Our 15 Favourite Things To Do On Nusa Penida [+ Map]

Nusa Penida is one of Bali's most famous and most photographed tourist destinations, with pristine white sand beaches and natural landmarks like the Kelingking Beach headland and Angel's Billabong.

But there's plenty more to discover across the island, including unique temples, beautiful beach clubs, and amazing underwater life.

Just a 30-minute ferry ride from Bali, most people visit on a day trip. But this can feel rushed, with everyone moving quickly between the same busy spots. Instead, we recommend staying for a few days to properly enjoy the best things to do on Nusa Penida, as we'll share in this guide.

Things To Do on Nusa Penida

1. Go beach hopping

With crystal-clear turquoise water and long stretches of soft white sand, Nusa Penida’s beaches are among the most beautiful in Bali. Here are some we recommend:

Diamond Beach

Named after the diamond-shaped rock that pokes out of the turquoise blue water, Diamond Beach is a stunning, untouched white sand beach.

There are no sun beds, no warungs or cafes, and no annoying vendors here - just a small slice of paradise that's perfect for relaxing in the sun. However, the waves can get pretty strong here, so swimming is prohibited.

The beach has only been accessible since 2018 when a staircase was carved into the cliffside. And with several hundred steps down to the bottom, it’s hard work getting there. But the journey is worthwhile, and the picturesque views along the way are a great distraction.

Atuh Beach

Adjacent to Diamond Beach is Atuh Beach, notable for the small limestone arch that sits just offshore.

The white sand beach has a row of sunbeds with parasols and a few tiny warungs selling cold drinks and snacks. But don't expect any fancy or modern facilities.

Like Diamond Beach, you’ll have to conquer a steep descent down a long staircase to reach the beach. But unlike its neighbour, swimming is permitted, so you can cool down after your trek. The beach sits within a sheltered bay, meaning the waves are usually pretty calm.

There are two entrances to Atuh Beach - an official entrance to the south and a local one to the north. We tried both and would recommend the official south entrance (Google Maps pin). It was a slightly longer trek down, but it's better maintained and it's easier to combine your visit with neighbouring Diamond Beach.

Watch out for the mischievous monkeys that sometimes hang out near the steps. They didn't cause us any problems, but you can never be too careful with monkeys in Bali - hold your valuables tightly!

Crystal Bay

Crystal Bay is one of the few beaches on Nusa Penida that you can actually drive down to. The white sand beach gets its name from the "crystal" clear water, which provides excellent snorkelling visibility.

Despite being very accessible, Crystal Bay doesn’t get too busy, as many day trippers opt for the more famous beaches on the east coast. Use this to your advantage and enjoy a relaxing day in paradise without the steep climb up and down.

A handful of warungs line the back of the beach and dozens of sun loungers offer shade from the sun. We paid 100,000 IDR ⓘ for two loungers, though prices seemed negotiable. Crystal Bay is one of the few west-facing beaches on Penida, so head here at the end of the day to enjoy an impressive sunset.

2. Snorkel with giant Manta Rays

Snorkelling is one of the top things to do in Bali and some of our favourite experiences have been here in the Nusa Islands. It's the only place in Bali where you can see the giant manta rays, which can be up to 9m in size.

When we first saw manta rays, we were admittedly a little frightened at their sheer size. But they were harmless and graceful as they swam beneath us. It’s something you really have to see for yourself.

They’re present year-round and often gather around Manta Bay or Manta Point, but sightings are generally more reliable in the dry season. We’ve always had luck finding them, though it's never 100% guaranteed.

While there are places on Penida where you can snorkel from the shore (such as Gamat Bay), we'd recommend taking a snorkelling boat trip so you can visit several spots.

As well as seeing manta rays, we recommend Crystal Bay with its thriving coral reefs and Toyapakeh Wall Point, where a steep coral drop-off attracts huge schools of colourful fish. At the latter stop, our boat dropped us off in the water near the wall, and we drifted with the strong current until we were picked up at the other end.

Most trips follow similar itineraries, but check reviews first, as some operators are known for not allowing much time in each spot. View all the snorkelling tours in Penida here.

Most guides are equipped with a GoPro to capture footage, which they share with you afterward. Ask if this is included or if there is an extra charge before you set off.

3. Swim in the refreshing natural pools at Tembeling Beach

Tembeling Beach and Forest is a lesser-visited destination on Nusa Penida, but makes a great alternative to the more famous and significantly busier "Instagram spots". The highlight of the beach is its unique natural pools fed by freshwater springs.

While the first pool has a small ledge for cliff jumping, the second pool was our favourite, thanks to its impressive location overlooking the ocean.

Getting down to Tembeling Beach isn't easy because it's located at the bottom of a tall cliff with a steep and narrow road down. We're experienced enough on a scooter, so we drove down, but it was incredibly difficult. Only attempt this if you're very confident. It took us around 1hr30 to visit the pools, including the drive each way.

The other options are to walk down (around 30 mins each way) or take a motorbike taxi from the locals waiting near the trail entrance. Expect to pay up to 100,000 IDR ⓘ per person for a return trip.

Tembeling Beach is only worth visiting if you plan on swimming in the natural pools. We saw a few people visiting just for the beach. But to be honest, there are far more beautiful beaches on Penida that are easier to reach (like the ones we mentioned earlier).

4. Visit Angel's Billabong and Broken Beach

Angel’s Billabong is an iconic natural infinity pool along the coast of Nusa Penida. It’s formed where the strong tides surge over the cliffside, filling a small crater created by erosion in the volcanic rocks.

When the water is still, Angel's Billabong blends seamlessly with the ocean, making it almost impossible to distinguish one from the other. But as the waves come crashing in, it's mesmerising to watch.

Next to Angel's Billabong is Pelinggih Beach, a white sand beach at the bottom of a giant hole in the ground. It’s more commonly known as Broken Beach because of the ‘broken’ hole in the side of the cove, which forms a natural land bridge. The beach is inaccessible, but you can walk around the cove and over the bridge.

Angel's Billabong and Broken Beach are right next to Manta Bay. From the cliff edge, we could spot manta rays swimming around the coast. Although they swim several metres beneath the surface, they are big enough that we could still make them out from far above.

Visiting Angels Billabong and Broken Beach is free, but you might need to pay for parking. We recommend visiting early in the morning, as it gets very busy once day trippers start arriving.

5. Enjoy the sunset from AMARTA

AMARTA is an oceanfront restaurant perfectly positioned for watching the incredible Nusa Penida sunsets.

They have dinner tables, cosy day beds on the grass, or tiered seating which offers the best view across to Nusa Lembongan and mainland Bali. We chose the tiered seating, although we spent most of our time in their small infinity pool, with a Bintang in hand. Don't forget your swimwear!

The menu doesn’t have the widest choice, but the dishes we tried were among the best things we ate on Penida. If you have a sweet tooth like us, save space for their heavenly Basque cheesecake!

Everything was reasonably priced and there was no minimum spend if you just want a sunset drink.

6. Hike down to Kelingking Beach

One of Bali's most iconic photo spots is Kelingking Beach, where a giant limestone headland resembles a T-rex with its mouth wide open. Once you’ve seen the dinosaur, you can’t unsee it!

At the bottom of the headland lies a beautiful, secluded cove with yet another untouched white sand beach.

Bali has many beaches that are difficult to reach, but this was the toughest. There are hundreds of steep and uneven steps, and sections where we had to literally climb down the cliff with a rope.

If you plan on reaching the beach, make sure you have decent footwear for climbing down rocks and take plenty of water with you. The hike took around 30 minutes each way.

If you skip the hike, you're not alone. Most people visiting Kelingking don’t venture down to the beach but simply enjoy the iconic view from the clifftop.

For this reason, the viewpoints can get extremely crowded, so it’s best to visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Alternatively, watch this reel for a secret viewpoint at Kelingking Beach away from the crowds.

7. Visit the Thousand Islands Viewpoint

Not far from Diamond Beach, you’ll find the Thousand Islands Viewpoint, which offers amazing panoramic views across the ocean and a glimpse at the handful of tiny islands sitting just offshore.

The viewpoint entrance fee is 50,000 IDR ⓘ, which we paid near the parking area. We then walked down a set of short but steep steps to reach the viewpoint, which took around 10 minutes. It was an easy walk by Penida standards, but still requires moderate fitness and mobility.

Along the route were a handful of photo opportunities, some were free while others cost 50,000 - 100,000 IDR ⓘ.

The most famous photospot is Rumah Pohon Treehouse. This cost 75,000 IDR ⓘ and had a wait time of at least an hour. When it’s your turn, you get a strict 2 minutes for photo-taking.

We opted to skip photos at Rumah Pohon, but we found a more rustic one to snap a quick photo as shown above. It didn't have the same dramatic backdrop, but it still made a cool photo and didn't have a line.

8. Relax at one of Penida’s epic beach clubs

Nusa Penida has a handful of chic and modern beach clubs, mostly found along the island's north coast. Given that Penida isn't a party island, the vibe of these clubs is always super chilled and great for a few hours relaxing by the pool. The two we recommend are Cactus and Mambo Beach Bar & Cafe.

Cactus

Cactus was our favourite beach club on Nusa Penida. This huge, modern venue has a stylish, minimal design with ocean views and an enormous infinity pool complete with floating bean bags.

But it’s not just the aesthetics we loved. The food arrived quickly and was delicious, especially the Pesto Gnocchi, which we could have eaten a thousand times over. Best of all, there was no minimum spend for any of the seating areas, so we enjoyed a big comfy daybed to ourselves.

Mambo Beach Bar & Café

Mambo Beach Bar & Cafe is in a slightly more favourable location, especially if you’re staying in the northwest part of the island (the best area to stay).

During the day, you can relax on their spacious daybeds with no minimum spend. But we preferred visiting in the evenings and enjoying the sunset from their beachfront bean bags.

The food was okay, but the vibe is what made Mambo worth visiting. After dark, the venue was illuminated by cute fairy lights, and a live band performed an excellent acoustic set.

9. Explore a unique cave temple at Goa Giri Putri

One of the attractions on Nusa Penida that surprised us most was Goa Giri Putri Temple, a larger-than-expected cave that contained a series of Hindu and Buddhist shrines. The temple is a popular pilgrimage for Balinese Hindus who believe its spring water has healing powers.

At first, the entrance seemed like a typical Balinese temple. But after making a donation (50,000 IDR ⓘ per person is recommended), we were directed to climb through a small hole in the rocks to reach the cave and shrines.

The first few metres of the passage were narrow and low, so we had to crouch down to get through. But it soon opened up into an enormous underground cavern, with a dimly lit path that continued as far as the eye can see.

We followed the path to several shrines, including the main Hindu shrine, where we were lucky enough to witness a purification ceremony taking place. It was a one-way system through the cave and out a different exit, taking us a total of 35 minutes round-trip.

Along the route, we saw stalagmites and stalactites, as well as sacred items draped in checkered cloths. Apparently, you can also see a unique species of crab that is endemic to the cave, though we didn’t spot any ourselves.

This is one of the few temples in Bali where sarong rental wasn't included in the ticket price. Instead, we hired them from a small shop in the parking area for just 10,000 IDR ⓘ.

10. Take a day trip to Nusa Lembongan

Nusa Lembongan is the smaller island neighbouring Nusa Penida. It's one of our favourite places in Bali, with a much calmer vibe and far fewer tourists.

If you plan to drive yourself around on Lembongan, you can book a boat transfers and hire scooters from one of the vendors near the Yellow Bridge (where you'll be dropped off).

However, a simpler option is to book this all-inclusive tour, which includes your boat transfers and driver for the day on Lembongan. To make life even easier, you can add hotel pick-up on Penida by messaging the provider after booking.

We recommend customising your itinerary if possible. Some of our favourite activities on Nusa Lembongan include taking a boat ride through the mangroves, beach-hopping, stand-up paddleboarding at Jungutbatu Beach, and visiting the Pontoon by Lago.

If you've been snorkelling on Penida, don't worry about doing it again on Lembongan - they will take you to most of the same stops.

11. Get a free drink for cleaning the beach

Like many beach destinations around the world, Bali struggles with trash being swept onto its picturesque beaches, whether brought down by rivers or washed ashore from the ocean. And Penida is no exception.

While locals and businesses do a great job keeping the beaches as clean as possible, they're always grateful when tourists lend a helping hand.

The #GreenPenida initiative by Penida Colada Bar and Restaurant gives you a free drink for every bag of trash you clean up from the beach. Call in to grab a trash bag, or watch this reel for more information.

Penida Colada is also one of our favourite places to eat on Nusa Penida. So make sure to stay behind after and enjoy some of the island's best dishes. You can leave with a happy conscience and a happy belly!

12. Admire the view of Teletubbies Hills

While most of the attractions we visited on Penida were located around the island's coastline, one exception was the beautiful green landscapes at Teletubbies Hill (Bukit Teletubbies).

The perfectly semi-circular hills are reminiscent of the fictional Teletubby Land in the children's TV show Teletubbies. They look best during the wet season when the grass is a vibrant green colour.

We recommend heading to this location rather than the official pinpoint on Google Maps, as it offers a wider view of the hills. It also features a small trail that leads to the top of the first hill, allowing you to get a closer look. There was no charge to visit.

We saw lots of drone shots of this viewpoint before visiting, but we have to admit that it wasn't quite as impressive from the ground. It’s worth stopping off if you're passing by, but don’t go too far out of your way.

13. Brave the blue steps down to Penguyan Waterfall

One of the more adventurous things to do on Nusa Penida is the unusual climb down to Penguyan Waterfall (also known as Guyangan Waterfall), which sits halfway down the cliffside along the island's southwest coast.

Penguyan is not a traditional waterfall, but rather a spring water source that spills out through three man-made pipes. Locals consider the water sacred and use it for purification ceremonies, which you can occasionally see happening here.

Getting to the ‘waterfall’ isn’t for the faint-hearted. A series of steep steps and ladders cling to the cliffside and wind their way down to the springs. The ladders have become iconic in their own right due to their bright blue colour.

Although the ladders seemed sturdy (ish), they were extremely steep, very narrow, and more open than we'd like at points. If you’re unfit or not very mobile, travelling with children, or have a fear of heights, it's best to skip this particular Nusa Penida attraction.

It should take around 20-30 minutes to reach the waterfall, but we lost our nerve and decided to turn back. Between the intense midday heat and Emily's fear of heights, it was a little too much for us.

Those who make it down the 700 steps will reach the sacred water source along with a series of shrines and spring water pools overlooking the ocean.

14. Try out some watersports

The calm waters along Nusa Penida’s northern coast make it a great spot for watersports and activities. The main watersports hub is at Buyuk Harbour where you’ll find a large blue jetty.

Activities offered here include jet skiing, banana boats, fly fishing, and an underwater walker where you wear an oxygenated helmet that lets you to walk on the seabed.

Between activities, there’s complimentary kayaking and snorkelling for all customers and a small café with a viewing area that’s perfect for spectators.

The prices are far lower when you pre-book online. Unfortunately, we didn't book ahead and were put off by the high in-person prices, so we just watched.

15. Go diving with mola-mola

As well as some incredible snorkelling spots, the Nusa Islands are home to a dozen or so well-known dive sites. These are mostly found along the northern coast of Nusa Penida and in the channel between the Nusa Islands.

We’ve already mentioned that this area is excellent for seeing manta rays, but it’s also one of the best places in the world to spot the ocean sunfish, also known as the mola mola.

Mola mola are more elusive, and sightings depend on the season. The best time is usually between August and October, though in some years they appear as early as June or as late as November. Even if you don’t see one, dives here are still worthwhile with the chances to spot reef sharks, turtles, eagle rays, and plenty more.

The dive centres on Nusa Penida cater to all abilities, from those with open water licences to beginners trying a discovery dive. You can view all the available dive packages here.

Nusa Penida Map

How To Get To Penida

The best way to reach Nusa Penida is by taking a ferry from Sanur Harbour.

While the journey itself is around 30-40 minutes, it typically takes closer to an hour, including waiting, boarding, and disembarking at the other end.

We recommend pre-booking a ferry using 12go.asia. Most of the boats are similar and take the same amount of time; don't be fooled by those called 'fast ferries'.

We tend to use Angel's Billabong or Semabu Hills and have always had a good experience. Although a larger, more modern boat called Einstein recently launched and looks great (we've yet to try it!).

Where To Eat on Nusa Penida

Sunny Café

Cute brunch spots are never hard to come by in Bali, and Penida is full of them too. Our favourite find was Sunny Café near Tojapakeh Harbour. It's perfect when you just arrive on the island or while waiting to leave.

The semi-outdoor café has a casual atmosphere with lots of comfy seating and amazing service. The food here is fit for foodies, especially the pancakes, which are drizzled with dragon fruit and topped with granola.

Penida Colada

Penida Colada is an aesthetic bar and restaurant located on the north coast of Penida, overlooking the ocean.

During the day, it’s a great spot to relax and enjoy some of the best food on the island. They have an extensive brunch menu, as well as burgers, salads, pastas, and some local dishes. In the evening, it becomes one of the busiest spots on the island, with a great vibe and live music most nights.

True to its name, the décor is reminiscent of a tropical beach hut with pineapples everywhere you look. Even the coconuts are shaped like pineapples!

How To Get Around on Nusa Penida

There are no online taxis like Grab or Gojek on Nusa Penida, so you'll need to either rent a scooter or hire a private driver.

The main roads are in good shape, but some of the smaller roads down to the beaches are gravelly and full of potholes - so only drive if you're very capable and have the correct licence.

For shorter journeys, your accommodation should be able to help organise a local taxi (some will even drive you themselves). Many restaurants and bars also offer hotel pick-up/drop-off if you contact them directly.

Places To Stay on Nusa Penida

The best area to stay on Nusa Penida is the northwest corner. This is where you’ll find Toyapakeh Harbour (the main harbour where the boats from Bali dock) and many of the best bars and restaurants on the island.

There are plenty of accommodation options around here, ranging from beachfront hotels to budget-friendly hostels and some incredible hilltop resorts. Here are a few we recommend:

Don’t completely rule out the idea of staying elsewhere on the island if you find a place you like. But you might be more limited on food and drink options nearby, so aim to choose places with a good on-site restaurant or cooking facilities.