Choosing between Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Ceningan comes down to one simple question: do you want comfort and amenities or do you want rough, wild nature?
Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan is a raw destination. There are few beach clubs, 5-star hotels, or restaurants. For some people, these luxuries are why they travel to Bali in the first place.
For those who want to get away from mainland Bali but don’t want to go off-grid, visiting Nusa Lembongan is the better choice. It still has a lot of what makes Bali famous – like the beach bars, the organic cafes, etc – and a sprinkling of nature as well. Surfing on Lembongan is far more accessible than in Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan as well. Better yet, Nusa Lembongan is still very close to Nusa Penida and the latter could easily be visited on a day trip from the former.
But if you want unfiltered, untouched, and epic scenery, the likes of which can be nowhere else in Bali, Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan is the clear winner. The landscape of this island is just unrivaled. If you can handle yourself and don’t mind roughing it a bit, then you’ll love Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan.
Which island do you choose? Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Ceningan? We promise you: both Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan or Nuusa Ceningan are nice destinations in Bali. Read which island is perfect for you.
Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan: which island do you choose with a toddler?
Are you traveling with small children? Then the choice for Nusa Lembongan might be a bit more pleasant. The island is much smaller and has fine beaches and plenty of beautiful resorts and hotels. The roads are good and attractions close by. Nusa Lembongan is the perfect destination for a family.
Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan: which island is the most beautiful?
They are equally beautiful, however, if you love rough nature. Therefore, you will like Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan better. The island is rougher, has deep cliffs, and an unspoiled landscape. The top attractions at Nusa Penida such as Kelingking beach and Diamond Beach are really breathtakingly beautiful seas and Nusa Ceningan with its Cliff and its well-known surfing location. That does not alter the fact that Nusa Lembongan is also very beautiful with it bays and crystal blue.
Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan: which island is the most adventurous?
Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan is a lot more adventurous than Nusa Lembongan! Almost all sights on Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan require physical effort. The roads are not as good as in Nusa Lembongan. If you looking for adventure and do not mind driving a scooter, then choose Nusa Penida or Nusa Ceningan.
Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan are suited for those adventurous thrill-seekers. At Nusa Penida, you can do diving at Manta Bay and you can do cliff jumping at Nusa Ceningan – Blue Lagoon, which is the perfect opportunity to get some photos of Blue Lagoon.
Nusa Penida vs Nusa Lembongan: which island do you choose if you want to tan and relax on the beach?
If you really want to relax, don’t do too much and just stare at the sea from a beach bed, choose Nusa Lembongan. You can also relax on Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan, but because of the many sights that are quite far apart, it is tempting to go out anyway. Nusa Lembongan has fine beaches, and beautiful beach clubs and is not that big. Perfect for a nice holiday, some reading and relaxing!
When to Travel to Nusa Island.
The weather in Nusa Penida is pretty much the same as in southern Bali. Temperatures are consistently warm throughout the year through the summer humidity does make the island feel stickier and hotter.
Nusa Penida is actually a bit arider compared to its neighborhood, Nusa Lembongan. Like Uluwatu and the Bukit Peninsula, which are about the same latitude, Nusa Penida usually receives leftovers from the northern rainstorms
Whilst a lot of Bali is still accessible during the rainy season, we do not think that traveling to Nusa Island during this time would be ideal. For one, the boats from Bali to Nusa Island will often be interrupted by storms and rough seas. For another, I can’t even imagine what the already bad roads on Nusa Penida may be like after heavy rain.
If you do make it to Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan during the rainy season, you will reap the benefits of cheaper accommodation prices. Just make sure that there are hotels on Nusa Penida that are still open.
If you want to go scuba diving in Bali, there is definitely a right time to visit. Nusa Penida’s two most popular marine animals – mantas and mola mola – come out during the winter season. Peak months for mantas are April/May and mola mola in August/September.