Discover the best sights and beaches on Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan
Nusa Lembongan is the little brother of Nusa Penida and is only a 30-minute boat ride from Sanur in Bali. The two paradise islands, Nusa Lembongan and the even smaller Nusa Ceningan (connected by the iconic Yellow Bridge), are a fun trip you should not miss during your journey through Bali.
Among the best things to do in Nusa Lembongan are the beautiful beaches, peaceful mangroves, the Yellow Bridge, and wild waves crashing on the cliffs. But you also come here to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, have a drink in one of the many beach bars and restaurants, snorkel or dive in the crystal blue water with beautiful coral reefs around the island (you can even see manta rays), and admire the sunset.
In this article, we show you what to do in Nusa Lembongan, the best Nusa Lembongan beaches, the most delicious restaurants, the nicest bars, and our favorite places to stay. Although a 1-day visit is possible, try to have 2 to 3 days to explore these two idyllic islands and enjoy the peaceful vibe.
How to go to Nusa Lembongan by boat
Nusa Lembongan has no airport, so the only way to reach the island is by boat. From Bali, you can reach Nusa Lembongan in 30 to 45 minutes by fast boat, depending on where you leave and where you arrive.
There are several departures per day from different ports such as Sanur, Padang Bai, and Serangan. Most tourists and boats leave from the harbor in Sanur. You can go there by taxi (or you can park your scooter) and take one of the taxi boats from the harbor. At the harbor in Sanur itself, there are shops, coffee bars, and some smaller restaurants.
During the high season, the boats can get fully booked quickly, so it is best to book in advance. Depending on where your hotel is located, you can choose to sail on Mushroom Bay or Jungutbatu Beach. Keep in mind that when you arrive, you will most likely have to step through the water. The boat staff will help you with your luggage.
TIP: The sea around Bali is known to be quite rough. Take a seat at the back of the boat. Read the reviews carefully before you book a boat ticket, because bad companies (old boats, overloaded) sometimes get into trouble in the big waves. Fortunately, most boats between Sanur and Nusa Lembongan are of good quality!
Once you arrive, the taxi drivers will be ready for you. You can either walk to your hotel or negotiate. When we were waiting for our boat back to Sanur we heard some taxi drivers asking for IDR 350,000. Try to haggle down to IDR 150,000 (the normal price), depending on how many people you are with and the distance to your hotel. But above all, keep smiling, because it is also a game for them to earn as much as possible from you. Especially, if you have only just arrived and you cannot yet orientate yourself properly.
Best things to do on Nusa Lembogan and Nusa Ceningan
Discover the islands on a scooter
The best way to discover Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan is undoubtedly by scooter. The islands are not big, the roads are relatively okay (except for some less visited points) and there is not a lot of traffic. Perfect for cruising around with the scooter (even if you are not very experienced), stopping where you want, and discovering real island life.
We paid IDR 80,000 per day for one scooter, with helmets. We rented these through our hotel in Nusa Lembongan (Naturale Guesthouse), but you can also find many other places to rent scooters.
Would you rather not drive the scooter? There are also taxis on the island that will take you everywhere, but you have to negotiate every time unless you book a tour with a guide. You can also rent bicycles or go on foot because the island is not that big, but keep the sun and heat in mind.
TIP: Good to know: a lot of beach bars have their own transport, and come pick you up and drop you of at your accommodation.
Visit the most beautiful beaches on Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan
These two paradise islands near Bali are known for their beautiful white sandy beaches with azure blue water. The best-known and largest beach is Jungutbatu Beach, near the main village of the island, Jungut Batu. In clear weather, you can even see Mount Agung on Bali from here. Mushroom Bay is also quite known, as many boats arrive here.
But be sure to take your time to discover the many other less-visited, small beaches and bays. On Nusa Lembongan, you have Dream Beach, Hidden Beach, Sandy Bay, and Coconut Beach. On Nusa Ceningan there is Secret Beach at Mahana Point.
Admire Devil’s Tears
As we mentioned earlier, the sea around these islands is known to be quite rough. At Devil’s Tears, the ocean waves crash against the rocks with great force. A beautiful natural spectacle, including blow holes from which the water blows out powerfully. The entrance to Devil’s Tears is just next to Dream Beach.
There are several viewpoints to see this beautiful spectacle, one of our top sights in Nusa Lembongan. There is a walking path that you can follow along the cliffs, with a fence. Don’t go too close to the edge or over the fence. People have been swept away by the destructive force of the water.
TIP: Try to go to the Devil’s Tears at high tide, when the waves are at their strongest
Devil’s Tears is also a famous place on Nusa Lembongan for admiring the sunset. Please keep in mind that you are not alone here. Would you like something to drink? During sunset, all kinds of drinks are sold to spectators.
Relax on Dream Beach
Dream Beach is one of the more beautiful sandy beaches of Nusa Lembongan. Depending on the tides you can swim and sunbathe there, but be careful because it is not a lagoon. The waves are coming in with full force.
You can stay here in one of the beautiful houses next to the beach, such as the Dream Beach Huts. There is also a nice bar to have a drink. From there you also have the most beautiful view of the beach. It is best to combine Dream Beach with a visit to Devil’s Tears in Nusa Lembongan.
Discover Mushroom Bay
Mushroom Bay is one of the most visited beaches in Nusa Lembongan. It is also where many Fast Boats from Sanur arrive and therefore, it can sometimes be a little busier (in the middle of the beach).
We found Mushroom Bay in Nusa Lembongan a nice place to stay (less busy than Jungutbatu Beach). And despite the boats, it is still a nice beach to hang out for a few hours, especially on the sides of the bay.
There are many restaurants and cafes where you can have a drink. You can go to trendy beach clubs, such as Hai Ri Zen or Le Nusa Beach Club. But our favorite was Mola Mola House, all the way to the left of the beach. There is a cozy and casual atmosphere and you can play a game with a drink or a tasty meal.
TIP: If you go all the way to the right on the beach, you can crawl under a cliff at low tide, and suddenly you are on an almost deserted beach aptly named Hidden Beach. When it is high tide you have to walk all the way around to get here. There are no boats here and you can enjoy the beautiful view under the shade of the trees. Be careful if you swim here because the current can be strong.
Enjoy the sunset at Ohana Beach Club
Nusa Lembongan is known for its beautiful sunsets. The longest beach on Nusa Lembongan, Jungutbatu Beach, is a nice place to admire the setting sun. Especially with a drink in your hand at one of the most beautiful beach bars on the island, Ohana Beach Club.
You can sit in the bar itself, where there is also a swimming pool (very nice during the day), or on the beach in one of their bean bags with your feet in the sand. In the evening a fire is lit and you can enjoy this wonderful place even more, accompanied by some music.
On Jungutbatu Beach you will also find a lot of other beach bars (such as Ginger & Jamu just next to Ohana’s) and restaurants. In clear weather, you have a fantastic view over Mount Agung volcano in Bali. It’s a slightly busier beach but a very nice place.
Spot a manta ray or turtle
The coast of Nusa Lembongan is home to some of the region’s best snorkeling and diving spots. Several diving schools offer courses for both beginners and advanced divers. The reefs around the island have a lot of sea turtles, reef sharks, angelfish, and manta rays.
Popular diving and snorkeling locations are Crystal Bay and Manta Point, where there is a good chance of seeing manta rays, although we had no luck. If there is a lot of wind, you often have less chance of spotting one. They are completely harmless, but please give them space to swim and never touch them so they can live their lives in peace.
You also have Mangrove Point and Jungutbatu Beach for snorkeling. You can rent equipment anywhere on the island or join one of the organized snorkeling tours that provide everything.
Go surfing in Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan
The sea around the islands is known for its waves, so you can also enjoy surfing around Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. If you want to learn to surf, you can take lessons on Nusa Lembongan. There are many surf schools on Jungutbatu Beach, such as We Surf Nusa Lembongan. You will have to paddle a few hundred meters to reach the waves or you can also ask for a taxi boat for a few thousand IDR.
Shipwrecks, Lacerations, and Playgrounds are the main surf spots. We also went to take a look at Mahana Point on Nusa Ceningan, which is a spot for the better surfers. There is a café at Mahana Point from where you can admire the surfers and possibly even do a cliff jump. You pay a small amount for this, mainly to make sure someone will come and help you if things go wrong.
TIP: If you want to surf at Mahana Point, you have to enter the water via Secret Point Beach.
Drive or walk across the Yellow Bridge
This beautiful yellow bridge connects Nusa Lembongan with Nusa Ceningan. The bright yellow color that stands out against the coral-blue sea makes up for a great view.
Walk across the bridge, cycle, or drive a scooter, like we did. Cars cannot go over the bridge, which makes Nusa Ceningan a lot less busy than Nusa Lembongan.
This is also the departure point for many snorkeling tours that go to Nusa Penida and other famous snorkeling sites.
Spend an afternoon chilling at Sandy Bay Beach Bar
The quiet beach of Sandy Bay is not far from Devil’s Tears. Go to the Sandy Bay Beach Club for e relaxing afternoon. They have a small infinity pool with a beautiful view over the beach.
The food is very tasty with some delicious Western dishes. If you have been traveling in Asia for a while, you will undoubtedly enjoy the Greek salad. Order a delicious cocktail after that to enjoy the beautiful sunset.
You can also book accommodation at Sandy Bay, such as the lovely Komodo Gardens huts with a beautiful swimming pool.
Take a Mangrove Tour
The mangroves of Nusa Lembongan are one of the best things to do on Nusa Lembongan. They are not big but worth a visit. You can enjoy nature here in peace and try to spot some of the many bird species and crabs. So count on a relaxing trip with an educational touch.
You can choose to go out by traditional boat, kayak or SUP. You can arrange everything on-site by driving to the end of the road at Mangrove Point. The further north you drive, the quieter and less developed it becomes.
Or book a tour through the mangroves combined with a snorkeling tour. They will pick you up at your hotel. This way you avoid the extra taxi costs if you don’t have a scooter.
Discover the Blue Lagoon on Nusa Ceningan
After you cross the Yellow Bridge, you can visit the Blue Lagoon, close to Mahana Point. It’s a beautiful piece of nature, where the water is the clearest blue. Forget the gigantic resort on the cliffs for a moment and enjoy the waves crashing against the rocks.
Swimming is not possible at all, but it is beautiful to see. Don’t go too close to the edge (there is no fence here yet) to admire the Blue Lagoon. There is also a blow hole, where water spurts out due to pressure every time a large wave hits the cliffs.
Visit the seaweed plantations
If you drive from Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Ceningan towards the yellow bridge you will pass the seaweed plantations. The seaweed is grown here in the bay, the ideal location because it is almost dry at low tide.
Take your time to admire the locals as they harvest the seaweed in their boats and then process it to let it dry on the shore. On Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Ceningan there are several coffee bars and restaurants with a view of this fantastic spectacle.
TIP: You get the most beautiful view at high tide. The colors are beautiful then. If you own a drone, you can take really beautiful images here.
Go on a day trip to Nusa Penida
If you have a few days, you can also go on a day trip from Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Penida, which is only a 15-minute boat ride away (although you can also spend the night here and stay for a few days).
Nusa Penida is known for its high cliffs, rugged coast, beautiful white sandy beaches and stunning snorkeling and diving locations. You can explore the island with a scooter, although it is more convenient to book a car with a driver for a day.
Our favorite restaurants and bars on Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan
You will certainly not be hungry at Nusa Lembongan. The number of restaurants, beach clubs or warungs can no longer be counted on one hand. We have made a list of our favorites that you should definitely try.
- At Mushroom Bay you will find the cozy Mola Mola House (it is also possible to spend the night here) where you can eat Western dishes (such as the delicious poke bowl) or Indonesian cuisine. If you fancy a nice coffee with a delicious croissant, go to the Mushroom Expresso Café. If you want to eat very cheaply but deliciously, go to Rilex Coffee Warung, the restaurant of the Naturale Guesthouse where we stayed.
- On JungutBatu Beach we previously mentioned Ohana Beach club and Ginger & Jamu. In the street parallel to the beach, there are some good restaurants as well. There is Waroeng Boemboe (delicious local food), Lemongrass (local and Western) and Bali Eco Deli coffee house with healthy food.
- Other nice places on Nusa Lembongan are, as mentioned earlier, the Sandy Bay Beach Bar and if you want to go really unique, you can also go to The Pantoon at Lago, a floating bar and restaurant by the Beach Cafe at Lago. They take you there by boat and you can relax for a few hours while enjoying a drink or a tasty meal.
- On Nusa Ceningan you can go to Sea Breeze Cafe Ceningan for a delicious coffee or meal with a view of the seaweed plantations. Try to come here at high tide for the best view. Just next door you also have The Sand beach bar with the same beautiful view and delicious food!
The nicest places to stay on Nusa Lembongan
There are many nice beaches to choose from. If you only have one night, you can stay near Mushroom Bay, where we also stayed. If you stay a little longer you can choose to go further, for example towards Dream Beach or Sandy Beach. It is a lot quieter there than on the largest beach, Jungutbatu Beach.
During our visit to Nusa Lembongan, we stayed at the small Naturale Guesthouse at Mushroom Bay. The room is basic (the walls could use some paint), but the bed is comfortable and everything is decorated with love. The swimming pool and the many plants in the garden make this a very nice place to stay at a very low price. They also have a great menu with very tasty food at low prices.
If you would like to stay on the beach, the beach bungalows of Mola Mola House on Mushroom Bay, Komodo Gardens on Sunset Beach, or the Dream Beach Huts are definitely recommended.
There are some luxury resorts as well, such as the Tamarind Resort or the Lembongan Beach Club. If you want a private villa, you should check out Aqua Nusa.
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