If you’re searching for a quieter, remote form of paradise in Bali, you need to jump on a boat and travel 30 minutes southeast to the three Nusa Islands. And if Lembongan is your main choice, this complete guide will tell you everything about the 8 unmissable things to do in Nusa Lembongan, Bali!
Nusa Lembongan is one of the three Nusa islands off the Southeast coast of Bali.
Known for its turquoise waters and soft white sand, Nusa Lembongan Bali sets the perfect island vibe. Even though it’s the most touristic of the three islands, it still has only a fraction of the crowds you find on Bali mainland and makes for the perfect island getaway.
Nusa Penida is the biggest, Nusa Ceningan the smallest and Nusa Lembongan the most popular, but each is worth a visit in its own right.
Luckily, it’s very easy to travel between all three with boat transfers!
Before we get started, here’s a useful Nusa Lembongan map that showcases all the places and spots I’ll be talking about below. Remember to save it for later!
If you’re looking for complete, in-depth guides for the other two Nusa Islands, here they are:
And here’s a thorough guide on all 3 Nusa Islands that includes how to get there, how to get around the islands, where to eat, where to sleep and more:
Visiting Nusa Lembongan island is a great way to relax, unwind, sunbathe and swim.
Tourists usually visit Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan for one or two days, and then its a short boat trip over to Nusa Penida. If you want to relax and take it slow, I would suggest to stay for an entire week and explore all three Nusa Islands.
Keep scrolling for my shortlist of things to do in Nusa Lembongan island:
One of the top things to do in Nusa Lembongan is to rent a scooter and hop your way around the islands beautiful white sand beach. With crystal clear waters and stretches of empty sand, you’ll be living the life of a Bali beach bum before you know it.
Although some of them have too much of a local vibe or are too remote to reach, I’d say that there are enough pristine white sand beaches in Nusa Lembongan to check out during your stay!
FUN FACT: There are numerous swings (a famous Bali attraction, after all), on numerous Nusa Lembongan beaches such as Dream Beach, Sea Breeze and The Sand. Make sure to check them out for a little bit of fun and some cute photos!
Checking out a beach club is the second best thing to do in Nusa Lembongan after hitting the beaches. I mean… you’re already on the beach by now, right? A beach club is a perfect spot to drink a coffee or a cocktail or eat a delicious lunch while sitting in the shade and taking a break from the sun.
Given the popularity that Nusa Lembongan has acquired over the years, tons of beach clubs have started popping up on the shores of the island.
RELATED READ: Complete Guide to the Nusa Islands, Bali
In case you get bored on Lembongan, a day trip to either of the other two islands, Nusa Ceningan or Nusa Penida island is an excellent choice.
This small island is located between Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida and it’s tiny but charming. In order to get there, you just need to cross the iconic Yellow Bridge (this famous yellow bridge is a MUST visit during your trip) with a scooter, bike or by walking.
The biggest out of the three islands, this one can be reached on a 15-minute boat trip from Nusa Lembongan. There are MANY things to do there and I’ve covered them all in this article: 6 Top Things to Do in Nusa Penida.
The most special activity you can do during your visit to the Nusa Islands is to snorkel or dive with giant manta rays. These incredible, majestic creatures are found in the waters between Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida, along with sunfish and dolphins!
There are countless companies across all three islands offering both private and group tours. Some excellent dive sites for great Nusa Lembongan snorkelling are Manta Point, Crystal Point and Mangrove Point, where you can see living corals too!
Most of these will require a short boat trip from the island to get to the exact location where it’ll be more likely to encounter some unique, colourful marine life.
Going to a viewpoint to admire the sea and the sunset is one of the best things to do in Nusa Lembongan at the end of the day! Here are my two favourite spots:
On the west coast of the island, Devil’s Tear is where you’ll probably see the best sunset in Nusa Lembongan! This iconic cliffside viewpoint called ‘Devil’s Tears’ demonstrates just how powerful the sea can be. With waves crashing hard against the rocks, the underwater caves spray out mist when filled by the water. You can get there by scooter in around 10 minutes from anywhere on Lembongan and it is best to arrive around 5 PM for the best experience. Be careful, mind the splash zone and keep an eye out for dolphins as I heard that they can often be spotted.
TIP #1: This blowhole can be dangerous, so make sure you don’t get too close to the edge!
TIP #2: By the way, while you’re here, make sure to check out the rock Pools / Tidal Pools (a little bit to the right of Devil’s Tear) for an amazing sunset view.
Panorama Point is located between Jungut Batu Beach and Mushroom Bay and it’s a great spot to see the whole island from above and take some unforgettable pictures!
TIP: This place might be a bit hard to find; I recommend setting ‘Panorama restaurant’ as your destination on Google Maps in order to get there.
Taking a mangrove boat tour is definitely one of the most popular things to do as a Nusa Lembongan day trip.
They offer local boat trips of the Mangrove forest found on the northeast of the island. You’ll find tours offered on fishing boats (for around 50.000 / 3.50 USD, open to bargaining) or you can rent a canoe or paddle board if you’d rather go exploring the lush, dense mangrove forest solo – you’ll have fun either way!
RELATED READ: 6 Unmissable Things to Do in Ubud, Bali
Whether you’re already into surfing or you’re planning to give it a try, Nusa Lembongan has some amazing reef breaks, keeping the waves pretty consistent all year round.
Two good intermediate Nusa Lembongan surf spots are Playgrounds and Tamarind. And if you want to take some surfing lessons, I recommend going to Coconuts Beach!
RELATED READ: East Bali Adventure – My Recommended 10-Day Itinerary
Bali is a well-known spot for yoga – and Nusa Lembongan is, of course, no exception. If you’re up for a calming activity that requires some stretching, relaxation and meditation, you’ll feel right at home on this island.
One of the most popular spots for yoga on the island is Yoga Shack near Jungutbatu Beach. Another place with good recommendations is Serenity Yoga Lembongan – and they also accept walk-ins!
RELATED READ: A Guide to Paragliding in Bali – Uluwatu
Now that you know all about the best activities and things to see in Nusa Lembongan, let’s talk about where you’re going to stay during your time on the island.
As I mentioned before, all three islands are easily accessible if you’re already in Bali – especially Nusa Lembongan!
The most popular departing point to the islands is Sanur Harbour in Bali. Basically, once you arrive at the harbour, then the rest is a breeze. The drive to the harbour takes 60-90min from Ubud and Uluwatu, 60min from Canggu and 40min from Seminyak.
There are plenty of companies that can take you from Bali to Nusa Lembongan. The most reputable companies are: Scoot, Marlin and Rocky. The majority of boats leave from Sanur Harbour (it’s the most convenient) but some (Rocky) leave from Serangan Pier.
TIP: Make sure to check with your accommodation on the island before you book. Often, they will include transportation in the cost of the stay or can help you to arrange the journey over.
Boat Ride Duration: 30 minutes
Ticket Price: 500.000 to 650.000 IDR (36 to 46 US$) for the roundtrip ride (including hotel pick up and drop off).
Schedule: there are normally 4 boats each day per company.
I have also found this very convenient fast boat to Nusa Lembongan that you can book in advance.
RELATED READ: 10 Best Things To Do in Uluwatu, Bali – A Complete Guide
Luckily, Nusa Lembongan is small and easy to zip around by motorbike, scooter or even a bike. You can also explore Nusa Lembongan by car if you would prefer, but you won’t be able to reach the other two islands with it (you can’t even cross the Yellow Bridge with a car, as it’s too narrow), which is why most tourists don’t prefer this means of transportation.
All in all, the best idea would be to get around with a scooter. I would 100% recommend it! It’s a fun and easy way to explore the island and see the hidden and hard-to-reach places. The roads are much quieter than on mainland Bali and with less traffic, it feels much safer too.
The average price of ascooter rental is around 70,000 IDR (5 US$) per day. The easiest option is to rent one from your hotel if they offer this price or something similar. If not, as you arrive at the harbour there will be people renting scooters for around this price. If you choose to opt for renting a scooter from the pier, remember two things: you can bargain the price and make sure to check the scooter’s condition before paying!
RELATED READ: 10 Most Beautiful Beaches in Uluwatu, Bali
There are numerous good places to eat on Nusa Lembongan, but here are my favourites that I discovered during my trip:
TIP: It may sound surprising, but it’s always a good idea to call ahead, as many places offer a free transport service to collect and drop you off at your hotel. Perfect if you want to enjoy a couple of drinks or don’t want to drive your scooter home in the dark!
Now that you know everything there is to do, see and eat here, let me give you some of my most precious bits of advice before you leave:
Come prepared with enough cash for your stay as the ATMs across the island are not always reliable. Some of the beach clubs and restaurants accept card payment, but it’s better to play it safe!
Island life comes with a higher price as everything has to be imported from mainland Bali. You can still find cheap warungs, but expect a general rise in prices, especially if you’re going to the beach clubs. It is what it is!
This advice is especially good if you’re riding a scooter on the islands. The roads can be dusty so it’s good to have these on hand so you don’t look like you belong in the cast of Mad Max in all your photos. For the same reason, it’s also good to carry a mask with you so you can cover your mouth and nose.
Here’s a golden tip from someone that has driven lots of scooters in Bali (read: me!): leave a scarf to cover your scooter’s seat whenever you park. This way, the seat won’t be burning when you return to your scooter!
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This was my complete list of unmissable things to do in Nusa Lembongan, together with my ultimate guide to the island!
In the article above I have told you everything you need to know about what to do, where to eat, where to stay, how to get around the island and more! From simply laying on the beach to drinking cocktails at a beach bar, spending your time in the swimming pool, taking a snorkelling tour at Crystal Bay or admiring the sunset, I promise you that you’ll never get bored on the island!
Regardless of whether you’re going to spend one day or one week on Nusa Lembongan or if you want to visit Nusa Ceningan as well or not, you’ll find lots of tips and information that will help you organise your trip!
If you need more help with planning your itinerary, I recommend clicking here to find all my articles about Bali, my second home. And here you’ll find all my articles about Indonesia.
xoxo,
Melissa
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