Planning Bali? Here are 10 things to know about visiting Nusa Penida
- Vivian Teo
- Jul 13
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 21
About a three-hour trip from Bali's Denpasar by car and ferry, Nusa Penida is a beautiful island worth visiting for its epic cliffs and ocean views.
We went to Bali this June school holidays! It was supposed to be a do-nothing, laze-by-the-hotel-pool kind of trip, but we still ended up fitting in a few activities. While planning, I looked up things my girls might enjoy and came across Nusa Penida on Klook—an island east of Bali with gorgeous scenery and dramatic rock formations. At first, I hesitated since day trips there mean waking up super early which is not exactly relaxing. But once I showed my girls the pictures, they were all in. The reviews on Klook looked promising too, so we slotted it in.
Honestly, I didn’t know what we were getting into—how long the journey would feel, how crowded it’d be, or whether it’d be worth it (the reviews in Klook weren’t super detailed). But after going, I'm glad to say both my teen girls really enjoyed it. My hubs, however, felt not all the sights justify the effort. As for me, even if it felt a bit like a hardship trip to get there, I’m glad we went—seeing my girls take it all in made it worth it.
If you're wondering whether Nusa Penida should be on your Bali itinerary, here are ten things to know that might help you decide.
1) What's at Nusa Penida?
The day trip we booked on Klook was for West Nusa Penida. These were the main stops:
Broken Beach
This coastal spot gets its name from a collapsed section of the cliff that forms a natural arch and a lagoon below.
The area’s pretty expansive, and we spent about 30 minutes walking around the rim. The views were incredible and we even spotted a manta ray from the cliffside!
Angel’s Billabong
Just a short walk from Broken Beach, this is a natural infinity pool where clear tidewaters settle between dramatic rocks. The setting is gorgeous and super photogenic.
Kelingking Beach
Known for its T-Rex-shaped cliff (though from our angle, it looked more like a dinosaur’s head), the view from the lookout point is stunning—turquoise waters, jagged formations, the works.
There’s apparently a steep trail down to the beach. I actually didn't see where the trail was and if it was open as it was just too crowded at the viewing point. We went, took pics and left pretty quickly. However, we did spot a few monkeys that seem to have owners nearby. Still, I was wary of getting too close in case it tries to grab our belongings. Haha!
Virgin Beach Club
Our tour was supposed to include Crystal Beach, but it was closed that day. Instead, we ended up at Virgin Beach Club. It’s a nice spot with a quiet beach and photo ops—not super exciting, but it was good to chill with a cold drink and some ice cream.
By the way, we noticed that Crystal Beach isn’t listed in Klook’s West Nusa Penida tour anymore. I would have liked to visit this beach as it did sound really beautiful from some of the Klook reviews, so hopefully they bring it back in the tour!
2) Is it necessary to book through Klook?
Booking through Klook was probably the easiest way to go (btw not a sponsored post for Klook!). It covers everything: transfers between harbours, ferry tickets, entrance and parking fees, taxes, and even a simple buffet lunch—so no need to fuss with separate bookings.
You can choose between a shared or private tour, with either just a driver or a guide. We went for a private tour with a driver only. He picked us up from our hotel at Kuta, dropped us off at Sanur Harbour for the ferry, and once we reached Nusa Penida, another driver was waiting to take us around the island and back for the return ferry. Super seamless as we could just focus on the sights without worrying about logistics.
We saw some tourists with guides, but we preferred exploring on our own. Unless you want a comprehensive intro to the sights, I think having a driver alone is good enough. Our driver was lovely. He helped point out great photo spots, took some shots for us, and waited nearby while we wandered each stop.
If you'd like to try snorkeling, there’s also a snorkeling add-on you can book in the day tour.
3) How far is the journey to Nusa Penida and the attractions?
We kicked off our tour bright and early at 6:30 AM, with our driver picking us up from Hard Rock Hotel in Kuta. It was about an hour’s drive to Sanur Harbour. From what I’ve checked, pick-ups can be arranged from hotels in places like Kuta, Seminyak, Legian, Sanur, Denpasar, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, Benoa, and Ubud though it’s best to confirm during booking.
We caught the 8 AM ferry, which took around 45 minutes to reach Nusa Penida. From there, it was another hour by car to our first stop: Broken Beach. Angel’s Billabong is just a short walk away. After that, it was another hour’s drive and a quick walk to reach Kelingking Beach.
The tour was meant to end around 4–5 PM, but by 1:30 PM, we already had lunch and were at Virgin Beach Club with not much left to do. So we decided to head back early. Ferries start heading back from around 2 PM, leaving every 30–60 minutes. If you’re ready to call it a day, just let your driver know and they can get you to the harbour for an earlier ferry. They'll also coordinate with your Bali-side driver for the pickup, so it’s all pretty smooth.
4) Is this suitable for young children?
Klook mentions that participants should be between 12 and 50 years old. We figured this is mainly because some of the attractions involve trekking and climbing stairs, but honestly, we didn’t find it all that strenuous. One concern about not having younger children could also be that there are no barricades at some of the attractions, so it's really visit at your own risk too.
That said, be prepared for the roads in Nusa Penida—they’re super bumpy, narrow, and full of twists. If you’re not used to such roads, you might feel a bit carsick. My girls joked that the car rides felt like being on a roller coaster at times!
As for the ferry, it can get choppy depending on the weather, but both our rides were surprisingly smooth.
5) Is it crowded?
According to our driver, Nusa Penida pulls in tourists year-round, so it's pretty packed every day. At Broken Beach, the space is so wide open that it doesn’t really feel crowded at all. But things get much tighter at Angel's Billabong and Kelingking Beach, where the viewing areas are smaller. Getting a photo without someone accidentally stepping into the frame can be a challenge!
You’ll also find some people taking their time with photo shoots—individual shots, group shots, multiple angles—so you might need to wait your turn for the popular spots. We were happy just grabbing a quick family photo and moving on, but at places like Angel’s Billabong, photo-taking definitely takes time.
6) Are there toilets on the way?
Yes, there are toilets at the harbours and also at the attractions, which cost 5,000 rupiah per pax to use.
7) How much does it cost?
At the time of writing, a West Nusa Penida day tour for four people—private car, transfers included, driver only, no snorkeling—cost around S$59 per pax, so roughly S$240 for our whole family. A shared tour is only slightly cheaper at S$54 per pax if you’ve got four in your group (and about S$66 per pax if there are just three of you). So if you’ve got at least four people, going private feels more worthwhile—you skip the waiting around for other groups and get to do your own thing at your own pace.
8) How soon to book?
Generally, you don’t need to book too far ahead. We made our reservation two days in advance, and the tour was still open for booking even the day before.
9) What to bring and wear?
Wear comfy shoes that can handle walking and a bit of trekking—you’ll definitely be moving around. Sunscreen and a hat are also smart to pack, since there’s pretty much no shade at the three main attractions.
The tour includes one bottle of water per person, but it's a good idea to bring extra. There are stalls selling drinks at the sites too. As for mozzies, we didn’t run into any issues, but feel free to toss in some repellent if you’re the cautious type.
10) When's the best time to visit?
According to our driver, Nusa Penida stays busy year-round, with crowds peaking in November and December. But keep in mind, that’s also Bali’s rainy season, so it might not be the best time to visit. Bali's dry season, from April to October, is generally ideal with more sunshine and less rain. If you're planning a trip, that’s probably the best window to soak in Nusa Penida’s beauty without soggy shoes or gloomy skies.
Hope this helps you decide whether to include Nusa Penida in your Bali itinerary - I would say go for it if you have older kids 😉 I’ll be posting a few more Bali updates soon (not too many—we kept things pretty chill this round), so stay tuned!
Disclaimer: We paid for our tour. As always, all opinions are ours.
©Vivian Teo. All content and photos are copyrighted to Vivian Teo unless otherwise specified.