Travelling to the Island of the Gods? If you’re brainstorming things to do in Bali, you should definitely add Nusa Penida island to your bucket list. It’s southeast of Bali and is 30 minutes away by boat
But is Nusa Penida worth the extra trip? Absolutely! This island boasts some of the most captivating landscapes and pristine beaches in all of Indonesia, so it’s not to be missed!
To make sure you have the best time in the most beautiful place in Bali, we’ve put together a guide to help plan your journey to Nusa Penida. But before you start packing your bags, best be prepared with the requirements for entering Indonesia.
Once you have all that sorted out, it’s time to start plotting your itinerary! Here are the most important things you need to know about Nusa Penida:
- How do I get to Nusa Penida?
- What can I do at Nusa Penida?
- How do I get around Nusa Penida?
- Where can I stay in Nusa Penida?
- When is the best time to visit Nusa Penida?
1. How do I get to Nusa Penida?
Catch a fast boat from Bali, and you can get to Nusa Penida in 45 minutes. Credits: @penidacalling on Instagram
A fast boat is the quickest way to get to Nusa Penida from mainland Bali. These rides usually take around 45 minutes and cost roughly AUD$15 per way. Several ferry companies operate hourly departures from Sanur, with the first trip usually starting at 7:30 am. If you wanna make sure you get a spot at your preferred departure time, book a seat in advance.
Or, why not book a one-day tour for more hassle-free trips to Nusa Penida? Klook offers a full day trip to Nusa Penida, complete with an itinerary covering the island’s most famous attractions.
And if you’re looking for more things to do in Bali, why not visit its other lesser-known but must-visit attractions similar to Nusa Penida? Just check out Bali’s hidden gems.
2. What can I do at Nusa Penida?
Nusa Penida is full of jaw-dropping natural attractions that it’s almost impossible to view all in a day. But we’ve rounded up a couple of activities that should be a part of your checklist:
Visit Kelingking Beach
Catch a glimpse of Nusa Penida’s famed T-Rex-shaped ridge at Kelingking Beach. Credits: @uiland.kr on Instagram
No trip to Nusa Penida is complete without a visit to Kelingking Beach. Perhaps the most iconic attraction on the whole island, this beach is known for its T-Rex-shaped promontory peeking out onto crystal-clear waters – prompting the name “Dinosaur Island” for this one-of-a-kind landscape.
Ensure you get the perfect photo of this awe-inspiring view by booking a professional photographer for your trip! Klook has the perfect offer for a tour through Nusa Penida’s hotspots, guide and photographer included!
Admire the view atop the Molenteng Treehouse
If you’ve been flicking through photos of things to do in Bali on IG, you’ve likely come across a picture of a treehouse set against an exquisite background of lush cliffs and azure waters. That photo would have probably been taken from the Molenteng Treehouse—a towering wooden structure next to the Thousand Islands Viewpoint. Both attractions offer the most staggering panorama of Nusa Penida.
One snapshot of this majestic view is enough to tell your social media followers where you are and send them to major travel envy. If you want to take Instagrammable photos of your visit here and in other picture-perfect locations around Nusa Penida, book the Nusa Penida Instagram Tour from Bali with Klook!
Snorkel at Crystal Bay
Find Nemo and the gang while swimming in Crystal Bay's clear and gentle waters. Credits: @nickeloyahya on Instagram
Located just 20 minutes from the seaport is a quaint stretch of white sand with clear, azure waters called Crystal Bay. This naturally protected cove is teeming with coral reefs and aquatic life, and its gentle waves make it the perfect spot for snorkelling.
If you wanna get up close and personal with underwater creatures at Crystal Bay and in other popular snorkelling areas in Nusa Penida, Klook has just the thing for you! Book a snorkelling experience in Nusa Penida with all the equipment and transportation you need for a hassle-free adventure.
Swim with manta rays at Manta Point
Spot a squadron of Manta Rays at Manta Point! Credits: @yanachesn on Instagram
Nusa Penida is a haven for manta rays, and you can very easily spot them even from the high cliffs and viewpoints on the island. And if you head to Manta Point, you'll likely have a better view of their squadron.
But if you’d like to check off one major point in your “things to do in Bali” bucket list, you’d better book this snorkelling trip at Manta Bay for a chance to see (and swim with!) these majestic creatures up close!
Enjoy Quicksilver Bali’s Cruise and Marine Park
Go on an exciting cruise with Quicksilver Bali and enjoy watersports at their Mega Pontoon in Nusa Penida! Credits: @michaelpetr on Instagram
If a luxurious boat ride around Nusa Penida, with a mix of water sports, sounds exciting for you, consider booking a cruise with Quicksilver Bali. You’ll get fantastic views of the coastline plus a tour around some of the island’s renowned beaches, such as Kelingking and Angel Billabong.
And when you dock at Quicksilver’s floating pontoon in Nusa Penida, you get unlimited use of water sports gear such as banana boats, semi-submersible boats, canoes, and snorkelling gear to enjoy the waters and perhaps meet some underwater creatures!
3. How do I get around Nusa Penida?
Choose to go at your own pace with a motorcycle or scooter, or go around Nusa Penida with a driver. Credits: @jayax_glam on Instagram
If you haven’t booked a Nusa Penida tour and would like to explore the island on your own, here are a few transport options:
Rent a scooter
If you’d like to explore Nusa Penida at your own pace, your best means of transportation would be to rent a scooter on the island. A decent scooter would cost you around AUD$4-8 for a day, but the price depends on how well you can haggle.
If you’d like to secure a scooter in advance and get it for a standard rate, you might want to rent one with Klook. Book one now for only AUD$6, inclusive of a helmet!
Hire a private car
If you can’t drive a motorcycle or would rather travel with someone who knows their way around the island, it would be best to hire a private car. Klook offers a 10-hour private charter service with an English-speaking driver that can take you around Nusa Penida’s popular attractions!
4. Where can I stay in Nusa Penida?
From luxurious resorts to backpacker hostels, several accommodation options in Nusa Penida guarantee a comfortable stay. Credits: @travelawan on Instagram
Nusa Penida is far from its Bali neighbour in terms of infrastructure development—and many locals would prefer to keep it that way to preserve the island’s natural biodiversity. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any comfortable places to crash here, especially if you’re considering a longer stay on the island. Here are some of the accommodation options, organised according to price point:
- Mid-range: Jukung Cottage, Tarzan Marriott On Penida
5. When is the best time to Nusa Penida?
Try to catch the dry season when planning your visit to Nusa Penida for the best sun soaks. Credits: @nadina_delic on Instagram
The optimal time to visit the region is during the dry season, which usually falls between May to September. You’re met with less rain and slightly cooler weather, giving you a better chance of experiencing all of the things you’d like to do in Bali.
