Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan are two small islands just 25 minutes by boat from Bali. They’re the perfect destination for a relaxing weekend away from the busy Bali and the best place for snorkeling adventures, swimming in the turquoise waters, and enjoying sunset cocktails.
We spent 4 days exploring both islands and here is the complete travel guide to Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan!
1. Mangrove tour
The mangroves of Nusa Lembongan cover most of the island’s northeastern coastline and are an important natural defense against large waves, as well as coastal erosion.
The mangrove tour is a peaceful and beautiful boat tour in the mangroves of Nusa Lembongan. The cost was 75k IDR per person and you’ll spend roughly an hour on the water.
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2. Yellow Bridge Nusa Lembongan – Ceningan
There is probably nothing more iconic on Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan than the yellow bridge connecting the two islands. The bridge has been rebuilt in 2017 after a collapse and is wide enough for pedestrians and motorcycles. It is the only bridge that connects the two islands so you are guaranteed to see it!
3. Devil’s Tears
Violently beautiful, Devil’s Tears describes a cliff on Nusa Lembongan, with massive waves crashing into it. But the dramatic swashes don’t happen just at any time of the day. We went in the afternoon and the sea was low and calm. So if you want to see this spot in its full effect, make sure you come when the tide is right! In summer that was around 2 pm. Just make sure you don’t stand too close to the big waves since they can also be deadly.
4. Dream Beach
The title really does describe this place so perfectly. White, soft sand, turquoise blue water, infinity pool and great sunbathing spots – this beach really does have it all. Whether you decide to be here during the day or in time for sunset (or if you stay in one of the huts), you will love it here! This was also my favorite spot on Nusa Lembongan.
5. Gala Gala underground house
Gala-gala was built by Made Byasa to protect his family, over the course of 15 years. The Gala Gala underground house is more of an underground bunker. I wouldn’t call it a house even though it’s supposed to have two kitchens, a sitting room, and two bedrooms.. Can you guess which is which? It is a lot bigger than you’d expect though, but still not for those who are claustrophobic. It reminded me a little of the Cu Chi Tunnels in Vietnam, except it was a lot more spacious.
We looked around for the entrance but there was no one there, so we wandered above and below for free. People have been paying different entrance fees here though, so if the price is higher than 10,000 IDR per person make sure you haggle.
6. Sunset at Cloudland Bar
Get here an hour before sunset to secure a beanbag, get a cocktail or a Bintang and get ready for nature to start bragging with all the beautiful sunset colors. Cloudland Barn on Nusa Lembongan is very basic so don’t count on eating here, but just 5 minutes away is Sandy Bay where you can have a delicious dinner!
7. Snorkeling tour
There are plenty of people offering snorkeling tours starting from Nusa Lembongan and going to Nusa Penida. The best spots to book are Gamat Bay, Manta Bay, and Crystal Bay. The tours will almost always include snorkeling gear. We booked a private tour with Mae Shop for 650k IDR where we had our own boat and they picked up and dropped us off in front of our hotel.
8. Blue Lagoon Nusa Ceningan
A beautiful spot for jumping, taking pictures, or simply relaxing, Blue Lagoon has something for everyone. We opted for the latter and spent a few hours sunbathing and eating at the nearby Klyf Club.
9. Mahana Point Nusa Ceningan
Attention thrill-seekers! If cliff jumping, surfing, and pristine white sand beaches are your thing, then don’t miss out on Mahana Point. Here you’ll find one of the most epic jumping spots from a 10-meter and a 5-meter jumping spot. And if you’re just accompanying a thrill-seeker, then rest assured – this is a warung so you can just relax with a Bintang in your hand instead.
10. Swing
It won’t take you too long to notice the sheer amount of swings in both Nusa Lembongan & Ceningan. Some of my favorites were Dream Beach, Seabreeze Caningan, Secret Point Beach, and The Sand Ceningan.
Best bars and restaurants in Nusa Lembongan & Ceningan
Both Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan have some great restaurant and bar spots. These are the ones that were best at our time of visit.
Lembongan:
Thai Pantry – Best food and cocktails, went here 3 times in 4 days
Kayu Lembongan – Great food and frozen margaritas
Cloudland – Sunset spot with cheap cocktails
Sandy Bay Beach Club – Sunset cocktails and dinner spot
The Deck – Dinner and drinks, located right next to Thai Pantry
Ceningan:
Seabreeze Caningan – Beautiful setting, but slow service so make sure you allow enough time to be here
The Sand Caningan – Grab a coconut and enjoy the swing
Le Pirate Beach Club – Cute lunch spot and burgers
KLYF Club – Food and cocktails with a view of the blue lagoon
From Bali to Nusa Lembongan
The easiest way to get to Nusa Lembongan is by boat from Sanur, Bali. The only thing you need to keep in mind when going from Bali to Nusa Lembongan is which provider you go with. We luckily went with Arthamas, who doesn’t drop off at Mushroom Bay like the rest. This was especially handy for us who booked a place to stay just 2 minutes down the road from Arthamas Bay.
The boat from Bali to Nusa Lembongan cost IDR 350k (24 USD) per person for a return ticket and we went there on the 9.15 am boat and returned 4 days later on the 16.15 pm boat.
How to get around Nusa Lembongan & Ceningan
When you get off the Arthamas boat (or arrange before arriving), you’ll want to WhatsApp message Suli from Mae Shop on +62 822 3661 6369 and get your scooter rental. They were our go-to company for all tours as well since they repeatedly gave us good prices. Getting around both of these islands is easiest on a motorbike and Nusa Ceningan is only accessible by walking or motorbike.
A smaller motorbike such as Scoopy is enough for these islands since the roads (with some exceptions in the north part of Ceningan) are great. We paid 70k (4,80 USD) per day for a Scoopy and 150k (10 USD) a day for a bigger NMax.
Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Ceningan
Both Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan are very small and you can make drive around both in about an hour. You’ll arrive at Nusa Lembongan and then the easiest way to get to Nusa Ceningan is by crossing the famous yellow bridge. You cannot miss it!
Where to stay on Nusa Lembongan & Ceningan
While there are many great places on both Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan, I would recommend booking your stay at Pemedal Beach Resort. The rooms and the resort are nicer than their pictures, the breakfast was included & delicious (that omelet was *chef’s kiss*) and the staff was so kind! Did I mention it was only €90 for a room for 3 nights?
On Nusa Ceningan I thought the prettiest and similarly priced place was Le Pirate Beach Club. It’s small and simpler than Pemedal, but the pool and restaurant area are absolutely lovely.
ATM’s on Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan
Paying by card hasn’t been an issue for us on either Nusa Lembongan or Caningan. Often they will charge an extra 2-3% though, so the best thing to do is take out cash before you get here or on the island. We drove past 3 ATMs on Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan and took out money here without problems.
A lot of people mention that often the ATMs don’t have cash though, so better come prepared though.
I hope you enjoyed these 10 best things to do on Nusa Lembongan & Ceningan. During my 4 total months on Bali, these two islands made it to the top of my list, and if you have at least two nights to spare during your Bali trip, then make sure you head to both Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan.
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