![\"Kelingking](\"https:\/\/marcyyu.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/DSC08439-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a>If you\u2019re planning a trip to Bali, chances are you\u2019ve already seen photos of\u00a0Nusa Penida\u00a0without even realizing where they were taken. This is where you\u2019ll find\u00a0Kelingking Beach, the famous T-Rex-shaped cliff and one of the most recognizable landscapes in Indonesia.<\/p>\nAnd yes, this is also the famous beach where the controversial glass elevator was planned. From what locals told me when I visited, the project had been stopped.<\/p>\n
But Nusa Penida is so much more than that one famous view.<\/p>\n
Technically,\u00a0Nusa Penida is a separate island from mainland Bali, although it\u2019s still part of Bali province. Located just southeast of Bali, it\u2019s close enough that many travelers visit on a day trip, taking a fast boat over in the morning and returning in the afternoon.<\/p>\n
And if you ask me,\u00a0that\u2019s the first mistake.<\/p>\n
Nusa Penida is much bigger than it looks on a map, and there\u2019s simply too much to see in just a few hours. During the day, the island fills with tour buses and groups rushing between the main attractions. Then, sometime around 3:00\u20135:00 pm, most day-trippers start heading back to the harbor.<\/p>\n
And the island completely changes. There\u2019s less traffic, fewer crowds, and suddenly you get to experience a much quieter side of Nusa Penida. That\u2019s why I recommend\u00a0staying at least two nights in Nusa Penida. You\u2019ll have more time to explore without rushing and, more importantly, experience a version of the island most day visitors never get to see.<\/p>\n
So if you\u2019re planning your first trip, here\u2019s my\u00a0Nusa Penida travel guide, including how to get there from Bali, where I stayed, the best things to do and a few things I wish I knew before going.<\/p>\n
How to Get to Nusa Penida from Bali<\/strong><\/p>\n Nusa Penida doesn\u2019t have an airport, so\u00a0the easiest way to get from Bali to Nusa Penida is by fast boat or ferry<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The most popular route departs from\u00a0Sanur Harbour<\/strong>, with boats arriving at different ports in Nusa Penida depending on the company you choose.\u00a0Banjar Nyuh and Sampalan\/Buyuk<\/strong>\u00a0are some of the main arrival points on the island.<\/p>\n There are also boats departing from\u00a0Padang Bai<\/strong>, so check which route makes the most sense depending on where you\u2019re staying in Bali and where your hotel is located in Nusa Penida.<\/p>\n You can buy your ferry tickets online or directly at the harbor, but this really depends on the season. During busier months, certain departure times can sell out, so personally, I prefer booking in advance rather than getting stuck with a really early or really late boat.<\/p>\n Choosing the Right Ferry to Nusa Penida<\/strong><\/p>\n Now, this is something I think is important:\u00a0don\u2019t automatically book the cheapest ferry you find.<\/p>\n Before my trip, I had heard all kinds of horror stories: people getting seasick for the entire journey, tiny boats bouncing around in rough water, luggage getting soaked and even stories of bags ending up in the ocean.<\/p>\n And yes, the crossing can get pretty rough. My advice is to choose a reputable ferry company with good reviews and, if possible, a larger boat. The smaller the boat, the more you\u2019re likely to feel the movement of the ocean. I traveled with\u00a0Eka Jaya Fast Ferry, and my experience was really good. I had absolutely no complaints. The boat had an air-conditioned indoor area as well as outdoor seating, which for me was a must.<\/p>\n TIP:<\/strong>\u00a0If you get seasick easily, bring motion sickness medication and try to sit toward the middle of the boat, where you\u2019ll usually feel less movement.<\/p>\n Once you arrive in Nusa Penida, you\u2019ll find plenty of drivers and taxis waiting around the harbor. The price will depend on how far your hotel is, so always confirm the fare before leaving.<\/p>\n How Many Days Do You Need in Nusa Penida?<\/strong><\/p>\n For me,\u00a03 days and 2 nights is a great starting point.<\/p>\n It gives you enough time to explore both sides of the island, spend some time in the ocean and actually enjoy your hotel without feeling like you\u2019re constantly rushing to the next stop. If you can stay an extra night, even better.<\/p>\n The point is to give yourself enough time that Nusa Penida doesn\u2019t turn into a checklist of viewpoints you\u2019re racing to photograph before catching the ferry back to Bali.<\/p>\n Where to Stay in Nusa Penida?<\/strong><\/p>\n Choosing\u00a0where to stay in Nusa Penida\u00a0is more important than you might think.<\/p>\n The island is fairly large, the main attractions are spread out, and getting from one side to another can take much longer than expected.<\/p>\n I visited Nusa Penida in November to celebrate my birthday and stayed for two nights. Weather-wise, we got a little bit of everything. One day was cloudy and rainy, while the other was absolutely perfect which is pretty normal for Indonesia during rainy season.<\/p>\n When I started looking for a hotel, I knew one thing:\u00a0I didn\u2019t want to stay right next to the main tourist attractions.<\/p>\n I knew those areas would be packed with buses and tours during the day, and I wanted somewhere quieter. At the same time, I wanted to be relatively close to\u00a0Diamond Beach and East Nusa Penida.<\/p>\n That\u2019s how I found\u00a0Seven Dreams , A Pranayama Experience, a boutique resort located in\u00a0Desa Suana on the east side of Nusa Penida.<\/p>\n My Stay at Seven Dreams Nusa Penida<\/strong><\/p>\n Seven Dreams<\/a> is surrounded by nature and designed around individual villas, which gives the entire property a really private and peaceful feeling.<\/p>\n I traveled with a few friends, so we stayed in a\u00a0three-bedroom Presidential Villa, and it was incredible. Our private pool was ENORMOUS. Honestly, when I first saw it, I thought it had to be one of the hotel\u2019s main pools. But surprise for me it was entirely ours.<\/p>\n But one of my favorite things about staying here was the view. The property sits right by the ocean, and on clear mornings you can see\u00a0Mount Agung, Bali\u2019s highest volcano, rising across the water. If the sky is clear around sunrise, it\u2019s such a beautiful sight to wake up to.<\/p>\n There\u2019s something very different about arriving with hundreds of people on a day tour versus waking up slowly on the island with Mount Agung sitting across the ocean from your villa.<\/p>\n Seven Dream<\/a>s also has its own restaurant,\u00a0AYKA Restaurant & Lounge, which was incredibly convenient because we didn\u2019t have to leave the property for every meal. The menu combines local flavors with international dishes, and after spending an entire day exploring Nusa Penida, being able to come back, shower and walk straight to dinner was exactly what I needed.<\/p>\n Because here\u2019s something nobody really tells you:\u00a0exploring Nusa Penida can be exhausting.\u00a0Between the driving, heat, hikes and endless stairs, having everything you need back at the hotel makes a difference.<\/p>\n There\u2019s also a\u00a0spa, gym and several wellness experiences, including yoga, kayaking, private sunset dinners and spa treatments. And yes, there\u2019s a gym because apparently even while celebrating my birthday on a tropical island in Indonesia, I still need to know if my hotel has one.<\/p>\n If you have enough time, I recommend balancing your sightseeing with some time to actually enjoy the hotel. Nusa Penida is beautiful, but there\u2019s no reason to spend your entire trip sitting in a car going from one attraction to another.<\/p>\n Best Things to Do?<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the most important things to know when planning your\u00a0Nusa Penida itinerary\u00a0is that the island is much bigger than it looks.<\/p>\n The easiest way to explore is to divide your days between\u00a0West Nusa Penida and East Nusa Penida\u00a0rather than constantly driving back and forth across the island.<\/p>\n West Nusa Penida<\/p>\n Kelingking Beach\u00a0\u2014 The famous T-Rex-shaped cliff and probably the most iconic view in Nusa Penida. Yes, it gets crowded, but it\u2019s absolutely worth seeing in person.<\/p>\n Angel\u2019s Billabong\u00a0\u2014 A beautiful natural rock pool overlooking the ocean.<\/p>\n Broken Beach\u00a0\u2014 Famous for its huge natural stone arch and circular cove. It\u2019s right next to Angel\u2019s Billabong, so visit both together.<\/p>\n Crystal Bay\u00a0\u2014 A popular beach for swimming, snorkeling and diving, and a great place to finish the day around sunset.<\/p>\n East Nusa Penida<\/p>\n Personally,\u00a0East Nusa Penida was one of my favorite parts of the island. The landscapes are incredible, and staying on this side meant we could start exploring before many of the day tours arrived.<\/p>\n Diamond Beach: \u00a0White sand, turquoise water and some of the most dramatic cliffs in Nusa Penida. One of my favorite views on the island.<\/p>\n Atuh Beach: \u00a0Located very close to Diamond Beach, making it easy to combine both in the same morning.<\/p>\n Thousand Islands Viewpoint: \u00a0One of the best panoramic views on the east coast, overlooking the cliffs and small islands scattered across the ocean.<\/p>\n Rumah Pohon Molenteng (Nusa Penida Tree House): The famous wooden tree house you\u2019ve probably seen all over Instagram. It\u2019s located near Thousand Islands Viewpoint, so visit both at the same time.<\/p>\n Goa Giri Putri Temple : A Hindu temple hidden inside a massive cave and something completely different from Penida\u2019s beaches and viewpoints.<\/p>\n Snorkeling & Diving\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Some of the best things to do in Nusa Penida actually happen underwater.<\/p>\n The island is famous for its\u00a0manta rays, making snorkeling and diving one of the most popular experiences here.<\/p>\n Manta Point: \u00a0One of the best-known locations around Nusa Penida for encountering manta rays while snorkeling or diving. Of course, they\u2019re wild animals, so sightings are never guaranteed.<\/p>\n Crystal Bay : \u00a0Another popular spot for snorkeling and diving around the island.<\/p>\n If you have enough time, I would dedicate at least half a day to exploring the ocean rather than trying to squeeze it into one of your sightseeing days.<\/p>\n A Few Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Nusa Penida<\/strong><\/p>\n A few practical things that will make exploring Nusa Penida a little easier:<\/p>\n Nusa Penida is one of those places where trying to see everything can actually take away from the experience.\u00a0Stay a couple of nights, choose the places you really want to see, leave some time to enjoy the island, and don\u2019t treat it like a checklist.<\/p>\n Hopefully this guide helps you plan your trip and experience a little more of Nusa Penida than just the places you\u2019ve already seen all over Instagram\ud83e\udd0d<\/p>\n Love<\/p>\n Marcy<\/p>\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you\u2019re planning a trip to Bali, chances are you\u2019ve already seen photos of\u00a0Nusa Penida\u00a0without even realizing where they were taken. This is where you\u2019ll find\u00a0Kelingking Beach, the famous T-Rex-shaped cliff and one of the most recognizable landscapes in Indonesia. And yes, this is also the famous beach where the controversial glass elevator was planned. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7223,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7222","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travels"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n\n