5 best things to do in Nusa Lembongan (when you don’t dive)
Looking for the best things to do in Nusa Lembongan when you don’t dive?
This beautiful small island, Nusa Lembongan, is located in Asia, on the southeastern coast of Bali, and is best known for its diving opportunities.
Except I don’t dive.
Even so, we still fell in love with the island and found lots of things to do in Nusa Lembongan.
It feels like time stops. The perfect place to spend a few days.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN NUSA LEMBONGAN: RELAX AND EXPLORE
Our 5 Favorite Things To Do In Nusa Lembongan:
1. JUNGUT BATU
Explore Nusa Lembongan starting with Jungut Batu, the main village with its long stretch of beach.
Most fast boats dock here, on the far end of the beach.
Depending on the location of your hotel, you can walk or take a small open van that drops people off at different guesthouses.
The boat company can organize this for you, or you can make arrangements with your hotel for a pickup.
We travel light, so walking 20 minutes along the shoreline towards our accommodation wasn’t a problem. On the contrary, we were thrilled to feel the sand in our toes the whole way!
Jungut Batu beach is perfect for long walks at low tide and offers gorgeous sunsets.
At high tide, go surfing or try a paddleboard.
And if you want to go for a swim be aware that lots of boats are scattered everywhere and you might find moor lines slightly buried in the sand.,
Also, use water shoes, so you don’t hurt your feet on the broken corals.
Favorite thing to do in all of Nusa Lembongan: The sunset.
An incredible moment that repeats itself every evening.
Don’t miss it under any circumstances.
Find a colorful bean bag, enjoy a cold drink, a great meal, and enjoy the show!
The most amazing things in life are simple and free 🙂
At any time, enjoy the village of Jungut Batu, it’s full of small restaurants and shops, easily walkable along the main road (unpaved sidewalks).
If you’re feeling adventurous, rent a scooter or bicycle and explore other fun things to do in Nusa Lembongan. Be extra careful on scooters. Some roads are rocky, other unpaved, or full of potholes.
While planning things to do in Nusa Lembongan, we used collective open-air trucks. It’s not expensive and they’ll take you just about anywhere.
Don’t Forget Insurance.
We recommend World Nomads. You can easily tailor your coverage according to your activities, and it’s simple to sign up.
2. DREAM BEACH
We were crazy enough to walk to Dream Beach from Jungut Batu beach. Crazy because it was sweltering hot and mostly uphill!
On the map, it didn’t look that far!
But it was.
To our surprise, when we arrived, the beach was full of sunbathers and crowds snapping photos around an upscale restaurant.
For some mysterious reason, I was expecting an empty beach!
So much for my imagination.
I insisted on going back early morning to experience this empty beach alone.
If you’re a surfer and looking for the best things to do in Nusa Lembongan, then you’ll love Dream beach for its high waves and the adrenaline.
But it’s not the best place to venture out because strong currents can trap even the most excellent swimmer.
3. DEVIL’S TEARS, NUSA LEMBONGAN
On the list of best things to do in Nusa Lembongan, is Devil’s Tears. Walk only a few minutes north of Dream Beach and get ready to be impressed.
Devil’s Tears is hypnotic, you can feel the power of the sea at its best as the waves push through the natural blowholes.
Considering the crowds, many people feel that this spot is one of the best on the island.
Yes, lots and lots of people flock here to watch the spectacular waves crashing against rock formations over and over in rhythms.
I would suggest you take your time and not rush. Just take it all in.
But if you’re short on time, then at least try getting here early morning or late afternoon, as it’s still one of the best things to do on Nusa Lembongan.
Beware: You may be tempted to get close to the edge for the thrill or a picture. But don’t. Not even for a selfie, it’s dangerous, and the waves have swallowed up a few humans!
4. MUSHROOM BAY
Another great area on Nusa Lembongan is Mushroom Bay and its half-moon shaped beach.
Some other chill things to do :
- Have a cold drink and jaw drop in front of the gorgeous sunsets.
- Get a few original souvenirs from the many small shops.
- Enjoy a delicious local meal in the shade.
- Relax on the beach except maybe during high season due to the amounts of boats.
- Count the fish… great place for snorkeling
- Swim: but only inside the roped areas as fast boats coming from Bali also dock here.
5. MANGROVE FOREST
Gliding through the incredibly relaxing mangrove forest was for us, one of the best things to do on Nusa Lembongan!
The mangrove, located on the northeastern tip of the island, makes you feel like you’re an integral part of the island’s natural beauty.
For a relaxing experience, avoid large boats overflowing with crowds.
Not only are these boats expensive but their motors are noisy!
Plus these tourist boats can’t get into the smaller water alleys of the mangrove – which is where all the beauty lies.
Some say the best thing to do in the mangrove is to explore on a paddleboard or a kayak.
We walked past the guys scrambling to sell mangrove tickets, and down the endless dirt road.
All images credit: UrbanPax
We finally stopped in a small cafe and asked where we could rent a canoe.
As it turned out, the owner’s grandfather, a local boatman, was also in the cafe and had his canoe nearby.
We negotiated the price and off we went into the magical green water forest…
I was impressed by how he easily maneuvered the water alleys with a very long stick and a smile.
We enjoyed the quiet ride through impressive trees and their overflowing roots.
BONUS: YELLOW BRIDGE ON NUSA LEMBONGAN
It’s not really a thing to do, it’s just a yellow bridge.
But it connects the island of Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Ceningan, and that’s a big deal if you want to cross over and explore.
Cars are forbidden on the bridge as it’s barely wide enough for two scooters.
Be careful when crossing on foot as It’s an old and very narrow bridge
Nusa Ceningan is a much smaller island with surfing and snorkeling high on the list of the best things to do there.
The blue lagoon cliff jump is something to try if you’re fearless… but we enjoyed spectacular views instead 🙂
Read more about awesome things to do on Nusa Ceningan https://www.journeyera.com/nusa-ceningan-things-to-do/
HOW TO GET TO NUSA LEMBONGAN?
Many boats make the connection to Nusa from Sanur, and the ride itself takes about 1 hour.
Most companies take care of transfers and luggage — research which company fits your needs the best.
If you are not staying in Sanur, fast boat companies can arrange a transfer from just about anywhere for an additional fee.
We used Rocky Fast Cruise, and everything went fine.
They picked us up at the hotel in Sanur, and once we got our tickets at their office, we continued to the docking area.
It’s mostly the same for most boat operators, and usually, it’s a no-hassle thing.
The docking area on the beach looks like chaos.
A noisy confusion of boats, passengers, and piles of luggage.
One wonders how it all works out.
But it does.
Whichever boat company you choose, reserve an early morning ride as the waters are calmer.
Be aware that there is no real docking area in Sanur or in Nusa Lembongan.
So be prepared to get in the water – and probably get wetter than expected.
WHERE TO SLEEP ON NUSA LEMBONGAN?
The affiliate links below are places I recommend.
There are many places to find lodging on the island. From cheap basic accommodations without comfort to luxurious rooms with over the top amenities.
It all depends on your budget of course.
NUSA INDAH BUNGALOWS
We stayed here for 4 nights, and it was perfect for us. We wanted a swimming pool and the beach at our feet.. and that’s what we got!
The bungalows at Nusah Indah are made up of small alleyways lined with lots of trees and plants.
Rooms are comfortable, spacious and we had everything we needed in one place, including a spacious terrace.
My daughters spent quite a bit a time going from pool to beach!
The outdoor restaurant serves breakfast (included in our room) lunch and dinner – with cool musicians playing throughout the evening.
The only negative would have to be spotty wifi, but this is a problem in many accommodations on the island.
In the end, it allowed me to put down the phone and tune into real life.
Not bad at all!
IF THEY ARE FULL, THEN TRY:
AMPEL LEMBONGAN HOSTEL
This very comfortable hostel. It has a restaurant, an outdoor pool, wifi, and a lovely terrace. It’s close to Mushroom Bay and about a 10-minute walk to Devil’s Tear.
CHECK AVAILABILITY
PUTRA 7 COTTAGE
Cozy cottages in a quiet central location and super friendly staff. 5 minutes walk to the beach and a couple of minutes to Bali Eco Deli.
CHECK AVAILABILITY
Check The Map Below For Other Places To Stay on Nusa Lembongan
WHERE TO EAT
On our list of best things to do in Nusa Lembongan is of course food.
From traditional warungs to more elaborate restaurants, we tried a few places.. but kept going back to these three 🙂
- Bali Eco Deli – located at the end of Jungut Batu village. A simple, delicious place to have healthy food.
- Ohana’s Beach Lounge – the best place to laze around in large day beds and have a few drinks with delicious food. Have lunch or dinner with sea view and enjoy the magnificent sunset.
- Blue Corner Restaurant – right on the beach, laid back easy going from morning to evening. Great place to eat, hang out on beanbags or at a table and watch that gorgeous sunset!
Make sure to make a plan and include the best things do in Nusa Lembongan. Even if you’re not a diver there are quite a few things to do on the island.
Especially relaxing!
Can’t wait to go back 🙂 And maybe finally learn to dive?
