Nusa Penida Day Trip From Bali: What to See Beyond Kelingking Beach

Nusa Penida island off the coast of east Bali is home to some of the most picturesque natural landmarks including the famous “T-Rex Beach” and Diamond Beach. Short on time? Here is a day trip itinerary to Nusa Penida get you started.

Nusa Penida, or Penida Island, is an island located southeast of Bali. Just a 45-minute speedboat away from Bali, it is close enough that you can catch a glimpse of the island from Sanur on a clear day.

As the Nusa islands do not have their own airport, Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport serves as the gateway to Nusa Penida. And though it is not a part of Bali island itself, Nusa Penida’s various picture-perfect landmarks are so frequently photographed and visited that they are often considered synonymous and representative of Bali.

Nusa Penida is a fraction of the size of Bali, but still the largest of the Nusa Islands; together with Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan, these three islands are a popular travel destination for people as both a standalone vacation spot as well as Bali holiday extension option. The islands offer stunning beaches and surf breaks; world-class snorkeling and diving opportunities; and breathtaking cliffs and rock formations.

If you are traveling to Bali and putting together a travel itinerary, I’ve put together this guide on how to plan a Nusa Penida day trip from Bali including tour recommendations, how to get around, what to see and tips for making the most of your visit. Read on for my thoughts on whether 1 day is enough for Nusa Penida and whether a day trip is worthwhile doing!

Travel tips for visiting Bali and Nusa Penida

But first, here is a quick refresher on Bali travel logistics.

✈️ To get to Nusa Penida you will need to fly into Bali. The main airport in Bali is Ngurah Rai International Airport (airport code: DPS). Many airlines fly direct to Bali.

🛂 A 30-day tourist visa-on-arrival is available for passport holders from more than 80 countries. The Bali visa fee is US$35 or 500,000 IDR, and can be paid by cash or credit card – the fee is the same for adults and children. As of November 2022, you can also apply for an electronic visa ahead of your trip here – this may save you some time at the airport on arrival and allows you to use the e-Gates (ages 6 and up). Complete the electronic customs declaration ahead of your Bali trip here.

As of February 14th 2024 you will also be required to pay a 150,000 IDR (approximately US$10) “tourism levy” to be used towards the conservation of Bali’s nature and support sustainable tourism – this fee is in addition to the visa-on-arrival fee. You should pay this fee online before your trip. Read more on the new levy here. You do not have to pay the fee again when you travel back to Bali from the Nusa islands, but you will need to pay the fee again if you leave Bali to the Gili islands which are administratively part of Lombok.

💱 The currency used in Bali and Nusa Penida is the Indonesian rupiah and the exchange rate is approximately US$1/1 Euro: 15,000 IDR or AUD$1: 10,000 IDR. There are ATMs in the airport where you can withdraw some cash to get you started, and then you can visit a local ATM or money exchange place once you are in town.

If you book this Nusa Penida day tour you are taken care of including all entry fees as well as a set lunch, with the exception of pick-up and drop-off from your hotel to Sanur harbour (which can be paid via your credit card linked to the Grab or Gojek app), the 30,000 IDR photo spot fee at Paluang Cliff, the 75,000 IDR Rumah Pohon Tree House photo fee and any tip that you choose to pay your driver/guide. I did not notice any money exchange locations in town so you should plan to have at least 150,000-200,000 IDR on you for any snacks you decide to buy or need to pay to use the toilet.

Legitimate currency exchange/money changer shops in Bali advertise the rates clearly and do not charge a commission – make sure you count your cash before leaving to avoid any later disputes. The majority of hotels, tourist restaurants and supermarkets accept credit card payments (you may find that in Southeast Asia that Visa and Mastercard are preferred over American Express), though you will still need cash to pay drivers and for any tips. If you are staying in Sanur, we had a good experience with Dirgahayu Valuta Prima Money Changer on the main road (across the street from The Nest spa).

📱 Buy a local Indonesian SIM card. Everyone in Bali uses Whatsapp to communicate – this includes hotels, taxi drivers, spas and equipment rental companies. The easiest way to stay connected is to buy a Bali SIM card via Klook. You will need to provide certain information including your passport copy and phone IMEI number. Buy your Bali SIM card here, this one worked the vast majority of our time on Nusa Penida, with only a handful of dead spots when we were traveling across the island from west to east Nusa Penida.

🏖️ The best time to visit Bali and Nusa Penida is widely considered to be during the northern hemisphere’s summer months between July to early September (also the “dry” season with lower rainfall) – this also means that this is Bali’s peak tourism season. The rainy season in Bali usually runs during the winter months from December to February and it can be very humid and sticky during this time (though the rain storms tend to come and go rather than linger all day long).

That being said, there is no “bad” time to visit Bali. There are, however, two important dates to note as a first time visitor to Bali and Nusa Penida: Nyepi, or New Year’s day in the Balinese calendar, typically falls in March (the date changes each year) and during this day the island observes complete silence. Shops and businesses close for the day, and everybody (including tourists) is expected to stay indoors as part of the ritual. The airport is no exception – there are no arrivals and departures on the day of Nyepi and some hotels may not arrange check-ins and outs during this day. In 2025 Nyepi will take place on March 29th until the morning of March 30th.

Unique to the Nusa islands is Nyepi Laut, a day dedicated to the worship of the sea deity. Much like Nyepi in Bali, the island is quiet and boats are not allowed to travel to or from Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Ceningan. Residents and tourists are not allowed to snorkel, swim or visit the beach on this day. In 2025 Nyepi Laut takes place on October 8th.

Another major holiday in Bali to take note of is Galungan and Kuningan, a Hindu celebration which takes place every 210 days. The two major events are 10 days apart, and many Balinese Hindus will spend the festival visiting family temples – many government offices will be closed on Galungan and Kuningan, and some major religious landmarks (like Pura Lempuyang in east Bali) may close for ceremonies or have different opening and closing times.

🚁 Flying a drone in Bali and Nusa Penida: You can fly a small drone in Bali for recreational, non-commercial purposes without a license as long as you follow a few important guidelines. You should not fly a drone around or over any temple, and many hotels and beach clubs will have their own policies for drone usage on their property, so it’s best to check ahead before you launch your UAV.

You might also like: 2 Week Bali Itinerary For First Time Visitors

Where to stay for a Nusa Penida day trip

Though Bali is small, the travel times between destinations can be lengthy. In order to travel to Nusa Penida from Bali you’ll need to head to Sanur Harbour, about 15 minutes outside of the main Sanur strip.

The easiest places in Bali to stay in for your day trip to Nusa Penida are Sanur and Keramas, though a 1-hour drive from Seminyak, Canggu, Ubud or Nusa Dua will get you to Sanur Harbour. Though it’s technically possible to do a day trip to Nusa Penida from Uluwatu, you’re looking at a 2-hour drive each way. Here are some tried-and-tested places in Bali to stay if you’re planning a Nusa Penida day trip.

Sanur: Popular with families and people looking for a less frenetic pace and thinner crowds, the white sand beaches of Sanur are a big draw, as is the long beachfront boardwalk spanning almost the entire length of the Sanur coast.

We highly recommend booking your stay at Tandjung Sari, a family-owned boutique hotel in Sanur with a location that can’t be beat, stunning spacious rooms and a private beach area. Check the rates and availability at Tandjung Sari or read my full hotel review here.

We also had a good experience staying at ARTOTEL Sanur, which is located a 3-minute walk away from the beachfront area further south along the coast. This modern hotel offers spacious rooms, an excellent restaurant (and fantastic breakfast spread), and lovely rooftop pool. Click here to check rates and availability at ARTOTEL Sanur!

Looking for more Sanur hotel options? You may also want to consider Maya Sanur (a luxury beachfront hotel in Sanur with a fantastic pool and oceanfront restaurant and bar), Andaz Bali (a high end peaceful resort with modern and sleek rooms, perfect for couples) or Hyatt Regency Bali (a family-friendly resort in Sanur with excellent facilities).

Ubud: Ubud in central Bali is one of the top tourist destinations in Bali and often referred to as the cultural capital of the island. It is famous for its emerald cascading rice terraces in Tegallalang, thousands of Hindu shrines, powerful waterfalls and art museums.

We recommend checking out the individual pool villas at Origin Ubud. We loved having breakfast served poolside each morning and the spacious, brightly-lit rooms. Click here to check availability and rates at Origin Ubud or head over here to see more hotel options in Ubud.

Want to explore more Ubud hotel options? We also considered staying at 11 on Kajeng (a small boutique hotel within walking distance of the Ubud Palace and Saraswati Temple), The Sankara Resort (beautiful hotel with an excellent on-site spa, provides a shuttle service into town) and Sapodilla Ubud (one of the top-rated boutique hotels in Ubud).

Canggu: The laid-back atmosphere, string of picturesque beaches, fantastic yoga studios and excellent boutique hotels in Canggu on the west coast of Bali have drawn in visitors from around the world looking for that perfectly balanced beach holiday complete with fiery sunsets every evening.

I highly recommend MASMARA Resort in Pererenan, Canggu – we loved our stays (yes, multiple!) at this boutique hotel. The rooms are spacious and the staff are incredibly warm and hospitable. It is just a 2 minute walk from Pererenan beach (a fantastic Canggu sunset spot).

Alternatively, check the rates and availability at Casa Gypsy up the road from MASMARA. This 2-bedroom villa offers you a private pool, open-air pavilion lounge and kitchen area. We loved the airy, light-filled space and the privacy it offered.

For those considering other areas in Canggu I recommend checking rates and availability at Pangkung Sari, a small and cozy boutique B&B overlooking a small rice field in Berawa. You can head here to check out other highly-rated hotel options in Canggu.

Looking for even more options for where to stay in Canggu? Other accommodation options in Canggu that we considered based on extensive research include The Bed By the Sea (an adults-only small hotel within walking distance to Echo Beach) and ZIN Canggu Resort & Villas (stunning rooms a stone’s throw from the busy Batu Bolong main road).

How to visit and get to Nusa Penida

The only way to get to Nusa Penida is by fast ferry, which takes approximately 40-45 minutes. There are horror stories about rocky, choppy ferry rides between Bali and Nusa Penida but we had a fairly smooth and uneventful journey.

The ferry itself was fairly clean, however the air flow wasn’t totally ideal and it was a little stuffy. You can also sit in the open-air area at the back or on the top deck, but expect blaring EDM music on most shared ferries.

Because Nusa Penida is not as developed, the road conditions are not fantastic – even in an air-conditioned car the roads are bumpy and drive times can be extensive. Though some tourists do opt to rent scooters on Nusa Penida, I would advise against it – the heat, dust and broken roads are no joke. If you get into a major accident that cannot be handled by a local medical clinic, you may need to be transferred back to Bali for emergency medical attention. There is also no Grab or Gojek available on Nusa Penida.

So…what’s the best way to get around Nusa Penida? My recommendation is to book a day trip through a local tour company (I enjoyed and recommend this Nusa Penida day trip which made our time totally fuss-free) – our ferry tickets were sorted, we had a private driver and air-conditioned car, the itinerary was somewhat flexible (I’ll go over some of the different Nusa Penida route options later in this guide) and we even had some time at the end to visit one of the laid-back pool clubs on the island.

You can also explore some other private day trips from Bali to Nusa Penida here, some of which offer hotel pick up and drop off, snorkeling or a private photographer.

Nusa Penida day trip routes

There are a number of popular Nusa Penida day trip routes – because the island is huge and road conditions are subpar, it is virtually impossible to see more than 4-6 locations on the island and still make it back in time to catch the last speedboat from Nusa Penida back to Bali around 5:30-6 PM – a full 10 to 12-hour day depending on what tour you go with.

Most people recommend that you choose to either focus on visiting West Nusa Penida (where the ferry harbour is located) or East Nusa Penida. Popular Nusa Penida attractions on the west coast include the famed Kelingking Beach, the neighbouring Paluang Cliff, Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong (located essentially side-by-side) and Crystal Bay Beach.

In East Nusa Penida you will find Diamond Beach, Atuh Beach, Goa Giri Putri Temple, the Rumah Pohon “Tree House”, Thousand Islands Viewpoint and Teletubbies Hill.

So, should you visit West Nusa Penida or East Nusa Penida? It really depends on what you’d like to see. West Nusa Penida is home to some of the most iconic landmarks but you can also expect the crowds to be humongous. East Nusa Penida is slightly less crowded but not by much. For this reason, if it is your first time to Nusa Penida I would recommend that you choose a combination trip to try to get the best of both worlds – however you will need to skip a few locations.

This highly-rated Nusa Penida day trip from Bali offers two different combination trips which allows you to visit both sides of the island. Both combination tours end at The Chill pool club for drinks and snacks if there is enough time before your ferry home.

Combination A trip: Kelingking Beach; Paluang Cliff; Diamond Beach; Rumah Pohon Tree House; Thousand Islands Viewpoint.

Combination B trip: Kelingking Beach; Paluang Cliff; Broken Beach; Angel’s Billabong; Diamond Beach.

You’ll see that the two vary only slightly, but we opted for Combination B as I was happy to skip the Tree House (essentially a photo opp location) and was much more interested in visiting Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong.

Nusa Penida day trip itinerary

We had a great experience with this Nusa Penida day tour! The day started bright and early – we left our hotel at around 7:15 AM from Sanur and hopped in a Grab to head to the Isola Fast Boat company office at Sanur Harbour.

Once we arrived, I showed them the Nusa Penida day trip booking confirmation from Klook/Liburan Bali and was given a lanyard and Isola badge which somehow told the staff which ferry we were supposed to go on depending on the colour of the lanyard.

Near boarding time, you are ushered (somewhat chaotically) towards the ferry pier along with the hundreds of other people boarding the half dozen other boats departing for Nusa Penida at the same time. Somehow, it all works out!

There are no assigned seats on the Nusa Penida speedboats so find yourself a window seat if you get seasick. You should also make sure that you take a motion sickness tablet 30 minutes before you board the ferry.

We set sail a little after 8 AM, and a brisk 40-45 minute ride later, our driver met us at the Nusa Penida ferry harbour and sorted out everything including the Nusa Penida retribution fee which everyone else had to queue up to pay – a benefit of booking this well-organized Nusa Penida day tour!

1. Angel’s Billabong and Broken Beach

The first stop was Angel’s Billabong and Broken Beach – the two are just a quick 5-minute scramble on foot away from each other so you can kill two birds with one stone.

Angel’s Billabong is a stunning natural pool where waves lap in over and over again – though you may have seen photos of people swimming in the pool I wouldn’t recommend it as the waves can and will smash you into the cliff edge and reef below. You should also avoid standing too close to the edge for photos as sadly visitors have fallen off the cliff and died.

Broken Beach is a bridge-like rock formation created after hundreds of years of erosion. It is possible to walk over the rock arch if you follow the pathway.

Similar to London Bridge along the Great Ocean Road in eastern Australia, the rock arch at Broken Beach or Pasih Uug is framed by the turquoise, crystal-clear waters.

2. Kelingking Beach

Probably the most iconic attraction on Nusa Penida, Kelingking Beach attracts huge crowds to see the unique outline which many say resembles a T-Rex dinosaur.

From the parking location, it’s not a huge walk to the Kelingking Beach viewpoint – they are even building a controversial cliffside elevator down to the beach.

I’m grateful to have been able to visit Kelingking Beach on this Nusa Penida day trip, and though it is absolutely and unequivocally breathtaking, the hordes of people and constant aggression/jostling between people vying for the “best photo spot” seriously dampened my experience at Kelingking. As we were short on time and not exactly wearing the proper footwear we did not walk down the (many) steps to the beach.

Ready to book your Nusa Penida day trip from Bali? I enjoyed and recommend this private Nusa Penida day trip which made our time totally fuss-free – our ferry tickets were sorted, we had a private driver and air-conditioned car, and we were able to make some modifications to the itinerary. You can also explore some other private day trips from Bali to Nusa Penida here, some of which offer hotel pick up and drop off, snorkeling or a private photographer.

3. Paluang Cliff

Paluang Cliff is located on the opposite cliff to Kelingking Beach, offering a view of the rocky outcrop itself. This popular Nusa Penida viewpoint is a photo-taking location with a number of manmade photo backdrops – entrance costs 30,000 IDR per person. This wasn’t particularly appealing to me so we asked our driver to skip it and we headed straight to East Nusa Penida instead.

4. Diamond Beach

The long drive from West Nusa Penida to East Nusa Penida will take over an hour. After a quick lunch pitstop at a local warung where we had delicious mie goreng and nasi goreng, we continued onto the sparkling Diamond Beach.

Named after the uniquely pyramid-shaped rock formations, Diamond Beach was a huge highlight on this day trip to Nusa Penida. For the adrenaline seekers there is even a zipline that zooms across the cliff!

5. Quick look at Atuh Beach

Atuh Beach neighbours Diamond Beach and shares an entrance – your ticket to Diamond Beach also covers your entry to Atuh. However, the descent down is intense – as we were keen to get to the pool club for a drink and swim we opted to take a look from above only before heading back to West Nusa Penida.

6. The Chill Penida

After a huge travel day and crossing paths with what seemed like thousands of people, we were more than ready to grab a drink and go for a dip. Our driver dropped us off at the very aptly named “The Chill Penida” where we had a cold cocktail and refreshing swim in the infinity pool.

There are bathrooms and showers here, and the food and drink are very reasonably priced – a wonderful way to finish off a busy sightseeing day on Nusa Penida!

We were able to relax for about an hour before our driver picked us up again and took us back to the ferry pier to head back to Bali on the 4:30 PM speedboat. We really were taken care of from the minute we landed on Nusa Penida to the minute we left!

Our driver on the private Nusa Penida day trip didn’t speak much English but was very helpful and kind – at each location, he queued up for us when everyone was waiting to take photos at busier spots. He drove very safely and the vehicle itself was clean and comfortable with great A/C. We also loved that it was a private tour and that we were able to modify the itinerary here and there.

Once we arrived back in Bali at Sanur Harbour we walked back to the main street to catch a Grab – a very important Nusa Penida day trip travel tip is that you cannot get picked up by Grab or Gojek at Sanur Harbour. They are typically fine with drop offs, but you and your driver will get hassled and berated if you try to catch a rideshare taxi within the harbour to leave. You’ll need to walk out to this point or further in order to use Grab or Gojek safely.

Is it worth visiting Nusa Penida?

After 4 trips to Bali, exploring the “usual suspects” from Uluwatu and Ubud to Canggu, Munduk and Sanur, I was eager to explore beyond the main island. The day trip to Nusa Penida is a busy one – lots of stops and even more time on the road and across the sea.

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The landscapes are simply dreamy and unlike any you’ll see anywhere else – all located on one little island.

But I can’t sugarcoat it, I wasn’t mentally prepared for how many fellow tourists would visit the island – it’s a lot. Whatever you have in your head, multiply it by 5 and you might come close to the reality.

At times it felt like each natural wonder had been transformed into nothing but a photo backdrop, with queues upon queues of people waiting their turn to take “the shot”.

If we had more time and more than a day on Nusa Penida, I would have very happily clambered down to sprawl out on the sand and relax on Atuh Beach, or tried snorkeling at Crystal Beach.

Which begs the question…is 1 day enough for Nusa Penida? Sure, in 1 day you can cover a lot of ground in Nusa Penida and see a lot. It can feel like you are racing other tourists to get to the next photo location, and it’s obvious that you’re only scratching the surface of what the island has to offer – from quiet natural pools and coves to sacred temples in caves, these are places you won’t see on a day trip to Nusa Penida. If I had more time, I would have very happily stayed overnight on Nusa Penida to enjoy the island once the day trippers (like myself!) had left for the day.

If you are visiting Nusa Penida for the express purpose of snorkeling or scuba diving then 1 day is absolutely not nearly enough time. Ideally, you should plan on spending a minimum of 2-3 nights or even more if you want to venture beyond Nusa Penida and also check out Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Ceningan.

Ready to book your Bali to Nusa Penida day trip? I enjoyed and recommend this private Nusa Penida day trip which made our time totally stress-free – our ferry tickets were sorted, we had a private driver and air-conditioned car, and we were able to make some modifications to the itinerary. They also offer a 2 day 1 night Nusa Penida tour which includes accommodation.

You can also explore some other private day trips from Bali to Nusa Penida here, some of which offer hotel pick up and drop off, snorkeling or a private photographer.

Wondering where to stay if you are planning a Nusa Penida day trip? The easiest option is Sanur – I personally recommend Tandjung Sari or ARTOTEL Sanur.

It’s also possible to embark on a day trip to Nusa Penida from Ubud, Canggu, Nusa Dua, Seminyak or Legian – the drive to Sanur Harbour should take approximately 1 hour each way. In Ubud, check out Origin Ubud; in Canggu, look no further than MASMARA Resort in Pererenan or Casa Gypsy.

I hope you found this Bali to Nusa Penida day trip itinerary helpful!

You may also enjoy these reads:

• First time to Bali? Here is a 2 week Bali itinerary with plenty of tips to get you started
• Canggu is a popular beach destination in Bali with plenty of cafes, yoga studios and boutiques. Read this for my Canggu travel guide
• For a quieter beach getaway consider heading to Sanur on the east coast of Bali. Read my Sanur travel guide here
• Headed to Bali’s cultural capital, Ubud? Here are the best things to do in Ubud
• If you plan on spending time in the north central mountain region of Bali here is my guide to the best things to do in Munduk and Bedugul
• Uluwatu is often known as a surfer’s paradise, but it’s worth a visit even if you don’t surf. Read my guide on things to do and places to visit in Uluwatu
• There are many common misconceptions about Southeast Asia. Read this before you travel to Southeast Asia!

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