Nusa Lembongan is a small, picturesque island located southeast of Bali, Indonesia, and is part of a trio of islands known as the Nusa Islands, which also includes Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida. We ended our most recent trip to Bali here and it was the perfect. It offers a serene and laidback atmosphere compared to other areas in Bali.
Is Nusa Lembongan worth visiting? YES! It was the perfect way to end our recent Bali trip. The type of place you visit and start googling the price of property in the local area. We could not have been more relaxed. We HIGHLY recommend it to anyone visiting Bali. The food, hospitality, turquoise water and incredible accomodation drew us in and we will be back.
Our pinned map for Nusa Lembongan can be found here
How to get to Nusa Lembongan?
Land Transportation to Sanur or Padang Bai:
By Car/Driver:Â Arrange for a private car or driver to take you to Sanur or Padang Bai. This is a convenient option, and your accommodation or local tour operators can assist in organizing transportation. This is what we did and it made everything so easy.
By Shuttle/Shared Van:Â Shared shuttle services operate between various areas in Bali, including Uluwatu, and the ports in Sanur or Padang Bai. This is a cost-effective option, but the schedules may be less flexible than a private car.
Ferry or Fast Boat to Nusa Lembongan:
Padang Bai to Nusa Lembongan: If you choose Padang Bai as your departure point, fast boat services like Rocky Fast Cruise, Crown Fast Cruise, or others operate between Padang Bai and Nusa Lembongan. The boat journey takes around 1 to 1.5 hours.
Sanur to Nusa Lembongan: From Sanur, you can take a fast boat or ferry to Nusa Lembongan. The boat ride typically takes around 30 minutes to 1 hour. Several operators provide services from Sanur to Nusa Lembongan, such as Scoot Fast Cruises, Rocky Fast Cruise, or Marlin Lembongan Cruiser. We used Rocky Fast Cruise and we had no issues. Just make sure to tell them you want transport on the other side.
Things to consider:
Let your operator know if you need want transport on the other side. If they charge extra, check with your hotel, they might have a pick up service for free.
Pre book your tickets and double check where in the port the kiosk is for your operator before arriving. They are scattered around in Sanur.
Seasickness tablets are a good idea. We didn't need them but we know of people who did. Better safe than sick!
Getting around Nusa Lembongan
We highly recommend renting a scooter if you feel comfortable/ have the licence. Some roads are pretty difficult so be prepared and have a helmet.
If you don't feel comfortable on a scooter, a lot of hotels and restaurants offer pick up and drop off services for free. You can message them on instagram/ what's app, drop into them or ask your hotel.
Nusa Lembongan accomodation
We could not recommend the Tamarind resort hotel more! It certainly isn't the cheapest hotel on the island but we highly recommend it. The hospitality alone is worth the money but the rooms are exquisite, the 3 pools have the most spectacular views and the food is great. We couldn't recommend it more.
Here are all your hotel options for Nusa Lembongan
Where to eat in Nusa Lembongan
Thai Pantry - Definitely our favourite, we went countless times. Casual, waterfront asian restaurant. The food was fresh and tasty, the cocktails were great and it really meshes well with the relaxed island vibes. Recommended for lunch and dinner. The pad thai is a favourite but everything tasted great. Worth booking for dinnertime $
Oishii bar and grill - GREAT sushi and nice atmosphere. We went with some friends, shared a range of things and enjoyed everything. They also have live music some evenings too so check out their website/ instagram. $
Sandy bay beach club - great beach club atmosphere and fresh food. We had a lovely evening here. Dropped in for a drink and stayed for sunset and dinner. We recommend dropping in when they have live music so check their schedule. Food was decent, fresh but atmosphere and sunset were amazing. $$
Tigerlilly beach shack - trendy/ boho style beach cafe right on the sand. It does do great fish tacos, smoothie bowls, cocktails and brunch style items. There really aren't too many nice cafes on the beach so you end up paying a premium but it didn't bother us too much $$
Nusa bodega - cute wine shop
Little coconut - very cute, hole in the wall coffee shop
Find all these venues on our pinned for you map of Nusa Lembongan
What to do on Nusa Lembongan
Swim with the mantas: We did this twice and had great success. We swam with quite a few Mantas both times.
Snorkel the long reef : This was a highlight, highly recommended if you are a fan of snorkeling. It does get exhausting so bring lots of water, sunscreen and snacks.
Check out the sunset spots: Point resort: A hidden gem. We went here as frequently as we could for sunset. The setting is perfect. It was definitely our happy place on the island. Food and drinks are extremely basic. Wines, beers and a gin and tonic were on offer. We didn't eat there. Head before dinner, catch the sunset and then head somewhere else for food. Cloudland bar: A casual beanbag style bar with an incredible view of the sunset.
Note***Both recommendations have tricky roads to navigate if on a bike. Don't let it deter you, just be cautious
Check out the yellow bridge: The Yellow Bridge, which connects Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan, provides a unique vantage point to watch the sunset. Walk or drive across the bridge and witness the changing colors of the sky over the water.
Explore Nusa Ceningen Nusa Ceningan is situated between Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida, and it is accessible from Nusa Lembongan via the Yellow Bridge. Highlights here are:
Blue lagoon: Very popular due to it's turquoise waters and picturesque coastal scenery. Enjoy the stunning views from the cliff edges or take a dip.
Devils tear: While the main Devil's Tear attraction is on Nusa Lembongan, there is also a cliffside area on the northwest side of Nusa Ceningan. Really beautiful to watch the crashing waves and dramatic water displays.
Mahana point: Mahana Point is popular for cliff-jumping opportunities. If cliff jumping isn't your thing, the location also has a bar with seating areas offering panoramic views.
Mangrove forest: take a boat tour and explore the mangrove forest. You can learn about the unique ecosystem, and the tours offer a peaceful way to explore the water.
Here are a range of tours and activities available on the island
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