How to visit Nusa Penida from Bali
One of the first things we wondered about when deciding to visit Nusa Penida was how to get there from Bali. As mentioned earlier, if you’re joining an organized tour, you won’t need to worry about transportation, as it will be included in the package.
But if you’re planning to visit Nusa Penida on your own, you’ll need to arrange your boat transfer. You can catch a boat from two main ports in Bali: Sanur or Padang Bai. If you’re already on Nusa Lembongan, it’s even easier. Boats frequently depart from the yellow bridge, and the short ride to Nusa Penida takes just about 10 minutes.
💡 My recommendation is to spend at least one night in Nusa Penida, but if you don’t have time and you are going during the day, you can book this organized day trip to the island. If you are spending more days on the island, don’t miss my article about where to stay in Nusa Penida for the best hotels and accommodation tips.
Visit Nusa Penida from Sanur
Sanur is the main port where the tourists take the boat to go to Nusa Penida. This port is located in the southeast zone of Bali, just to the right of Denpasar. It is the most popular option because it is nearer to the majority of tourist points in Bali (Uluwatu, Canggu, and Ubud), whereas Padang Bai is something more distant. In addition, there are several companies that offer this service, and there is a greater variety of schedules.
To get to Sanur, the easiest way is to take a cab from wherever you are. To make this transfer, I recommend the apps Grab or Gojek (Uber type), as they will be cheaper.
Once you arrive at the port, you will be approached by many vendors to offer you the tickets to Nusa Penida, or you can also go yourself to one of the ticket offices. If you want to take it already organized or if you travel in high season, I recommend buying your tickets on 12Go Asia, a totally reliable website to book transfers in Asia. I have used it on several occasions, and it has worked well. In addition, the price is similar to what you can get if you buy them at the same port.
Schedules may vary, but there are usually boats at 8:00 a.m, 8:30 a.m, 9:00 a.m, 10:30 a.m, and 4:00 p.m or 5:00 p.m. My advice is to go first thing in the morning. The round trip costs around 25€, depending on the company, the schedule, and the port you are going to. It takes about 40 minutes to get there.
Visit Nusa Penida from Padang Bai
Another way to get to Nusa Penida is to take the public ferry from Padang Bai, a town on the eastern side of Bali. Although it’s further from the main tourist spots than Sanur, the ferry is a more affordable option and can be a convenient choice depending on your travel plans. The ferry ride itself takes about an hour and a half since it’s slower than the speedboats. One advantage of this option is that you can bring your motorcycle with you, which is helpful if you want to explore Nusa Penida on your own.
It’s important to note that the ferry doesn’t have a fixed schedule, so you’ll need to go to the port early in the morning to find out when it departs. You can also check the 12Go Asia platform to see if any motorboats are available from Padang Bai to Nusa Penida, as sometimes there are quicker alternatives.
How to get to Nusa Penida from Lombok or the Gili Islands
If your travel itinerary in Indonesia takes you beyond Bali, it might be more convenient to reach Nusa Penida from Lombok or the Gili Islands. Depending on your itinerary, starting your journey to Nusa Penida from these locations could save time and make your trip smoother.
Going to Nusa Penida from Lombok
If your next stop after visiting Lombok is Nusa Penida, you can go directly from one island to the other. Ferries from Lombok to Nusa Penida depart from the port of Bangsal. In principle, the journey takes about 2 hours, but it always depends on the boat, weather, and sea conditions.
There are several companies offering this route, and, as always, I recommend the website 12Go Asia to check the different options.
Going to Nusa Penida from the Gili Islands
If you’re in the Gili Islands and planning to visit Nusa Penida, you can take a boat from Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, or Gili Air directly to Nusa Penida. Several schedules are available, but be aware that many boat services stop at multiple islands before reaching Nusa Penida. For instance, boats departing from Gili Trawangan often stop at Gili Air before continuing to Nusa Penida.
Another option is to travel from one of the Gili Islands to Nusa Lembongan and then take a boat from there to Nusa Penida.
I hope this article on how to get to Nusa Penida from Bali and elsewhere has been very useful for you to plan your visit to this amazing island.
