Finding the best beach in Nusa Penida was my top priority on my Bali trip.
Located a short ferry ride from mainland Bali, Nusa Penida is notorious for its dramatic cliffs.
The most famous beaches in Nusa Penida include Kelingking Beach (also known as T-Rex Beach) and Diamond Beach, both sporting tall cliffs and formidable hikes.
However, there are many more attractions along the coast, including sea arches, natural pools and more beaches.
When it comes to deciding the best beach in Nusa Penida, I’m aware that everyone is looking for something different.
I personally appreciate a challenging hike. However, you may prefer to spend the day sunbathing or snorkelling or getting the perfect photo for Instagram.
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QUICK INFORMATION
Best time to visit: April to October
Best way to get around: Scooter 🛵
Not confident on a scooter?
Try this East and West Highlights Tour (from Nusa Penida or Bali) 🌊
How to Visit The Best Beaches in Nusa Penida
There are several ways to visit the beaches in Nusa Penida.
1. Scooter
I visited many of the island’s beaches on a scooter. This is the cheapest way to explore the island, with scooter rental costing between 100,000 and 200,000 IDR depending on the scooter.
Riding a scooter also affords you the most freedom; you don’t need to stick to a tight tour schedule.
The only thing is, if you’re not an experienced rider, this is not the place to learn.
Nusa Penida has very challenging roads with tight bends, steep inclines and loose gravel and potholes, so it’s only suitable for experienced riders.
I hired an experienced driver to take me around the island by scooter. I booked this through my hostel, Nuansa Penida, and it cost me 350,000 IDR.
2. Private car
If you don’t want to travel by scooter, the next-best option is to hire a private driver; this is easily done through GetYourGuide and starts at £40 for one person.
Travelling by car is slower than taking a scooter. The island’s roads are narrow, so they get easily clogged with traffic.
The roads are also very windy, so you’re more likely to experience motion sickness in a car.
Having a private driver means that you get to decide exactly which beaches you visit. Tour groups will follow a set itinerary instead.
3. Take a group tour
The final way to visit the beaches in Nusa Penida is to take a group tour.
The popular East and West Highlights Tour covers the island’s two most famous beaches, Diamond Beach and Kelingking (T-Rex) Beach.
However, this misses out on several other beaches such as Atuh, Broken Beach and Gamat Bay.
Ideally, you can spend one day taking a tour of the west coast (this includes snorkelling with manta rays, Gamat Bay, Kelingking Beach and Angel’s Billabong).
Then, you can spend a second day on a tour of the east coast (this includes Atuh Bеасh, Diamond Beach, Molenteng Trее Hоuѕе and Teletubbies Hill).
The Most Famous Beach in Nusa Penida
There are two very famous beaches in Nusa Penida: Kelingking Beach and Diamond Beach.
When it comes to getting the perfect photograph, they are the best beaches to visit in Nusa Penida.
Kelingking Beach
Diamond Beach
You’ll need to arrive early to avoid the crowds because everyone wants ‘the money shot’, a photo without crowds.
The Best Beaches in Nusa Penida Ranked
1. Kelingking Beach
Highlights: Scenery, hiking, photography
Swimming: No
Located on the west coast of Nusa Penida, Kelingking Beach is one of the best beaches in Indonesia, let alone in Nusa Penida.
This is my favourite beach on the island; I visited it a total of three times.
It’s also known as T-Rex Beach, as the shape of the cliffs resembles the outline of a tyrannosaurus rex.
Instagram is partly responsible for its fame. The thin staircase running along the narrow green ridge went viral several years ago.
Completing the climb to and from the beach will give you some bragging rights.
The lower section of the cliff walk requires a significant amount of bouldering. The railings are makeshift and made from bamboo.
They are actually building an elevator at Kelingking Beach, an unfortunate decision that will not only damage the scenery but also means that the beach will get busier and busier in the years to come.
Because it’s so hard to hike to, the beach usually only has a handful of people at a time.
2. Diamond Beach
Highlights: Scenery, hiking, photography
Swimming: No
Diamond Beach is another famous beach on Nusa Penida.
In the earlier days of its fame, there was only a viewpoint over the beach.
However, hardworking locals built a staircase into the side of the cliff, creating a path to the beach (and a new vantage point for photographers).
Diamond Beach was named after the two distinctive diamond-shaped rock formations on the beach.
The unique landscape and swaying palm trees make it one of the best beaches on Nusa Penida for scenery.
Diamond Beach is harder to get to than Kelingking Beach. However, Atuh Beach is accessible on the other side of the clifftop, so you can see two beaches in one trip.
There are several warungs at the top of the cliff if you get hungry or thirsty.
It’s also a short scooter ride from Diamond Beach to the famous Rumah Pohon Treehouse and the Thousand Island Viewpoint.
3. Broken Beach
Highlights: Scenery, photography
Swimming: No
While Broken Beach isn’t as famous as Kelingking Beach or Diamond Beach, it is one of the most scenic viewpoints in Nusa Penida.
It’s not a beach in the traditional sense. Waves are swept through a sea arch into a circular white-sand bay enclosed by cliffs.
The beach is not accessible, but the area is good for photography.
The Broken Beach viewpoint is a 10-minute stroll from Angel’s Billabong.
Angel’s Billabong is a tidal pool that looks blue-green when the weather is good (it’s murky after rain), so it’s a popular spot to take photos.
Many people swim in the rockpool, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
Several people have drowned at the site (and many more have been injured) because large waves often unexpectedly drag swimmers out to the sea or crash them into the rocks.
4. Suwehan Beach
Highlights: Fewer tourists, scenery, hiking, photography
Swimming: Wading is possible with caution
I’m a big fan of an underdog, especially when it comes to beaches in Bali and Nusa Penida.
Suwehan Beach is one of my favourite beaches yet. It isn’t on the traditional tour routes, so for over two hours, I had the beach completely to myself.
It’s so unvisited that even my scooter driver had no idea how to get there.
When we arrived, he was so excited that he accompanied me on the hike and asked me to take panoramas of himself on the beach to send to his friends.
Suwehan Beach features a diamond-shaped rock formation and white sand.
You should try to visit at low tide, otherwise you risk most of the sand being covered.
There’s a challenging half-hour hike to and from the beach. If you want to visit it yourself, then I explain how to in my guide to Suwehan Beach Nusa Penida.
5. Tembeling Beach and Forest
Highlights: Few tourists, forest scenery, swimming, novelty
Swimming: Available in the natural swimming pools
Tembeling Beach and Forest wouldn’t be my first option for a beach day in Nusa Penida.
However, if you’re looking for something a little different and somewhere less saturated with tourists, this offbeat destination fits the bill.
The site has a small beach with large waves. However, the natural swimming pools are the main attraction.
Surrounded by the forest, the swimming pools formed naturally but are kept fresh with running water pipes set up by locals.
The best part about Tembeling Beach and Forest is that it isn’t on the tours.
The journey there is a little challenging. The pools are located down a narrow, gravel track with a steep drop into the forest on one side.
Unless you’re a very confident scooter driver, you should take advantage of the lifts offered by experienced local scooter drivers at the top of the path.
They usually charge around 75,000 IDR for a return trip.
6. Atuh Beach
Highlights: Sunrises, scenery, easy access, family-friendly
Swimming: Possible with caution
Located next to Diamond Beach, Atuh Beach is great for a typical beach day. It has sunloungers and warungs (typical Indonesian restaurants).
It’s a great option for families or anyone who wants to relax rather than sightsee.
If you’re looking for the best beach for sunrise on Nusa Penida, Atuh Beach should be your first pick too.
It faces the east, so the sunrise is over the ocean.
Atuh Beach is considered safer for swimmers than Diamond Beach or Kelingking Beach. Nevertheless, you should exercise caution because strong currents can occasionally sweep through the bay.
7. Crystal Bay
Highlights: Safe swimming, sunsets, family-friendly
Swimming: Yes
Crystal Bay is one of the safest beaches in Nusa Penida for swimming. However, it’s best known for its beautiful sunsets.
Facing the west, it is easily accessible by road from the west of the island, so many people gather there to watch the sun set over the sea.
Lined with warungs, Crystal Bay is a nice spot for dinner and drinks too. During the day, you can rent snorkelling equipment or bring your own.
Many snorkelling tours stop at the beach after visiting Manta Bay.
Tips: Pandan Beach is less-busy and located half an hour’s walk over the hill. Ask a local for directions if you find Crystal Bay too busy or want to explore.
Nusa Penida also has several sunset bars. My favourite sunset bar is Amok Sunset Bar.
8. Gamat Bay
Highlights: Snorkelling, relaxing, easy access
Swimming: Yes
Gamat Bay is located on the west coast of Nusa Penida. Like Crystal Bay, it’s easy to access.
The only difference is that you must follow a short, simple trail after parking on the road.
Gamat Bay is accessible by boat and a common stop on snorkelling tours of the island.
Instead of visiting the beach by scooter or car, you might want to consider joining a snorkelling tour.
If you want to swim with manta rays on Nusa Penida, an essential activity is snorkelling at Manta Bay Nusa Penida.
If you want to snorkel independently, you can bring your own snorkelling equipment to Gamat Bay.
However, you should be aware that there are sometimes strong currents at the beach, especially further out in the bay.
Boats have been known to rescue snorkelers in distress. You should be a confident swimmer. Fins or a lifejacket can increase your safety.
Nusa Penida’s beaches are known for their strong currents and big waves, so you should exercise caution when swimming at any beach on the island. The best beaches for swimming on Nusa Penida are Crystal Bay and Atuh Beach because they are considered to be the safest.
Gamat Bay and Crystal Bay are the best beaches in Nusa Penida for snorkelling.