How do I get to Nusa Penida, and how many days do I need?
The Nusa Islands are three islands off Bali's south-east coast, facing Sanur, and administratively part of Bali (Klungkung regency). Nusa Penida is the biggest and wildest: sheer cliffs, rough roads and few facilities. Nusa Lembongan (about 8 sq km, or 3 sq miles) is gentler, with beaches, mangroves and seaweed farms. Nusa Ceningan, the smallest, is joined to Lembongan by the famous Yellow Bridge.
How to get there:
From Sanur:
- Time and price: 30 minutes to Lembongan, 40 to 45 minutes to Penida. Expect IDR 150,000-250,000 (about US$9-14) one way, a little less if you book online (about IDR 170,000-215,000 for Penida). A return ticket is often cheaper than two singles.
- To Penida, two companies come up again and again as reliable: Maruti Express and Angel Billabong Fast Cruise (you will also see Semabu Hills). They do not all land in the same place: Banjar Nyuh has easy access to the main roads, while Toya Pakeh is handier for diving and scooter rental.
- To Lembongan, Rocky Fast Cruise has a private jetty on the island (near the Yellow Bridge), so you step off without getting wet. D'Camel Fast Ferry and Scoot Fast Cruises are also widely used, and D'Camel can arrange a transfer to your hotel. If you are staying at Jungutbatu, check the arrival point: on that beach you wade ashore, ankle- to knee-deep.
- Timetables: there is no single schedule, as around twenty companies share the route. First departures are around 6:30am and the last around 5pm, with the last boat back from Penida at about 4:30 or 5pm. Book ahead from June to September, during the Australian school holidays and around Christmas and New Year: the morning boats sell out.
- Public holidays: crossings can be suspended during Nyepi (the Balinese Day of Silence), Galungan and Kuningan. Check the dates before you fix your plans.
Sanur harbour (Pelabuhan Sanur) is on Jalan Matahari Terbit, right on Matahari Terbit beach in the north of Sanur (the Sanur Kaja district). It opened in late 2022 and replaced the old beach departure: you now board from a jetty, without wading into the sea on the Bali side. How to get there:
- From the airport (DPS): 30 to 60 minutes by car, depending on traffic. From Kuta or Ubud: about 1 hour.
- By Grab or taxi (Grab is the Uber-style app everyone uses in Bali): ask for "Pelabuhan Sanur" or "Sanur harbour, Jalan Matahari Terbit". Several companies also offer a hotel pick-up, included or for a small extra fee, which is the easiest option if you have luggage.
- On arrival: get there about 1 hour before departure. Go to your company's desk, where you get a boarding pass with a QR code and a wristband or luggage tag. There are stalls selling water and snacks before the entrance, then a barrier gate, and a staff member calls out your boat's name.
- Luggage: the hold is small and a bulky hard-shell suitcase is awkward to stow, so a soft bag or backpack is easier. Wear sandals, and use the toilet before boarding: only some boats have one, and at 50 km/h (about 30 mph) it is not easy. Sitting at the back means fewer bumps.
From Kusamba: the port is in Kusamba village (Klungkung regency) on the east coast, near Padang Bai. The crossing to Penida (Toya Pakeh or Sampalan) takes just 20 to 25 minutes and costs IDR 100,000-150,000 (US$6-9), with companies such as The Angkal Fast Cruise. It is the right choice if you are staying in Sidemen, Padang Bai or around Amed; from the south of the island, Sanur is simpler.
Between the islands:
- Lembongan to Penida: a small local boat makes the crossing in about 15 minutes for about IDR 50,000-60,000 (US$3-3.50). Eka Jaya also links Penida, Lembongan and the Gili islands (towards Lombok).
- Lembongan to Ceningan: you cross the yellow bridge on foot or by scooter.
Verdict: go via Sanur, with a ticket booked in advance and your return on the same company. Use Kusamba only if you are sleeping in the east. And be back on Bali the day before your international flight: a boat cancelled because of the swell or weather is not always made up the same day.
Penida charges a visitor levy of IDR 25,000 per adult (IDR 15,000 per child), about US$1.50, paid online with a QR code on arrival.
Getting around: on Lembongan, a bicycle or scooter is enough. On Penida, a scooter (IDR 70,000-100,000 a day, or US$4-6) is the most flexible option, but the roads are narrow, steep and potholed. You need a motorbike licence valid in Indonesia, and many travel insurers will not cover you without one. If you are not confident, hire a driver for the day (roughly US$25-65 depending on the package).
How many days? Two to three for Penida (the west with Kelingking, Angel's Billabong and Broken Beach, then the east with Diamond Beach), and two for Lembongan and Ceningan: 4 to 5 days for the whole archipelago.
Tip: a day trip is possible, but everyone piles into the same sites between 9am and 2pm. Sleeping on the islands lets you visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when they are almost empty.
Prices, schedules and rules checked in October 2026. Confirm before you travel.