Harbour guides
Sanur Harbour guide: wet boarding, counters and parking
Most boats to Nusa Penida and Lembongan leave from Sanur. Here is how check-in works, why your feet will probably get wet, and how early to leave your hotel.
The team, Fast Boat MatePublished
Photo: Alexander NrjwolfSanur Harbour sits on Matahari Terbit Beach on the east side of Sanur. It is the main departure point for Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan, and a few Gili boats start here too. If you have booked a fast boat to the Nusa Islands, this is almost certainly where you will board.
Where exactly is Sanur Harbour?
The harbour is at the end of Jl. Matahari Terbit, about 30–45 minutes by car from Kuta and 40–60 minutes from Seminyak outside rush hour. The new terminal building opened in November 2022. It has indoor check-in counters and an air-conditioned waiting room. Most operators also keep an office along Jl. Matahari Terbit, and some ask you to check in there rather than inside the terminal. Your e-ticket shows which counter to use.
Search "Pelabuhan Sanur" or "Sanur Harbour" in Google Maps, or use the map link on our Sanur Harbour page.
Will my feet get wet?
Probably. The new harbour has a jetty, but many Penida and Lembongan boats still load from the beach, depending on the operator and the tide. Expect to wade ankle- to knee-deep for 10–20 metres.
- Wear shorts or a skirt you can roll up, and sandals you can take off.
- Keep your phone, passport and cash in a dry bag or a zip-lock bag.
- Let the porters carry your luggage to the boat. They lift bags onto the roof or into the hold.
Every boat on our site shows the boarding type before you book: Jetty boarding · dry feet or Beach boarding · wet feet.
How early should I arrive?
Be at your operator's counter 30–45 minutes before departure with your QR e-ticket and passport. The staff usually swap your e-ticket for a boarding card or a sticker, then call your boat by operator name.
Allow more time for the drive. Morning traffic on the Bypass Ngurah Rai is heavy between 07:00 and 09:00, and most Penida boats leave in that window.
| From | Drive time (normal) | Leave by, for a 08:00 boat |
|---|---|---|
| Sanur hotels | 5–15 min | 07:15 |
| Kuta or Legian | 30–45 min | 06:30 |
| Seminyak | 40–60 min | 06:15 |
| Canggu | 50–75 min | 06:00 |
| Ubud | 45–60 min | 06:15 |
Can I get a hotel pickup?
Yes. Add pickup when you book. The price is per car for up to 4 people, and it is shown before you pay. Pickup from Sanur and Renon hotels is free on our site; Kuta, Seminyak and Jimbaran, Canggu, the Bukit and Ubud cost more because the drive is longer. A few fares include pickup for central south Bali, and the boat card says so. We send the exact pickup time on WhatsApp the evening before.
Is there parking at Sanur Harbour?
There is paid parking near the terminal for cars and scooters. Rates are set locally and paid in cash, so keep a few small notes. If you leave a scooter overnight while you stay on the islands, ask your operator's office where it is safe to leave it.
Do I pay a harbour fee at Sanur?
We are not aware of a harbour fee at Sanur, but check locally. The fee you do need is the Bali tourist levy of IDR 150,000 per foreign visitor, paid once per entry to Bali at lovebali.baliprov.go.id. On Nusa Penida and Lembongan you pay a separate island fee of IDR 25,000 per adult, cashless. Our fees guide has the full list.
What is there to do while I wait?
Matahari Terbit Beach has small warungs for coffee and breakfast, and the Sanur beach path starts here if you are early. Stay within earshot of your counter: boats are called by operator name, and they leave on time.
What if my boat is cancelled?
When the harbour master (Syahbandar) suspends crossings because of the weather, nobody sails. If that happens, we move you to the next available boat for free or refund you in full. We message you on WhatsApp as soon as we know. See our cancellation policy.
Ready to go? See the Sanur to Nusa Penida timetable or Sanur to Lembongan.
