Where to stay in Nusa Penida?

Stay on the west coast, between Crystal Bay and Toyapakeh

The west coast, from Crystal Bay to Toyapakeh, is the most touristic area. In addition to downtown Toyapakeh, there are beautiful beaches all the way to Crystal Bay. This area offers water-based activities, including snorkeling trips and scuba diving. As a result, it's the island's busiest area.

The gateway to Nusa Penida from Bali, Toyapakeh in the north is the most urbanized area. This is where you can hire your scooters, essential for getting around unless you opt for a cab. You can also book an excursion to Manta Point, one of the most popular aquatic sites. Here, you can dive into crystal-clear waters to track manta rays.

For lunch, we recommend the Sunny Café, with a special mention for the pancakes.

A little further down, you'll find Gama Bay, renowned for its beautiful sunsets. Other must-sees include Crystal Bay, Broken Beach and Angel's Billabong. The island's symbol, Kelingking Beach , is even further south. A postcard landscape, it's recognizable by its T-Rex shape. It takes less than 30 minutes to reach by scooter.

From the port of Toyapakeh, it' s a 20-minute scooter ride to Crystal Bay. Road conditions are good, but the rental price is higher than in Bali. Parking lots are not free.

As far as places to stay in Nusa Penida are concerned, there's a very wide range on offer. Many high-end hotels, well worth the price, are scattered throughout the area.

Accommodation on Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan, the two islands next to each other

Other places to stay in Nusa Penida: Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. Opposite Toyapakeh are two smaller but equally touristy islands. They are both linked by a yellow bridge, which is a must-see. They can be reached by boat from Nusa Penida.

Nusa Lembongan is quite popular, with more cafés, restaurants and bars, which come alive at nightfall.

Nusa Lembongan offers a variety of attractions, including a pirogue trip through the mangroves, snorkelling and a sunset view of Mount Agung, Bali's largest volcano.

Nusa Ceningan, on the other hand, is much wilder and less developed. It's just 6km2 in size. Don't miss the Blue Lagoon site at the southern end.

Nusa Lembongan is home to more establishments, especially on the west coast. These are more guesthouses than hotels.

Staying in the heart of jungle

The heart of the island is characterized by omnipresent nature and a certain tranquility. As you're secluded inland, it's very quiet. If your holiday is all about relaxing by the pool and getting away from it all, this is the area for you.

As the various hotels are in the middle of the forest, you'll have nothing to worry about. Along the way, you'll come across tiny villages and the occasional isolated store.

As far as getting around is concerned, we recommend scooters, which are ideal for touring the whole island. Most hotels rent them out. One other thing: there's no mobile phone network on the island, so be sure to plan your itinerary from your hotel if you rent a scooter.

Be careful about your location: sometimes it's easier to disembark on Nusa Penida from the northern port of Sampalan than from Toyapakeh, and then take a cab to your accommodation.

The advantage of staying here is that you're centrally located, so you can go as far west as the tourist coast, as far south as the natural sites, and as far east as the famous Instagram beaches.

By scooter, you can visit the famous Kelingking Beach mentioned above, or the Peguyangan waterfall to the south. The latter can be reached via its recognizable, somewhat steep blue staircase, with around 700 steps.

Right next door is Manta Point, where you can just stand on the shore and admire the scenery (it's impossible to go down). If you go by scooter, don't miss the delicious Manta Point Bar & Resto. If, on the other hand, you want to dive, you'll have to opt for a boat trip.

Accommodation in the jungle is rare, scattered all over the center of the island. There are dozens of them. Most are modern, upscale hotels. If you're looking for a quiet, peaceful place to stay on Nusa Penida, we recommend this area.

Stay in the east, near Diamond Beach

Last but not least, the eastern part of Nusa Penida is home to several must-see spots such as Diamond Beach. If this point of interest is the reason for your visit, it may be a good idea to stay nearby.

Diamond Beach, along with Atuh Beach, is a well-known beach, and remainsone of Nusa Penida's must-sees. Admire it from the cliffs. Please note that swimming is forbidden due to the strong currents, and the descent to the beach is rough.

A little further south, you'll also find Rumah Pohon “Tree House”, an instragrammable place, famous for its staircases and the cliffs in the background. Secondary points of interest include the Tanglad weaving village and the Teletubbies Hill nature reserve.

Although well worth a visit, this area is off the beaten track. Staying here is more convenient for sightseeing, but you're also far from the rest of the island. It takes an average of one hour by scooter or car to reach Gamat Bay or Toyapakeh. That's why we don't necessarily recommend the east, which you can explore quickly before heading back to the west coast.

There are few establishments in this area, and the atmosphere is far removed from the luxury hotels of the west. Prices are much more affordable.