Nusa Lembongan
Nusa Lembongan is the smallest and easiest of the three Nusa islands, about 30 minutes by fast boat from Sanur, and it is the one to choose if Nusa Penida sounds like too much work.
Where Penida is big, rough and demanding, Lembongan is 8 km² with decent roads, and you can see the whole island in a day on a bicycle or scooter without any of the white-knuckle driving.
Mushroom Bay and Jungutbatu are the two main beaches, both with calm swimming and a line of restaurants. Devil's Tear on the west coast is the highlight: a rocky point where swell funnels into a blowhole and explodes upward, best in the late afternoon with a big swell running. Dream Beach next to it is beautiful and has strong currents — look, do not swim.
The island's north-east is mangrove forest, and small boats punt through the channels for an hour at low cost. Offshore, the surf breaks — Shipwrecks, Lacerations, Playgrounds — are reef and suit intermediates upward, while snorkelling and diving trips run to the same manta and mola mola sites as Penida.
A narrow yellow suspension bridge connects Lembongan to Nusa Ceningan — scooters and pedestrians only, and it is one of the more memorable two-minute crossings you will make.
Travel tips for Nusa Lembongan
- Easier than Penida in every way — better roads, shorter distances, and a 30-minute crossing from Sanur.
- Devil's Tear is best in the late afternoon with a decent swell; stand well back from the edge, as people have been swept off.
- Do not swim at Dream Beach. The currents and shore break are genuinely dangerous despite how it looks.
- Rent a scooter or bicycle — the island is small and the roads are fine, unlike on Penida.
- The yellow bridge to Ceningan takes scooters and pedestrians only, and is worth crossing for the view.
- Mangrove boat tours cost very little and take about an hour from the north-east corner.
Popular tours here
- Nusa Penida Day Trip
- Bali Private Day Tour with Driver & Guide
Frequently asked questions
Is Nusa Lembongan better than Nusa Penida?
Lembongan is far easier — smaller, better roads and a shorter crossing — while Penida has the dramatic cliff scenery; many visitors do Lembongan for relaxing and Penida as a day trip.
How do you get to Nusa Lembongan?
Fast boats from Sanur take about 30 minutes, with several departures each morning.
What is Devil's Tear?
A rocky point on Lembongan's west coast where swell funnels into a blowhole and erupts upward, most dramatic in the late afternoon on a big swell.
Can you swim at Dream Beach?
It is not advisable — the shore break and currents there are strong and have caused serious accidents, despite how inviting it looks.
Can you walk to Nusa Ceningan?
Yes — a narrow yellow suspension bridge connects the two islands and carries pedestrians and scooters only.