Nusa Ceningan Island

Nusa Ceningan is a small island off the southeast coast of Bali. It has two closest neighbors, Nusa Lembongan, located across a narrow strait and connected by a suspension bridge, and the monumental Nusa Penida.

On the left is Lembongan, on the right is Ceningan, and in the upper right corner is Nusa Penida; photo by @dennisswiss.

Чeningan is the smallest among this family of islands, covering an area of only 3 square kilometers.

Administratively, all three islands are part of one of Bali's districts - Klungkung. They are separated from Bali by the Badung Strait.

Ancient Balinese legend tells of a prince from the island of Penida who set out to conquer Bali. Upon his defeat and return home, his boat wrecked off the shores of Penida, petrifying and becoming the island of Nusa Ceningan.

On Ceningan, roads are much less developed compared to Lembongan and Penida. There is no bustling traffic or congestion here. You can travel from one end of the island to the other in 20 minutes.

Often, the islands of Lembongan and Ceningan are perceived as a single entity because they are connected by a bridge. If you visit Lembongan, it's likely that you will also explore Ceningan.

Cars do not travel across the bridge between Lembongan and Ceningan. The transportation between them is possible only by motorcycle or on foot.

Cheningan is a good place for walking: there is almost no transport here, but nature reigns supreme. It takes about an hour to walk from one end of the island to the other.

Bicycles can be rented at most hotels and guesthouses. The roads in Ceningan are not in as good a condition as those in Lembongan.

The cost of renting a bike is around 20,000–30,000 rupees per day.

You can rent a bike at various hotels and guesthouses. The cost is 50,000–100,000 rupees per day, depending on the bike's condition.

Grab and Gojek services on the island do not operate the same way as they do on the neighboring island of Lembongan.

To get from Ceningan to Penida, you'll need to use boats departing from the pier near the yellow bridge. There is one inexpensive boat early in the morning, and later in the day, you'll need to rent a slightly more expensive boat for yourself and your group.

Here, there is a calm atmosphere, even more serene than on Lembongan. The local residents are Hindus, just like in Bali.

The climate of Ceningan is similar to Bali's, but it is drier here.

There is less accommodation on Ceningan compared to Lembongan, as the island is generally less developed. However, there are still hotels and guesthouses available.

The main attractions on the island are primarily related to water activities such as swimming, cliff jumping, snorkeling, diving, and surfing.

There are no nightclubs on the island. Occasionally, you can enjoy evening gatherings at sunset restaurants in the northern part of the island.

The famous suspension bridge connects two islands: Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. It's a great place to capture stunning photos, especially if you happen to be on the bridge when it's not crowded.

Unfortunately, the bridge has a tragic history. In 2016, it collapsed, resulting in the loss of eight lives. Since then, it has been rebuilt and is now safe for pedestrians and motorcycles.

In the near future, the bridge will be expanded to accommodate cars.

Absolutely stunning lagoon with bubbling waves of sky-blue color. It remained wild and pristine for a long time, but in 2018, construction of a villa complex began here.

If you have a lot of experience in cliff jumping, you can jump from a cliff here. But this is an unofficial jumping spot because accidents have occurred there.

Popular place for diving. There are two towers - one about 13 meters and the second about 5 meters. The five-meter length is used by surfers to enter the lineup.

Overall a beautiful place to watch the sunset or enjoy an afternoon get-together.

Rolling terrain overlooking the ocean, adorned with an old tree. A popular spot for Instagrammers, this location is also perfect for witnessing breathtaking sunsets.

Located on the southwest coast of Nusa Ceningan Island, not far from the yellow bridge, this beach boasts white sandy shores and crystal-clear waters. It is relatively safe, with small waves and shallow depths.

A beach surrounded by cliffs, just 5 minutes from the blue lagoon.

To reach the beach, park near Villa Trevally and walk through the restaurant. There, you can find an infinity pool overlooking the ocean. To use the pool, you need to purchase something at the restaurant.

Swimming at the beach is challenging due to rocks and waves. If you head to the far left corner of the beach, you'll find a sandy area suitable for swimming and snorkeling.

The water is relatively shallow, but you can still take a dip. It's advisable to arrive before noon, as there is no shade left by 12 o'clock.

Located on the northeast of Ceningan Island, this white sandy beach is perfect for sunrise gatherings. Local fishermen and farmers cultivating seaweed often gather here.

Surfing on Ceningan is mainly done at Mahana Point.

For diving, you will be taken to the neighboring island of Nusa Penida. However, it is just a short boat ride away from Ceningan.

A boat trip from Nusa Lembongan to Manta Bay, where you can dive with giant mantas, takes about 20 minutes.

To book a diving trip, it's recommended to visit a dive center on Lembongan.

One of the tourists' favorite places. Good food at reasonable prices, excellent staff, and a beautiful view. The vegetable curry and smoothies are very delicious. Cozy bean bags, hammocks, hanging basket chairs for Instagram-worthy photos, and a pool complete the experience.

A simple local style restaurant near the Blue Lagoon. They serve delicious nasi goreng - fried rice.

Great bar and open air restaurant. The beach has different insta-scenery - driftwood bars, swings and a hammock over the water.

Infinity pool, excellent seafood dishes, friendly staff. The road might be a bit inconvenient. The breathtaking view from the top of the cliff overlooks the neighboring island of Nusa Penida across the strait.

This restaurant offers a breathtaking view. There are Instagram-worthy decorations like swings and a terrace shaped like a boat. The staff is very friendly and proactive. However, the food can be quite expensive.

You can order a very good lunch here. The menu includes many vegetarian dishes. The fruits in the restaurant come directly from their own garden, so they are very fresh. The pool is amazing - it's large and quite deep, and the view is simply outstanding.

Incredibly delicious food! The chef has a very attentive and careful approach to preparing dishes. The snapper, fried with delightful creamy sauce, is very tasty. Excellent ribs with smoky barbecue sauce. The Pad Thai is very flavorful, and the beef burger with beetroot bun is outstanding. They also offer vegan dishes.

High-quality and fresh Indonesian cuisine at very reasonable prices. Fragrant and hearty Nasi Goreng - fried rice. Excellent fresh snapper. They also have delicious vegetarian dishes.

A great place to relax and enjoy something from Mexican and Western cuisine. There are fantastic beach lounge chairs and a shaded upper terrace. They play excellent music!

A very diverse menu and stunning beach views! Fantastic dragon fruit smoothie, a very tasty tuna salad. The smoothie bowls are simply a dream! Overall, a great place to stop by, relax, have a beer, enjoy delicious food, and take photos on the beach swings. There's a fresh water shower, so you can feel refreshed after swimming.