Nusa Lembongan is the closest of three islands in Indonesia's Nusa Penida District, located southwest of Bali.

Apart from seaweed farming, Nusa Lembongan is well-known for water sports such as snorkeling, diving, and surfing! If you enjoy being by the beach and in the water, Nusa Lembongan is the place for you!

Here's everything you need to know about Nusa Lembongan:

Getting to Nusa Lembongan from Bali

To reach Nusa Lembongan from Bali, take a fast boat from Sanur Beach Harbour to Mushroom Bay. It's best to reserve your boat ticket ahead of time, especially during peak season. Book your fast boat tickets on 12go.Asia for the best price.

The morning is the best time to take the fast boat because the ocean is calmer. Nusa Lembongan is approximately 30 minutes by fast boat from Sanur.

When taking the fast boat to and from Nusa Lembongan, wear shorts and thongs because there is no dock, and you will have to walk in the ocean to board the boat.

This is something you should be aware of so you know what to expect! When the boat is ready for boarding, everyone heads down to the beach and is instructed to remove their shoes and place them in a crate. When the boat arrives in Nusa Penida, the crew will dump all of the shoes from the crate onto the beach, and everyone will scramble to find their shoes. I suggest wearing thongs and preferably ones that you don’t care much about.

Getting to Nusa Lembongan from Nusa Penida

You can take a boat from Nusa Penida's Toya Pakeh Harbour to the harbor next to the yellow bridge on Nusa Lembongan.

One way ticket per person costs 50,000 IDR.

There is no need to make a reservation in advance, you can buy a boat ticket at the harbor. The wait time for a boat to Nusa Lembongan can range between 15 and 45 minutes.

It only takes about 10-15 minutes by boat to get from Nusa Penida to Nusa Lembongan. During your boat ride, you will be astounded by how clear the ocean is. Even in the deepest parts of the ocean, the ocean floor and beautiful coral can be seen!

Getting around Nusa Lembongan

When you arrive at Nusa Lembongan you will most likely be approached by taxi drivers. Most taxi drivers have a small pickup truck with padded bench seating in the back.

The best way to see Nusa Lembongan is on a scooter! Because the roads are narrow and underdeveloped, there aren't many cars on the road.

Contact Agus, owner of Mesari Hut and Kelle Transport via WhatsApp at +62 81238 627 206 to hire a scooter.

It costs 50,000 IDR per day to rent a scooter and 20,000 IDR to fill it up with petrol.

No one on scooters in Nusa Lembongan wears helmets and so they don’t offer one in the rental. Don't worry, the roads are relatively quiet, and you won't be going very fast.

You can also rent a golf buggy for the day to explore the island! They are, however, much more expensive to rent than a scooter.

Depending on the company you hire from, an 8-hour day can cost up to 800,000 IDR. If you don't want to hire a scooter, this is your best alternative.

Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan

Both islands are equally beautiful, so my recommendation is to spend time on both. If you can only stay on one island, however, I recommend Nusa Lembongan. Day trips to Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan are easier from Nusa Lembongan.

Nusa Penida is ideal for those who enjoy adventure and dramatic scenery! Nusa Lembongan has more resorts, shops, restaurants, and bars and is ideal for beach relaxation.

Recommend length of time on Nusa Lembongan

I recommend having at least 3 full days to explore Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. If you decide to stay solely on Nusa Lembongan, add one more full day to your Nusa Lembongan itinerary so you have enough time to explore all three islands.

Bring enough money for your stay in Nusa Lembongan. There is only one ATM on this island, and many people have been scammed at this ATM.

Accommodation on Nusa Lembongan

Photo by: DreamBeach Lembongan

Dream Beach Huts has incredible views of Dream Beach (the best beach on Nusa Lembongan). You can view Dream Beach from the restaurant, infinity pool, and even from your room if you book the Deluxe Beach Huts Ocean View Room. 

The resort's restaurant, Cafe Pandan, has a breathtaking view of Dream Beach. Happy hour starts at 4 pm and ends at 7 pm every day where you can buy one cocktail and get one for free. Breakfast is included in the room rate with a choice of either an American or Indonesian Breakfast.

Best places to eat on Nusa Lembongan

·        Mamma Mia’s Bar and Grill (serving a mix of Asian food including Indonesian, Japanese and Thai!)

·        Cafe Pandan (If you purchase food or drinks from Cafe Pandan you can swim in their infinity pool overlooking Dream Beach for free)

·        Indiana Kenanga Restaurant (Indiana Kenanga is a beachfront boutique hotel with an excellent restaurant! The restaurant serves Indonesian, Thai, and Western cuisine. The meal prices are reasonable given the restaurant's location and quality)

·        Oishii Bar and Grill (Oishii Bar & Grill serves delectable Japanese cuisine and cocktails. They have a large menu selection, so even if you don't like Japanese, you'll be able to find something you want to eat).

Here are the 10 Things to do on Nusa Lembongan:

1. Snorkel with the Manta Rays

Snorkeling is one of the best activities you can do on the Nusa Islands. There are some incredible snorkel spots where you will see many tropical fish, colorful coral, and even Manta Rays!

The boat ride to Manta Bay can be rough depending on the sea conditions; if you are prone to motion sickness, I recommend taking seasick tablets.

Photo by: Lembongan Tour Package

2. Dream Beach

The popular swings overlooking Dream Beach can be found to the right of the resort before entering Cafe Pandan.

Dream Beach is not suitable for swimming, but it is ideal for dipping your toes in the water. If you want to swim here, it's best to stay in the center and avoid the rocky edges. But be cautious because there may be strong currents here!

Photo by: alikainwanderlust

3. Devil’s Tears

Devil's Tears, a popular tourist destination on Nusa Lembongan, is only a one-minute scooter ride or a five-minute walk from Dream Beach.

Devil's Tears is a great spot to watch the waves crash against the cliffs and over rocky coves! It's also a fantastic spot to watch the sunset!

Natural rock pools can be found if you follow the path around the cliff edge.

Photo by: alikainwanderlus

4. Mushroom Bay

Mushroom Bay Beach is a perfect spot to relax, or if you want to go on an adventure, there are plenty of tour operators nearby that offer snorkeling tours and water sports activities. 

Le Nusa Beach Club is located along Mushroom Bay Beach and is a great place to hang out for the day.

Since Mushroom Bay is a harbor, swimming at this beach may not be ideal due to the large number of boats floating in the water close to the shoreline.

Photo by: alikainwanderlust

5. Hidden Beach

Hidden Beach is the best beach for swimming in Nusa Lembongan. There are no boats in the water and the ocean is calmer. With its white sand, blue and green tropical waters, and stunning scenery, this beach will be your own private paradise.

Although it is a little difficult to find, which is why the name of this beach is so appropriate, you will almost certainly have this beach to yourself.

The best part about this beach is that there are no restaurants or shops, so you don't need to buy anything to enjoy it.

Photo by: alikainwanderlust 

6. Pantai Pasir Putih

Pasir Beach has soft white sand, warm tropical waters, and coconut palm trees. It’s a great place for photos as it has many photo props such as swings and booths etc. Relax under the coconut palm trees, take in the scenery, and enjoy the refreshing sea breeze!

Photo by: alikainwanderlust

7. Mangrove Boat Tour

If you've never done a Mangrove Boat Tour before, this would be an interesting thing to do while visiting Nusa Lembongan. You can also choose to kayak through the mangroves if you prefer!

The boat ride through the mangroves is pleasant, with only the peaceful sounds of nature. Keep an eye out for crabs, sea slugs, urchins, and fish along the mangroves. If you're lucky, you might even see a turtle! The boat tour lasts between 20 and 30 minutes.

Photo by: alikainwanderlust

8. Panorama Point

Panorama Point is a great spot for a panoramic view of Jungut Batu Beach! On a clear day, you'll be able to see the mountains in the distance!

Photo by: saraysanfer

9. Sunset Point

Sunset Point is the best place in Nusa Lembongan to watch the sunset. Make sure to check the time of the sunset before you go so you can be there before the sun goes down.

There are no signs indicating that you have arrived at Sunset Point, but you will most likely notice some scooters parked in a small dirt area where Google Maps directs you. Walk towards the ocean onto the rocky cliffs and find a place to sit to watch the sunset.

Photo by: alikainwanderlust

10. Day trip to Nusa Ceningan

A day trip to Nusa Ceningan is a must-do during your stay in Nusa Lembongan. Nusa Ceningan is connected to Nusa Lembongan by the famous yellow bridge. There are some incredible sights to check out and places to visit in Nusa Ceningan. Since Nusa Ceningan is a small island, you could easily see it in a day.

Photo by: alikainwanderlust

If you're looking for somewhere to relax with your family or friends, Nusa Lembongan is the place for you!