Located just 25 kilometers from Bali is the beautiful, exotic island of Nusa Penida, and it’s very easy to get to Nusa Penida from Bali!
It’s a much smaller island than Bali, but it has some of the most incredible scenery in the entire Bali province (which it’s part of).
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably already seen all of the awesome Instagram photos from this place, and you’re just wondering how to get there. The good news is that it’s pretty easy.
Read on for a complete guide on how to get to Nusa Penida from Bali or Nusa Lembongan!
Nusa Penida Day Tour Packages
First of all, if you’re on a tight schedule or want to skip the extra steps involved in arranging your own trip to Nusa Penida, GetYourGuide has prearranged day trips to Penida, complete with hotel transfer, fast boat tickets, island tour, and same day return to Bali.
We’ve used GetYourGuide for lots of day tours and activities around the world, and they’re great! Highly recommended.
Book Now: Nusa Penida Day Trip
How To Get To Nusa Penida From Bali
From Bali, the only way to reach Nusa Penida is by speedboat or ferry, with the speedboat journey taking about 45 minutes or so.
There’s no airport in Nusa Penida, so the closest place to fly is the international airport in Bali (DPS). You can shop for international flights to Bali at Skyscanner.
There are a bunch of speedboat companies making the trip to Penida daily, and they all depart from the Sanur area of Bali at various times.
If you’re staying in Ubud, Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta, or elsewhere in south Bali, you can also drive over to Sanur and catch a boat. Some boat companies include a shuttle service from these areas in their total price.
This is what the speedboats to Nusa Penida look like
The location in this map is the new general departure point for all speedboat companies operating a route to the Nusa islands from Sanur Bali.
In the past, they loaded the speedboats directly from the beach and you had to wade through knee deep water to get into the boat, which was a bit annoying and hazardous if you were bringing luggage or suitcases to Penida.
However, since late 2022, there’s a newly built harbor in Sanur, complete with comfy waiting rooms and a pier so you can step directly into the boats without getting your feet wet. It’s a huge improvement over the old setup! We’re working on getting photos of the new harbor soon.
To be extra safe and protect my camera, drone, and other water sensitive things, I still like to use a 30 liter Earth Pak dry bag when I visit Penida. That way if I somehow slip and fall when climbing in or out of a boat, my stuff won’t be toast.
How To Book A Speedboat
You can book your speedboat tickets in advance on the internet (or via WhatsApp), or you can show up and buy them in person if you prefer that. I think it’s definitely a good idea to book tickets in advance, because the boats are becoming very popular.
My personal recommendation for booking speedboat tickets is Klook, which has lots of departure and return time slots to choose from on every day of the week. You can make a booking with them here.
These speedboats usually have plenty of lifejackets at every seat. In my experience on well over a dozen trips to Penida, those have never been needed (thankfully), but the waves can be rough at times, so it’s still good that they’re taking safety seriously.
You can choose from 6 different Sanur boat companies on their website, and the prices are very reasonable. The boat choices are Axe Stone, Semabu, Sanjaya, Wijaya, Maruti, or Ray Fish. My preference would be Axe Stone.
You can also book extras like a scooter rental, private car with driver, or a day tour for Penida island, and they’ll meet you once you arrive!
Book Now: Nusa Penida Speedboat Tickets
This is the Sampalan harbor in Nusa Penida, where many of the boats land on the other side of the journey. It has a jetty for boarding and exiting the boats. The water is also much prettier on this side!
Other Speedboat Companies
There are many other speedboat companies operating between Bali and Nusa Penida. The ones listed above are just examples.
In the interest of full disclosure, I’ve put together a full list of companies that you can use for your trip.
The speedboat journey from Sanur takes about 45 minutes or so.
Mount Agung silhouette
The Speedboat Journey By Sea
The speedboat journey from Bali to Penida takes about 45 minutes or so.
It’s usually pretty comfortable, but it all depends on how big the waves are when you go. You can check the wind and waves forecast for Sanur at Wisuki. If the forecast is showing waves over 2 meters high, then you might have a bumpy ride.
Even if you have a rough ride once in awhile, I haven’t heard of any boats sinking on this route, and the distance is fairly short from Bali. If the waves are really bad, then they’ll probably cancel the boats or delay the crossing. But again, that’s rare.
The boats have an enclosed design, but there are little side windows you can open for more fresh air. Sometimes they’ll even let you sit on top of the boat, which only has a few seats but the best views by far!
Overall, the journey goes by quickly and you’ll be in the Nusa islands before you know it!
Padang Bai Ferry To Nusa Penida
Last but not least, another option for reaching Nusa Penida from Bali is the ferry service running from Padang Bai (aka Padang Bay).
The ferry to Penida departs at 10:00 and 14:00 daily. This crossing takes about 60-90 minutes and it’s cheaper than the speedboats (the one way price is 31k Rupiah).
With the ferry, you can also bring your car or scooter over to Nusa Penida from mainland Bali, although there are extra charges for this.
Personally, I’m not a big fan of ferries in Indonesia unless there are no other options. Compared to speedboats, the savings are minimal and the safety standards are notoriously bad. The last ferry I took on this route was overloaded and it didn’t even have any lifejackets.
With that said, if you’re wanting to bring your own scooter or car with you to Penida island, the ferry is your only option.
Book Now: Padang Bai Ferry To Nusa Penida
How To Get To Nusa Penida From Nusa Lembongan / Ceningan
I’ve only visited Penida from Bali, but you can also get there easily from nearby Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Ceningan.
This route departs all day near the Yellow Bridge between Lembongan/Ceningan and only takes about 15 minutes to reach Penida.
As of 2019, the one way ticket price is 70k Rupiah per person.
Frequently Asked Questions
• Is It Possible To Do The Boat On The Same Day As A Flight?
It’s possible to take the boat to or from Nusa Penida on the same day as your Bali flight, although I wouldn’t recommend it in many cases unless you have a comfortable amount of time between connections.
For example, if your flight arrives at Bali airport in the morning, you should be safe taking an afternoon or evening boat to Penida island on the same day. The same thing is generally true going in the opposite direction (back to Bali), although if you have an expensive international flight I don’t know if I’d risk it.
In my experience, the boats from the Nusa islands normally operate on schedule and delays are minor. However, if there is bad weather the boats may sometimes be delayed or even canceled for the day. That’s rare, but it has happened.
One time a friend and I were visiting Penida and all of the fast boats were canceled because of high winds and big waves. We were still able to make the journey back to Bali on the same day using the slow ferry, but we landed at Padang Bai harbor, which is farther from town, and the overall delay cost us several hours.
In the end, I guess it depends how much time you have between connections, how expensive your flight is, and how much risk you’re comfortable with. If you really want to be as safe as possible, I’d do the Penida boat trip on a separate day from your Bali flight. However, in some cases you may be able to do both on the same day.
More Nusa Penida Travel Tips
Looking for more information on the beautiful island of Nusa Penida in Bali?
Don't forget to check out my full Nusa Penida Travel Guide with free tips, maps, photos, and more.
This island is loaded with nice beaches, cliffs, caves, and snorkeling spots!
Where To Stay In Nusa Penida
Where We Stayed
We stayed at Saren Villa on the north coast of Nusa Penida, and paid 240k Rupiah ($15 USD) for a private double room with cold A/C, hot shower, and good WiFi.
This is one of the cheapest options in Penida, and it's in a great location near the best restaurants! We were happy.
Prices may fluctuate from time to time, so just keep an eye out for a good deal.
See Also
- Nusa Penida Island: Complete Travel Guide
- 4-Day Nusa Penida Itinerary – Bali’s Blue Paradise Island
- What To Do In Nusa Penida – Caves, Beaches, Cliffs, & More
- GetYourGuide Day Tours To Nusa Penida Island
- Bali Beach Guide – The Best Beaches In Bali
- Bali Waterfalls Guide – The Best Waterfalls In Bali
- Bali Temple Guide – The Best Temples In Bali