Our 8 Favourite Day Trips From Nusa Dua, Bali

Nusa Dua is home to some of Bali's most pristine white sand beaches, world-class luxury hotels, and beautifully designed high-end restaurants. But once you step outside the resort gates, you'll realise there is a much more diverse side of Bali waiting to be explored.

From the stunning beaches of Uluwatu and dramatic viewpoints of Nusa Penida to the iconic temples and lush rice terraces around Ubud, there's no shortage of fantastic experiences within a couple of hours’ drive of Nusa Dua.

In this guide, we've shared some of our favourite day trips from Nusa Dua based on our own experiences, along with practical tips on how to get there and suggested itineraries to help you make the most of each journey.

1. Explore the cultural gems of Ubud

Nusa Dua was built primarily as a luxury resort area, which unfortunately means it's a little lacking in authentic Balinese culture. That's why we'd definitely recommend taking a day trip to the island's spiritual, artistic, and cultural hub of Ubud.

Located right in the heart of the island, Ubud is packed with busy art markets, historic Balinese palaces, and local craft studios, while lush rice terraces, dense jungles, and ancient temples sit just a short distance away.

There's so much to do around Ubud that we really think it deserves a longer stay if your itinerary allows. But if you're limited on time, you can still enjoy some of the main highlights on a day trip from Nusa Dua.

Suggested day trip itinerary

With just one day to see the best of Ubud, we'd recommend an itinerary like this:

• Take part in a purification ceremony at Pura Tirta Empul

• Visit the scenic Tegallalang Rice Terraces

• See wild monkeys at the Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest

• Wander around central Ubud for markets, historic palaces, and cute cafes

• Take a sunset stroll along the Campuhan Ridge Walk or Sweet Orange Trail

• Watch a traditional dance performance at Ubud Palace (book here)

How to get from Nusa Dua to Ubud

Ubud is located around 40km from Nusa Dua, which can take 1hr15-1hr30 by car, depending on traffic. If you're starting with the rural attractions of northern Ubud (temples and rice terraces), add an extra 15-20 minutes to this.

If you're following the itinerary we've suggested above, you can drive yourself or hire a private driver for the day. But if you only want to visit Ubud Town Centre (for the markets, palaces, and monkey forest), you can take a taxi or Grab (an online taxi) straight there and back.

2. Enjoy volcano views in Kintamani

Most people know Kintamani as the home of Mount Batur, Bali’s second-largest volcano. Summiting the volcanic peak for sunrise is one of the top activities in Bali, which you can do in either an early morning hike or a 4WD jeep tour. We've done both and enjoyed each in its own right.

Hiking Mount Batur for sunrise requires a very early start from south Bali, and many people choose to head back to their accommodation in Nusa Dua straight after. But, if you're not too tired, we definitely think it's worth sticking around to enjoy some of Kintamani's other highlights.

There’s so much more to see and do in this scenic mountainous region. Some of our other favourite things to do are visiting the amazing cafes perched along the volcanic crater edge and relaxing in the natural hot springs heated deep below the surface.

Suggested day trip itinerary

Here’s a recommended day trip itinerary:

• Watch the sunrise from Mount Batur (hiking or jeep tour)

• Enjoy a relaxing soak in Toya Bungkah or Cinze Hot Springs

• Visit the pretty floating temple, Pura Segara Ulun Danu Batur

• Enjoy lunch with a view at one of Kintamani's beautiful cafes

• Learn about Bali's volcanic landscapes at the Batur Geopark Museum

How to get from Nusa Dua to Kintamani

Kintamani is over 70km from Nusa Dua, which typically takes around 2 hours by car. We'd suggest booking a private driver for the day. The sunrise hike at Mount Batur has to be done with a local guide. A private driver can arrange this for you, or you can pre-book it here.

The hike took us around 2 hours, so you’ll need to leave Nusa Dua around 1-1:30am to ensure you’re at the top in time. Even if you skip the sunrise trip up Mount Batur, we think Kintamani is still worth a day out for nature lovers.

3. Take the kids to Trans Studio Theme Park

Trans Studio is one of the best family-friendly day trips from Nusa Dua, especially on a drizzly day during Bali's rainy season. Located on the upper floors of a mall, it's a massive indoor theme park with a huge range of exciting rides and attractions.

The park has a full-sized go-kart track, river rapids, a Ferris wheel, a zombie maze, and even a roller coaster sticking out of the roof. Some of the more unique attractions include a Titanic Zone with a replica of the infamous ship, a Ninja Warrior-inspired obstacle course, and indoor skydiving.

There's more than enough to do to fill an entire day here, including several shows and parades. We were super impressed by the stunt show, which had epic motorbike tricks and lots of fire! We spent around 6-7 hours at the park and just about managed to do everything.

How to get from Nusa Dua to Trans Studio

Trans Studio Mall is around a 40-minute drive from Nusa Dua, depending on traffic (quicker if you take the toll road). It's best to book a taxi through your hotel or order a Grab/Gojek (online taxis) rather than hiring a driver.

While the mall itself is open until 10pm, the theme park is only open until 6pm on weekdays and 7pm on weekends. Ticket prices at the door start at 600,000 IDR ⓘ per adult (foreigners), but are cheaper if you book online.

4. Hit the slides at Waterbom Water Park

Waterbom is Bali’s biggest and best water park, packed with thrilling water rides, from near-vertical drops to twisting tube slides. The huge park also has a lazy river, several relaxation pools, and fun water play areas for younger kids.

If you’re an adrenaline seeker, the Climax is the scariest ride at Waterbom. You wait in a small capsule until a trap door swings open and drops you onto the slide at full speed. So far, we’ve been too scared to try it, but maybe next time!

Our favourite ride at the park is Boomerang, a two-person tube slide that sends you hurtling down a steep drop before launching you up an almost vertical wall and back down into the splash pool below.

Whether you’re travelling as a family, a couple, or a group of friends, the park is a great day out for everyone and every occasion. We even spent Christmas Day here with friends one year!

How to get from Nusa Dua to Waterbom

Waterbom is located in Kuta, around a 30 minute drive from Nusa Dua, depending on traffic. If you don't have your own scooter, we recommend booking a taxi or taking a Grab or Gojek to get there.

Waterbom closes at 6pm, so we try to arrive early and make the most of our tickets. There are plenty of restaurants and a swim-up bar to stay fuelled all day. We always buy tickets online, which is usually cheaper than at the gate.

5. Discover the iconic sights of Nusa Penida

Nusa Penida is one of Bali’s most picturesque destinations, known for its pristine white sand bays and dramatic, rugged coastline. Located just a short ferry ride from the mainland, the famous island is one of the top day trips from Nusa Dua.

A day trip to Penida mostly consists of jumping between iconic sights and viewpoints, from the T-Rex-shaped headland at Kelingking Beach to the Instagram-famous Rumah Pohon Treehouse and huge tidal infinity pool at Angels Billabong.

But what most people don't realise is just how huge the island really is - it's the biggest of the Nusa Islands and almost twice the size of the Bukit Peninsula. With just one day here, it’s best to choose either the east or the west side of the island to explore.

Suggested day trip itineraries

Here's what you can see on each side of the island:

• East Penida – This is our favourite side as it’s a little quieter. It’s home to Goa Giri Putri (a huge underground temple) and several beautiful beaches, including Diamond Beach and Atuh Beach. You can also stop by the new Cactus Beach Club, which is our new favourite discovery.
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• West Penida – This is where the island's most iconic sites are, including Kelingking Beach, Broken Beach, and Angels Billabong. You can find some hidden gems over here, but most day-trippers stick with the highlights.

Another of our favourite things to do on Penida is a snorkelling tour. The Nusa Islands are home to some of the most incredible snorkelling spots we’ve ever visited, with huge schools of colourful fish and giant Manta Rays. But you'll need to sacrifice some land attractions to squeeze in snorkelling too.

How to get from Nusa Dua to Nusa Penida

The ferry to Nusa Penida departs from Sanur Harbour, about a 30-45 minute drive from Nusa Dua via the Mandara Toll Road. The ferry takes 30 minutes and can be booked here. For day trips, we recommend catching a 7:30-8am ferry there and a 5pm return.

While you can take a Grab/Gojek to Sanur, the harbour doesn't allow online taxis to pick up, so you'll need to pre-arrange a taxi for the return or risk negotiating with pushy local drivers.

To get around on Penida, most people book a private driver who meets you when you arrive. We prefer to hire a scooter from Doel Rental near the harbour and drive ourselves, but the roads on Penida aren't the best, so we'd only recommend this for experienced drivers.

If you'd rather avoid booking everything separately, you can also book an all-inclusive Nusa Penida day trip, which includes everything from your morning hotel pick-up to evening drop-off back in Nusa Dua. It's more expensive, but hassle-free.

6. Enjoy the quiet beaches of Nusa Lembongan

Right next to Nusa Penida is the much smaller island of Nusa Lembongan. This pretty little island may not have as many iconic sights, but it is more easygoing, with accessible white sand beaches and lots of chilled oceanfront cafes and bars.

Lembongan is our favourite spot for a quiet escape from the mainland crowds. You'll often find us hanging out on Jungutbatu Beach, enjoying drinks on the floating pontoon bar, or relaxing at one of Lembongan’s beautiful beach clubs.

With its small size, it’s also easy to explore the island’s main sights and attractions in a day, including the lush mangrove forest and several scenic hidden bays.

Lembongan is connected to the even smaller Nusa Ceningan via its famous yellow bridge. You can cross the bridge on foot or by scooter to see the bright turquoise waters of the Blue Lagoon, enjoy cliff jumping spots, or visit Ceningan’s several luxury beach clubs.

Suggested day trip itinerary

With just one day, we'd suggest an itinerary like this:

• Take a short boat ride through Lembongan's mangrove forests

• Snorkel with colourful tropical fish at Mangrove Point

• Enjoy brunch on the sand at Jungutbatu Beach

• See the huge crashing waves at Devils Tear

• Visit the pretty Dream Beach

• Cross the Yellow Bridge and see local seaweed farmers

• Snap a photo of the stunning Blue Lagoon on Nusa Ceningan

How to get from Nusa Dua to Nusa Lembongan

As with Penida, you’ll need to catch a ferry from Sanur Harbour. You can book ferry tickets here. On Lembongan, the ferries drop off/pick up at Jungutbatu Beach, the island’s longest and most popular beach.

Hiring drivers in Nusa Lembongan is less common than elsewhere in Bali, as the roads aren’t made for cars. The best way to get around is to rent a scooter or a buggy and drive yourself. The island is small and easy to navigate.

If you don’t want to drive yourself, it may be better to pre-book a full-day guided tour from Bali, which includes transfers from Nusa Dua, the ferries, and transport on Lembongan.

7. Visit Bedugul & the scenic central highlands

Deep in Bali’s central highlands, Bedugul is one of the longer day trips from Nusa Dua, but worth it for a glimpse into the island's more peaceful and natural side. The cooler, mountainous region is known for its stunning landscapes and for being home to three of Bali’s four major lakes.

Bedugul’s most iconic attraction is Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, also known as the floating temple due to the way its pagodas appear to magically float on the surface of Lake Beratan.

The temple complex itself is a bit too touristy for us, filled with photo spots and kids' attractions. Instead, we like to hire a traditional rowing boat to explore the lake and temple, which is a much more peaceful and unique experience.

Other than the iconic temple, Bedugul has plenty to offer for nature lovers, from strawberry picking at local farms and exploring the beautiful Botanic Gardens to enjoying picturesque restaurants overlooking the lakes.

Suggested day trip itinerary

Here's what we would do with one day in Bedugul:

• Take a boat ride on Lake Beratan to see the famous floating temple

• Snap a photo at Handara Gate (a good alternative to the Gates of Heaven)

• Have a picnic lunch in a giant greenhouse at Rumah Gemuk

• Go strawberry picking at a local farm in Bedugul Village

• Meet friendly goats, donkeys, and llamas at Bali Farm House

• OR explore Bali Botanic Garden, the largest in Indonesia

How to get from Nusa Dua to Bedugul

The journey from Nusa Dua to Bedugul takes roughly 2 hours, depending on traffic. Being a well-spread-out, rural region, we'd recommend either hiring a scooter or booking a private driver for the day.

Along the route from Bedugul to Nusa Dua are two lovely local restaurants that we often stop at for dinner on the way back from a day trip, Warung Bubble and Warung Dedari.

8. Go beach-hopping around Uluwatu & the Bukit Peninsula

While Nusa Dua has some great family-friendly beaches, there are dozens of other gorgeous beaches nearby that are also worth exploring. Uluwatu sits on the opposite side of the Bukit Peninsula and is one of the easiest and most convenient day trips from Nusa Dua for beach lovers.

From accessible, swim-friendly beaches and peaceful hidden bays to world-class surf breaks and luxurious beach clubs, there’s plenty to explore along the peninsula's coastline.

You can also break up a beach day with a visit the GWK Culture Park, where you can go inside Indonesia's tallest statue, or watch the famous Kecak dance and fire show at Uluwatu Temple.

Here are a few beaches we recommend visiting :

How to get from Nusa Dua to the Bukit Peninsula

Nusa Dua is located in the northeast of the Bukit, so it's easy to explore the rest of the peninsula from here. Some beaches are located as little as a 15-20 min drive away, while central Uluwatu is roughly a 30-40 minute drive away.

If, like us, you enjoy exploring a few different beaches and attractions in one day, we recommend either hiring a scooter or booking a private driver to take you around.

But if you're only visiting one beach or beach club for the day, it may be worth taking a taxi instead. But keep in mind that some of the beaches on the peninsula (such as Pandawa and Melasti) don't allow online taxis to pick up, so you'll need to negotiate with local drivers instead.