Nusa Penida is on top of a lot of people’s bucket lists – and we definitely understand why. Stunning white-sand beaches, turquoise water, cliff formations, and beautiful nature. These are just some of the things you should look forward to during a stay on the island.
With only a 30-minute ferry ride from Bali, Nusa Penida is a perfect island getaway. A lot of people tend to visit Nusa Penida during a day-trip – and that’s a good way to experience the island if your time is limited. But if you have the time, we recommend you spend a few days exploring the island even further. Therefore, we have made this perfect 4-days Nusa Penida itinerary for you to go exploring.
How to spend 4 days in Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida is a bigger island than you might imagine. Because of that, there are so many incredible things to do and see. Below, you will find our take on a 4-day Nusa Penida itinerary.
Keep in mind that this itinerary is only a recommendation. You can pick and choose any of the attractions and design your own itinerary. We only want to give you an idea of what to do – and whether you use this specific travel plan is totally up to you.
Day 1: Stunning beaches and crystal-clear water
For your first full day in Nusa Penida, we recommend you spend time exploring some of the stunning beaches. This means that your day is spent on the southeast side of the island.
The first stop of the day is Atuh Beach. This is one of the smaller beaches on the island – but definitely worth a visit. To get down to the actual beach you must walk down some stairs. This trip should take you around 10 minutes. During your walk down you will get a stunning view of the incredible cliffs and rock formations that surround the beach.
The next stop on your itinerary for the day is Diamond Beach. This beach is known as one of the most picturesque ones in Nusa Penida. After parking, you should head over to the viewpoint. From there you will be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the turquoise water and rock formations. When you have spent some time admiring the view, you should head to the stairs and walk down to the beach. Set aside a few breaks during the walk down, that way you will be able to take in the amazing view.
The last stop of the day is Thousand island viewpoint. From here you will be able to overlook the east coast of Nusa Penida. We would recommend you arrive in the afternoon. That way you will have enough time to visit the Rumah Poho Treehouse when the sun is still out. Afterward, you should find a perfect spot to catch a magical Nusa Penida sunset.
Day 2: The popular wonders of Nusa Penida
During your second day in Nusa Penida, you should explore some of the wonders that the island is most known for. This means that you will spend your day on the northwest side of Nusa Penida.
The first stop of the day is Kelingking Beach and viewpoint – also known as the famous T-Rex. Because this is one of the biggest attractions in Nusa Penida the crowds tend to be quite big. Therefore, we recommend you visit this amazing place as early as possible. If you are an early bird, a visit during sunrise is possibly the best way to avoid the crowds. After taking the stunning view from the top you will be able to walk down to the actual beach. Keep in mind that the way down (and up again) can be quite strenuous for some people. It is also possible to walk some of the way down, take in the stunning views, and then walk towards the top again without straining yourself.
The next stop for the day is Angel’s billabong. This is an incredible tide pool that cascades into the ocean. Thereby making it a natural infinity pool. We recommend you plan your visit according to the tides. The best time to visit Angel’s billabong is during the low tide when you will be able to get in the water.
The next stop on your itinerary for the day is Broken Beach. This nature-made cove is only a short walk from Angel’s Billabong and definitely worth a visit. Unfortunately, it is not possible to walk down to the beach. But you will be able to walk over the archway and get some incredible views of the beach.
The last stop of the day is Crystal Bay. This is the place for you to relax and digest your experiences of the day. You will be able to swim in the turquoise water, go snorkeling, or watch a beautiful sunset. A perfect way to end your second day in Nusa Penida.
Day 3: Exploring the outskirts of Nusa Penida
Day three of your Nusa Penida itinerary will get you to the west side as well as the north side of the island. During the day you will experience some of the places that many tourists tend to skip due to limited time. Which makes the perfect conditions for exploring the outskirts of Nusa Penida.
The first stop of the day is the Peguyangan waterfall on the western side of the island. This small waterfall is reached during a beautiful hike along with incredible cliff formation. You will get some spectacular views walking the iconic blue stairs. We recommend you start your hike as early as possible as it can be quite hot during midday.
Your second stop of the day is Trembeling natural pools, which are hidden in the forest of Nusa Penida. Among the trees, you will find two pools. The first one is the biggest one with fountains and traditional statues decorating the place. The second one is a bit smaller but has a view of the nearby beach. If you have the time, we recommend you visit both pools.
For the last stop of the day, you must travel up north to Manta Bay. Here you will have the opportunity to snorkel with giant manta rays. An incredible experience you shouldn’t miss. This activity can take up a lot of your time, but it is a perfect way to end your third day in Nusa Penida.
Day 4: A cultural kick and incredible views
For your last full day in Nusa Penida, you will explore some of the lesser-known parts of Nusa Penida. Hopefully giving you a cultural kick on the east side and some time to relax on the south side of the island.
The first stop of the day is Pura Goa Giri Putri cave, which is a religious sight in the mountains of Nusa Penida. The temple is quite extraordinary, and you will be rewarded with some incredible views once you are inside the cave.
From the temple, you will have to head down to the south part of the island to Suwehan beach. Here you have the opportunity to relax a bit. This beach is not one of the most popular ones on the island, but it is definitely worth a visit. The turquoise water and white sand make it a very picturesque beach. Bring your swimsuit and jump in the water – but be aware of the current, as it can be quite strong at times. But if you are lucky you might even see some turtles – so remember to bring your snorkeling gear.
The last stop on your 4-day Nusa Penida itinerary is Teletubbies hills. These soft-rounded grass hills grant you breathtaking views of the lush greenery of the island. You should plan your visit according to sunset. As these hills are stunning in the magical light during sunset. It is a perfect way to end your four days exploring Nusa Penida.
Getting to Nusa Penida
Getting to Nusa Penida is actually quite easy. We would recommend you travel from Bali as this is the easiest way. And a perfect way to combine a visit to the two islands. The ferry leaves from Sanur harbor (on the east coast of Bali) multiple times a day. Another thing we would recommend is going as early as possible to hopefully avoid some of the bigger tourist crowds. Your tickets can be bought at the harbor on the day of departure. It can be a quite hectic and stressful situation as the harbor tends to be crowded. Therefore, it might be a good idea for you to buy your tickets in advance. This can be done online and often guarantee you the lowest prices.
After a 30-minute boat ride, you should arrive in Nusa Penida and be ready to go exploring.
Book your ferry ticket right here!
Getting around Nusa Penida
For this 4-day Nusa Penida itinerary, we recommend you rent a motorbike. That way you are not dependent on a chauffeur or others and can roam around the island as you’ll like. But keep in mind that you should be comfortable riding a motorbike and driving on some uneven roads. We love to ride on a motorbike as it is definitely the most beautiful way to get around the island. As well as it gives you some flexibility.
Is 4 days in Nusa Penida enough time?
Whether 4 days is too much or not enough time to visit Nusa Penida depends a lot on you and the way you like to travel. Nusa Penida is the kind of island where you can easily spend a lot of time – even set a base for a couple of weeks or months as other digital nomads do. If you want to see more of the island than described in this blog post, then you should set aside more days. But that is the beauty of it – this guide is made for you to choose the things you would like to experience during your visit to Nusa Penida.
If your time is limited it is also possible to cut down the days so that you spend 2 or 3 full days on the island. You may be able to do everything on the itinerary if you don’t mind a jam-packed day, but if you are not that type of person you can easily drop some of the things mentioned above.
So is 4 days enough time in Nusa Penida? – Yes we would say that it is the ideal time for you to explore some of the popular attractions as well as the lesser-known parts of Nusa Penida.