Things to Do in Nusa Penida
What to Expect from Nusa Penida
Unveiling all the best things Nusa Penida has to offer!
Nusa Penida Tourist Map
Follow the dots for all the best tourist attractions and activities in Nusa Penida.
Where to Stay in Nusa Penida
The best thing about staying in Nusa Penida is that you get the ocean view without digging your pocket deep. While you’re welcome to splurge at a five-bedroom villa, there are plenty of budget hotels and accommodations offering the scenic landscape. And you can always choose the Midlands to swap the ocean for a view of the Penida hills.
Contact Us
Drop us an email if you’d like us to spread the word about your upcoming events or the newest cafe you’ve opened in Bali. Join the long list of restaurants and cafes that have collaborated with us!
14 Best Things to Do in Nusa Penida
1. Visit Kelingking Beach – Iconic Cliff Views
Every tour guide will put Kelingking Beach as the must-visit spot, as it’s the most photographed spot in Nusa Penida. Where else can you find the T-rex-shaped cliff, formed by nature, with the contrast of the turquoise water? There are a few viewpoints to snap your worthy Instagram pics but be prepared to wait as people are lining up to take the iconic shot.
Source: unsplash.com
Source: unsplash.com
One important tip I can offer is to arrive as early as possible before the flocks of day-trippers from mainland Bali arrive. Then, head to the right side so you get the full view of the cliff’s shape. If you dare, go down the beach (it’s a challenging way down, mind you), but I won’t suggest swimming as the waves and currents are pretty strong.
- Detailed Info about Kelingking Beach
Entrance fee: IDR 10K (US$ 0.60)
Location: Google Maps
Key attractions: Unique limestone formations, scenic view
2. Swim at Angel’s Billabong
The natural infinity pool at Angel’s Billabong is a must-see attraction in Nusa Penida. You can dip in and float on the crystal-clear ocean water. But be careful with the waves that can fill up the pool without a warning. It can drag you to the sea with its powerful sweep if you don’t have quick reflexes to get out of the pool as quickly as possible.
Source: wikimedia.org
Source: unsplash.com
What’s the best time to visit? In the morning, before the place gets busy with visitors. The dry season tends to have predictable waves compared to the rainy season. Even so, I won’t advise you to jump in if you’re not a strong swimmer precisely because it can turn into a death trap in a matter of seconds.
- Detailed Info about Angel’s Billabong
Entrance fee: Free (parking fees IDR 5K for scooters and 10K for cars)
Location: Google Maps
Key attractions: Natural infinity pool, various photo spots
3. Explore Broken Beach (Pasih Uug)
Another iconic attraction in Nusa Penida is the Broken Beach, which, luckily, you can get to on foot from Angel’s Billabong. Broken Beach, with its distinctive natural arched limestone, is every photographer’s dream subject. You can stand above the arch as well, though you need to be extra careful because there aren’t any rails, so don’t stand too close to the edge.
Source: unsplash.com
Source: unsplash.com
Sadly, there’s no way for you to get to the beach. But feel free to fly your drone to capture the aerial view. Remember to keep your drone at a steady height, as many drones have hit the limestone when flying too high while passing the arch.
- Detailed Info about Broken Beach
Entrance fee: Free (accessible from Angel’s Billabong)
Location: Google Maps
Key attractions: Arched limestone, panoramic sea view
4. Snorkel with Manta Rays at Manta Bay
The tourism board should start using manta rays as the new icon of Nusa Penida because it’s the place where manta ray sightings happen all the time! You can spot this gentle creature from the shallow water in Manta Bay as they float near the ocean’s surface. In Manta Bay, you don’t need to dive. The current is also milder compared to Manta Point (don’t confuse them as they only share the same Manta name).
Source: unsplash.com
Source: unsplash.com
Book the snorkeling tour as your Nusa Penida activity and leave early since manta sightings are more common during the morning. May to September are the best months to spot manta rays since the cooler water temperature brings a lot of plankton, which is manta rays’ favorite food.
- Detailed Info about Snorkeling with Manta Rays
Snorkeling tour price: Starts from US$ 15/person
Average tour duration: 3 hours (leaving at 8 AM)
Facilities: Snorkeling equipments, guide, towels, drinking water
5. Visit Sampalan Village for Local Crafts and Culture
Sampalan may only look like a harbor on the tourist map of Nusa Penida. But this busy corner is actually bursting with local culture. If you arrive in Nusa Penida in the morning, you may spot fishermen unloading their catch. Walk to the nearby Mentigi Traditional Market, where you get a showcase of local fruits, vegetables, and, of course, fresh seafood.
Source: @balitripstour
Source: @rha_lens_journey
Once the glorious sunset is over, Sampalan turns into a buzzing night market where you find all the locals gathering to have their dinner. Just enjoy your slice of martabak or the smoky nasi goreng, and granted, you won’t spend more than US$ 3, and your tummy will be happy.
- Detailed Info about Sampalan
Key attractions: Morning market, night market
Location: Google Maps
6. Hike to Peguyangan Waterfall and Temple
Brace yourself for one of the adventurous things to do in Nusa Penida. Peguyangan Waterfall is a slightly misleading name, as you won’t see spectacular cascading water. Instead, you will catch a glimpse of a small waterfall, which Balinese use for ceremonial purposes. But Peguyangan is known for the blue staircase with Nusa Penida waters in the background. The staircase is pretty narrow and steep, so if you have acrophobia (fear of heights), you better skip it.
Source: insertbali.com
Source: insertbali.com
Peguyangan features several small temples once you’ve passed the stairs. There’s also a natural pool as if it were carved into the limestone side. Since the natural pool is at a higher altitude, you have a spectacular view of the ocean. On your way back, follow the Manta Point sign, and you may spot a school of manta rays from above!
- Detailed Info about Peguyangan Waterfall and Temple
Entrance fee: Free (Additional 5K for parking and 10K to rent sarong)
Location: Google Maps
Opening hours: 6 AM – 7 PM
7. Dive or Snorkel with Manta Rays
Manta rays in Nusa Penida are like the sunshine in Bali; you can find them anytime of the year! Aside from Manta Bay, manta ray sightings are common in Manta Point. But if you want to see the manta cleaning station, you’d better put on your oxygen tank and your wetsuit because, at a depth of 10 meters, you will find small fish like wrasse and butterfly fish cleaning the parasites and dead skin from the manta ray’s body.
Source: @pure.dive.resort
Source: @pure.dive.resort
At Manta Point, spotting 10 manta rays is a regular thing. And if you dive deeper, you may find a gathering of 20 to 30 manta rays. Beyond manta rays, you will find bamboo sharks and whitetip reef sharks, and, when in season, mola-mola is also often spotted here.
- Detailed Info about Diving with Manta Rays
Diving price: Starts from US$ 110
Diving duration: Around 6 hours
Best month to dive: May (dry season offers the best visibility)
8. Explore the Goa Giri Putri Cave Temple
If you ask whether Nusa Penida is worth visiting or not, the answer lies in the Goa Giri Putri Temple. The Goa Giri Putri Temple is unlike any other temple you’ve known. After paying the entrance fee, you will climb hundreds of stairs, and then you will climb down through a rabbit hole. Once you’re inside, before you is a spacious cave inside a mountain, in contrast to the tiny entrance where you come in.
Source: @digitaltravelcouple
Source: @digitaltravelcouple
In an instant, the smell of damp earth mixed with the incense fills the dark cave. You can be one of the few people since the temple is used for ceremonial purposes only. Find a spot to meditate, take advantage of its quietness, and take photos of the impressive structure of the cave.
- Detailed Info about Goa Giri Putri Cave Temple
Entrance fee: IDR 10K (including sarong, and 2K for parking)
Location: Google Maps
Opening hours: 7 AM – 5 PM
9. Visit Rumah Pohon Treehouse
You’ve probably seen the photo of a wooden house with a sea background and the limestone Nusa Penida is known for. Yep, that’s the Treehouse, officially known as Rumah Pohon Molenteng. To take the iconic shot, you need to pay the entrance and an additional fee for the photos. Just remember, you’re not the only one who wants to snap Insta-worthy pics here, so come early.
Source: unsplash.com
Source: @andreita17
Can you stay overnight? Yes, you can. You can pick one of the three tree houses (tree house #2 has the best view). The room has basic amenities and is pretty small (no AC, Wi-Fi, and unreliable phone signal), but you will wake up in the best place for the sunrise in Nusa Penida.
- Detailed Info about Rumah Pohon Molenteng
Entrance fee: IDR 10K (photo for 50K, staying overnight IDR 550K)
Location: Google Maps
Opening hours: 6 AM – 6 PM
Best time to visit: Morning
10. Visit Tembeling Natural Pools
You will get one of the highlights of your Nusa Penida trip at Tembeling Natural Pool. This hidden gem is my favorite spot because the thick forest gives a sense of seclusion, while the natural pool overlooking the ocean seems like an anomaly. Though the pool is relatively small, you can soak as long as you like in its crystal-clear water, and there won’t be waves crashing into the pool.
Source: @agirlwhoblooms
Source: @camille_collinson
Though you need to hire a motorbike taxi to get down from the parking lot to the actual spot, it’s worth every penny. I don’t recommend driving yourself since the route has some tricky and rocky areas. Or you can walk! It takes around 30 minutes one way. The spot is still not widely known, so there will only be a handful of people in the natural pool.
- Detailed Info about Tembeling Natural Pool
Entrance fee: IDR 10K (parking 5K, and around 100K for motorbike taxi)
Location: Google Maps
Opening hours: 24 Hours
Key attractions: Natural pool, forests
11. Take a Boat Trip to Nearby Islands
Honestly, there are only so many activities in Nusa Penida that leave you wondering what to do on the island. Island hopping is something people rarely do, but Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan have their charms, too. You can cross to Nusa Lembongan, a smaller version of Nusa Penida with a boat and it only takes around 15 minutes. And while you’re there, cross the iconic Yellow Bridge to visit Nusa Ceningan by motorbike.
Source: @ikganaarbali
Source: @freestyleaerials
You can explore Mangrove Point by kayaking or enjoy Mushroom Beach in Nusa Lembongan. While in Nusa Ceningan, test your adrenaline by cliff jumping at Mahana Point or Blue Lagoon. You can definitely accomplish all of these in one day. No need to stay overnight!
- Detailed Info about Exploring Nearby Islands
Boat price: IDR 50K (US$ 3)
Operation hours: First boat at 7.30 AM and last boat at 5 PM
12. Discover Local Villages and Culture
Since Nusa Penida is still part of Bali, not many guides mention the local culture and way of life since it is similar to the mainland. But if you drive outside the tourist hotspots, you can experience the cultivation process of the seaweed, especially in Ped and Suana villages. The seaweed farming thrived during the pandemic, and these villages are the centers in Nusa Penida.
Source: @hay_nusapenida
Source: @_timsamuel
Can’t get enough of temples? Then you should visit the Pura Dalem Ped complex with its white stone. Pura Dalem Ped is considered the most important in Nusa Penida, and every Balinese needs to make a pilgrimage here at least once in their lifetimes. The temple serves as a counterbalance between good and evil, as the legend of Mecaling, a demon in Balinese culture, is associated with this temple.
- Detailed Info about Local Villages and Culture
Key attractions: Dalem Ped Temple, seaweed farming
Average duration: 1 – 3 hours
13. Taste Local Cuisine at Warungs
Having local food at small warungs in Nusa Penida often yields the best meals ever! Warung Tu Pande offers simple menus, but you can’t beat the Tempe Penyet (crushed tempeh with sambal) and Gado-Gado. If you want more variations, Warung Lonto, with its spicy nasi goreng and chicken satay, is all you need for a fulfilling lunch.
Source: @home.by.chefwayan
Source: pxhere.com
Sampalan Night Market remains the go-to place if you want to try local dishes. The food stalls there only sell mi goreng and gorengan (fried stuff, so unhealthy, but oh so good!). Just say, “tidak pedas,” and your stomach will thank you. Unless you can handle the Indonesian level of spiciness, then go for the “pedas” one.
- Detailed Info about Local Cuisine
Average price: IDR 15K
Where to go: Sampalan Night Market, small warungs by the road
What to get: Tempe Penyet, gorengan (fried snacks), Bubur Ledok
14. Capture the Sunset at Bukit Teletubbies
Are you getting tired of your sunset beach photos? Then, it’s time to change the game by seeing the sunset from Teletubbies Hills. The hills look like the ones you see on Teletubbies—hence the name—and in my opinion, it’s the best place to visit in Nusa Penida for sunset, beating the beach ones. The only thing to consider is that you need to stay overnight, as the last boat to the mainland leaves around 5 PM.
Source: digitaltravelcouple.com
Source: digitaltravelcouple.com
There’s no entrance fee to Teletubbies Hills, but I don’t advise you to come during midday due to the lack of shade. The best time to visit is from December to March when the bright green grass covers the hills. In the dry season, the rolling hills look brownish as the grass dries out. You can combine the trip here with Diamond Beach and The Tree House, as they are in proximity.
- Detailed Info about Bukit Teletubbies
Entrance fee: Free
Location: Google Maps
Opening hours: 24 Hours (but recommended from 8 AM to 5 PM)
Key attractions: Lush hills, sunset spot
Join us
Join us
Join us
Join us
Join us
Join us
Join us