Nusa Penida: a very beautiful island with high cliffs, turquoise sea and beautiful waterfalls. This adventurous island near Bali has become very famous in recent years. Mainly because of the beautiful photos on Instagram. But we promise you: the Balinese island of Nusa Penida is definitely worth a visit!
This place might be more beautiful than all the photos on Instagram make you believe! In this blog, you will find the 8 best attractions and things to do on Nusa Penida Island! In this travel guide, you will also find nice restaurants, excellent hotels in Ped, a nice village in Nusa Penida and some useful tips for how to enjoy this island!
8 cool things to do and experience on Nusa Penida island!
Nusa Penida is an island 30 minutes by boat from Bali. There are more than enough things to do and see on Nusa Penida. Below our favourite activities and attractions!
1. Admire the T-rex cliffs and climb to KelingKing beach!
The cliffs of KelingKing beach are the most famous picture of Nusa Penida. These high rocks look a bit like a giant dinosaur rising from the water. A long staircase descends along the cliff. From here you can take very nice pictures, or you can descend to the beach in the bay at the foot of the cliffs.
This beautiful beach on Nusa Penida is definitely worth it, but please note: the last part of the hike down does not consist of steps. You have to climb down there.
2. Cool down in the freshwater pools at Tembeling Beach
Tembeling beach is one of my favourite things to do on Nusa Penida. This fine beach on Nusa Penida, with clear freshwater pools, is hidden in the jungle. In addition to several natural pools, you will find some temples and a beautiful beach here. This place could be straight out of a Disney movie! Butterflies fly around you and the sun’s rays shine through the green canopy.
Swimming in the sea is not possible here, too many rocks and strong currents, but the freshwater pools provide enough refreshment. Also, walk to the small bay on the right where you will find hundreds of small stone towers.
Please note: the last part of the road to Tembeling Beach is very poor and can only be reached on foot or by scooter. You are on the road for about 20 minutes (10 minutes to get back up). It takes 30 minutes on foot, but you have to climb a lot on the way back. You can also take a local motorcycle taxi for 50,000 per person (€3.5).
3. Spend an afternoon chilling at beach club: The Chill Penida!
Are you in for some tanning, good music and delicious food? Then go to beach club The Chill Penida! With an infinity pool, lounge sofas, swings and a beautiful view, this is a great place. This hotspot is new in Nusa Penida. It has a good menu with more than enough tasty cocktails and tapas dishes. The staff is super friendly and on the right is a small beach.
4. Thousand Islands viewpoint and beautiful Diamond Beach!
All the way to the east of Nusa Penida you will find the beautiful Thousand Islands Viewpoint. You should not skip this attraction on Nusa Penida, not only do you have a beautiful view of dozens of islands from here. You are also close to two beautiful beaches: Ateh Beach and Diamond Beach.
Diamond Beach: the most beautiful beach in Nusa Penida
Diamond Beach is a paradise on earth! It is how every beach should be: white sand, turquoise sea and all surrounded by high cliffs and high palm trees. Yes, Diamond Beach is the most beautiful beach I have ever seen. However, getting there is not that easy. First, you have to descend an endless staircase along the cliffs. Some parts are not easy. Be careful here and take your time.
Unfortunately, the beauty of Diamond Beach has not gone unnoticed. This hot spot is one of the most popular attractions of Nusa Penida. So make sure to get here as early as possible.
The bay next to Diamond Beach is Ateh Beach. This beach is much wider and has more facilities. It is also easier to reach than Diamond Beach.
5. Go on a snorkelling day-trip with manta rays!
Many manta rays live around Nusa Penida. Especially at Manta Point and Manta Bay are many of these animals. During a snorkelling trip, you will visit Manta Point and two other beautiful places to snorkel on Nusa Penida. A perfect morning activity. We were very lucky and saw not only a manta ray but also a small whale jumping out of the water in front of our boat!
Before booking a snorkel trip, pay attention to the weather. Hard wind means big waves, this is not fun for snorkelling! Remember, you are still on Bali: good or bad weather, the boats will always go!
Tip: Do you like diving and see manta rays from a close distance? Then go diving. Ries made an awesome dive where he was lucky to witness many manta rays swimming very close around him! A good diving company is Warnakali!
6. Go down the blue stairs all the way to the water temple of Nusa Penida
In the southeast of Nusa Penida, there is a very special attraction. A long blue staircase that runs along the cliffs brings you to a water temple and small waterfall: the Peguyangan Waterfall. The water temple and waterfalls are not that big, but what is very special here is the small water pool above the rocks. To get to this place, walk all the way to the left, past the natural water sources. You can relax in the small natural pool and see the big waves hitting the rocks.
Also spectacular is the view you have from the stairs and the water temple. Dozens of meters below you can see the water hitting the rocks hard! On a good day, you can see manta rays and dolphins from the stairs.
Please note: fear of heights, skip this activity on Nusa Penida!
7. Go to Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong in the west of Nusa Penida Island
Broken Beach is a large circular bay, almost completely closed off by rocks. Only via one entrance does the water flow into the bay. A beautiful place to see! Be on time, this is a popular place.
Angel’s Billabong is close to Broken Beach. This is a natural infinity pool where you can swim in during low tide. Angel’s Billabong is currently closed, it is not known when this attraction will reopen. Do you have an update, let us know, we will adjust this text!
8. End your time on Nusa Penida with a beautiful sunset at Amok Sunset
The best sunset of Nusa Penida can be seen at Amok Sunset. This restaurant on the cliffs of Bali has a large garden and a relaxed atmosphere. From the infinity pool, you can see Nusa Ceningan, Nusa Lembongan and Bali. Cocktails are tasty and the food is delicious (but a bit pricy).
Note: to reach Amok you have to drive 2 kilometres on a dirt road. Not recommended to drive tipsy and drunk in the dark. Instead, take a taxi.
Travel Tips for Nusa Penida island: avoid the crowds!
Nusa Penida has become very popular in a short time. Today, there are dozens of day tours that drop hundreds and sometimes thousands of tourists from Bali every day. All these tourists take a fixed tour to see the highlights of Nusa Penida. The island is not resistant to all these tourists and many sights are lined up in the middle of the day. This can spoil your fun on Nusa Penida. We were on Nusa Penida in the low season but there were still long lines during the day.
Our tip for Nusa Penida: visit the most beautiful hotspots as early as possible!
However, we were not bothered by the crowds on Nusa Penida. And that was because we did not visit the island with a tour and went to the most popular hotspots as early as possible. If you are at a point of interest before 08:00 in the morning, you will often have the place all to yourself and you will be away from the big traffic jams with tourists.
Whether or not to rent a scooter on Nusa Penida island?
The roads on Nusa Penida used to be very bad. If you were not an experienced scooter or motorcyclist some parts are tricky. However, much has been done in the last year to improve the infrastructure of Nusa Penida. The main roads are now paved. We thought it was great to drive a scooter on Nusa Penida. Except for a few tricky roads (near Tembeling Beach and the Peguyangan water temple), the roads were almost perfect!
Not quite sure about your own driving style? Then just hire a car with a driver. Safety above all, right? Keep in mind that you cannot get everywhere with a car (for example Tembeling Beach). We also recommend that you also leave early by car. Otherwise, you will get stuck in a traffic jam.
The best restaurants, coffee bars and hotspots in Nusa Penida!
Slowly, the hip and healthy atmosphere of Bali starts to spread to Nusa Penida. The first vegan restaurants have already opened and there are also many nice hotspots that serve tasty smoothie bowls or sushi. Below our favorite restaurants and hotspots on Nusa Penida. Do you miss a cool coffee bar or restaurant? Let us know!
Coco Penida – drinking cool cocktails on Nusa Penida
Coco Penida is a brand-new restaurant in Ped. It is located on the beach and provides enough shade with its white umbrellas, lights and bean bags. The food is fine, but for the price, some dishes are a bit small. Especially go here for cocktails. Happy hour is from 6pm to 8 pm, perfect during sunset.
Penida Colada – vegetarian restaurant on Nusa Penida
Almost all the food on the Penida Colada menu is vegetarian. The menu also contains a whole page with vegan dishes and snacks! Team meat, right? No worries, this nice restaurant on Nusa Penida also has good food for you. Penida Colada is located on the beach, often has live music and a very sharp happy hour (from 4 pm to 6 pm). My favorite: the dragon smoothie bowl!
The Chill – lounging on Nusa Penida
I also described The Chill above. But did you know that you can also enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Chill? My favorite dish here was the cauliflower tacos! Prices are relatively low for such a nice beach club!
Warung Coconut– budget friendly food on Nusa Penida
Warung Coconut is a cheap and simple restaurant where they offer buffet-style food in Indonesian style. For a few euros, you already have a full meal. Some local dished are nasi goreng, tempeh and fish satay!
Secret Penida Café – all day brunch restaurant in Nusa Penida!
Secret Penida is a very nice pink restaurant near Ped. You can eat fresh smoothies, salads and avocado toasts here for relatively little money! Our favorite: the vegetarian spring rolls with peanut sauce! So good. This hotspot in the north of Nusa Penida is also very nicely decorated, think of cozy lights, beautiful cactuses and a pink interior!
Amok Sunset – chic food and the best sunset in Nusa Penida.
As described above, Amok is the perfect place for a sunset drink. Prices are quite high. So if you are travelling on a budget and want a drink during sunset, be there between 4 pm and 6 pm during happy hour.
Penida Kekinian – Nice local restaurant in the east of Nusa Penida
Penida Kekinian is a simple restaurant in the village of Sempilan, a lot more to the east than Ped. Food is not expensive here and if you like fish, choose the grilled tuna, so tasty!
How many days do you need for Nusa Penida island?
We recommend a stay on Nusa Penida for a minimum of three nights. The island is large and the attractions are far apart. If you have less than three days, you will have to hurry or make choices. We ourselves stayed on Nusa Penida for five days. In the morning we visited one of the above sights, in the afternoon when it was too hot we had time to relax and work in one of the nice restaurants of Nusa Penida!
No time for staying a couple of days at Nusa Penida? Book a one day-tour from Bali!
An alternative to staying a couple of days in Nusa Penida is making a day-tour from the mainland of Bali. The fast boat leaves from Sanur. However, tour operators can pick you up from Canggu, Seminyak, Nusa Dua etc. Click here for more information on visiting Nusa Penida Island by a day-tour.
Read here about the five best Nusa Penida coworking places and cafés where you can work as a digital nomad on Nusa Penida for free!
How to get to Nusa Penida from Bali?
Nusa Penida is just a 30 minutes boat ride from Sanur harbour, Bali. A single ticket costs around 150k IDR (€8.50). Don’t like negotiating with all boat companies? Then buy your ticket online and save yourself the hassle. For more information on how exactly to get to Nusa Penida, check out this blog which explains it very well. 
Thé hotspots for whole Bali can be find in our 2022 Bali hotspots blog!
Nusa Penida vs Nusa Lembongan: Which Island Do You Choose?
Which island do you choose? Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan? We visited both islands and promise you: both Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan are nice destinations in Bali. Read which island is perfect for you.
Nusa Penida vs Nusa Lembongan: which island do you choose with (small) children?
Are you travelling with small children? Then the choice for Nusa Lembongan might be a bit more pleasant. The island is much smaller, has fine beaches and plenty of beautiful resorts and hotels. The roads are good and attractions close by. Nusa Lembongan is the perfect destination for a family.
Nusa Penida vs Nusa Lembongan: which island is the most beautiful?
Both are equally beautiful, however, if we love rough nature. Therefore, we like Nusa Penida better. The island is rougher, has deep cliffs and an unspoiled landscape. The top attractions at Nusa Penida such as Keklingking beach and Diamond Beach are really breathtakingly beautiful. That does not alter the fact that Nusa Lembongan is also very beautiful with her bays and crystal blue seas.
Nusa Penida vs Nusa Lembongan: which island is the most adventurous?
Nusa Penida is a lot more adventurous than Nusa Lembongan! Almost all sights on Nusa Penida require physical effort. The roads are not as good as in Lembongan. Are you looking for adventure and do not mind driving a scooter, then choose Nusa Penida.
Nusa Penida vs Nusa Lembongan: which island do you choose if you want to tan and relax on the beach?
If you really want to relax, don’t do too much and just stare at the sea from a beach bed, choose Nusa Lembongan. You can also relax on Nusa Penida, but because of the many sights that are quite far apart, it is tempting to go out anyway. Nusa Lembongan has fine beaches, beautiful beach clubs and is not that big. Perfect for a nice holiday, some reading and relaxing!
Tip: a nice beach on Nusa Penida for swimming: Chrystal Bay
Looking for a nice beach on Nusa Penida? Then spend an afternoon relaxing on the beach at Chrystal Bay. This wide bay has snow-white sand and the water is perfect for cooling off. Please note, due to strong undercurrent, it is not always safe to swim here. Check with locals if the sea is safe for swimming.
Looking for a good Bali itinerary? Check out our blog!
Where to stay on Nusa Penida Island? Best hotels on Nusa Penida!
Nusa Penida is quite a big island and all activities are spread over the island. So, there is not really a central place from which you can quickly reach all top attractions from Nusa Penida Island.
Most restaurants, shops and dive stores are located in the northwest. Roughly between the village of Toya Pakeh (the harbour) and the village of Ped. We ourselves didn’t like Toya Pakeh so much, so we chose Ped. We can recommend Ped as a base for exploring Nusa Penida. The hotels below for Nusa Penida are therefore all around Ped!
Lovely hotels on Nusa Penida Island near Ped.
Below are three quality hotels in different budget classes for Nusa Penida. If you are travelling on a budget, choose the lowest budget option. Since, hotels in Nusa Penida a relatively cheap, you can stay at very comfortable hotels without paying too much. Below, our top picks for cosy hotels for Nusa Penida!
Putra Bali Villa €
This family hotel is centrally located in Ped. There is a swimming pool, the rooms are clean and have a private bathroom. A simple but tasty breakfast is served every morning. You sleep here from €14.50 per night (two persons).
Book now!Lodge Tentacle €€
The best thing this hotel on Nusa Penida Island has to offer is the gorgeous swimming pool! How attractive that looks! The rooms are beautiful with an outdoor bathroom! You can sleep here from €34 per night including breakfast (two persons).
Book now!Kayuna Villa €€€
This beautiful new hotel is located a few meters from the beach and near nice restaurants in Ped. The rooms are luxurious and you have the option to take a floating breakfast! You can sleep here from €54 per night including breakfast (two persons).
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A great article about Nusa Penida ! I wish I can go back there as soon as this crisis is over !
Thanks, that's so kind! Hopefully, that will be soon indeed! Stay safe!