The mainland of Bali has a lot to offer in terms of rice terrace views, jungle excursions, and countless restaurants, but a vacation in Bali isn’t complete without visiting some of the breathtaking islands as well. There is nothing quite like slowing down to experience those island vibes with a motor scooter rental.
During my trip to Bali, I visited three islands. In this blog post, I will highlight Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan, and Nusa Penida.
Nusa Lembongan, Bali
Nusa Lembongan is a beautiful island with incredible beaches and numerous restaurants. This is the perfect place to rent a motor scooter. We felt safe driving here, because it wasn’t super chaotic and the roads were in good conditions. We were able to rent a motor scooter through our Airbnb host, but locals will offer rentals near the ferry port as well.
To get to Nusa Lembongan, you can take a ferry from Sanur (on the mainland).
If you are looking for some specific recommendations, Sandy Bay Beach Club was my favorite restaurant. This classy beach restaurant is shown above and has wonderful views and great food. My favorite coffee shop that has delicious fruit bowls was Cookies Coffee Shop and Warung. For sights, Devil’s Tears Lookout is a popular viewing spot to visit along the coast, and Dream Beach and Mushroom Bay Beach are two popular beaches to visit. If you are looking for an adventurous activity for your time in Nusa Lembongan, consider swimming with the manta rays.
Nusa Ceningan, Bali
Nusa Ceningan is a lovely, smaller island that has trendy coffee shops and restaurants. It is connected to Nusa Lembongan by the yellow bridge, so you can take your motor scooter on a short ride and explore a new island!
As far as recommendations go, my favorite restaurant was Klyf Club Blue Lagoon. This restaurant has beautiful views above the water in a little cove area. I came here for breakfast (delicious french toast and a smoothie) and watched the sea turtles surface. My favorite coffee shop was Le Pirate Beach Club. This spot also has vacation rentals on the property, but they have a nice little coffee seating area on the water.
Nusa Penida, Bali
Nusa Penida is a popular natural island with several grand sights to explore. Kelingking Beach (also known as T-Rex Beach) is probably the most popular location to visit. This attraction features a giant rock formation that looks a bit like a T-Rex head (hence the nickname) along the coast. The picture at the top of this post shows this stunning location. You can walk along the rock formation and down to the beach if you are prepared for a hot hike back up. This spot makes for incredible photos. Other wonderful stops include: Crystal Bay, Broken Beach, Angel’s Billabong, and the Rumah Pohon treehouse to name a few.
Personally, I did a one-day tour to Nusa Penida from Nusa Lembongan. There is a little ferry port shack on Nusa Lembongan on the right before getting on the yellow bridge to Nusa Ceningan. You can buy your small ferry tickets here and go to Nusa Penida within minutes. You can buy a roundtrip ticket here for the same day if you also decide to do a one-day tour. Some people spend a couple nights on Nusa Penida, but I was glad I just did one eventful day here. I saw everything I wanted to see this day.
I recommend getting a private driver for your time in Nusa Penida. The island is large and the roads aren’t great. I would not have wanted to drive a motor scooter there. It is common in Bali to get a private driver for the whole day. For one full-day you can get a driver that will take you wherever you want to go for about $40. I rented this day tour on Klook. With a private driver, you don’t have to stress about the directions. Just tell them when you will arrive and enjoy the views and your activities!
Concluding Comments
Depending on how much time you have to spend in Bali, I suggest visiting at least one island. Nusa Lembongan was my favorite. I spent the most time here, since my Airbnb was here. I loved being able to go explore Nusa Ceningan one day too though, since it is so conveniently located. Nusa Penida is a popular stop because of the jaw-dropping views, but I did not need more than one day to see and appreciate the island.
I hope this post helps you. For more travel tips and inspiration, check out the destinations tab on my website. Thanks for stopping by! Cheers to exploring new islands and making connections around the world.