Nusa Penida is like Bali’s little sibling – smaller, quieter, but oh-so-stunning. It’s the Instagram model of the Bali province, with views so breathtaking they might just knock your flip-flops off. Only 25 kilometers from Bali (basically a stone's throw if you have a really good arm), this exotic island offers scenery so good you’ll forget how many stairs you’ve climbed to get those perfect photos. Sure, you can do a whirlwind day trip from Bali and cram everything into a few hours, but honestly, why rush? Stay a few days, soak in the vibes, and give your camera a workout. Between the jaw-dropping photo ops, scenic hikes, and crystal-clear beaches, Nusa Penida is a paradise for both adventurers and people who just want to lie on the sand pretending to read a book. Getting to Nusa Penida is straightforward – hop on a speedboat or a ferry from Sanur Beach in Bali. The speedboat ride takes about 45 minutes, which is just enough time to reapply sunscreen or practice your "I woke up like this" selfie pose. With multiple departures daily, you’re spoiled for choice. Once you’re on the island, the West is where the party’s at: Broken Beach, Angel’s Billabong, Crystal Bay, and Paluang Cliff are the star attractions. Over on the East side, you’ll find the dazzling Diamond Beach and Atuh Beach, perfect for those who like their beaches with a side of dramatic cliffs. Fair warning, though – with the influx of tourists, the island could use a serious Marie Kondo clean-up session. So, while you’re snapping your millionth photo, remember to leave nothing but footprints and maybe pick up a bit of trash. Let’s keep this gem sparkling for everyone to enjoy

The island is absolutely beautiful with rugged cliffs and turquoise blue Sea, however the infrastructure is virtually nonexistent considering the amount of tourists visiting the island in recent years. There are plenty of new hotels, restaurants, clubs and tour companies and fastboats. There are no new roads, neither is there any proper signage. The roads are full of potholes and can be very dangerous. Doing the day trip means you have to hurry along, which leaves less time for caution and accidents, some fatal are happening every day. Certain areas on cliff sides which can be hit by sudden high waves should be roped off. Motorbikes should not available for tourists to rent until the roads are replaced/repaired to at least minimal international standard. We had a good trip as we decided to stay three nights and arranged to be driven each afternoon. This way we arrived at the highlight attractions after the crowds had left. Car and driver tours are relatively inexpensive, we paid $60 per 5 hour day. Driver doubled as a guide and photographer.

Very beautiful island, but the infrastructure is catastrophic. The internet is not very good and sometimes not at all, the streets are very small and full of potholes. The island is also very littered, especially in the tourist hotspots, but that is not necessarily the fault of the tourists but because there is not a single rubbish bin here. The rubbish is thrown into pits and burned. I would not recommend anyone who is not reasonably sporty, fit and not between 16 and 55 years old to go down to the beaches. It is very dangerous and you can easily trip or slip. In addition, there are extremely many tourists standing in the middle of the way to take photos, especially a lot of Chinese people are there and wanted to take photos with me (I am not a celebrity). So as I said, I would not recommend anyone who is reasonably sporty to go down the steep slopes, it can be fatal. You should also be careful where you go into the water. There are places with strong currents, you can even see them from far above. But apart from that, the view is of course very beautiful. I am staying at the Raja Lima Hotel and I would definitely recommend it. From here you can see Diamond Beach and, if the weather is good, you can even see the island of Lombok.

Pilau Nusa Penida offers a memorable culinary experience that perfectly captures the essence of Nusa Penida's vibrant food scene. This charming eatery combines fresh, local ingredients with traditional Indonesian flavors, creating dishes that are both flavorful and satisfying. The standout here is their rendition of Nasi Pilau (Pilau rice), a fragrant, spice-laden rice dish that pairs wonderfully with a variety of meats or seafood. The atmosphere is laid-back, with a rustic yet cozy vibe that reflects the island's natural beauty. Whether you're a traveler or a local, Pilau Nusa Penida is a must-visit for anyone looking to indulge in authentic island cuisine with a touch of modern flair.

The speed boat ride was good but once you reach the shore its a mix of happiness and sadness one side is the natural beauty on the other dirt and huge number of tourists that has completely compromised the natural beauty of the islands. Even our guide agreed that west islands are losing their beauty due to huge traffic of tourists. The roads are dirty and risky it feels the revenue being generated is not going in the infrastructure but sonewhere else. However, it is a must visit place for the casual tourist but at this stage, nature takes a back seat while the island has become a instagram island.

Okay, nice hotel, 3 rooms, Khamara, nice and quiet, very good restaurant. The cuisine in Indonesia has deteriorated a lot in recent years, but at Khamara it is good food. Penida pressure, plastic, plastic and did I say plastic?? Very bad roads, snorkeling with trip, from the beach there is something to see but that is moderate and you have to take into account the strong currents. Trips to the manta rays is like ajax going to play in the arena, not normally crowded, really not fun anymore. After 35 years of Indonesia I don't really have to go there anymore because of all the pollution and walking backwards from the indo kitchen

I will admit that we decided not to travel to all the beachy destinations whilst on the island that many review badly. Remembering that many other countries will try to scam you then Penida being just an hour from Kuta is likely no different. Plenty of dive boats head here to dive and snorkel as the island gets many currents. But food is pretty good and as always the majority of local people are very friendly and happy. Roads can get busy but thats what tourism does. I am sure though that many independent travelers like us will say its worth visiting for a few days to relax away from Dempasar and the likes.

I can only recommend this island if you have some time to be here. Day trips are a bust! We stayed 5 nights on Nusa Penida to the east (near Athu Beach). Were always on the road by motorcycle at the times when the day tours were either not there yet or were already gone. Were in beautiful places partly almost alone. For us the highlight of the entire Bali trip (We were still Gili Air, Lombock, Denpassar, Amed and Ubud). Getting to the beaches requires sturdy footwear and some common sense in assessing the risk of going into the water.

Pande was our guide and he was lovely. Picked us right up from the terminal and drove us around in AC with good music. Great tour, saw everything. He even let us wait in the car while it rained waiting for the ferry.

You have to stay there, not go there in the day. In my opinion it is better than Bali, which is now clogged with tourists (luckily we went in March), like all Southeast Asia. Of course, then there are those who are great travelers, and have seen much else elsewhere. But even I, in my own small way, have been traveling for fifty years, and at almost 69 years I have been traveling the island with the scooter ridden by my son, and my wife with the one ridden by my son's girlfriend. And this despite the streets. Sure, Kelingking beach is the world, but Crystal beach, Atuh beach and Coral beach are much, much better. I recommend staying at Meket bungalow, a little paradise.