a rock formation rising out of the sea and palm trees all around, it really does look like a little piece of paradise. That’s why it’s also one of our top places to visit in Bali.

Is it worth it? Absolutely. The view from the top is incredible, and the beach down below is stunning too. Swimming is not allowed here due to dangerous currents.

Our tip: You can hike down to the beach in about 30 minutes. Just make sure the tide isn’t coming in — otherwise the beach practically disappears. You’ll also want some experience with uneven terrain, as there are sections without railings and the steps vary in height.

Atuh Beach

What you need to know: Right next to Diamond Beach (number 5) is our next beach — and swimming is allowed here. Atuh Beach has a few warungs (Indonesian restaurants) and sun loungers. There are two trails down to the beach. Both take about 10–15 minutes and are easier than the ones to Diamond and Kelingking Beach — but still a workout.

Is it worth it? Yes! Snorkeling here is great too. Just watch out for the waves — the seabed is pretty rocky, and you don’t want to get hurt.

Our tip: Atuh Beach is best visited at high tide. At low tide, the rocks stick out of the water and it’s hard to get in comfortably. Still, bring water shoes just in case.

Tembeling Beach & Forest

What you need to know: At Tembeling Beach & Forest, you get a natural pool and a beach all in one. On the way down, you’ll pass several natural rock pools — and from the last one, you have an amazing view of the beach and the sea. The beach itself isn’t great for swimming, though.

Is it worth it? The pools are really beautiful and perfect for a swim. But don’t underestimate the road to get there — the last 2 kilometers is just a narrow track. If you’re confident on a scooter, it’s doable. If not, there’s a scooter taxi service (100,000–300,000 IDR, or about $6–$17 per person per trip), or you can walk the 2 kilometers.

Our tip: In the morning, you’ll have Tembeling Beach & Forest mostly to yourself — and you’ll have sun at the beach by midday. Before you reach the pool, you can head right toward a hidden cove where far fewer people go.

Activities on Nusa Penida

You’re now well covered when it comes to beaches. But we’ve also got two great activities on Nusa Penida for you.

Snorkeling and Diving on Nusa Penida

A snorkeling trip is an absolute must among the things to do on Nusa Penida — and one of the best activities in Bali.

The underwater world around Nusa Penida is simply spectacular. The island is surrounded by incredible coral reefs — especially off the north and west coasts. You’ll find tons of colorful fish and even manta rays and sea turtles.

We snorkeled right from the shore at Crystal Bay, for example, and already spotted awesome fish like surgeonfish.

If you want to swim with manta rays, your best chances are at Manta Point. You don’t even need diving experience — you can see the mantas while snorkeling. Just keep in mind that there are a lot of other snorkelers here, and please don’t chase the mantas.

We recommend booking a tour to multiple snorkeling spots, including Manta Point:

Book a snorkeling tour on Nusa Penida

Day Trip to Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan

Near Nusa Penida lie two other islands: Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. By boat, you can reach these two smaller neighbors in just 10–15 minutes. Even though they’re so close, there’s significantly less going on here than on Nusa Penida.

Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan are connected by a bridge, which you can also cross on a scooter. This makes it easy to get from the highlights on one island to those on the other.

One day is enough to see all the must-sees. You’ll even have time to relax on the beach. But if you want to soak up the laid-back island life a little longer, staying a few extra days is a great option too. A nice place to stay is the Water Blow Huts.

To get the boat from Nusa Penida to Nusa Lembongan, buy a ticket at one of the booths at the harbor (view on Google Maps). We got our tickets just five minutes before departure. They cost 50,000 IDR (about $3) per person each way.

Note: You can’t take your scooter from Bali on the boat. Just rent a different scooter or a bicycle on Nusa Lembongan.

Getting to Nusa Penida

On your trip to Bali, the only way to reach Nusa Penida is by boat. The most popular route is between Sanur on Bali and Nusa Penida — the one we took too. It fits well into a road trip itinerary and has the most frequent boats. That said, Kusamba (Bali), Serangan (Bali), Nusa Lembongan, and the Gili Islands also have ferry connections to the island.

Here’s an overview of the different ports and their connections to Nusa Penida.

If you book your ticket online, you’ll still need to pick it up at the ferry terminal in person. Allow an extra 10–15 minutes for that.

One thing to note: your luggage travels on the roof. If it rains, make sure to pack your bags well.

Warning: If the waves are too rough, the boats won’t run. So don’t schedule Nusa Penida as your last stop on your trip — otherwise you might cut it close with your return flight. Three to four days of buffer before your flight should be plenty.

Should You Do a Day Trip to Nusa Penida or Stay Longer?

Honestly? Stay longer and skip the day trip.

The island is so beautiful and there’s so much to see that you could easily spend 2–3 days there. That’s why it has its own dedicated stop on our Bali road trip itinerary. We also found that in the mornings and from the afternoon onward, the day-trippers are gone — and the island feels wonderfully quiet.

If you’re short on time, you can still hit the highlights in a single day. In that case, a private day tour to Nusa Penida is your best bet — you can choose exactly which Nusa Penida attractions you want to visit.

Hotel Tips for Nusa Penida

When searching for a place to stay, you can divide the island into three regions: the west, the east, and the center.

A hotel in the west is best for first-time visitors and if you don’t have much time. This is where most of the important sights and the harbor are.

The east is worth it especially if you also want a few days of beach vacation. It’s also quieter than the west. The center is where you stay if you want to sleep right in the middle of the jungle.

Getting Around Nusa Penida

We recommend renting a scooter and exploring the island on your own — it gives you the most flexibility. Just ask at your accommodation and they’ll be happy to arrange one for you.

Alternatively, you can hire a private driver to take you from highlight to highlight. We’d only recommend a group tour if you really only have one day — most of the sights are already quite crowded, and going with a large group on top of that takes away from the experience.

Road Conditions on Nusa Penida

The road conditions on Nusa Penida are not great. There’s really no sugarcoating it.

Most roads are just barely wide enough for one car, and we’ve never seen so many potholes. The main roads are okay otherwise — it’s just right before the sights that the road often turns into gravel or uneven stone slabs.

So ideally, you’ll have some scooter experience before arriving on Nusa Penida. Most of the roads will then be manageable.

We didn’t have a ton of scooter experience when we were riding around Nusa Penida. When the roads got too rough for us, we simply parked the scooter and walked the last stretch — usually it’s only about 10 more minutes on foot.

ATMs on Nusa Penida

First, the good news: there are ATMs on Nusa Penida. However, they’re only found in three locations (near the harbor, in the north of the island, and in the center).

It can also happen that a machine is out of cash at any given time. So it’s a good idea to withdraw enough cash for Nusa Penida while you’re still on Bali. Better safe than sorry.

Also read our travel tips for Bali

Frequently Asked Questions about Nusa Penida