Destination Guide · Nusa Islands

Nusa Penida Travel Guide

Bali’s wild island: huge cliffs, mantas and bumpy roads.

By The Bali Guideline Editorial TeamUpdated 16 October 2026

Area Brief

What Nusa Penida is really like.

Nusa Penida is the largest of Bali’s three Nusa islands, a dry, hilly block of limestone about 20 km off the south-east coast. Fast boats from Sanur take 30 to 45 minutes, so the airport is 2 to 3.5 hours away door to door. It suits fit travelers who want sea cliffs, manta rays and quiet nights, and who can give it at least one night.

Nusa Penida is big, steep and slow to get around, and that shapes every plan. The island covers about 203 km², the interior rises to just over 500 m, and the famous sights sit at opposite ends: Kelingking and Broken Beach on the south-west coast, Diamond Beach and Atuh on the east. Driving from one side to the other takes 1 to 1.5 hours on narrow roads, so a day trip from Bali covers one side well, not both.

Tourism arrived fast. Kelingking’s T-Rex-shaped headland became one of Bali’s most photographed views, and the island now has more than 500 places to stay, mostly guesthouses and small resorts. Day-trip boats from Sanur start landing at Banjar Nyuh soon after 7 am, and the main viewpoints are packed from 11 am to 3 pm. Stay a night or two and you get them early and late, in better light and with room on the paths.

Read the full overview

The rules changed in 2026. Since 1 September, under Klungkung regency’s One Gate One Destination system, foreign visitors pay an island fee on arrival and everyone pays a ticket at each of the main sites, on top of Bali’s IDR 150,000 tourist levy. Swimming has been banned at Kelingking, Diamond Beach and Angel’s Billabong since 2023, and a 182 m glass lift down the Kelingking cliff, halted and ordered removed in November 2025, was still standing after a court ruled for its developer in September 2026; the province says it will appeal.

Daily life runs on thin infrastructure. Power comes from a small island grid of diesel and solar that was running at its limit in 2023, several upland villages still buy water by the tanker, and the public hospital, RSUD Gema Santi, sends serious cases to mainland Bali. Central-government money paid for new asphalt on key roads in 2024, including 6 km from Bunga Mekar toward Kelingking, but side roads to the coast are still steep, potholed or clay.

The sea is the other draw. The waters around the island form a marine protected area of about 20,057 ha, and in 2024 the International Maritime Organization named Nusa Penida and the Gili Matra islands Indonesia’s first Particularly Sensitive Sea Area. Reef manta rays feed off the south-west coast all year, and ocean sunfish rise along the walls from July to October.

Compared with Nusa Lembongan, ten minutes away by boat, Penida is wilder and harder work; Lembongan is smaller and gentler, with more beach bars and mangroves to paddle through. Compared with mainland Bali, you trade nightlife, shopping and ride-hailing apps for cliff scenery that nothing in the south matches, and for nights that go quiet soon after dark.

Best for: Cliff viewpoints, manta rays and snorkel trips
Vibe: Rural and rugged: packed viewpoints, quiet nights
From the airport: 2–3.5 hrs: car to Sanur, then 30–45 min fast boat
Days needed: 2–3 nights; a day trip covers one side
Best time: April–October; mola mola July–October
Getting around: Car with driver or scooter; no Grab or Gojek

Nusa Penida is a good fit if…

Photographers after Kelingking, Broken Beach and Diamond Beach
Snorkelers and divers: mantas all year, mola mola July–October
Fit walkers happy on long, steep stairways and cliff paths
Travelers with two or three nights to see both coasts slowly
Temple visitors: the Giri Putri cave and Pura Dalem Ped

Skip it if…

You want swimming beaches: swimming is banned at the famous ones
You have one day and want to see the whole island
You have mobility problems or get seasick: boats and steep stairs
You want nightlife, shopping or Grab rides

Neighborhoods

Which part of Nusa Penida to base yourself in.

Nusa Penida 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
North coast: Toyapakeh, Banjar Nyuh and Ped
Most fast boats from Sanur land at Banjar Nyuh, next to Toyapakeh, the island’s only Muslim village; some run to Buyuk, farther east. This flat strip holds most of the guesthouses, warungs, scooter rentals and ATMs, a petrol station about 150 m from the Banjar Nyuh harbor, and Pura Dalem Ped, about 4 km east of Toyapakeh. Kelingking is about 45 minutes away by road and Diamond Beach about an hour. Local boats cross to Lembongan from Toyapakeh in about 10 minutes.
Best for: First-timers, short stays and anyone catching early boats
02
Sampalan and Suana: the main town and the north-east
Sampalan is the island’s administrative town, with shops, ATMs and a harbor opened in November 2022, where boats from Kusamba on the Bali mainland arrive in 20 to 30 minutes. It sees fewer tourists than Toyapakeh and sits closer to the east coast: Goa Giri Putri, near Suana, is about 6 km on, and Diamond Beach about 21 km. Suana, Batununggul and Kutampi Kaler along this coast are among the main seaweed-farming villages.
Best for: Travelers arriving via Kusamba and anyone heading east
03
Sakti and Crystal Bay
About 8 km south-west of Toyapakeh, or 15 minutes by scooter, the village of Sakti runs down to Crystal Bay, Gamat Bay and Pandan Beach. Snorkel boats anchor in the bay each morning, dive boats come for mola mola from July to October, and the beach faces west for sunset. Guesthouses and warungs line the road down. Broken Beach is about 40 minutes away by road, or about two hours on foot from Crystal Bay over the hill past Pandan Beach.
Best for: Snorkelers, divers and sunset-watchers
04
Bunga Mekar: Kelingking and Broken Beach
Bunga Mekar village covers the south-west cliffs. Kelingking sits in its hamlet of Karang Dawa, and Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong in Banjar Sumpang, about 7 km away by road. In 2024 central-government money paid to resurface 6 km of road from Bunga Mekar toward Kelingking, but many lanes off it are still rough. Cliff-top villas and glamping sites here let you reach Kelingking at first light, before the boats from Bali land. Nights are dark and very quiet.
Best for: Photographers who want Kelingking before the crowds
05
Pejukutan: Atuh, Diamond Beach and the east
The east coast belongs to Pejukutan village. Atuh Beach, Diamond Beach, the Thousand Islands viewpoint and the Molenteng tree house are all a short walk or ride from one shared car park. It is about an hour from the north-coast harbors and 1 to 1.5 hours from Kelingking. This is the side for sunrise. The clay roads turn slippery after rain, and ATMs are back on the north coast, so arrive with cash and a full tank.
Best for: Sunrise and a second or third night on the island
06
The south and the uplands: Batukandik to Tanglad
The plateau and the south coast are the least visited part of Nusa Penida. Batukandik has the blue stairway down to Peguyangan, Batumadeg the Tembeling forest pools with Seganing nearby, and the Tanglad area the Teletubbies hills and Suwehan Beach. Pura Puncak Mundi, in Klumpu, stands on the island’s highest ground at about 520 m. Water is scarce: Klumpu and Batukandik were among the villages still buying tanker water in 2023. Roads are narrow and steep.
Best for: Repeat visitors and explorers with a driver

Top Sights · 23 picks

Things to do in Nusa Penida.

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 Penida. Prices and hours checked 15 October 2026. Editorial policy

01
Viewpoint
Kelingking Beach
Karang Dawa, Bunga Mekar, south-west coast (about 45 min from Banjar Nyuh)
From the cliff top in Bunga Mekar you look down on a headland shaped like a T-Rex and a curve of white sand about 180 m below. A path drops to the beach: about 150 concrete steps to a landing, then a steep rock-and-dirt trail with a low bamboo rail. Allow at least an hour for the round trip. Swimming has been banned since 2023, yet a French visitor drowned here in October 2025, and an Australian died in September 2026 after leaving the path near the edge.
Tip: Ticket about IDR 25,000 per adult and IDR 15,000 per child since September 2026 (checked Oct 2026). Come before 10 am or after 3 pm. The unfinished glass lift beside the path is not in use.
Full visitor guide Open in Google Maps
02
Beach
Diamond Beach
Pejukutan, east coast (about 1 hour from Banjar Nyuh)
On the east coast in Pejukutan, a staircase cut into the limestone cliff zigzags down to a strip of white sand framed by rock pinnacles. The descent is steep and the last section has a rope to hold, but it is quicker and safer than Kelingking’s. Swimming is banned here too, after drownings in its rip currents, so stay out of the water. The cliff shades the beach in the afternoon, so the light is best in the morning.
Tip: Since September 2026 only parking may be charged here, while a regency ticket is planned (checked Oct 2026). Arrive before 6 am for sunrise or by 8 am to beat the tour cars.
Full visitor guide Open in Google Maps
03
Nature
Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong
Banjar Sumpang, Bunga Mekar (about 7 km from Kelingking)
A few minutes’ walk apart on the same headland in Banjar Sumpang. Broken Beach, Pasih Uug in Balinese, is a cove where the sea cut a tunnel through the cliff, leaving a round arch; you walk the rim and look down, and mantas sometimes feed below. Angel’s Billabong is a rock pool on the cliff edge that looks calm at low tide. Swimming in it is banned. Waves wash over without warning, and visitors were swept to their deaths in 2016, 2017, 2018 and October 2024; in 2023 a man fell from Broken Beach.
Tip: Both are ticketed sites since September 2026, about IDR 25,000 per adult each (checked Oct 2026). Keep well back from the pool’s seaward edge.
Full visitor guide Open in Google Maps
04
Adventure
Manta rays at Manta Bay and Manta Point
Off the south-west coast, by boat from Toyapakeh, Crystal Bay, Lembongan or Sanur
Reef manta rays, up to about 4 m across, gather off the south-west coast all year to feed and visit cleaning stations. Shared snorkel boats leave Toyapakeh and Crystal Bay around 8 am and usually stop at Manta Bay, then Crystal Bay and Gamat Bay. Divers head to Manta Point, about 45 minutes by boat from Toyapakeh, where the swell can be heavy. Indonesia has protected manta rays since 2014.
Tip: Shared trips start at about IDR 150,000 per person (checked Oct 2026); ask whether the marine-park fee is included. Never touch or chase a manta.
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05
Beach
Crystal Bay
Sakti, west coast (about 8 km, 15 min from Toyapakeh)
The most usable beach on the west side: a palm-backed bay in Sakti with a rocky islet offshore, warungs, sunbeds and snorkel gear for rent. Snorkel inside the line of anchored boats, where turtles and reef fish are common. Past it, currents run hard toward the open sea, and a British visitor drowned here while swimming in September 2026. The bay faces west, so it is the island’s easiest sunset, and the mola mola dive site lies just offshore.
Tip: A ticketed site since September 2026, about IDR 25,000 per adult (checked Oct 2026), plus IDR 5,000 to park a scooter. Avoid the right side at low tide.
Full visitor guide Open in Google Maps
06
Beach
Atuh Beach
Pejukutan, east coast, next to Diamond Beach
A short walk from Diamond Beach, Atuh is a wide crescent of sand under a forested cliff, with parasols, deckchairs and small warungs. It is the more comfortable of the two east-coast beaches: 166 concrete steps lead down on the right-hand side, easy going down and tiring coming back. It gets sun all day. Waves and currents are strong, and the water turns rocky at low tide, so wade rather than swim.
Tip: See it after Diamond Beach in the morning, and bring cash for loungers and drinks.
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07
Viewpoint
Thousand Islands viewpoint and Molenteng tree house
Pejukutan, on the cliffs south-west of Diamond Beach
On the cliffs south-west of Diamond Beach, the Thousand Islands viewpoint looks over limestone islets standing in the sea off the east coast. Nearby, Rumah Pohon Molenteng, a small wooden tree house reached by a ladder, became one of the island’s most photographed spots, and it charges for photos on that ladder. Some reports list it among the regency’s ticketed sites from September 2026, so check on arrival. Come early, when the light falls on the islets and the queue is short.
Tip: Expect to pay for a timed photo slot at the tree house, and possibly a regency site ticket as well. Wear shoes with grip; the paths are loose.
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08Temple
Goa Giri Putri cave temple
Karangsari, Suana, north-east coast (about 6 km from Sampalan)
A temple inside the island’s largest cave, near Suana on the north-east coast. You climb about 50 steps from the road, squeeze almost on your knees through a narrow opening, and the cave opens out beyond it. Priests lead visitors past six shrines in turn; the last includes Dewi Kwan Im, the Chinese goddess of compassion, honored with a separate Buddhist ceremony. The full circuit with blessings takes about 2.5 hours, a look around far less.
Tip: Open about 7 am–5 pm. A fixed fee of about IDR 50,000 per person replaced the old donation (checked Oct 2026). Sarong required; rent one at the entrance.
Open in Google Maps
09Viewpoint
Sunrise on the east coast
Cliffs above Diamond Beach and Atuh, Pejukutan
The east coast faces the sunrise, and the cliffs above Diamond Beach, Atuh and the Thousand Islands viewpoint are where to watch it. From a north-coast base the drive takes about an hour in the dark on narrow roads, so most people who see it have slept in Pejukutan. The reward is the viewpoints and the Diamond Beach stairs before the day boats from Bali land, which is the best argument for a night on the east side.
Tip: Be at the cliff by about 5:45 am; sunrise in Bali falls between about 5:45 am in November and 6:35 am in July. Bring a head torch.
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10Temple
Pura Dalem Ped
Ped, north coast (about 4 km east of Toyapakeh)
Beside the main road in Ped, with the sea behind it, this is Nusa Penida’s best-known temple and the seat of I Gede Mecaling, the feared figure Balinese tradition ties to the island. Worshippers move through it in a set order: Pura Segara by the water, then Ratu Niang, the Taman temple and finally the Ratu Gede shrine. Its main festival comes every six months on Buda Cemeng Klawu and lasts three days.
Tip: Wear a sarong and sash, avoid black-and-white poleng cloth, and keep to the outer courtyards during ceremonies.
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11
Nature
Peguyangan Waterfall
Batukandik, south coast (about 50 min from Toyapakeh)
In Batukandik, a blue stairway of more than 700 steps clings to the south cliff beside the pipes that carry spring water to the villages above. At the bottom are Pura Segara Kidul and the spring; the “waterfall” is overflow from a water tank. The rock pools past the temple have been closed since a landslide in early 2026, so come for the stairway and the coastline. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours down and back.
Tip: Start before 10 am, ahead of the heat and the tour groups. Rent a sarong at the top for the temple, and ask locals whether the pools have reopened.
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12Adventure
Mola mola dives
Crystal Bay and Blue Corner, by dive boat from Penida, Lembongan or Sanur
From July to October, cold upwelling brings ocean sunfish, or mola mola, up from the deep to be cleaned by reef fish along Penida’s walls. Crystal Bay is the classic site; Blue Corner off Lembongan is a deeper, current-swept alternative. Sightings usually come at 20 to 40 m, in water that can drop to 16–22°C, so these are dives for certified divers, ideally Advanced Open Water, in a 5 mm wetsuit. Nothing is guaranteed.
Tip: Morning boats crowd Crystal Bay in season, sometimes 15 to 20 at once; afternoon dives are emptier. Keep your distance and never touch the fish.
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13Nature
Tembeling forest and pools
Batumadeg, south-west coast
In Batumadeg, a 2 km track drops through forest to a small temple, spring-fed pools and a cove. From the temple about 222 steps lead to the natural pool, now open to everyone for a swim, and 67 more reach the sea. The beach is pretty but not practical for swimming. Riders can take a scooter most of the way down; car passengers walk or pay a local rider about IDR 20,000.
Tip: Park at the Parkir sign; the last stretch to the temple is too steep to ride back up. About 40 minutes from Toyapakeh or Crystal Bay.
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14Nature
Gamat Bay and the Toyapakeh reef
Sakti (Gamat Bay) and Toyapakeh, north-west coast
Gamat Bay, next to Crystal Bay, is quieter and wilder and known for its coral, and both it and the reef off Toyapakeh are standard stops on snorkel tours. Currents in the strait between Penida and Lembongan run hard, which is why divers drift here and why snorkeling is best done from a boat with a crew watching. You can rent a mask and fins at Toyapakeh; if you go in from the beach, stay close to shore.
Tip: Bring your own fins if you have them, and ask the boat crew about the current before you get in.
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15Adventure
Crystal Bay to Broken Beach on foot
Crystal Bay, Sakti, to Banjar Sumpang, Bunga Mekar
One of the few real hikes on the island starts at Crystal Bay, crosses the headland to Pandan Beach and follows the west coast to Broken Beach in about two hours. You see the cliffs the way the road never shows them, and you arrive at Broken Beach on foot rather than in a convoy of tour cars. The route needs good shoes and confidence on steep ground. Arrange a ride back: by road the two are about 18 km apart.
Tip: Start by 7 am with at least 2 liters of water per person, and skip it in rain or if you are walking alone.
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16Beach
Suwehan Beach
Tanglad area, south-east coast
Below the cliffs in the Tanglad area of the south-east, Suwehan is a small, quiet beach that most day trips skip. A new staircase gets you down in under 20 minutes. It faces east, so mornings have the best light, and the tide decides your visit: at high tide the beach all but disappears under the waves. The road down to it is long and steep, and a rider was badly hurt there in 2024 when his brakes faded.
Tip: Check a tide table and come at low tide in the morning. If you are not a confident rider, take a driver for the descent.
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17Viewpoint
Teletubbies Hill
Tanglad, south-east uplands
In the Tanglad area of the south-east, the land breaks into rows of small, rounded hills known as Bukit Teletubbies, after the children’s TV show. It is a roadside stop rather than a destination, about an hour from the north-coast harbors on a rough road. Timing matters: from about December to April the hills are bright green, by May they turn yellow, and in the dry months they are brown. Since September 2026 it is a ticketed site.
Tip: Pair it with Suwehan Beach on one south-east loop, and take the road in slowly.
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18Viewpoint
Banah Cliff Point
South-west coast (about 45 min from Toyapakeh)
A pair of free viewpoints on the south-west coast, about 45 minutes from Toyapakeh. From the eastern one you look down on a rock island with an arch worn through it. From the western one, known as the sunset point, the cliffs run north and, on a clear day, you can make out the end of Kelingking’s headland. Mantas sometimes show in the water below. Nothing stops you walking to the edge, so keep well back.
Tip: The road in is one of the roughest on the island; go with a driver, and leave before dark.
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19Nature
Seganing Waterfall
South-west coast, near Tembeling
About 10 minutes by road from Tembeling, a path carved into the cliff and fenced with bamboo leads down to Seganing in about 20 minutes. The waterfall is modest, a trickle that runs into the sea, with a small natural pool at the bottom; the coastline on the way down is the real draw. The descent is nerve-racking but manageable slowly and in proper shoes, and anyone uneasy with heights can enjoy the view from the top.
Tip: Pair it with Tembeling on the same morning; both are about 40 minutes from Toyapakeh.
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20Temple
Pura Puncak Mundi
Klumpu, central uplands
High on the central plateau, 45 to 60 minutes from the harbor, this temple stands at about 521 m on Bukit Mundi, the highest ground on Nusa Penida. It sits in Klumpu village, and the road up passes the farming villages of the interior, a side of the island most day-trippers never see. It is cooler than the coast and quiet outside ceremony days, which makes it a good stop between the north coast and Peguyangan.
Tip: Wear a sarong and sash, and come as an observer if a ceremony is under way.
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21Culture
Seaweed farms on the north coast
North-coast shallows from Toyapakeh to Suana
Before tourism, seaweed was Nusa Penida’s cash crop, and along the north coast it still matters. Villages including Suana, Batununggul, Kutampi Kaler, Ped and Toyapakeh farm Kappaphycus and Eucheuma on lines staked out in the shallows, and many families went back to it when tourism stopped during the pandemic. Low tide is when farmers wade out to tend the plots. On Lembongan next door, farming has largely given way to tourism.
Tip: Watch from the road or the beach, ask before photographing people at work, and keep off the lines.
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22Food & Drink
Toyapakeh: lunch by the harbor
Kampung Toyapakeh, north-west coast
Toyapakeh is the island’s only Muslim village; most women wear headscarves, and men go to the mosque for Friday midday prayers. A few small warungs sit by the beach, facing the strait and Lembongan, and they are the place to eat while you wait for a boat, watch dive boats come and go, or rent a mask for a snorkel off the sand. Local boats cross to Lembongan from here in about 10 minutes.
Tip: Bring cash; small warungs rarely take cards. The Lembongan boat costs about IDR 60,000 each way (checked Oct 2026).
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23Culture
Nyepi Segara, the day the sea rests
All waters around Nusa Penida, Lembongan and Ceningan
Once a year, around Purnama Kapat, the fourth full moon of the Balinese calendar, the sea around the Nusa islands goes silent for 24 hours. In 2026 it ran from 6 am on 27 September. No fast boats cross from Sanur or Kusamba, 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 strange, peaceful day to be here.
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 Penida.

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 Penida

A west-side day trip from Sanur with a driver: about 50 km and 2.5 hours of driving, plus two 30–45 minute boat crossings. Every leg on the island needs a car or scooter; you walk only at the viewpoints. Leave Diamond Beach and Atuh for another day: they are 1 to 1.5 hours east of Kelingking.

6:30
Check in at your operator’s counter at Sanur Harbour for a 7:00–7:30 fast boat to Banjar Nyuh.
8:00
Meet your driver at the harbor and drive about 15 km (45 minutes) south-west to Kelingking.
8:45
Kelingking viewpoint before the late-morning rush. Go part of the way down if you have the legs; the full path needs at least an hour.
10:45
Drive about 7 km (20–30 minutes) to Broken Beach, walk the rim, then the few minutes to Angel’s Billabong.
12:30
Drive about 18 km (40 minutes) to Crystal Bay for lunch at a warung and a snorkel inside the line of anchored boats.
15:30
Drive about 9 km (15–20 minutes) back to Banjar Nyuh.
16:30
Fast boat back to Sanur; the last boats leave around 5 pm.

Three days in Nusa Penida

Day 1 on the north and west coasts, day 2 on the water and the west cliffs, day 3 in the east. Every leg needs a driver or scooter; the longest is about 28 km (about an hour) from the north coast to Diamond Beach.

Day 1, 9:00
Fast boat from Sanur to Banjar Nyuh; leave your bags at a guesthouse between Toyapakeh and Crystal Bay.
Day 1, 11:00
Pura Dalem Ped, about 4 km east of Toyapakeh, in a sarong and sash.
Day 1, 15:00
Kelingking in the afternoon as the day-trippers leave, about 18 km (45 minutes) from Ped.
Day 1, 17:30
Drive about 15 km (30–40 minutes) north to Crystal Bay for sunset.
Day 2, 8:00
Half-day snorkel boat from Crystal Bay or Toyapakeh to Manta Bay, Crystal Bay and Gamat Bay.
Day 2, 14:30
Drive about 18 km (40 minutes) to Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong, ideally near low tide.
Day 3, 7:00
Drive about 28 km (about an hour) to Diamond Beach, then Atuh and the Thousand Islands viewpoint on foot.
Day 3, 13:00
Goa Giri Putri, about 14 km (30–40 minutes) north; allow one to two hours.
Day 3, 15:30
Boat from Sampalan, about 6 km away, to Kusamba, or drive about 15 km (30 minutes) to Banjar Nyuh for a Sanur boat.

East-side day trip via Kusamba

Boats from Kusamba land at Sampalan, the closest harbor to the east coast. About 35 km of driving with a driver; you walk only at the beaches and viewpoints.

7:00
Fast boat from Kusamba, about 30 km east of Sanur, to Sampalan in 20 to 30 minutes.
7:45
Drive about 21 km (45–55 minutes) to the car park shared by Diamond Beach and Atuh.
8:30
Down the Diamond Beach stairs, then Atuh Beach next door.
11:30
Thousand Islands viewpoint and the Molenteng tree house on the cliffs south-west of Diamond Beach.
13:00
Lunch at Atuh, then drive about 14 km (30–40 minutes) to Goa Giri Putri.
15:00
Drive about 6 km (15 minutes) to Sampalan for a 15:30 or 16:00 boat back to Kusamba.

Curated Stays

Where to stay in Nusa Penida.

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

Read the Hotel Guide View All Stays

Holiday park · Nusa Penida

La Roja Bungalows

Bungalows around a shared pool just east of Sampalan on the northeast coast, with full English breakfasts; suits travelers basing themselves in the east.

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8.9 / 10

830 reviews

Resort · Nusa Penida

The Mesare Eco Resort

Villas and jungle-view cottages 500 m up in Batukandik, mid-island; suits travelers splitting days between Kelingking and Diamond Beach, each about 30 minutes away.

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8.8 / 10

1,035 reviews

Holiday park · Nusa Penida

Akusara Jungle Resort And Spa

Six bungalows around an infinity pool in Banjar Seming, 1 km inland from Ped temple on the north coast; suits couples and small groups.

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8.7 / 10

514 reviews

Holiday park · Nusa Penida

Daphila Cottage

Sea-view cottages with an infinity pool up a steep lane above Buyuk harbor in Kutampi, on the north coast; suits travelers with a driver.

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8.4 / 10

253 reviews

Guest house · Nusa Penida

Abasan Hill Hotel and Spa

Hillside hotel with a pool and spa in Sakti, 1 km from Banjar Nyuh harbor on the northwest coast; suits west-side sightseeing.

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8 / 10

400 reviews

Holiday park · Nusa Penida

Reynten Hill Resort

Hillside resort with an infinity pool and Mount Agung views just above north-coast Buyuk harbor; the steep, rough road is hard by scooter.

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7.8 / 10

486 reviews

Dining Edit

Where to eat around Nusa Penida.

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

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Restaurant · Nusa Penida

Vegan Soul Kitchen

All-vegan cafe in Tiing Jajang, Sakti, in the hills south of Ped up a gravel lane; order the tempeh satay or a buddha bowl.

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Restaurant · Nusa Penida

Next Level Cafe

Beachfront cafe in Bodong, Ped, on the north coast; order a smoothie bowl at breakfast or the grilled chicken at sunset.

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Restaurant · Nusa Penida

Warung Lonto

Indonesian warung on the main road through Sampalan, on the northeast coast, open from 1 pm; order the mie goreng or nasi goreng.

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Restaurant · Nusa Penida

Wyn’s Cafe Penida

Cafe on the Toyapakeh-Ped road in the northwest, five minutes' walk from Banjar Nyuh harbor, with frequent live music; order a smoothie bowl.

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Restaurant · Nusa Penida

The Chill Penida

Beachfront bar and restaurant with an infinity pool just east of Sampalan on the northeast coast; order the tacos, and catch Friday's sunset DJ.

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Restaurant · Nusa Penida

Sushi Island

Roadside sushi restaurant in Buyuk, Ped, near the north-coast harbor; order sushi rolls, a tuna poke bowl, udon or Japanese curry.

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Experience Edit

Things to book while you are in Nusa Penida.

A tighter shortlist of experiences and bookable moments that fit the same curated destination lens.

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Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission from qualifying bookings, at no extra cost to you.

Nusa Penida

Klook Selection

Nusa Penida Day Tour from Bali

From

IDR 381.600

4.5

13000 reviews

Nusa Penida

Klook Selection

West & East Nusa Penida Highlights Day Tour

From

IDR 667.040

4.5

447 reviews

Nusa Penida

Klook Selection

10h

Nusa Penida Private Day Tour

From

IDR 695.840

4.7

1100 reviews

Seasons

Best time to visit Nusa Penida.

Nusa Penida is drier than mainland Bali, with under 1,000 mm of rain a year, but it follows the same seasons. April to October brings dry roads, clear skies, calmer seas and the best visibility for manta trips, though the mantas are there all year. July to October is mola mola season, when upwelling chills the water at depth to 16–22°C. From November to March, rain turns the clay roads in the east slippery, while the Teletubbies hills are greenest from about December to April.

Crowds follow Bali’s holidays. July, August and the Christmas weeks are the busiest, and the last boats of the day can sell out, so book a day ahead. Every day the main viewpoints peak between 11 am and 3 pm, when the day trips from Bali arrive; before 9 am and after 3 pm they are far calmer.

Ceremonies can stop travel. On Nyepi, 8 March 2027, boats do not run 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. Pura Dalem Ped holds its three-day festival every six months, and the Nusa Penida Festival ran from 8 to 10 October 2026, with parades, coral restoration and turtle releases.

Getting There

How to get to Nusa Penida.

Travel times to Nusa Penida
From	Time	How
Sanur Harbour	30–45 min	Fast boat from Matahari Terbit to Banjar Nyuh, Buyuk or Sampalan, from about 6:30 am; last boats back around 5 pm. About IDR 170,000–250,000 one way (checked Oct 2026). A pier at Mertasari began trial runs in February 2026.
Bali airport (DPS)	2–3.5 hrs	30–60 min by car to Sanur Harbour, 60–90 min for check-in, then the boat. If you land after mid-afternoon, plan a night in Sanur first.
Kusamba	20–30 min	Fast boats to Sampalan from a pontoon on the Klungkung coast, about 30 km east of Sanur (45–75 min by car). Best for the east side.
Padang Bai	About 90 min	Public car ferry, usually at 10:00 and 14:00 (10:00 only on Sundays), about IDR 120,000 for a scooter and two people (checked Oct 2026). Often late; arrive by 9:00.
Ubud	2–3 hrs	About 27 km (45–60 min) by car to Kusamba, or 45–90 min to Sanur Harbour, plus check-in and the boat.
Seminyak or Canggu	2–3.5 hrs	30–90 min by car to Sanur Harbour depending on traffic, then the boat. From Canggu, leave before 7 am.
Nusa Lembongan	About 10 min	Local boats to Toyapakeh, about IDR 60,000 each way.

Getting around Nusa Penida

There is no Grab, Gojek or metered taxi on Nusa Penida, and no self-drive car hire. Your choices are a car with driver, about IDR 700,000–1,000,000 for a full day in a car for up to six, or a scooter at IDR 100,000–200,000 a day (both checked Oct 2026). Drivers wait at Banjar Nyuh and Toyapakeh, and a short transfer averages about IDR 200,000.

The main roads, including the refurbished ring road, are now mostly asphalt, but side roads to the coast are steep, narrow and potholed, and the clay roads in the east turn slippery in rain. Take a scooter only if you are a confident rider: long descents to beaches such as Suwehan overheat brakes, and trucks, dogs and children share the road. Wear a helmet, carry an International Driving Permit for your insurance, and slow down after dark.

Fill up near Toyapakeh or Sampalan; official petrol stations are few, and roadside bottles cost more. Plan on about 45 minutes from the harbors to Kelingking, about an hour to Diamond Beach, and 1 to 1.5 hours between the two.

Know Before You Go

Nusa Penida tips that save time and trouble.

01Foreign visitors pay an island fee on arrival, IDR 25,000 per adult and IDR 15,000 per child (checked Oct 2026), cashless; Indonesians are exempt.
02Since September 2026 everyone also pays about IDR 25,000 per adult at each listed site: Kelingking, Broken Beach, Angel’s Billabong, Crystal Bay, Teletubbies Hill and the Molenteng area. Ask whether your tour includes it.
03Pay Bali’s IDR 150,000 tourist levy online through Love Bali before you travel; it is separate from the island fees.
04Bring enough rupiah for your stay. ATMs cluster around Toyapakeh, Ped and Sampalan, and many warungs and rentals take cash only.
05Do not swim at Kelingking, Diamond Beach or Angel’s Billabong, where it is banned, and stay inside the anchored boats at Crystal Bay.
06Stay behind the rails at the cliffs. An Australian visitor died at Kelingking in September 2026 after leaving the path.
07Wear shoes with grip, not flip-flops, for Kelingking, Diamond Beach and Peguyangan, and carry 2 liters of water per person.
08Check in 60–90 minutes before your boat at the operator’s counter, and book a day ahead in July, August and the holidays.
09Pack a torch and a power bank. The island runs on its own small grid, and water is scarce in the uplands, so keep showers short.
10Serious injuries mean a boat to mainland Bali, because the island hospital has limited services. Check that your insurance covers scooters.

FAQ

Nusa Penida questions, answered.

Is Nusa Penida worth visiting?

Yes, if you want Bali’s biggest coastal scenery and manta rays and do not mind steep stairs and slow roads. Kelingking, Broken Beach and Diamond Beach are among the most striking viewpoints in Indonesia, and the snorkeling is excellent. It is not worth it if you want swimming beaches, nightlife or an easy day: the famous beaches ban swimming, and a day trip means about five hours of check-in, boats and driving.

Can you visit Nusa Penida as a day trip from Bali?

Yes, and most visitors do, but plan for one side of the island. A west-side day covers Kelingking, Broken Beach, Angel’s Billabong and Crystal Bay with about 2.5 hours of driving. Adding Diamond Beach and Atuh puts another 1 to 1.5 hours each way on the road and rushes everything. Boats leave Sanur from about 6:30 am, and the last ones return around 5 pm.

How do you get to Nusa Penida from Bali?

By fast boat. Most leave Sanur Harbour and take 30 to 45 minutes to Banjar Nyuh, Buyuk or Sampalan, for about IDR 170,000–250,000 one way (checked Oct 2026). Boats from Kusamba, farther east, take 20 to 30 minutes to Sampalan, and a slow car ferry runs from Padang Bai in about 90 minutes. Check in 60 to 90 minutes early, and book ahead in busy months.

How many days do you need in Nusa Penida?

Two or three nights. That gives you a day for the west coast, a day for the east and a morning on a snorkel boat with the mantas, without cramming. With one night you can do one side well, plus an early start at Kelingking or a sunrise in the east. A single day trip shows you one side of the island at its busiest hours.

Where should you stay in Nusa Penida?

For a first visit, stay on the north coast between Toyapakeh and Crystal Bay: it is close to the harbors, has most of the warungs and ATMs, and puts Kelingking about 45 minutes away. Stay in Pejukutan for sunrise at Diamond Beach and Atuh, or on the Kelingking side for empty early mornings. Sampalan suits travelers using the Kusamba boats. Our where-to-stay guide covers hotels.

Can you swim at Kelingking Beach or Angel’s Billabong?

No. Klungkung regency banned swimming at Kelingking, Diamond Beach and Angel’s Billabong in 2023 after a run of drownings, and the bans still apply. People still go in, and people still die: a French visitor drowned at Kelingking in October 2025. For a safer dip, use the sheltered part of Crystal Bay inside the anchored boats, or the natural pool at Tembeling.

How much are the entrance fees on Nusa Penida?

Since September 2026, foreign visitors pay an island fee of IDR 25,000 per adult and IDR 15,000 per child on arrival, and everyone pays about IDR 25,000 per adult at each listed site, including Kelingking, Broken Beach, Angel’s Billabong, Crystal Bay and Teletubbies Hill (checked Oct 2026). Payment is cashless. Bali’s IDR 150,000 tourist levy and parking are extra.

Is it safe to ride a scooter on Nusa Penida?

Only for confident riders. The main roads are mostly asphalt now, but coastal side roads are steep, narrow and potholed, long descents overheat brakes, and the clay roads in the east turn slick in rain. If you have never ridden in Asia, are carrying luggage or children, or have only one day, hire a car with driver for about IDR 700,000–1,000,000 a day. Wear a helmet and carry an International Driving Permit.

Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan: which is better?

Penida for big scenery, Lembongan for an easy stay. Penida has the famous cliffs, the manta sites and far more ground to cover, with rough roads and long drives. Lembongan is smaller and gentler, with beach bars, mangroves and a bridge to Nusa Ceningan. They are about 10 minutes apart by boat, so many people stay on Lembongan and visit Penida for a day, or split their nights.

When can you see manta rays in Nusa Penida?

All year. Reef manta rays live off the south-west coast and visit cleaning stations at Manta Point and Manta Bay in every month, so sightings are likely on most trips. April to October brings calmer seas and better visibility, which makes snorkeling easier. Mola mola, the ocean sunfish, are seasonal: divers see them mainly from July to October around Crystal Bay.

How long does the walk down to Kelingking Beach take?

Fit walkers usually take 20 to 40 minutes down and longer to climb back, and news reports say the descent alone can take slower walkers up to two hours. The path drops about 180 m, first on concrete steps, then on a steep rock-and-dirt trail with a low bamboo rail. Go before 10 am or after 3 pm, wear proper shoes, carry water, and do not swim at the bottom.

Are there ATMs on Nusa Penida?

Yes, but they cluster around Toyapakeh, Ped and Sampalan on the north coast, and they are hard to find near the east-coast beaches or the southern viewpoints. Many warungs, scooter rentals and guesthouses take cash only, while the island fee and the site tickets are cashless. Bring enough rupiah from Bali, plus a card for the fees.

Nearby

Where to go after Nusa Penida.

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

About 10 min by local boat
Nusa Lembongan & Ceningan
Smaller and gentler, with beach bars, mangroves and the bridge to Ceningan.
Nusa Lembongan & Ceningan guide
30–45 min by fast boat
Sanur
The main boat harbor, with calm lagoon swims and a 5 km beach path.
Sanur guide
1–1.5 hrs via Kusamba (boat, then car)
Sidemen
A green valley of rice terraces under Mount Agung, about 17 km inland from Kusamba.
Sidemen guide
1–1.5 hrs via Kusamba (boat, then car)
Candidasa
A quiet east-coast town about 20 km from Kusamba, close to Padang Bai.
Candidasa guide
2–3 hrs via Kusamba or Sanur
Ubud
Temples, rice fields and nightly dance, the inland contrast to Penida’s coast.
Ubud guide

More Nusa Penida guides.

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Top Places to Visit in Nusa Penida (2020)

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Where to Stay in Nusa Penida

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A Complete Guide to Nusa Lembongan Island

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

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How we researched this

Sources and fact checks.

Prices, opening hours, show times and travel times in this Nusa Penida 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 57 sources ↓

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Nusa Penida Travel Guide

What Nusa Penida is really like.

Nusa Penida is a good fit if…

Skip it if…

Which part of Nusa Penida to base yourself in.

North coast: Toyapakeh, Banjar Nyuh and Ped

Sampalan and Suana: the main town and the north-east

Sakti and Crystal Bay

Bunga Mekar: Kelingking and Broken Beach

Pejukutan: Atuh, Diamond Beach and the east

The south and the uplands: Batukandik to Tanglad

Things to do in Nusa Penida.

Manta rays at Manta Bay and Manta Point

Atuh Beach

Thousand Islands viewpoint and Molenteng tree house

Goa Giri Putri cave temple

Sunrise on the east coast

Pura Dalem Ped

Peguyangan Waterfall

Mola mola dives

Tembeling forest and pools

Gamat Bay and the Toyapakeh reef

Crystal Bay to Broken Beach on foot

Suwehan Beach

Teletubbies Hill

Banah Cliff Point

Seganing Waterfall

Pura Puncak Mundi

Seaweed farms on the north coast

Toyapakeh: lunch by the harbor

Nyepi Segara, the day the sea rests

How to spend your days in Nusa Penida.

One day in Nusa Penida

Three days in Nusa Penida

East-side day trip via Kusamba

Where to stay in Nusa Penida.

La Roja Bungalows

The Mesare Eco Resort

Akusara Jungle Resort And Spa

Daphila Cottage

Abasan Hill Hotel and Spa

Reynten Hill Resort

Where to eat around Nusa Penida.

Vegan Soul Kitchen

Next Level Cafe

Warung Lonto

Wyn’s Cafe Penida

The Chill Penida

Sushi Island

Things to book while you are in Nusa Penida.

Nusa Penida Day Tour from Bali

West & East Nusa Penida Highlights Day Tour

Nusa Penida Private Day Tour

Best time to visit Nusa Penida.

How to get to Nusa Penida.

Getting around Nusa Penida

Nusa Penida tips that save time and trouble.

Nusa Penida questions, answered.

Is Nusa Penida worth visiting?

Can you visit Nusa Penida as a day trip from Bali?

How do you get to Nusa Penida from Bali?

How many days do you need in Nusa Penida?

Where should you stay in Nusa Penida?

Can you swim at Kelingking Beach or Angel’s Billabong?

How much are the entrance fees on Nusa Penida?

Is it safe to ride a scooter on Nusa Penida?

Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan: which is better?

When can you see manta rays in Nusa Penida?

How long does the walk down to Kelingking Beach take?

Are there ATMs on Nusa Penida?

Where to go after Nusa Penida.

More Nusa Penida guides.

Top Places to Visit in Nusa Penida (2020)

Where to Stay in Nusa Penida

A Complete Guide to Nusa Lembongan Island

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

12 Best Destinations in Bali

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

32 Unique Bamboo Hotels in Bali that you must visit at least Once in your life

Sources and fact checks.