Nusa Penida Ferry: Ports, Fast Boats & Booking Guide

Nusa Penida ferry quick answer: fast boat or roro?

Most visitors take a fast boat from Sanur. Crossing time is typically 30 to 45 minutes, depending on operator. Competitor listings quote 30, 40, 42 and 45 minutes for the same route, so treat any single figure as approximate. Kusamba offers a shorter crossing of roughly 25 to 30 minutes. Padang Bai has a roro ferry that takes about 90 minutes and carries vehicles. We'd choose Sanur unless you stay near Amed or Sidemen, or you must bring a scooter. Fares and timetables below come from operator and booking pages checked in 2026. Confirm them before you pay, because they change often.

Compare your options

Here is how the three Bali departure points compare. Prices are indicative one-way online fares reported in 2026, and schedules change without notice.

Which port should you use?

Pick your Bali departure by where you sleep, then pick your arrival port by where you will sleep on Nusa Penida. Sanur Beach, on Jalan Matahari Terbit, handles most fast-boat companies. It suits stays in Sanur, Seminyak, Canggu and Ubud. Kusamba sits near Padang Bai and suits Amed or Sidemen. Boarding there is from a floating pontoon.

• Banjar Nyuh/Toyapakeh: where most fast boats arrive, and handy for Ped and Crystal Bay.
• Sampalan: on the north coast, and handy for Ped and Atuh Beach.
• Buyuk: next to Sampalan, used by only some operators.
• Always confirm the arrival port on your ticket before paying.

Prices and the true cost

Booked online, a Sanur ticket ran Rp170,000 to Rp215,000 one way in 2026, according to a resort-owner's fare roundup. That page also reports that fares rose in summer 2026 with fuel costs. Some older pages still quote lower starting prices, such as Rp106,000, and we'd treat those as stale or promotional. Kusamba tickets start around Rp150,000. Visitors also pay an arrival retribution fee, reported at Rp25,000. Check the current amount and who collects it with local authorities. Ticket counters and port agents can charge more, with up to Rp250,000 reported at one booth. Our worked example uses reported figures only. A Sanur round trip costs Rp340,000 to Rp430,000 in tickets. Adding one Rp25,000 fee gives roughly Rp365,000 to Rp455,000, before any taxi to the port. The cheapest path is an online fast-boat ticket at the low end. The most convenient path adds a pre-booked port transfer, which some companies bundle at a higher price.

Timetables and the last boat

Sanur departures reportedly run from 6:30 am to 5:00 pm. Boats back from Nusa Penida reportedly start at 7:20 am and finish around 5:00 pm. Operators differ widely. One operator listed 12 morning-to-afternoon departures to Banjar Nyuh, while another listed just 1. We won't reprint full timetables here, since they go stale. Last boats are the real risk. One report from 5 June 2026 described every operator's final Sanur boat as full by 4:50 pm, even off-peak. For day trips, book your return seat when you book the outbound seat. Aim to reach the Nusa Penida port well before your boat, and never plan around the final departure. Weather can change schedules, so reconfirm the evening before.

Booking: online, kiosk or at the port

Online booking gives you a guaranteed seat and usually the lowest fare. Electronic kiosks in Sanur's main port building offer the next available departure. However, only some operators are sold there, and tickets cost more than online. Port agents near the entrance sell at a markup, so we'd walk past them. Reader advice on one booking page suggests arriving at least 45 minutes before departure. Treat that as a sensible margin and follow your operator's own instruction if it differs. During July to August and December to January, booking ahead matters most. Ceremony days also thin out space. If you are comparing a transfer with a day excursion, see our boat tour options.

Taking a scooter or luggage

Cars are not allowed on fast boats, and neither are pets or bicycles, according to an aggregator listing. Foot passengers are welcome. The Padang Bai roro carries scooters and cars. It reportedly sails at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm, with only the 10:00 am sailing on Sundays. Ask the operator to confirm. Arrive around 9 am, expect a long queue behind trucks and cars, and allow around 90 minutes at sea. Our advice for most travelers is to rent on the island instead. Our scooter rental guide covers prices and rules. Some rental companies let you drop a Bali scooter at Sanur port, so ask before booking. For roads after landing, read how to get around Nusa Penida. Sanur port may offer luggage storage, though that claim comes from one booking site, so verify it. Day trippers should pack light.

Closures, weather and ceremony days

Services can pause for Nyepi, Nyepi Laut, Galungan and Kuningan. Sanur harbour is reported closed on Nyepi, and a reader report says no boats move at all on Nyepi Laut. Check the dates for your travel year on the official Indonesia tourism site. Rough seas can also alter timetables. Rainy-season crossings from December to March are reported as rougher, so watch marine forecasts from BMKG in the days before you go. Our best time to visit page covers seasons. Refund and cancellation terms differ by operator, so read them before paying.

Continuing to Nusa Lembongan, the Gilis or Lombok

A public or private boat links Nusa Lembongan with Nusa Penida for about Rp60,000 per person, per one reported figure. Longer hops run from Nusa Penida to the Gili Islands. A booking page lists Sanur to the Gilis at about Rp280,000. Aggregator listings show Gili Trawangan at roughly 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 35 minutes, depending on operator. Gili Air and Gili Meno run longer, up to 3 hours 20 minutes. Durations conflict between sources, so check at booking. For a full comparison, see island hopping from Nusa Penida.

Mistakes to avoid

Most crossing problems are avoidable with a few checks.

• Skipping the return ticket, then finding the last boat full.
• Landing at the wrong port for your hotel.
• Trusting an old timetable or a pre-2026 fare.
• Buying from port agents instead of online.
• Packing a large bag for a one-day trip.
• Forgetting the arrival fee in cash.

What to do after you land

Once ashore, plan your first stop by port. Our Nusa Penida things to do guide helps you sort beaches and viewpoints around your arrival point.