Here’s what you need to know about visiting Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan – truly picture-perfect islands only a 30-minute ferry ride from Sanur in Bali, which are VERY worth visiting!
These islands, along with Nusa Penida, are some of the most worthwhile places to visit in Bali in my opinion. They really have it all, from great snorkeling and diving to epic viewpoints, perfect white-sand beaches, beautiful beach clubs, great food, amazing wave views and surf spots, and gatorade-blue water.
I’ll list things to do in Nusa Lembongan AND Nusa Ceningan because the two islands are right next to each other and connected by the famous bright yellow bridge.
Getting to Nusa Lembongan + Getting Around
Getting here: You have two options to get here: take a ferry to Mushroom Bay on Lembongan, which lets off on a floating dock at Mushroom Bay or sometimes on the beach, or take Rocky Fast Boat, which arrives at its own ferry dock between the two islands.
I have taken both and I preferred the ferry from Mushroom Bay, but both were fine. I think my company was Tanis, and they had a bigger and more sturdy boat when I took it. If you have more luggage, Rocky may be better because it has a bigger dock on Lembongan. Both take off from the same harbor in Sanur.
Getting around: I highly recommend renting a scooter as there’s no rideshare here. Getting around without a scooter may be tough, as you can take tuk-tuks and golf carts from hotels, but they can’t cross the yellow bridge so you may need to sign up for a tour to see more.
I rented a scooter from the yellow bridge itself (Lembongan side) for a good rate – I paid 120k a day for an NMax (the only thing I can drive these days). My friend rented a scooter from Mushroom Bay for a good rate as well. WHerever you take the ferry to, you can rent a scooter nearby… or you can ask your accommodation about it.
If you aren’t comfortable on a scooter, I’d recommend staying near the beach/main street on Lembongan and signing up for transfers and tours at your hotel.
Note about Nusa Penida: Usually, Nusa Penida is a seperate trip to Nusa Lembongan and Penida offers quite different things to Nusa Lembongan and Cengingan and would have to be visited seperately (with a seperate scooter rental, etc). There are some day trips that visit all of the Nusa Islands, but for this article I’ll only speak about Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan as a unit.
But, I did write some articles about Penida, too, and Bali as a whole for you to save for later:
- Nusa Penida Beaches: Top beaches and what they are best for
- Visiting Kelingking Beach
- Staying at Rumah Pohon, the famous Nusa Penida Treehouse
- Unique Places to Stay in Bali
Things to Do, Activities, & Adventures on Nusa Lembongan + Ceningan
Here are the things to do in Nusa Lembongan + Ceningan you must know about!
Yellow Bridge
The Yellow Bridge is the connection point between the islands, but it’s also a spectacle in itself due to the bright yellow color and how stunningly BLUE the water is in the channel beneath it. The bridge is only for scooters – no cars – and can get quite close when passing!
It’s an experience alone to drive across the bridge and see how the bright yellow color of the bridge contrasts with the highlighter blue water below – it’s a true pinch-me moment that you’re lucky enough to be visiting these idyllic islands!
Pontoon Bar
One of the most unique bars in all of Bali is located right off the coast of Nusa Lembongan! Pontoon by Lago is a floating bar off the coast of Lago hotel/restaurant, right next to the easiest surf break of the island, Playgrounds – so close that many surfers take the boat to save a more lengthy paddle out. Simpyl show up at Lago and summon the boat from the workers there – they will call it to the little beach out front.
It’s only a few minutes’ boat ride to get there, and once you arrive you’ll be greeted by tap beers, craft cocktails, a jumping platform, and even snorkels available to rent to explore the reef out front. Just don’t get too close to the break! This is one of the coolest Bali hidden gems IMO.
Surfing at Playground, Lacerations, or More
Nusa Lembongan is amazingly home to a very chill (most of the time) surf break that you can also reach from the pontoon above or the Lago hotel. I rented a board from the beach out front of Lago (Song Lambung Beach) and paddled out for one of the most beautiful surf sessions I’ve ever had. The water is so clear you can see the reef below you – truly magical! As I mentioned, many bring their boards to the Pontoon bar to surf here.x
There are a few other surf breaks along the main long beach of the island, Jungutbatu beach (or should I say, off the reef a few hundred meters out). There’s Shipwreck Point, Lacerations, and maybe 1 or 2 more which are a bit less beginner-friendly as far as I’m aware.
Song Lambung Beach
This is a beautiful beach tucked into a nook in front of Lago, the closest to Playgrounds surf break, and the spot to get the boat to Pontoon bar. It also has some other pths along the water and a luttle surf warung to watch from. Very picturesque.
Devil’s Tear
The Devil’s Tear is a unique rock area in Lembongan with some natural blow holes created by years of crashing waves. The waves on this side of the island are simply a spectacle to witness, and the best place to do this (other than accommodation with a view, which I’ll share below) is the Devil’s Tear.
It costs 25k cash to get into the site, and you can walk around to view a few different sites where waves tend to crash high up in the air in a very exciting way!
Dream Beach
This is one of the most picturesque beaches on the islands! It’s easily accessible via a small staircase by the road, and perfect for some time lying out or picnicking, a swim if the waves aren’t too big, or simply a beach walk with great views. The color of the water is stunning, as are the surrounding cliffs.
Mangrove Point Kayaking
There’s one completely unique corner of Nusa Lembongan, covered in mangroves and a few channels between them. You can access this area by driving to Mangrove Point. There are lots of businesses here that will offer to rent you a kayak or take you snorkeling on a boat (see below).
If you want to kayak through the mangroves, simply drive up and speak to any of the shop owners, and compare prices! They will offer you kayak rental, or guided tours too.
One important note, however, is that you can drive all the way to the end of the road where the kayaks launch into the water to decide where to rent them from. There’s a scam happening where multiple businesses will tell you you cannot drive any further because it’s the end of the road, simply to get your business. But you can keep driving – and find parking – literally until there’s no more road!
Mangrove Point: Snorkeling
If you aren’t as into mangrove snorkeling (which I am not either), you can do some great snorkeling trips from Mangrove point as well. The diving area, also known as Mangrove Point, is only a few hundred meters from the beach here. There’s a drop-off with varied depths of water, great for snorkeling, freediving, and maybe even scuba on certain days.
You can rent a snorkel and swim out the few hundred meters if you want, but I recommend paying a little bit more to have someone take you out to the snorkel area with a boat. You should be able to get a boat with snorkel equipment for as little as 100k per person, with a boat captain who will float with you downthe side of the reef as you snorkel. I recommend Captain Ditax, who I used multiple times for snorkel trips on Lembongan (he’s at the end of the road and you’ll see signs)!
We went out with a boat for about an hour and snorkeled from the tip of the reef down the side of the island, and the captain watched and guided us the whole time.
Snorkel Trip to Gamut Bay Penida
Mangrove Bay is great, but if you want to do more snorkeling while visiting Nusa Lembongan, you can take a boat across the channel to Nusa Penida for a short 1 hour trip to Gamut Bay. On our last day in Lembongan, we wanted to snorkel but preferred not to do Mangrove Point again, so we went back to Captain Ditax and he organized us a boat to Gamut Bay.
I LOVED this snorkeling trip. The boat drops you off along a rocky shelf on the coast, and the current carries you toward the harbor for about 30 wonderful minutes; there’s hardly a need to paddle as the current carries you at a perfect pace! It’s great for freediving too – keep your eye out for turtles! After about 30 minutes, it’s time to return about 10 minutes across the channel back to Lembongan.
Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is a famous bay on Nusa Ceningan, famous for its deep, vibrant blue color. Here, the waves tend to crash powerfully and are a spectacle to witness!
You can view the Blue Lagoon from some points on the cliffs surrounding it, or from viewpoints at Klyf Club or Arna, which has a pool club and glamping. If you want to explore the cliffs (be careful), you can find paths from a grassy fields just past Klyf Club.
Snorkeling Day Trip + Manta Rays
Got a full day to explore? Well, then the possibilities are endless! Aside from the two snorkel sites I mentioned above, which are great for quick snorkeling trips (within an hour each), there are tons of other places to visit around here if you want to do a full-day or half-day snorkeling trip. I believe most are half-day (3-4 hours) and begin in the morning.
Most of the main sites to visit on a longer trip are off the coast of Nusa Penida, such as Manta Point and Manta Bay, which are famous areas to see manta rays! There are a few other coves and beautiful spots to visit, too.
This is a great way to get a feel for the undersea world around here, and I’d recommend it especially if you won’t be spending any time on Nusa Penida. Seeing mantas in Bali is an EPIC experience.
Surfing or Sunset Drinks at Mahaha Point
Mahana Point is a famous surf spot off the coast of Nusa Ceningan, around the corner from the Blue Lagoon. Mahana Point restaurant is an iconic sunset spot with a bar precariously perched on the rocks with almost 360-degree views of the island one way and sunset the other.
We came here for sunset, and I had an amazing drone flight capturing stunning colors cast over the rocks and sea (pictured above). Best enjoyed with a Bintang, of course!
The waves here can get huge – it’s great for more experienced surfers. When it’s calmer out, Mahana poiunt has a jumping point to jump in and swim in the water here. That’s what island dreams are made of!
Massage + Spa Day
This one goes without saying for a Bali island getaway! There are tons of massage parlors and spas all around the island offering everything for massages and facials to hair masks and body scrubs. Most of the more upscale hotels have their own spas. I went to Jamu Day Spa a few times on a recent trip and loved it – great pressure for the massages and great price!
Ketut Souvenir Shop
I stumbled upon this shop while driving, and got totally sidetracked by the beautiful chains of shells in the window. I went inside and fell in love with some of the handmade decor, purchasing multiple of these gorgeous shell mandalas made by the owner, Nyoman. I enjoyed a chat with the other owner, Ketut, as she wrapped them for me.
After leaving and finding the shop on Google maps, I realized this place is trauly a local gem – a favorite where they make a lot of their gifts and are lovely and kind. I would come back here anytime, and recommend you grab some souvenirs here too!
Secret Point Beach
This is a tiny beach with epic views of Mahana Point and a rock arch below the restaurant that you can’t see from up top. It’s more protected here, so it’s generally fine for a dip in the sea. You can access Secret Point beach from a few places, one of which is the stunning Suku Beach club (more on that later).
Yoga, Sound Healing, Pilates, and More
When I searched for yoga or exercise classes, I found quite a few options! Most allow drop-in for around 150k up to 250k for things like sounds healing. Here they are:
- Island Yoga: Options from Hatha Yoga, flow dance meditation, gentle yoga, gong immersion, oracle cards, and my favorite- hammock sound healing (I really wanted to try that one). Classes most days at 10, 12, and 4:30.
- Santosha Yoga Village: Daily 5pm class, different each day. Pilates, yin, flow, etc
- Yoga Bliss Lembongan: Daily classes at 8am and 5pm: vinyasa, ashtanga, yin.
- The Yoga Garden: Daily 8:30am classes, mostly power yoga.
Seaweed Farms
It’s hard to miss the gridlike patterns of seaweed farms between the two islands. They’re super picturesque (especially from high up), but did you know you can also visit them? Some tours on the island include visits to the seaweed farms so you can see and experience them up close. I haven’t tried it yet but next time I will!
Mini Golf at Coconut Hut
Yes, there’s a cute little mini golf course on the island, too! This is a super fun and relaxed activity in Nusa Lembongan, perfect for an afternoon/evening combined with some drinks (don’t miss their deals)!
Beach Clubs + Views + Sunset Spots on Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan
An extension of the list of things to do on Nusa Lembongan & Ceningan, here are specifically some beautiful pool clubs or places to get great views and/or watch the sunset.
Suku Beach Club
This is maybbeee one of the best views on the islands because of the combination of beautiful aesthetics at the beach club itself, the net bed overlooking a stunning tiny white sand beach you can walk down to, some of the bluest water out the front, amazing cliffy views to the other side, a view of the rock arch of Mahana point, and a direct view of the sunset. All of these things combined = chef’s kiss view on the islands. Oh, and they have happy hours and really good food too (I loved the Greek salad and pepes ikan).
Arna Ocean Lounge
Arna Ocean Lounge is a beautiful infinity pool club with great food and views, surrounded by crashing waves and views. They have an expansive menu of cocktails and small plates, and also lots of fancy steaks too. I will go into detail below under accommodation.
Sea Breeze Ceningan
Sea Breeze is a really iconic venue to visit on Nusa Ceningan that overlooks the channel between Ceningan and Lembongan – the bright blue water (as long as the tide is in) and seaweed farms. It’s known for epic net bed views overlooking the water, super eclectic and sailor/pirate theme decor with colorful accents, murals, and bean bags, and delicious food and drinks. Come here for sunset or lunch and enjoy the stunning view.
Klyf Club
Klyf Club is a restaurant and pool area overlooking the Blue Lagoon, and is a must to stop by! By now, their pool and * super iconic for photos * jacuzzi overlooking the Blue Lagoon should have reopened. This is a nice place to grab brunch or dinner in the daylight and watch the waves crashing in the lagoon (and grab a photo in the jacuzzi, obvi).
The View Sunset Club
I stumbled upon this place while on a dirtbike adventure around Nusa Cengingan, and it’s TOP of my list to go back to next time! It’s up some treacherous roads, but I think it might just have one of the best views on the islands – truly.
From here you can grab food and drinks and swim with a perfect view of the sunset and the seaweed farms… and pretty much the entire islands of Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan. The islands may be small, but they have solid elevation for excellent views, and this place looks out over everything.
Bar Riva
This spot is simply adorable and has one of the best and most central views of Lembongan Beach – the long white sand beach with most of Lembongan’s main attractions. It’s hard to miss with its white and orange decor – perfect for a drink and snack after a swim.
Ohana’s
This is one of the most well-known beach clubs on Nusa Lembongan, right on the beach itself! Some here for beach swims, flare cocktails, pool dips, delicious food, fairy lights, and also boutique rooms too (great if you want to stay literally on the sand).
Check out toms more of the best beach clubs in Bali here.
Where to Stay in Nusa Lembongan + Ceningan
There are lots of unique stays around the islands, and I’ll recommend a few below! On a recent trip, I stayed in the two gorgeous glamping properties below.
Arna Glamping Resort, Nusa Ceningan
Arna is a luxurious glamping resort on Nusa Ceningan. A few dozen tents are positioned overlooking the Blue Lagoon, which is a famous site on Nusa Ceningan known for the electric blue water color. Arna has super spacious, air-conditioned glamping tents, incredible service, and super delicious food you can have delivered or eat right at their very own pool club.
Arna’s restaurant/club has the actual definition of an infinity pool, surrounded on all sides by cliffs and crashing waves. They have unlimited free breakfast for guests, and delicious meal options for guests and visitors alike – from small plates and cocktails to lots of types of high quality steak and wine.
Splurge Option: The Tamarind
For a STUNNING stay with an amazing location, you can;t get much better than The Tamarind. It’s located just at the base of the hill at the end of the main beach, and has one of the most perfect Nusa Lembongan hotel views ever! It’s truly splurge-worthy with luxe rooms, a spa, restaurant, gym, and more.
Naluna Lembongan Boutique Glamping
Naluna is a tiny, boutique glamping property with only 6 well-appointed glamping tents right on the wavey side of Nus Lembongan. Each tent has AC, a cozy bed, and a private bathroom out the back.
This spot is the definition of a hidden gem, with an ideal location tucked on the cliffy end of the island, with views of the Devil’s Tear from every tent and the pool/restaurant. Here, you can watch and listen to the waves constantly!
The restaurant also has delicious options from breakfast ’til dinner. Grab coffee, smoothie bowls, or egg dishes for brekky, creative salads for lunch, and a mezze platter or garlic butter shrimp for dinner.
Budget Option: Komodo Garden
For something more on a budget that’s still well-located, clean, and cute, Komodo Garden is great – each room is its own little private bungalow! It’s steps frm the Devil’s Tear and close to everything else on both islands.
Food – Where and What to Eat in Nusa Lembongan/Ceningan
Here are some restaurants I have tried, and a couple that I have heard are good.
Let’s Bake
Super cute, French-inspired bakery with aesthetic design. There’s an air-conditioned area to sit in, or an open-air part, depending on your mood. They have delicious breakfast and lunch, from croque madames, club sandwiches, and omelettes to freshly baked goods daily. Make sure to at least try one of their mini croissants on the way out!
Dawn/Dusk by Lago
Lago is the hotel and restaurant on the tiny beach by the easy surf break and the pontoon bar I described above. It’s home to two restaurants – Dawn and Dusk – which, is I’m sure you can infer, are for morning and evening!
I didn’t go to Dusk, but I heard its a super nice restaurant and I KNOW it has a million dolloar view. I spent quite a lot of time at Dawn, however. It has wonderful coffee, cute atmosphere (perfect for coworking) and they also have some nice fast breakfast options that are perfect before a surf.
Kayu Lembongan
This is a super cute brunch spot on the main road of Lembongan with a tiny yard and open-air Balinese joglo feel. The dishes from brunch to dinner are creative, tasty, and well-presented. I tried the halloumi asndwich and loved it!
Milo + Oliver
This is one of my top recommendations for coworking; it’s a super cute air-conditioned cafe with a wall of books and board games (perfect for a rainy day) and an upstairs area, too. They have signature coffees, and lots of nice drinks and food, and some great brunchy options as well (I loved the sandwich I tried).
Bonzer
This is my top option for dinner in town! It has a really cute, leafy atmosphere with live music most days of the week and truly DELICIOUS food. We tried a chicken burger, loaded fries, and a pizza and were quite mind-blown with how delicious everything was. 10/10 would go back to try more.
More Places to Eat in Lembongan You Should Try
I didn’t eat at all of these places myself, but I have at least solid intel that they are great options for food in Nusa Lembongan!
- Tiga Cemara: another very cute cafe with a great menu and air-conditioned space perfect to relax, read, or work
- Curry Traders: Well-loved Indian restaurant on the main street
- Warung Ten Poh: Great option for local food in Lembongan
- Baliwood – Beachside spot for delicious pizzas and pool
- Ginger + Jamu: Well known and loved brunch spot on the main beach
- Lalapan: The best (and only) place to get later night food on Lembongan, after, let’s say 11pm. Most kitchens close around 10-1030 or earlier, and you might be stuck for options unless you head here!
- Gamet’s Irish Pub: Yes, there is an Irish Pub on Nusa Lembongan! It’s right on the channel, and yes, you can get Guinness.
- The Nomad Bali: Super vibey and aesthetic spot on the channel with a view and delicous crafted coffee/tea cocktails
- Arna Ocean Lounge: I have mentioned it a few times, but this a great place to eat, especially if you like steak with a night swim.
That’s it for this comprehensive Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan travel guide, with many possible things to do on both islands! Let me know what you enjoyed the most. If you want to see a visual version of this guide on instagram, click the photo below or click here!
Traveling and Eating around Bali:
Passionate, full-time travel blogger with over 230k on social media and 150kMPV blog. Extraordinary photographer with two DSLR's + a drone with a love for capturing candid moments, epic drone shots, and magical compositions. I'm a natural-born content creator originally from California, but I've been on the road for 9 years living, working, traveling, blogging, and photographing my way around the world. I recommend the most amazingly adventurous and unique + boutique travel experiences/stays and helpful products to my audience and write comprehensive guides on my website that have helped millions of travelers so far. I love to inspire people to plan their dream trips, and many readers have given feedback as such. The reach on my platforms continues to soar, especially when combining cutting-edge social content with optimized articles on my high-authority website.