Bali's nicest neighbouring island
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Nusa Lembongan in Indonesia is Bali's cutest neighbouring island! Are you going on holiday to Bali soon or thinking about going that way? Then I am now going to convince you that you also want to visit this beautiful little island. It lies off the east coast of Bali and you can get there within 30 minutes by boat from Sanur. What awaits you on this island paradise are white sandy beaches, azure waters, a relaxed atmosphere and delicious food. Be sure to set aside a day or two or three for this, you won't regret it for a second! These are the best tips to do on Nusa Lembongan.
Nusa Lembongan: a little dream island!
Nusa Lembongan is a small island, within 20 minutes you drive from one side of the island to the other. The nice thing about the island is that there are no cars driving around, every now and then you'll see a small cart taking tourists to their hotels. If you want to explore the island, renting a scooter is therefore the only way to go. The island is quite hilly, the roads are not good everywhere but a scooter will get you everywhere super fast. It's a bit like Bali was years ago: a bit less touristy and quieter. Although by now the Nusas are certainly not unknown. Many mesen combine a holiday on Bali with islands all around. There are a lot of beautiful spots to be found on Lembongan, like Devil's Tears for example, a kind of hole in the rocks where the water rises wildly. And there are so many beautiful beaches to be found.
Things to do on Nusa Lembongan
Want to explore this fine little island too? Hop on the fast boat from Sanur and explore Bali's cute neighbouring island. Then these are five tips to do on Nusa Lembongan! Get ready for a few days on a lovely Indonesian dream island!
1. Chill out on Dream Beach
Located on the south side of the island, Dream Beach is easy to find. It is located between the rocks and the sea is very wild! It is therefore quite difficult to swim but if you are not too scared, it is definitely worth diving into the sea. If you are not careful, you will be scooped up by a wave and after 3 seconds you are 50 metres away on the beach. It was hilarious! Definitely do it on Nusa Lembongan.
It's a fairly quiet beach so you can relax. Near the beach is Dream Beach Hut, a resort with a cool bar and a very chill pool that you can just use for a small fee. The view over Dream Beach from an infinity pool is really very nice!
Things to do on Nusa Lembongan: chilling out on Dream Beach and eating at Sandy Bay Beach Club.
Do on Nusa Lembongan: eat at Sandy Bay Beach Club. Located near Dream Beach, this restaurant was my favourite! Try to picture it: white tables on the beach, lanterns in the breeze and sea views. It really doesn't get much better than this! Not only was the ambiance top notch but also the food at Sandy Bay Beach Club was hugely appreciated. Everything on the menu sounded delicious and actually tasted that way!
It was the best food we had eaten during the entire trip (three weeks of Bali-Nusa) and that's saying something, because Indonesian cuisine is so incredibly delicious. Just keep in mind that it's smart to make reservations here if you want to eat at Sandy Bay Beach Club because it's full (almost) every night.
In addition, it is pricier than what you are used to in Bali or at other restaurants in Nusa Lembongan, but it is really worth it. So if you are making a list of things you want to do and see on this beautiful Indonesian island, be sure to put eating at Sandy Bay Beach Club on it.
Another thing to consider when planning your trip to the beautiful Nusa Lembongan is where you will stay. If you're craving a luxurious experience amid the tranquility of nature, consider staying in a villa in Ubud. From there, you can easily make day trips to Nusa Lembongan and other nearby islands. You can book here > for your dream vacation in Bali.
Sunset on Nusa Lembongan 3. Snorkelling at Mushroom Beach
Mushroom Beach is het perfecte strand om even lekker te zwemmen en te snorkelen. And that really is one of the best things you can do on Nusa Lembongan. There are almost no waves at Mushroom Beach and here, too, the sand is white and the sea is azure. What a punishment! It's a bigger beach than Dream Beach and it's in a bay. There are all kinds of boats bobbing in front of the beach, and by the way, you can also enjoy supping but also on the banana for the enthusiasts.
This beach, too, is surrounded by rocks, making for good snorkelling. Because there are several restaurants, the beach is bigger and you can rent all kinds of things, there are also more tourists. It is therefore perhaps a little less intimate, but still really worth doing.
Snorkelling at Mushroom Beach 4. Breakfast at Bali Eco Deli
This super cute breakfast/lunch shop is located in the north of Nusa Lembongan. Which, by the way, doesn't matter as you can be everywhere in no time. Bali Eco Deli is open every day from 7am to 6pm. It's the perfect spot to grab a good coffee or eat a healthy salad. The Wi-Fi there is perfect so if you want to contact the home front for a while, this is a nice spot. It's one of the things you can finally take extended time for (something you can't do at home) and that's why discovering nice breakfast spots is always so nice when you're on holiday. Bali Eco Deli should definitely be on your to-do-list for Nusa too!
5. Sipping cocktails at Hai Tide Beach Resort
At the end of Mushroom Beach is Hai Tide Beach Resort where you can sip delicious cocktails in the pool or plop down in a beanbag! The restaurant that belongs to it, Hai Bar And Grill, ranks number two in terms of best restaurants of our trip! Not only is a bite to eat there top notch but afterwards it is the place to be for a nice cocktail or an ice-cold bottle of Bintang, the local beer. Hai Tide Beach Resort's restaurant is located on the beach which again makes the view bizarrely beautiful, also the restaurant itself looks super hip.
Drinking cocktails at Hai Tide Beach Resort Practical tips for your holiday
If you are planning your holiday to this sun-kissed Indonesian island, then these practical tips will come in handy.
Hire a scooter
As I mentioned, it's smart - and most importantly, super fun - to hire a scooter. That is really cheap on this island: for about five euros you can scoot around all day on this fine island. By the way, you can rent them in many places, and maybe even at your hotel or guesthouse.
Across the bridge to Nusa Ceningan
By the way, there is another island nearby that is worth a visit: Nusa Ceningan. This islet is even smaller and lies exactly between Nusa Penida and Lembongan. On the south side is a cheerful yellow bridge that allows you to get from one island to the other. Nusa Ceningan is much quieter and also less touristy than Lembongan. Here you will discover the more authentic side of Indonesia, which is an absolute must during this holiday. By the way, the most beautiful spots on Nusa Ceningan are on the west coast, where you will find beautiful beaches and a Blue Lagoon.
So I would advise you to stay on Nusa Lembongan for about three days and then travel on to Bali, Lombok or the Gilis. After all, Indonesia has so many special places and of course you want to see them all!
Combine with other islands: Bali, Lombok and Gili's
Nusa Lembongan is a wonderfully beautiful and fine island to spend a few days, but it is not a holiday destination for a few weeks. The island is just too small for that. But it is thus the perfect place to combine with a tour of Bali or perhaps several Indonesian islands like Lombok or the Gili Islands. If you want to travel between these islands, the best way to do so is by boat. From Bali to Nusa Lembongan is not that far by boat at all and the same goes for a boat trip to the other islands.