Destination Guide · Nusa Islands

Nusa Lembongan Travel Guide

Mangroves, clear water and a bridge to Ceningan.

By The Bali Guideline Editorial TeamUpdated 16 October 2026

Area Brief

What Nusa Lembongan is really like.

Nusa Lembongan is a small island of about 8 km² off Bali’s south-east coast, joined by a footbridge to even smaller Nusa Ceningan. Fast boats from Sanur take 30 to 40 minutes, so the airport is 2 to 3 hours away door to door. It suits snorkelers, surfers and anyone who wants an easy island stay, with beach bars and mangroves instead of Nusa Penida’s long drives.

Nusa Lembongan is small enough to learn in a day. The island covers about 8 km² and runs roughly 4.6 km end to end, and a scooter loop takes about 40 minutes. Most boats from Sanur land at Jungutbatu, the village and beach on the north-west coast, or at Mushroom Bay to the south-west. The south-west coast is low limestone cliff, with Sandy Bay, Devil’s Tear and Dream Beach a few hundred meters apart. Lembongan village, the old settlement, sits inland, and Nusa Ceningan lies off the south-east, reached by a yellow suspension bridge that takes walkers and scooters only.

The sea is why people come. Reef manta rays feed off Nusa Penida’s south-west coast all year, up to 45 minutes away by boat, and Lembongan’s reefs, drift dives and mangroves all sit inside the Nusa Penida marine protected area. Surfers first put the island on the map, and three reef breaks still peel off Jungutbatu. Swimming is the catch: rips run at Dream Beach and Sandy Bay, waves at Devil’s Tear have swept people off the rocks, and much of the shore is reef. Mushroom Bay and the beach by the mangroves are the calm options.

Read the full overview

Tourism changed the island fast. Families who farmed seaweed in the strait moved into guesthouses, dive shops and boat work once fast boats cut the crossing to half an hour. The farms nearly vanished in the late 2010s, came back when tourism stopped in 2020, and are still worked on a smaller scale. Day-trippers now arrive by mid-morning: on a normal day in March 2026, 3,000 to 4,000 passengers left Sanur for the Nusa islands. Since 1 September 2026, Devil’s Tear has been one of seven ticketed sites under Klungkung regency’s One Gate One Destination scheme. Rubbish is the unsolved problem; the island’s landfill near Jungutbatu caught fire twice in 2024 and smoke drifted across the island.

Daily life is low-key. There are virtually no cars, no Grab or Gojek, and the roads are narrow concrete lanes over steep little hills. Getting on and off most boats means wading in up to your knees. A second, wider bridge to Ceningan that would carry cars was announced for 2026 with central-government money; until it opens, trucks and buggies stop at the Lembongan end of the yellow one.

Compared with Nusa Penida, 10 to 15 minutes away by local boat, Lembongan is smaller and far easier to get around, with more beach bars and places to eat; Penida has the giant cliffs and the long, rough drives. Many people sleep on Lembongan and visit Penida for a day. Compared with the Gili Islands, it is closer to Bali and has scooters on its lanes. Compared with Sanur, you trade a town’s conveniences for clear water and quiet nights.

Best for: Snorkeling, mangroves, surf and easy island stays
Vibe: Small and laid-back: busy by day, quiet after dark
From the airport: 2–3 hrs: car to Sanur, then a 30–40 min fast boat
Days needed: 2–3 nights; a day trip covers the main sights
Best time: April–October; surf May–October; mola July–October
Getting around: Scooter, bicycle or truck taxi; no Grab or Gojek

Nusa Lembongan is a good fit if…

Snorkelers and divers: manta rays all year, mola mola July–October
Surfers who can handle reef breaks from May to October
Travelers who want a calm base for a day trip to Nusa Penida
Couples after cliff sunsets and beach bars on the south-west coast
Families who stick to Mushroom Bay and the mangroves at high tide

Skip it if…

You want safe swimming from every beach: rips and reef are common
You are not comfortable riding a scooter on steep, narrow lanes
You hate getting wet: most boats land in knee-deep water
You want nightlife, shopping or Grab rides
You get seasick: manta trips cross open, choppy water

Neighborhoods

Which part of Nusa Lembongan to base yourself in.

Nusa Lembongan is not one place. Each pocket has its own pace, noise level and walking distance to the things you came for.

Gold labels are the neighborhoods below. Numbered pins match the things-to-do list; zoom out for the day trips.

01
Jungutbatu: the main harbor and surf coast
Most fast boats from Sanur land on Jungutbatu’s beach, on the north-west coast, and the village behind it holds the island’s densest strip of guesthouses, warungs, dive centers and surf shops. Shipwrecks, Lacerations and Playgrounds break on the reef offshore, and the beachfront boardwalk is the busiest place for sunset drinks, with Mount Agung across the strait on clear days. The main road is the loudest on the island. Rooms here are the cheapest on Lembongan, the mangroves are 1.7 km north, and Mushroom Bay is a 35-minute coast walk.
Best for: Budget travelers, surfers, divers and first-timers
02
Mushroom Bay and Tamarind Beach
Tanjung Sanghyang, better known as Mushroom Bay, is a sheltered crescent of sand on the west coast, about 2.5 km from Jungutbatu. It has the island’s calmest swimming, some fast-boat landings, small beach restaurants and mid-range to upscale hotels on the slopes behind. From mid-morning until about 3 pm, day-trip boats, banana boats and cruise guests fill the bay; after that it goes quiet. Tamarind Beach, just to the north, looks back to Bali and Mount Agung, and Devil’s Tear is about 2 km south.
Best for: Families and swimmers who want calm water by the door
03
Sandy Bay, Devil’s Tear and Dream Beach
The south-west corner is low limestone cliff broken by small coves. Sandy Bay, Devil’s Tear and Dream Beach sit within about a kilometer of each other, with cliff-top villas, resorts and beach clubs between them. Sunsets here face Bali across the strait, the sea breeze keeps the area cooler than Jungutbatu, and a cliff path runs north to Mushroom Bay. The catch is the water: rips and dumping surf make most of it unsafe for swimming, and the harbor is about 15 minutes away by scooter.
Best for: Couples and sunset-seekers happy to ride or take shuttles
04
Lembongan village and the hill
Lembongan village, in the island’s southern interior, is where most local families live: narrow lanes lined with family compounds, shrines and temples, the Gala-Gala underground house and, on the hill to the north, Pura Puncak Sari, the island’s largest temple. Between the village and Jungutbatu, the hill known as the Bukit holds villas and Panorama Point. Guesthouses in the village cost less, but every swimming beach is a ride away. The most accessible seaweed farms lie off the village’s south shore, facing Ceningan.
Best for: Travelers who want village life and do not need a beach outside
05
The mangrove coast and Telatak
Mangroves, about 212 ha in all, fringe Lembongan’s north and east coasts. At the north end of Jungutbatu the beach meets the forest, with dive resorts, quiet bungalows, the mangrove boat tours and a shallow lagoon that suits children at high tide. The east-coast road runs south through Telatak, where Rocky Fast Cruise has its own dock, to the Yellow Bridge; it carries less traffic than the center. Smoke from the island’s landfill, which lies near the mangroves, reached this side during fires in 2024.
Best for: Divers, kayakers and anyone after quiet nights
06
Nusa Ceningan, across the Yellow Bridge
Ceningan is a hilly island about 3.9 km long, reached from Lembongan by the 138 m Yellow Bridge, which takes only walkers, bicycles and scooters, so there are no cars or buggies. Seaweed plots fill the channel, and the main sights cluster on the south-west coast: the Blue Lagoon, Secret Point Beach and the Mahana Point jumping platforms. A growing number of small hotels and cafés have opened, and the central ridge faces west for sunset. The lanes are narrow and steep, so stays here suit confident riders.
Best for: Repeat visitors and couples who want quiet and cliff views

Top Sights · 24 picks

Things to do in Nusa Lembongan.

Ranked by how worth your time they are, with the practical detail you need before you go.

How we rank: how much each place adds to a first trip, weighed against cost, crowds and travel time from Nusa Lembongan. Prices and hours checked 15 October 2026. Editorial policy

01Viewpoint
Devil’s Tear
South-west coast, between Dream Beach and Sandy Bay (about 3.6 km from Jungutbatu)
On the south-west coast, swell from the Indian Ocean slams into a low limestone shelf and bursts up through gaps in the rock as plumes of spray that drift back down like tears. It is Lembongan’s most famous sight and busiest late in the afternoon. The danger is real: at least five visitors were swept off the rocks and died or were never found between March 2018 and January 2020, and in 2019 a wave capsized a tour boat in the cove below, killing two passengers.
Tip: A ticketed site since 1 September 2026, about IDR 25,000 per adult (checked Oct 2026). Stay behind the rope line and never turn your back on the sea.
Full visitor guide Open in Google Maps
02Adventure
Snorkeling with manta rays
Departs Jungutbatu and Mushroom Bay; sites off Nusa Penida and north Lembongan
Half-day boat trips from Jungutbatu and Mushroom Bay cross the strait to Nusa Penida’s south-west coast, where reef manta rays feed and visit cleaning stations all year. A typical trip makes three stops: Manta Bay or Manta Point, then Crystal Bay, Gamat Bay or the reef off Toyapakeh, sometimes finishing at Mangrove Point off Lembongan. Manta Point is about 45 minutes away over open water, and when it is crowded or rough you may get only 15 minutes in the water there.
Tip: Shared half-day trips cost about IDR 300,000–600,000 per person (checked Oct 2026); ask whether the marine-park fee is included. Stay close to your own boat.
Open in Google Maps
03Adventure
The Yellow Bridge to Nusa Ceningan
East edge of Lembongan village (about 3.5 km from Jungutbatu)
The yellow suspension bridge across the strait is the only road link between the islands: 138 m long, 1.8 m wide and open to walkers, bicycles and scooters only. It replaced a bridge that collapsed on 16 October 2016 during a religious procession, killing eight people, and reopened on 31 March 2017. The deck rattles and clanks as scooters cross. Below, seaweed plots and moored boats fill the channel, and on the far side Ceningan’s lanes climb toward the Blue Lagoon.
Tip: Walk it once even if you ride; the view of the channel is better on foot. Trucks and golf buggies cannot cross.
Open in Google Maps
04Nature
Mangrove forest by boat or kayak
North-east coast, about 1.7 km north of Jungutbatu
Lembongan’s north and east coasts are lined with mangroves, about 212 ha in total, and the channels through them are the island’s calmest water. Boatmen pole or paddle small jukung outriggers through the roots, or you paddle a kayak or board on a guided trip of about an hour. It stays shady at midday and goes quiet once the motor boats are behind you. Tours start from the north end of Jungutbatu, about 1.7 km from the harbor.
Tip: Go near high tide, when the channels are full. Hour-long tours cost about IDR 130,000–200,000 per person (checked Oct 2026).
Open in Google Maps
05
Viewpoint
Blue Lagoon, Nusa Ceningan
South-west Nusa Ceningan, about 2.4 km past the Yellow Bridge
On Ceningan’s south-west coast, a small cove of deep blue water sits below low cliffs, with the Klyf Club’s pool and loungers on the rocks above. You reach the edge through the club or along a dirt path beside it. People jump from the rocks here, but the old ladder is gone, the swell surges straight into the cove and there are no barriers along the cliff. Secret Point Beach and Mahana Point are a few minutes’ walk away.
Tip: Not one of the regency’s ticketed sites in 2026. Drones are not allowed; wear shoes with grip on the rocky path.
Open in Google Maps
06
Beach
Dream Beach
South-west coast, below Lembongan village (about 3.6 km from Jungutbatu)
A short curve of white sand between limestone headlands on the south coast, with resort bungalows and pools on the slope behind it. It is the prettiest beach on the island and one of the riskiest to swim at: the surf dumps hard on the sand and rips run along the shore, worst at the eastern end. On calm days strong swimmers can go in at the western end; when the waves are up, stay on the sand.
Tip: Come in the late afternoon, then walk about 600 m west to Devil’s Tear for sunset.
Open in Google Maps
07Beach
Mushroom Bay
West coast, about 2.5 km south-west of Jungutbatu
Known locally as Tanjung Sanghyang, this sheltered bay on the west coast is the island’s best swimming beach: a crescent of white sand, calm water and reef farther out. Through the middle of the day it fills with day-trip boats moored offshore, banana boats and other motorized water sports, but after about 3 pm, when the cruise guests head back to Bali, it turns quiet. Small restaurants line the sand, and some fast boats from Sanur land here.
Tip: Swim inside the line of moored boats, and watch for boats coming in to the beach.
Open in Google Maps
08
Beach
Sandy Bay
South-west coast, about 600 m north of Devil’s Tear
Also called Sunset Beach, Sandy Bay is a small cove of white sand just north of Devil’s Tear, with a beach club on the sand that opens daily from 7 am to 11 pm. It faces west, toward the sunset over Bali. Waves break hard here and swimming is risky for all but strong swimmers. At low tide a cave opens in the cliff at the eastern end; explore it only if you are sure the tide is not coming in.
Tip: Take a table on the beach-club terrace for sunset, which falls between about 6 and 6:45 pm through the year.
Open in Google Maps
09Adventure
Diving Blue Corner, Manta Point and Crystal Bay
Dive centers in Jungutbatu; sites around all three islands
Lembongan is the main dive base for the Nusa islands, with several PADI five-star centers in Jungutbatu. Boats reach the big sites quickly: Blue Corner off Lembongan, a deep drift known for strong currents and, from July to October, mola mola; Crystal Bay and the walls off Penida; and Manta Point for reef mantas. Currents change fast, so operators choose sites by the tide, and several dives are for experienced divers only.
Tip: World Diving charges about IDR 2,000,000 for a two-dive trip, plus 10% regency tax and a surcharge for Manta Point (checked Oct 2026).
Open in Google Maps
10Viewpoint
The south-west cliff walk and Sunset Point
Dream Beach to Mushroom Bay, south-west coast
A coastal path links Lembongan’s south-west beaches. From Dream Beach, walk north over the Devil’s Tear outcrop to Sandy Bay, climb past the villas to the cliff line and follow it to Sunset Point, a viewpoint looking straight across the Badung Strait to Bali, before dropping into Mushroom Bay. It is about 3.7 km and takes about 1.5 hours with stops. Watch for sacred kingfishers on the cliffs and frigatebirds offshore.
Tip: Start in the late afternoon and time Sunset Point or Sandy Bay for the sunset. Carry a torch for the walk out.
Open in Google Maps
11Surf
Surfing Shipwrecks, Lacerations and Playgrounds
Reef off Jungutbatu; Ceningan Point off Nusa Ceningan
Surfers opened Lembongan to tourism, and its three main breaks sit on the reef off Jungutbatu. Shipwrecks is a reliable right-hander, best at mid tide. Lacerations is a shallower, less consistent right that works best at high tide. Playgrounds has lefts and rights and is the most forgiving. Ceningan Point, an exposed and consistent break off Nusa Ceningan, draws surfers away from the crowds. All are reef breaks, at their best from May to October.
Tip: Hire a local boat from Jungutbatu beach to reach the breaks, and wear reef booties. Beginners should take a lesson and stay on Playgrounds on small days.
Open in Google Maps
12Culture
Seaweed farms in the Ceningan strait
The channel between Lembongan and Ceningan, south of Lembongan village
Before tourism, Lembongan and Ceningan lived on seaweed, grown on ropes staked out in the shallow strait between them. The farms nearly disappeared in the late 2010s as families moved into tourism, then came back in 2020, when furloughed hotel and boat workers returned to the water. Plots are still worked today, following the tides and sometimes by torchlight at night. The harvest is sun-dried on the shore and shipped to Java to become food, cosmetics and medicine.
Tip: Watch from the Yellow Bridge or the shore south of Lembongan village at low tide. Ask before photographing farmers, and keep off the lines.
Open in Google Maps
13Adventure
Cliff jumping at Mahana Point
South-west Nusa Ceningan, beside the Blue Lagoon
Beside the Blue Lagoon on Ceningan, the Mahana Point bar runs two jumping platforms over the sea: a low one at about 5 m and a high one usually given as 10 to 13 m, with a ladder to climb back out. Jumping is only allowed when the tide is high enough. The swell that rolls in here is the real risk, because you have to swim through surge and current to reach the ladder. Watch a few jumps before you climb up.
Tip: Each jump costs a small fee. Jump feet first, never after drinking, and skip it when a big swell is running.
Open in Google Maps
14Food & Drink
Sunset on the Jungutbatu boardwalk
Jungutbatu beachfront, north-west coast
Jungutbatu’s beach faces north-west across the strait to Bali, with Mount Agung rising to the north on clear evenings. A paved boardwalk runs above the sand past cafés and bars, including The Deck, a hillside café-bar known for its cocktails, and the strip fills at sunset as surfers paddle in and the last boats leave. It is also the easiest place on the island to find dinner, with simple warungs along the main road behind.
Tip: Get a seat by 5:30 pm; sunset falls between about 6 and 6:45 pm through the year.
Open in Google Maps
15Adventure
A day trip to Nusa Penida
By local boat from Lembongan to Toyapakeh, Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida is 10 to 15 minutes away by local boat, and Lembongan makes a calmer base for seeing it. Boats land at Toyapakeh, where drivers wait; Kelingking and Broken Beach are about 45 minutes away by road, so one side of the island is the limit for a day. Penida’s site tickets, about IDR 25,000 per adult at Kelingking and the other main sites, are extra (checked Oct 2026).
Tip: The boat costs about IDR 60,000 each way and a car with driver IDR 700,000–1,000,000 for the day (checked Oct 2026). Leave by 8 am.
Open in Google Maps
16Culture
Gala-Gala underground house
Lembongan village, inland south (about 2.6 km from Jungutbatu)
In Lembongan village, a local man named Made Byasa spent 15 years, from 1961 to 1976, digging a house out of the limestone under his yard with a hammer and chisel. The result is about 500 m² of narrow tunnels linking a meditation room, bedroom, kitchen, dining room and living room, with seven entrances. It is cramped, humid and low-ceilinged, which is the point, and a visit takes well under an hour.
Tip: Small entrance fee, paid in cash. Skip it if you are claustrophobic, and wear shoes with grip: some exits are steep and slippery.
Open in Google Maps
17Viewpoint
Sunset from the Ceningan ridge
Central ridge of Nusa Ceningan, about 1–2 km past the Yellow Bridge
Fewer people watch the sunset from Nusa Ceningan, whose central ridge looks west over Lembongan’s mangroves and the strait to Bali. Ride over the Yellow Bridge in the late afternoon and up the lanes toward the middle of the island, and stop wherever the view opens up. It is quieter than Devil’s Tear and Sandy Bay at the same hour. The ride back means steep, narrow lanes in the dusk.
Tip: Go only if you are steady on a scooter, and start back before full dark.
Open in Google Maps
18Viewpoint
Panorama Point
Bukit Jungutbatu, on the main road south of Jungutbatu
On the hill above Jungutbatu, known locally as the Bukit, the main road south passes a small clearing that looks down over the bay, the boats at anchor and the surf breaks on the reef. On clear mornings Mount Agung rises across the strait on Bali. It is free, takes five minutes and sits about 900 m from the harbor on the road toward Lembongan village, so most people pass it without planning to.
Tip: Stop in the early morning, when the air is clearest and the mountain is most likely to show.
Open in Google Maps
19Family
Paddleboarding and kayaking in Mushroom Bay
Mushroom Bay, west coast
Mushroom Bay’s sheltered water is the easiest place on the island for a first go on a stand-up paddleboard or kayak. Boards and kayaks are rented on the sand, and early in the morning, before the day-trip boats and banana boats arrive, the bay is often flat enough to see the reef below. Stay inside the headlands; beyond them the current in the strait picks up quickly.
Tip: Go before 9 am, when the bay is quietest, and wear a rash vest; there is no shade on the water.
Open in Google Maps
20Adventure
Learning to dive in Jungutbatu
Dive centers along Jungutbatu beach
Lembongan is one of the most popular places around Bali to learn to dive. Courses start in training pools in Jungutbatu, move to sheltered reefs near the island, and save the current-swept sites off Penida for later. A Discover Scuba taster takes half a day and the PADI Open Water course three to four days. Several centers teach in languages besides English, and freediving schools run beginner courses too.
Tip: World Diving lists Discover Scuba at IDR 1,300,000 and Open Water at IDR 6,825,000, plus 10% regency tax (checked Oct 2026).
Open in Google Maps
21Nature
The coast walk from Jungutbatu to Mushroom Bay
Jungutbatu to Mushroom Bay, west coast
From the south end of Jungutbatu beach, a path follows the coast past small coves and Tamarind Beach to Mushroom Bay, about 2.4 km or 35 minutes on foot. It is the gentlest way to see the island: the surf breaks on your right, views back to Bali and Mount Agung, and no scooters. Coming back, take the road over the hill for a loop of about 5 km.
Tip: Walk it early or late, since the path has little shade, and wear proper sandals; parts are rocky.
Open in Google Maps
22Family
Mangrove Beach at high tide
North end of Jungutbatu, about 1.7 km from the harbor
At the north end of Jungutbatu, where the beach meets the mangroves, the reef holds back the swell and leaves a shallow lagoon. Near high tide it is one of the island’s safest swims for children, with clear water over sand, and the mangrove tours start close by. Dive resorts and quiet bungalows back the beach, about a 20-minute walk from the harbor along the main road.
Tip: Check a tide table and go within two hours of high tide. Wear reef shoes.
Open in Google Maps
23Temple
Pura Puncak Sari
Hill north of Lembongan village, near Mushroom Bay
The largest temple on Nusa Lembongan stands on a hilltop between Mushroom Bay and Lembongan village, and it is the main temple for the island’s Hindu families. Few tourists stop, and from the grounds you look out over the strait to Bali. On temple anniversaries and holy days the courtyards fill with families bringing offerings, and visitors should keep to the edges.
Tip: Wear a sarong and sash, and do not enter the inner courtyard during a ceremony.
Open in Google Maps
24Culture
Nyepi Segara, the day the sea rests
All waters around Lembongan, Ceningan and Nusa Penida
Once a year, around Purnama Kapat, the full moon of September or October, the sea around Lembongan, Ceningan and Penida goes silent for 24 hours. In 2026 it ran from 6 am on 27 September. No fast boats cross from Sanur, no boats run between the islands, fishermen and seaweed farmers stay ashore, and swimming, snorkeling and diving are banned. Life on land carries on, so it is a strangely peaceful day to be on the island.
Tip: If you travel in September or October, check the date with your boat operator; you cannot arrive or leave that day.

Itinerary

How to spend your days in Nusa Lembongan.

Routes that follow the light, the traffic and the opening hours, so you are in the right place at the right time.

One day in Nusa Lembongan

A scooter day from a bed in Jungutbatu: about 18 km of riding on hilly lanes and about 2 km on foot. Every leg needs a scooter (or a truck taxi on the Lembongan side) except the walk from Dream Beach to Devil’s Tear and Sandy Bay. Check the tide first: the mangroves and Mahana Point need high water.

7:30
Breakfast on the Jungutbatu beachfront, watching surfers on Playgrounds and Shipwrecks. Rent a scooter for the day.
8:30
Ride about 1.7 km (7 minutes) north to the mangroves for a one-hour boat or kayak trip.
10:00
Ride about 4.8 km (20 minutes) down the east coast to the Yellow Bridge, cross, and stop above the seaweed plots in the channel.
10:45
Ride about 2.4 km (10 minutes) over Ceningan’s hill to the Blue Lagoon, then walk 150 m to Mahana Point for lunch and, at high tide, a jump.
13:30
Ride back over the bridge to the Gala-Gala underground house in Lembongan village, about 4 km (15 minutes).
14:30
Ride about 1.2 km (5 minutes) to Dream Beach. Swim only if the sea is calm, and keep away from the east end.
16:30
Walk about 600 m west to Devil’s Tear (site ticket), then about 600 m on to Sandy Bay.
17:30
Sunset at Sandy Bay, then walk about 600 m back to your scooter at Dream Beach and ride about 3.6 km (15 minutes) to Jungutbatu.

Three days in Nusa Lembongan

Day 1 on the west coast, day 2 on the water, day 3 on Ceningan. The cliff walk is on foot; every other leg needs a scooter, truck taxi or boat, and the longest ride is about 4 km.

Day 1, 9:00
Fast boat from Sanur to Jungutbatu or Mushroom Bay, 30–40 minutes. Expect to wade ashore; keep your bags in a dry bag.
Day 1, 13:00
Swim and paddleboard at Mushroom Bay as the day-trip boats thin out.
Day 1, 16:00
Walk the cliff path from Mushroom Bay past Sunset Point to Sandy Bay, about 2.6 km, then on to Devil’s Tear for sunset; take a truck taxi back after dark.
Day 2, 8:00
Half-day snorkel trip from Jungutbatu to Manta Bay, Crystal Bay and Gamat Bay.
Day 2, 14:00
Mangrove forest by boat or kayak, about 1.7 km north of Jungutbatu, near high tide.
Day 2, 17:30
Sunset drinks on the Jungutbatu boardwalk.
Day 3, 8:00
Ride about 3.5 km (15 minutes) to the Yellow Bridge, cross to Ceningan and stop at the seaweed farms.
Day 3, 9:30
Blue Lagoon and Mahana Point, about 2.4 km past the bridge; jump only at high tide.
Day 3, 12:00
Ride about 4 km back to Lembongan village for the Gala-Gala underground house and lunch.
Day 3, 15:30
Afternoon boat back to Sanur; the last departures leave around 4:30–5 pm.

Day trip from Sanur

Built around the boat timetable: about 20 km by scooter (or with an island-tour driver on the Lembongan side) and about 1 km on foot. Book a morning boat out and a 4–5 pm boat back, ideally with one operator.

7:00
Check in at your operator’s counter at Sanur Harbour for a morning boat to Jungutbatu; the earliest leave around 7 am.
8:30
Rent a scooter in Jungutbatu and ride about 1.7 km north for a one-hour mangrove boat tour.
10:00
Ride about 4.8 km (20 minutes) to the Yellow Bridge, then 2.4 km (10 minutes) on to the Blue Lagoon.
12:00
Ride about 5 km (20 minutes) back over the bridge to Mushroom Bay for lunch and a swim.
14:00
Ride about 2 km (5 minutes) to Devil’s Tear, then walk about 600 m to look at Dream Beach and back.
15:30
Ride about 3.6 km (15 minutes) back to Jungutbatu, return the scooter and board a 4–5 pm boat to Sanur.

Curated Stays

Where to stay in Nusa Lembongan.

Hotels and villas presented with the same selective archive treatment used on the stays page.

View All Stays

Guest house · Nusa Lembongan

D'Puncak Villas Lembongan

Bungalows around a garden pool on the quiet hill above Jungutbatu village; suits travelers with a scooter who prefer calm to a beachfront.

Explore

9.7 / 10

439 reviews

Holiday park · Nusa Lembongan

Twilight Ceningan

Family-run wooden bungalows with a clifftop sea-view pool on Nusa Ceningan's west coast, near the Blue Lagoon; suits couples after quiet sunsets.

Explore

9.2 / 10

741 reviews

Holiday park · Nusa Lembongan

The Niti Hut's Lembongan

Bungalows around a garden pool about 250 m from Dream Beach and a short walk from Devil's Tear; suits couples and families.

Explore

9.2 / 10

700 reviews

Holiday park · Nusa Lembongan

The Palm Grove Villas

Thatched-roof villas with open-air bathrooms, two pools and a spa, a few minutes' walk from Mushroom Bay and Tamarind Beach; suits couples.

Explore

9 / 10

713 reviews

Holiday park · Nusa Lembongan

TS Hut Lembongan

Wooden huts with semi-open bathrooms around a pool, about 150 m from Mushroom Bay beach; suits couples and families who want to walk everywhere.

Explore

8.8 / 10

841 reviews

Guest house · Nusa Lembongan

Pattri Garden Lembongan

Wooden garden rooms around a large pool, a five-minute walk from Mushroom Bay; suits families, with rooms that sleep four.

Explore

8.8 / 10

570 reviews

Dining Edit

Where to eat around Nusa Lembongan.

Restaurants, cafes, and bars arranged with the same cleaner browse pattern used across the site.

View All Dining

Restaurant · Nusa Lembongan

Sedok Jineng Restaurants Seafood & Grill

On-site restaurant of Sedok Jineng Villa on Sunset Road, five minutes' walk west of Mushroom Bay; serves Indonesian and Western dishes and grilled seafood.

Explore

$$ - $$$

Restaurant · Nusa Lembongan

Karana Lembongan

Infinity-pool club and restaurant on Panorama Hill above Jungutbatu, facing Mount Agung; book a day bed and order steak or cocktails at sunset.

Explore

$$$$

Restaurant · Nusa Lembongan

The Coconut Hut

Restaurant and bar with a mini golf course on the Jungutbatu road toward the mangroves; suits families, with burgers, tacos and coconut curries.

Explore

Restaurant · Nusa Lembongan

Surya Coffee Shop

Small coffee shop at Surya Homestay, a block inland from Jungutbatu Beach; order a flat white and banana pancakes for breakfast.

Explore

Restaurant · Nusa Lembongan

The Ratip Coffee Shop & food

Family-run Mexican restaurant on Jalan Ancak Sari, inland between Jungutbatu and the Yellow Bridge; order tacos or a tempeh burrito on homemade tortillas.

Explore

Restaurant · Nusa Lembongan

Warung Pizzeria

Explore

Seasons

Best time to visit Nusa Lembongan.

Nusa Lembongan is noticeably drier than mainland Bali, especially from May to September, and January and February are the wettest months. April to October brings calmer crossings, clearer water and the surf season: Shipwrecks, Lacerations and Playgrounds work best from May to October, when east-south-east trade winds blow offshore. Manta rays are around all year. Mola mola rise along the walls from July to October, when the water at depth can drop to 16–22°C.

Crowds follow the boats. Day-trippers arrive by mid-morning and leave in the late afternoon, so Mushroom Bay, Devil’s Tear and the Yellow Bridge are busiest from about 10 am to 3 pm. July, August, Christmas and Indonesian holidays fill the boats: on a normal day in March 2026 about 3,000 to 4,000 passengers left Sanur for the Nusa islands, and on 21 March, at the start of the Lebaran holiday, almost 7,000 did. Book the last boat of the day ahead.

Ceremonies can stop the boats. On Nyepi, 8 March 2027, nothing runs and everyone stays indoors for 24 hours from 6 am. Nyepi Segara closes the sea around the Nusa islands for 24 hours around the full moon of September or October; in 2026 it began at 6 am on 27 September. Boat services can also be reduced on Galungan and Kuningan. Sunset falls between about 6 and 6:45 pm all year, earliest in May and June.

Getting There

How to get to Nusa Lembongan.

Travel times to Nusa Lembongan
From	Time	How
Sanur Harbour	30–40 min	Fast boats to Jungutbatu or Mushroom Bay from about 7 am to 5 pm, about IDR 150,000–300,000 one way; Scoot lists IDR 225,000 (checked Oct 2026). Rocky Fast Cruise docks at Telatak, near the Yellow Bridge, in 35–45 min.
Bali airport (DPS)	2–3 hrs	30–60 min by car to Sanur Harbour, check-in about an hour before departure, then the boat. If you land after about 2 pm, sleep in Sanur and cross in the morning.
Seminyak or Canggu	2–3.5 hrs	30–90 min by car to Sanur Harbour depending on traffic, then the boat. Many operators sell fares that include a shared hotel pickup.
Ubud	2–3 hrs	45–90 min by car to Sanur Harbour, then check-in and the 30–40 min crossing.
Padang Bai	About 45 min	A couple of fast-boat companies run daily trips from the east-coast harbor, handy if you are already in east Bali.
Nusa Penida	10–15 min	Local boats between Toyapakeh and Lembongan, about IDR 60,000 per person each way (checked Oct 2026).
Gili Islands or Lombok	2.5–3.5 hrs	Direct fast boats link Lembongan with Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Bangsal; boats from Lembongan usually leave in the morning.

Getting around Nusa Lembongan

Nusa Lembongan has virtually no cars, since bringing one in needs special permission from the village, and Grab and Gojek do not operate. Most visitors rent a scooter for about IDR 80,000–150,000 a day, or a bicycle. Open-backed pickup trucks work as taxis for about IDR 50,000–150,000 a ride depending on distance and luggage, and open-sided buggies rent from about IDR 800,000 for five hours (all checked Oct 2026). Some resorts and beach clubs send a free truck for guests coming to eat.

The island is about 4.6 km long, and a scooter loop takes about 40 minutes. Distances are short: from Jungutbatu it is about 2.5 km to Mushroom Bay, 3.5 km to the Yellow Bridge and 3.6 km to Devil’s Tear and Dream Beach. The lanes are narrow concrete with blind corners, sand and steep little hills between Jungutbatu, Lembongan village and the south-west coast, and Ceningan’s are steeper. Wear a helmet and carry an International Driving Permit.

Walking works within each area and along the coast. The path from Jungutbatu to Mushroom Bay takes about 35 minutes, and the cliff path from Dream Beach to Mushroom Bay about 1.5 hours with stops. Only walkers, bicycles and scooters can cross the Yellow Bridge, so trucks and buggies stop at the Lembongan end. Local boats also shuttle between beaches and to Nusa Penida.

Know Before You Go

Nusa Lembongan tips that save time and trouble.

01Foreign visitors owe Klungkung’s area fee for Lembongan and Ceningan: IDR 25,000 per adult and IDR 15,000 per child aged 4–13 (checked Oct 2026), paid cashless. In 2024 the island’s collection point was at Devil’s Tear, not the harbor.
02Since 1 September 2026 everyone, Indonesians included, also pays about IDR 25,000 per adult to enter Devil’s Tear.
03Pay Bali’s IDR 150,000 tourist levy online through Love Bali before you travel; it is separate from the regency fees.
04Pack for a wet landing: shorts, a dry bag and shoes you can carry. Most boats drop you in knee-deep water; Rocky’s dock at Telatak is the main dry option.
05Book your return boat a day ahead in July, August and Indonesian holidays, and check in about an hour early. The last boats to Sanur leave around 4:30–5 pm.
06Swim at Mushroom Bay or the mangrove beach near high tide. Dream Beach and Sandy Bay have strong rips, and Devil’s Tear is for looking, not swimming.
07On snorkel trips, stay close to your own boat. In May 2026 a spearfisher was killed by a passing snorkel boat off Lembongan.
08Ask whether your snorkel or dive trip includes the marine-park fee; it was introduced at IDR 100,000 per foreign adult in 2023.
09There are several ATMs, but bring rupiah from Bali. Card payments often carry a 3–5% surcharge, and cash-withdrawal counters charge around 8–10%.
10There are clinics in Jungutbatu, but serious injuries mean a boat back to Bali. Check that your insurance covers scooters and diving.

FAQ

Nusa Lembongan questions, answered.

Is Nusa Lembongan worth visiting?

Yes, if you want clear water, manta snorkeling, mangroves and an island that is easy to get around. Lembongan is 30 to 40 minutes from Sanur by fast boat, small enough to cross by scooter in 15 minutes, and has more places to stay and eat than Nusa Penida. It is less worth it if you want safe swimming from every beach, nightlife or a car: rips are common and there are no Grab rides.

Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida: which is better?

Lembongan for an easy stay, Penida for big scenery. Penida has Kelingking, Diamond Beach and long drives on rough roads. Lembongan is smaller, with short scooter rides, beach bars, mangroves and the bridge to Nusa Ceningan. They are 10 to 15 minutes apart by local boat, so many people sleep on Lembongan and spend one day on Penida.

How do you get to Nusa Lembongan from Bali?

By fast boat from Sanur Harbour. Crossings take 30 to 40 minutes to Jungutbatu or Mushroom Bay, with departures from about 7 am to 5 pm and one-way fares of about IDR 150,000–300,000 (checked Oct 2026). Rocky Fast Cruise docks at Telatak, near the Yellow Bridge, in 35 to 45 minutes. A few boats also run from Padang Bai. Check in about an hour before departure.

Can you visit Nusa Lembongan as a day trip?

Yes. Take a morning boat from Sanur and a 4 to 5 pm boat back, rent a scooter or join an island tour, and you can see the mangroves, the Yellow Bridge, the Blue Lagoon and Devil’s Tear in about seven hours. You miss sunset, the best time on the west coast, and a manta snorkel trip takes a whole morning, so one night is better.

How many days do you need in Nusa Lembongan?

Two or three nights. That gives you a morning on a manta snorkel trip, a day on a scooter for the mangroves, Ceningan and the south-west cliffs, and a sunset or two at Devil’s Tear and Sandy Bay. Add a night for a day trip to Nusa Penida, a dive course or a few surf sessions.

Where should you stay in Nusa Lembongan?

Jungutbatu for budget stays, surf and the most boats and dive shops; Mushroom Bay for calm swimming and mid-range hotels; the cliffs around Sandy Bay and Dream Beach for sunsets and resorts; Nusa Ceningan for quiet and cliff views. Lembongan village is cheaper and more local, but every beach is a ride away. Our hotel guides cover specific places to stay.

Is there a tourist fee on Nusa Lembongan?

Yes. Klungkung regency charges foreign visitors an area fee for Lembongan and Ceningan of IDR 25,000 per adult and IDR 15,000 per child aged 4 to 13, and since 1 September 2026 everyone pays about IDR 25,000 per adult to enter Devil’s Tear (checked Oct 2026). Payment is cashless. Bali’s IDR 150,000 tourist levy and the marine fee for snorkeling and diving are separate.

Is Devil’s Tear dangerous?

Yes, if you ignore the ropes. Waves surge over the low rock shelf without warning. At least five visitors were swept off and died or were never found between March 2018 and January 2020, and in 2019 a wave capsized a tour boat below the cliff, killing two passengers. Stay behind the ropes, keep children close, never turn your back on the sea, and do not climb down toward the water.

How do you get around Nusa Lembongan?

By scooter, bicycle, truck taxi or on foot. There are virtually no cars and no Grab or Gojek. Scooters rent for about IDR 80,000–150,000 a day, truck taxis charge about IDR 50,000–150,000 a ride, and open-sided buggies start at about IDR 800,000 for five hours (checked Oct 2026). Lanes are narrow and steep, and buggies cannot cross the bridge to Ceningan.

Can you see manta rays from Nusa Lembongan?

Yes. Snorkel boats from Jungutbatu reach Manta Bay and Manta Point off Nusa Penida, where reef mantas feed all year, and sightings are likely on most trips. The ride takes up to 45 minutes over open water and can be rough. April to October brings calmer seas, and divers also see mola mola from July to October at Crystal Bay and Blue Corner.

Is the Yellow Bridge to Nusa Ceningan safe?

Yes for walkers, bicycles and scooters, the only traffic allowed. The current steel suspension bridge, 138 m long and 1.8 m wide, opened in March 2017 after the old bridge collapsed in October 2016, killing eight people during a procession. It closes now and then for maintenance; when it does, boats ferry people and scooters across the channel.

Are there ATMs on Nusa Lembongan?

Yes, several, but bring rupiah from Bali anyway. Many shops and hotels add a 3–5% surcharge for cards, cash-withdrawal counters charge around 8–10%, and small warungs, scooter rentals and truck taxis want cash. The regency’s area fee and the Devil’s Tear ticket are cashless, so carry a card as well.

Nearby

Where to go after Nusa Lembongan.

Areas that pair well with this one, with honest door-to-door times.

10–15 min by local boat
Nusa Penida
Kelingking, Diamond Beach and the manta sites, on a bigger, wilder island.
Nusa Penida guide
30–40 min by fast boat
Sanur
The boat harbor, with a calm lagoon and a 5 km beach path.
Sanur guide
2.5–3.5 hrs by fast boat
Gili Trawangan
The next stop east for island-hoppers, with direct boats from Lembongan.
Gili Trawangan guide
2–3 hrs by boat and car via Sanur
Ubud
Rice fields, temples and nightly dance, inland Bali after the beach.
Ubud guide

More Nusa Lembongan guides.

Guide

A Complete Guide to Nusa Lembongan Island

Guide

20 White Sand Beaches you need to check out in Bali (2024)

Guide

Bali’s Best Beach Clubs: Sunsets, Cocktails, and Chill Vibes

Guide

21 Best Cocktail Bars in Bali (2026 Update)

Guide

Best Day Trips From Seminyak

Guide

Top Places to Visit in Nusa Penida (2020)

Guide

Where to Stay in Nusa Penida

Guide

12 Best Destinations in Bali

How we researched this

Sources and fact checks.

Prices, opening hours, show times and travel times in this Nusa Lembongan guide were checked against official sites, government tourism pages and recent reporting on 15 October 2026. Where sources disagreed, we give the official figure and say so. Rankings are our editorial judgment, set out in our editorial policy.

We re-check the guide at least every three months and whenever we hear about a change. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Show all 64 sources ↓

Keep Exploring

Continue browsing Bali with the same curated lens.

All Destinations Read Stories

Nusa Lembongan Travel Guide

What Nusa Lembongan is really like.

Nusa Lembongan is a good fit if…

Skip it if…

Which part of Nusa Lembongan to base yourself in.

Jungutbatu: the main harbor and surf coast

Mushroom Bay and Tamarind Beach

Sandy Bay, Devil’s Tear and Dream Beach

Lembongan village and the hill

The mangrove coast and Telatak

Nusa Ceningan, across the Yellow Bridge

Things to do in Nusa Lembongan.

Devil’s Tear

Snorkeling with manta rays

The Yellow Bridge to Nusa Ceningan

Mangrove forest by boat or kayak

Blue Lagoon, Nusa Ceningan

Dream Beach

Mushroom Bay

Sandy Bay

Diving Blue Corner, Manta Point and Crystal Bay

The south-west cliff walk and Sunset Point

Surfing Shipwrecks, Lacerations and Playgrounds

Seaweed farms in the Ceningan strait

Cliff jumping at Mahana Point

Sunset on the Jungutbatu boardwalk

A day trip to Nusa Penida

Gala-Gala underground house

Sunset from the Ceningan ridge

Panorama Point

Paddleboarding and kayaking in Mushroom Bay

Learning to dive in Jungutbatu

The coast walk from Jungutbatu to Mushroom Bay

Mangrove Beach at high tide

Pura Puncak Sari

Nyepi Segara, the day the sea rests

How to spend your days in Nusa Lembongan.

One day in Nusa Lembongan

Three days in Nusa Lembongan

Day trip from Sanur

Where to stay in Nusa Lembongan.

D'Puncak Villas Lembongan

Twilight Ceningan

The Niti Hut's Lembongan

The Palm Grove Villas

TS Hut Lembongan

Pattri Garden Lembongan

Where to eat around Nusa Lembongan.

Sedok Jineng Restaurants Seafood & Grill

Karana Lembongan

The Coconut Hut

Surya Coffee Shop

The Ratip Coffee Shop & food

Warung Pizzeria

Best time to visit Nusa Lembongan.

How to get to Nusa Lembongan.

Getting around Nusa Lembongan

Nusa Lembongan tips that save time and trouble.

Nusa Lembongan questions, answered.

Is Nusa Lembongan worth visiting?

Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida: which is better?

How do you get to Nusa Lembongan from Bali?

Can you visit Nusa Lembongan as a day trip?

How many days do you need in Nusa Lembongan?

Where should you stay in Nusa Lembongan?

Is there a tourist fee on Nusa Lembongan?

Is Devil’s Tear dangerous?

How do you get around Nusa Lembongan?

Can you see manta rays from Nusa Lembongan?

Is the Yellow Bridge to Nusa Ceningan safe?

Are there ATMs on Nusa Lembongan?

Where to go after Nusa Lembongan.

Nusa Penida

Sanur

Gili Trawangan

Ubud

More Nusa Lembongan guides.

A Complete Guide to Nusa Lembongan Island

20 White Sand Beaches you need to check out in Bali (2024)

Bali’s Best Beach Clubs: Sunsets, Cocktails, and Chill Vibes