Just a short boat ride from Bali, is a hidden tropical island oasis surrounded by crystal clear blue waters called Nusa Lembongan and it’s quickly becoming one of the best places to stay in Bali if you want a relaxed island escape and to have a glimpse of what Bali was like 20 years ago.
Nusa Lembongan is one of my favorite places in Bali, I spent a month on this island, did a yoga teacher training course here and have returned many times since so I know the island better than most!
If you’re planning a visit and looking for the best places to stay and recommendations for the best Nusa Lembongan accommodation then hopefully this blog post will help you.
The Best Places to Stay in Nusa Lembongan, Bali
Where is Nusa Lembongan
When deciding where to stay in Nusa Lembongan you should know that this tiny island is actually part of a group of 3 islands that include Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan that lie just off the southeast coast of Bali called the Nusa Penida district.
Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan are connected by a super cute small yellow bridge so you can explore Nusa Ceningan by crossing the cute yellow bridge. There are also many boat trips and tours to Nusa Penida so you can easily explore all the islands from your base in Nusa Lembongan.
How to Get to Nusa Lembongan
Getting to Nusa Lembongan is super easy and quick. Most boats go from Sanur about 3 times a day. You can book your boat ticket in advance online at 12goAsia or you can book this return fast boat ticket package which includes hotel pick up in Bali and drop off in Lembongan for the ultimate easy stress free travel solution!
Why I loved Nusa Lembongan
One of the best things about Nusa Lembongan is that it is also a lot less touristic than mainland Bali, which means that the authenticity of the daily life of locals is still intact and it’s a lot more laid back.
Many villagers on the island still make their living by fishing and seaweed farming and it’s quite a cultural tour to pass through villages on the island. The island itself is covered by an abundance of coconut palms, luscious tropical jungle, and mangroves.
The island is surrounded by picture-perfect white sands, crystal clear blue water and world-class reefs that offer some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world. There’s also plenty more things to do in Nusa Lembongan from surfing and yoga to exploring the beaches and natural beauty spots.
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Where to Stay in Nusa Lembongan
Even though this island may seem small, there is still quite a variety of areas to explore, things to do and accommodation options.
The main, and in my opinion, best place to stay in Nusa Lembongan, is Jungut Batu beach.
This is where the boats from Bali come in and is the area with the best and longest beach strip. This area has the biggest selection of accommodation and hotels in Nusa Lembongan for all budgets as well as the biggest choice of restaurants and shops located within easy walking distance from each other.
Jungut Batu beach is also home to the best sunsets on the island and you won’t need to rent a scooter to enjoy this area. It’s simply the most convenient area to stay in with the most facilities. The hillside above the beach also has a good selection of luxury resorts with stunning views and infinity pools overlooking the ocean.
Other good areas to stay in Nusa Lembongan include Mushroom Bay, Sandy Bay (also known as Sunset Beach) Dream Beach, Tamarind Beach, and Coconut Beach. These are all beautiful beaches but you’ll probably want a scooter to explore if you’re staying in these paces unless you just want to relax in your resort.
The Best Places to Stay in Nusa Lembongan for All Budgets
- Backpacker: Nyuh Gading Hostel and Home Stay
- Budget: Mushroom Beach Bungalows
- Midrange: Playgrounds Wave Lodge
- Boutique: Aqua Nusa Boutique Lembongan Villas
- Luxury: The Tamarind Resort
Backpacker – Nyuh Gading Hostel and Home Stay
Situated in a prime location just steps away from Jungtu batu Beach and within walking distance to the boats, Nyuh Gading Home Stay is one of the best places to stay in Nusa Lembongan for backpackers or anyone on a budget.
There is a plush dormitory as well as private rooms available. Dormitory beds, bathrooms and all facilities at Nyuh Gading Home Stay are surprisingly on par with high-level hotel standards and quite impressive!
There’s a beautiful pool and commons area and cafe and a lovely, relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The couple who own and run this guesthouse are also super friendly and accommodating, and will happily book you in for activities on the island or sort out anything you may need.
There’s also really good Wi-Fi and A/C, which is always an added bonus when staying at hostels! Click here to see their top reviews and make a booking.
Read More: Best backpacker hostels in Bali
Budget – Mushroom Beach Bungalows
These beautiful Balinese style, thatched roof, wooden bungalows are situated high on the hill, overlooking the whole of Sanghyang Bay and Mushroom Beach.
The location is also very close to Ceningan Batu Melawang, a well-renowned surfing spot, and Devil’s Tear’s water blowhole. Mushroom Beach Bungalows on Nusa Lembongan, is the perfect tropical hideaway spot, where you can wake up in your own slice of paradise.
There’s a beautiful infinity pool with a stunning view to kick back and enjoy, and room service from the in-house restaurant if you don’t feel like leaving your hammock. Rooms also have beautiful outdoor bathrooms, which adds to the tropical vibes!
Mushroom Beach Bungalows is an amazing place to stay if you’re on a budget but still want that resort style getaway. Click here to check reviews and book your stay!
Midrange – Playgrounds Wave Lodge
Great location, spectacular views, luxurious rooms, social vibes, what’s not to love about Playgrounds Wave Lodge!
Rooms at Playgrounds are of a modern design, with ultra-comfortable beds and linen, spacious bathrooms and private balconies. The on-site restaurant called Thai Pantry has also become very popular for the area and it won’t take you long to see why!
The pool and commons areas have breathtaking views of the ocean, beach below and all the way out to Bali in the distance. There’s other great inclusions such as wi-fi available throughout the hotel, tea/coffee making facilities in the rooms and a daily maid service.
Playgrounds Wave Lodge is definitely one of the best value for money places to stay in Nusa Lembongan. Click here to check out their reviews and make a booking.
Boutique – Aqua Nusa Boutique Lembongan Villas
This gorgeous boutique hotel is one of a kind with stunning world-class views all the way out to Mount Agung that just have to be experienced!
Every luxury villa is new with a modern design and has everything you could possibly need and more, though the best part is each villa has it’s very own private pool! The villas are very conveniently located a short distance to many great restaurants and bars and some of the best beaches on the island.
Other great mentions would be the super reliable Wi-Fi access throughout the property, an inclusive daily maid service and the free luxury toiletries and tour booking services.
Click here to read the reviews and book your stay.
Luxury – The Tamarind Resort
The Tamarind Resort is an exquisite hotel perched on the heights of this beautiful island, with superior views of Mount Agung in the distance and the stunning Jungut Batu beach below.
The resort is composed of twelve luxurious suites, all with private balconies that overlook the ocean and three prestige 3 bedroom villas, each with its own private rooftop area. There are two picture-perfect infinity pools, both with ocean views, and one with a pool bar.
If you’re a foodie, then you will absolutely love their in-house restaurant, not only is everything on the menu absolutely to die for, but also often presented in a very cute & stylish way. There’s even a really great gym if you’re keen to exercise whilst on holiday!
The staff at the resort are also super attentive and friendly, and will go above and beyond to ensure you have the most amazing stay! If you’re looking for ultimate luxury on Nusa Lembongan then look no further than The Tamarind Resort!
Click here to read their 5-star reviews for yourself and make a booking.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Nusa Lembongan
I hope this post has given you some ideas and inspiration and helped you to decide where to stay in Nusa Lembongan.
This is by no means and exhaustive list of all the places to stay in Nusa Lembongan as new hotels and villas are popping up all the time as the island gets ever more popular.
So if you want to experience the authentic and laid-back vibes of Bali island life then go soon!
Read More Bali Blogs:
- 10 of the Absolute Best Things to do on Nusa Lembongan
- Where to stay in Bali – all areas and all budgets
- Best backpacker hostels in Bali
- Why Nusa Lembongan is my new favourite place in Bali
- 10 Best Things to do in Bali
- Best Yoga Retreats in Bali
If you found my recommendations for the best Nusa Lembongan accommodation useful and want to book through my links I can earn a small commission which helps to keep this site going at no extra cost to you so thank you! 😊
Have you been to Nusa Lembongan? Do you have any more tips on things to do/ where to stay here?
Leave a comment below and your recommendations can help out other travellers 🙂
