Off the coast of Bali lie two tropical islands with pristine white-sand beaches. Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan are two popular yet relatively quiet islands that are a must on your Bali itinerary. With a yellow bridge connecting the two islands, explore impressive coastal cliffs sides, lounge at great beaches and beach clubs, and snorkel with Manta Rays. However, there are so many more things to do in Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan. Discover all our favorites below!
Things to do in Nusa Lembongan
Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan are two small islands, easily explored by motorbike in under an hour. However, we’ve found that there are quite a lot of incredible things to do to easily fill up two to three days.
1. Discover the Nusa Lembongan Beaches
Not all of Bali’s best beaches are located on the mainland. The Nusa islands have a handful of soft white-sand beaches great for sunbathing, snorkeling, and relaxing. We especially love Nusa Ceningan for its beaches like the stunning Mahana Point and Secret Beach. Lembongan’s best beaches are Dream Beach, Coconuts Beach, and Jungutbatu Beach.
Also read: Best Beaches in Bali
2. Cliffs at Blue Lagoon
Blue Lagoon is a stunning viewpoint and cliff jumping spot on Nusa Ceningan. The silky blue water is wild and swimming near the coastline isnโt recommended. However, standing at the top of the viewpoint is more than enough to soak in the incredible views. You can walk all around the cliff and there is even a small blowhole when you walk past the bushes here.
3. Beach Clubs on Nusa Lembongan
The Nusa Islands have beautiful beaches and the same goes for their beach clubs. Chill at one of the many clubs for a relaxed afternoon and dip into their pool or the sea in front to cool off. The beach clubs here are incredibly picturesque and some offer outstanding meals as well!
On Nusa Lembongan we love to visit Ginger and Jamu, Ohanaโs and Sandy Bay, with the last two slightly more expensive.
The Sand and Le Pirate on Nusa Ceningan are a little more intimate and affordable to relax at for the day.
4. Day Trip to Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida is one of those places that, one day, will be featured in a movie scene. The 200-meter-high cliffs (that you are able to hike down!) offer some of the most stunning views of Bali and is one of our favorite things to do!
A single boat trip to Nusa Penida only takes 15 minutes from Nusa Lembongan. From there, you can explore the island by car or motorbike. We really enjoyed zooming around the island, stopping at all the different sites and viewpoints!
Read more: best things to do on Nusa Penida
5. Cloudland Bar at Sunset
Grab a beanbag, order a Bintang or another drink and fully enjoy the sun going down after another incredible day in Bali. The Cloudland Bar is a great, nothing fancy or posh, bar at the cliff sides of Lembongan. It is a little hard to reach as there is no good road, however, Google Maps is right about which path you should follow.
6. Lembongan Mangrove Boat Tour
Take a small boat or stand-up paddle board through the mangrove forest on the north-east side of Nusa Lembongan. Enjoy the calming river ride, clear waters and serenity of the area. You can also book a day tour to discover the mangrove forest and explore the crystal-clear waters surrounding it.
We love mangrove forests, they’re one of the most interesting places to visit. Did you know that they form a natural protection barrier for the coast? Wow!
7. Surfing at Lembongan
Lembongan offers great year-round surfing for the beginner and intermediate surfers. Spend the morning taking surfing lessons at Coconut Beach or go for the tougher waves at Mahana Point in Ceningan.
8. Devilโs Tear – Dangerous thing to do on Nusa Lembongan
Experience the powerful waves crashing into the cliffsides on Lembongan! The Devilโs Tear is an impressive, somewhat dangerous, blowhole where the water can easily reach meters up into the air. This is something incredible to witness, the power of the water. However, please keep a safe distance from the edge.
9. Dreampoint Viewpoint
A second great sunset point is Dreampoint on Nusa Ceningan located next to the hotel Twilight Huts Lembongan. The old tree and swing offer a good view and during low-tide, you are able to walk down along the beach and see the fisherman getting their catch of the day.
10. Dive or Snorkel with Manta Rays
In between Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida are many well-known diving and snorkeling spots to see Manta Rays, the Mola-Mola sunfish, and dolphins! A 20-minute boat ride from Nusa Lembongan gets you to the famed Manta Bay. Get ready to dive into the water and be amazed by the size of these gentle giants. Keep in mind to respect their environment and make sure to never touch them.
11. Swings!
Okay, letโs admit it. Swings are awesome and especially when theyโre placed in the water. Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan are dotted with these so you can find them all over the islands. The Sand, Sea Breeze and Dream Beach are just a few to name that have one perched out front. Can you find any more? We also believe relaxing on these swings make up some of the best photos!
12. Yellow Bridge
An icon of these two Nusa islands is the Yellow suspension bridge that connects the two. The bridge is just wide enough for two motorbikes to cross each other and one you’ll most likely will have to cross at some point. At the location of the bridge, the tide also gets extremely low during sunset, allowing you to sometimes even walk from one side to the other.
Best Restaurants in Nusa Lembongan
Both Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan own great cafes and restaurants. Make sure to get a meal at least at one of our favorite places:
- Ginger & Jamu (best food!)
- Next Level Cafe (tastiest smoothie bowls)
- Yuyuย Resto (fresh fish)
- Bali Eco Deli (healthy)
- Sandy Bay Beach Club (cocktails)
Getting to Nusa Lembongan & Nusa Ceningan
The Nusa Islands are all very easy to get to from the Bali mainland. The main harbor lies in Sanur, the second option is Kusamba port and from both it a 25-minute trip. Note: there is no actual pier and you have to walk a tiny bit through the water to get onto the boat. Therefore, it’s best to wear shoes or sandals that are easy to take off.
From Ubud or Uluwatu, it’s a 60 to 90-minute drive (without traffic) to Sanur harbor. Additionally, there’s also a possibility to do a day tour leaving from various places in Bali (see availability for a tour to Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan here).
Boat Prices to Nusa Lembongan
A return ticket from Sanur to Nusa Lembongan, including hotel transfer, costs 500.000 IDR (~ 35 USD) per person with a minimum of two people. Or you can buy a one-way ticket per person at the harbor (without hotel transfer) for 20.000 IDR (2 USD) per person.
How to Get Around
The two islands are easily explored by scooter/motorbike (only one hour of driving to get across both!). It’s a bit slower-paced here than in Bali and, therefore, great to drive if you’re comfortable on a motorbike. You can also explore Lembongan by renting a car + driver but unfortunately for Ceningan, this is not an option as cars canโt cross the bridge.
Where to Stay in Nusa Lembongan
There is a wide selection of hotels, resorts, and hostels on Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan. Pick something that suits your budget, and keep in mind that Lembongan is a bit more lively. So, if it’s peace and quiet you’re looking for, choose for Nusa Ceningan instead!
ATMโs on Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan
Bring enough cash with you to Nusa Lembongan as the island has limited ATMs, and sometimes they tend to be empty for a few days. Visa and Mastercard are accepted to withdraw cash, however, some other cards seem to have problems. Most of the larger beach clubs and restaurants offer to pay by card. You can find two ATMs, one on this location and one on this street.
If you see more or new ones, please share them with us and the Salt in our Hair community in the comments below!
By purchasing through our links, you support us at no additional cost.
Thank you for your support. โฅ๏ธ
- Find Hotels via Booking.com
- Find a Rental Car via Rentalcars.com
- Find Flights to Bali via Skyscanner
- Get a Travel Insurance via Heymondo
- Book Tours & Attractions via GetYourGuide
- Book a Bus/Train/Transfer via 12Go
Looking for more travel information? Plan a chat with us for personalised travel advice or get an answer from the Salt in our Hair Travel Community on Facebook.
Hi went to mushroom bay and it’s a horrible beach. Dozens of boats in the sea, super small size of the beach and the small of Diesel is everywhere. Strange to list this beach as one of lembongans best beaches.
Hi Bene,
Oh that is so unfortunate! That must have changed. Thank you for the update and we’ll add a note about this.