The Best Things to do in Nusa Penida, Indonesia

The 10 Best Things to do in Nusa Penida

Nusa Penida is an incredibly beautiful place and offers some amazing photo opportunities. The island’s coastline is insane, unlike anything we have ever seen, and is located only 45 minutes from Bali. The beauty of this island is unparalleled to most places in the world; white sand beaches, unique rock formations, and cliff views made famous on Instagram.

Whether coming on a day tour or independently, we got you covered with the top things to do in Nusa Penida, where to stay, and how to get around. Don’t miss the top 10 things to see and do during your visit to Nusa Penida!

Don’t forget to check out our web story: The 10 Best Things to do in Nusa Penida

Content and photographs provided by Yana Kogan and Timon.

Nusa Penida Travel Basics

How to Visit Nusa Penida

Nusa Penida Day Tour

The most popular choice for visiting Nusa Penida is by organized tour. Tours include a driver, lunch, fast boat ferry rides, and stops at the four popular locations: Kelingking Beach, Angel’s Billabong, Broken Beach, and Crystal Bay. Snorkeling can be added, with a boat trip to Manta Point, to swim with the manta rays.

Day trips typically depart from Sanur at 8 am, returning around 5 or 6 pm. A private Nusa Penida tour starts at 700k IDR per person with a minimum of two people. There are lots of tour providers and drivers. At the time of writing, we had an excellent driver who enjoyed photography and had good prices, you can contact Kadek at +62 858-5894-9197. Several friends went on a tour with him and really loved it.

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Go Independently to Nusa Penida

Things to do in Nusa Penida: Kelingking Beach
Sunset at Kelingking Beach Viewpoint

Going to Nusa Penida independently has several advantages. By joining a day tour, all the groups go to the same four locations. This makes each of those places extremely busy between 10 am and 3 pm. Especially during the peak tourist season in July and August. Outside of those times, it gets much quieter.

If you are into photography or just want a more peaceful way to explore Nusa Penida, going independently is the answer. When planning to visit the four main attractions you can stay one night and rent a scooter for two days. If visiting Atuh Beach, stay for 3 or 4 nights. The driving is slower and longer than expected on Penida.

In some cases, especially in Angel’s Billabong/Broken Beach, the road conditions are very poor. Driving yourself in Penida should only be done by confident drivers. Upon arrival, at every port, it is possible to rent a scooter for 60,000 IDR per day. We suggest breaking up the most popular sites over separate days, going before 10 am and after 3 pm.

During the day, find a beach to relax on. Helllooo Kelingking Beach…but watch out for high tide. Don’t miss the sunset at the Kelingking viewpoint!


ATMs on Nusa Penida

Things to do in Nusa Penida: Broken Beach
Aerial view of Broken Beach

ATMs are only located in the harbor towns of Toya Pakeh and Batununggul. But to be safe, bring cash with you.


How to Get to Nusa Penida

From Sanur Beach

The Sanur ferry terminal, located just north of Sanur Beach, is the hub for boats departing from Bali. Fast boat companies line up and down the beach with groups en route to locations, such as the Gili Islands, Lombok, Lembongan, or Penida. Several fast boats go directly to Nusa Penida.

Boats depart between 8 am and 4 pm, and the ride takes 45 minutes. At the time of writing, Perama Fast Boat or Maruti Express both cost 150k IDR each way. Booking ahead or through a travel agent/hotel will cost more, up to 300K each way. It is best to arrive at the ferry terminal at 7 am and book on your own.


From Nusa Lembongan

Things to do in Nusa Penida: Private Cove
A private cove on Nusa Penida

Boats depart several times daily between Lembongan and Penida from beneath the yellow bridge. They do not have set times and leave once the boat is full. The ride takes 10 minutes. We were told by many companies the boat from Lembongan to Penida is very expensive, upwards of 300k.

We were able to take a snorkel trip from Lembongan to Manta Bay and the surrounding areas. They agreed to drop us off at Toya Pakeh port on Penida free of charge. Win-win! For more on Nusa Lembongan, check out our travel guide.


Nusa Penida Hotels – Where to Stay

Most guesthouses and homestays are located in the northwest corner of Nusa Penida. The main cluster of accommodation is near the port of Toya Pakeh, Crystal Bay, and the town of Ped on the north coast. There is no accommodation on the entire south coast of Nusa Penida. We searched for it and could not find anywhere to stay. Atuh Beach has only 1 or 2 VERY basic places to stay. It is best to plan your nightly accommodation for at least one day ahead.

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Budget Accommodation in Nusa Penida ($10 – $15 USD)

Krisna Guesthouse – 240k IDR for a private room and a shared pool near Toya Pakeh.

Manta Cottages with Sea View – 275k IDR for a private room including breakfast, the closest place to stay on a budget from Atuh Beach (35 minutes).


Mid-Range Accommodation in Nusa Penida ($40 – $55 USD)

Things to do in Nusa Penida: Atuh Beach
The rocky coastline at Atuh Beach

Namaste Bungalows – 620k IDR for a private bungalow with breakfast included near Crystal Bay.

WK Gamat Creative Resort – Grab a one-bedroom villa with breakfast and a pool for 640k IDR.

Rumah Pohon Tree House – While basic accommodation, for 600k IDR these views cannot be beaten. Read all about booking a room here!

Crystal Bay Villa & Residence – A beautiful one-bedroom villa with breakfast is 775k IDR within walking distance to the beach.


Top 10 Things to Do in Nusa Penida

1. Kelingking Beach

Kelingking Beach: Sunset
The trail leading down to Kelingking Beach at sunset

Kelingking Beach is the iconic attraction on Nusa Penida. It became famous on Instagram because of this land formation and picture-perfect beach. The views are stunning and the peninsula shaped like T-rex is unlike anything we have ever seen. Massive cliffs descend down to white sand on Kelingking Beach and are definitely worth the trek down.

While many tour agencies and people will say it is too dangerous to walk down to the beach, we found it to be a very straightforward hike. However, if afraid of heights this can be extremely challenging as you need to depend on bamboo stairs and steps the entire way down. It takes 30-40 minutes each way.

The viewpoint gets crowded with day tours mid-day, so it is better to beat the rush and come before 11 am or wait until after 4 pm. The road to Kelingking is paved and very manageable. This is an excellent sunset spot as well.

Entry Cost: Parking 10,000 IDR


2. Angel’s Billabong

Angels Billabong
Peace and silence at Angel’s Billabong

Don’t forget your swimsuit to go for a dip in this amazing tide pool. This might be one of the worst roads in Indonesia getting here, but they are paving sections of the road so it is quickly improving.

A visit to the tide pool is best during low tide. Waves crash over the side of the cliff during high tide, filling up the tidal pool, and making it unsafe to swim. At low tide, it is a shallow baby pool. Broken Beach is a 10-minute walk up from Angel’s Billabong. It is best to come before 10 am or after 2 pm when most of the day tours are at Kelingking Beach.

Entry Cost: Parking 5,000 IDR for both Angel’s Billabong and Broken Beach

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3. Broken Beach

Things to do in Nusa Penida: Broken Beach Aerial
Aerial View of the Broken Beach

After a swim in Angels Billabong, a short walk to Broken Beach is one of the highlights of Penida. There is a massive archway from the ocean into this bay, which has perfectly clear water and beautiful coral. It is possible to walk across the archway to get a different view. There is no access down to the beach, but the pictures are amazing!

Things to do in Nusa Penida: Broken Beach Edge
View from the edge of the Broken Beach

Entry Cost: Parking 5,000 IDR for both Angel’s Billabong and Broken Beach


4. Crystal Bay

Things to do in Nusa Penida: Crystal Bay
Snorkeling boats in Crystal Bay

Located on the western coast of Penida, Crystal Bay is home to high-end beach resorts and is known for snorkeling. Snorkel trips depart from Crystal Bay, with stops typically at Manta Point and Gamat Bay. Snorkel trips cost around 400k – 500k IDR per person. Several beachfront bungalows are available at Crystal Bay starting from 500k IDR per night. Although this is a popular spot on tours, the beach is underwhelming.

Things to do in Nusa Penida: Crystal Bay Hindu Temple
Island with a Hindu Temple in Crystal Bay

Entry Cost: Free


5. Manta Point

Things to do in Nusa Penida: Manta Point
A manta ray swimming at Manta Point

Manta Rays are in Nusa Penida year-round. During the peak season between June and October, there could be dozens in the water at the same time. There are two ways to get in the water to Manta Point, joining a snorkel trip or scuba dive.

A snorkel trip to Manta Point costs around 130k IDR. We were able to find a package that included Manta Point, Crystal Bay, and the underwater Buddha Statues for 150k. Scuba diving in Nusa Penida is another option. There are three dive shops on Penida on the north coast: Sanctum Dive ShopOctopus Dive, and Blue Corner Dive. Diving starts from 500k IDR per dive.


6. Banah Cliff

Things to do in Nusa Penida: Banah Clilff
Scenic coastline views from Banah Cliff

A quiet stop that you may have all to yourself, Banah Cliff has two panoramic viewpoints. Small clearings beside shrubs lead to straight vertical drops over 100 m high cliffs. The road is good until the last few kilometers.

Entry Cost: Free

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7. Tembeling Beach and Natural Pools

Things to do in Nusa Penida: Tembelling Beach
Sunset at Tembeling Beach. Photo by the Kuyjalan team.

Located near Banah, this road narrows to a small rocky path. While it technically is driveable by scooter to the end, only those extremely confident in driving should attempt it. For the rest of us, walk around 30 minutes down to the bottom of the forest where there are two natural swimming pools, one for women and one for men. There is also access to the rocky beach.

Entry Cost: Free


8. Peguyangan Waterfall

Things to do in Nusa Penida: Peguyangan
Small tide pools at Peguyangan

Hundreds of steps lead down to a temple on the side of a cliff, located just a few meters above the crashing waves. Waterfalls cascade down the cliff and around the ocean temple creating several waterfalls directly into the sea. The walk down is not for the faint-hearted or those scared of heights. There are two natural pools for bathing at the bottom.

Entry Cost: Parking 5,000 IDR


9. Atuh Beach

Things to do in Nusa Penida: Atuh Beach Coastline
Coastal views from the Atuh Beach lookout

Atuh is far from everything else, on the east corner of Penida. The panoramic views from the top of the cliffs are some of the best in Penida. The beach is gorgeous but very rocky. It is good for snorkeling at high tide, but at low tide, the beach is not accessible for swimming or snorkeling.

There are several picture-perfect rock formations at this beach. This is the perfect sunrise spot, although, with limited accommodation in the area, it is not the best place to stay for budget travelers.

Things to do in Nusa Penida: Atuh Beach Rock
The landmark rock at Atuh Beach

Entry Cost: Parking 10,000 IDR


10. Raja Lima Viewpoint / Rumah Pohon Molenteng “The Treehouse”, Atuh Beach

Things to do in Nusa Penida: Atuh Treehouse
The famous treehouses by Atuh Beach. Photo by Jason Reynolds.

When making it all the way out to Atuh Beach, there are a few viewpoints to check out, and Raja Lima viewpoint is the best one. It is located down at the bottom of the hill at the “treehouses”. It costs $40 USD to stay the night, while the views are amazing, the huts are actually very basic. Not a bad place to wake up to though!

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That’s it – have a wonderful time on the beautiful island of Nusa Penida!


Planning a trip to Indonesia? Check out our favorite books and travel guides!


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About the Author:

  • Yana and Timon

    Yana & Timon met at college in Boston, Massachusetts. After graduating, they started their professional careers. They moved to San Francisco in 2010, a city they loved living in for nearly six years.

    After working and saving up money for several years, they quit their jobs and set off on an adventure of a lifetime. They started living a nomadic lifestyle in December 2015 and have not looked back since.

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