Harbour guides
Sanur or Serangan: which harbour should you leave from?
Sanur has the most boats to Nusa Penida and Lembongan, often with a wet beach boarding. Serangan is quieter, boards from a jetty and is faster to the Gilis. Here is how to choose.
The team, Fast Boat MatePublished
Photo: Galih JelihSouth Bali has two harbours for fast boats, 20 minutes apart. Sanur is the busy one, with most departures to Nusa Penida and Lembongan. Serangan, on the small island joined to Bali by a causeway south of Sanur, is quieter and uses a jetty. Which one suits you depends on where you are going, where you are staying and how you feel about wet feet.
What is the short answer?
- Going to Nusa Penida's west coast or Lembongan: leave from Sanur. It has the most boats and the most departure times.
- Going to Nusa Penida's east side (Diamond Beach, Atuh) and you want dry feet: Serangan to Buyuk is worth a look.
- Going to the Gili Islands from south Bali: Serangan is usually quicker than Sanur, because the Sanur boats stop at Penida or Lembongan on the way.
How do the two harbours compare?
| Sanur | Serangan | |
|---|---|---|
| Boarding | Often from the beach (wet feet) | Jetty (dry feet) |
| Nusa Penida | Many boats a day, mostly to Banjar Nyuh (west) | One boat on some days, to Buyuk (east) |
| Nusa Lembongan | Several boats a day | None we sell |
| Gili Trawangan | About 3–3.5 h, with stops | About 2¼–2½ h, more direct |
| From Kuta or Seminyak | 30–60 min by car | 20–45 min by car |
| Crowds | Busy at 07:00–09:00 | Calm |
Departure counts and times change. Our route pages show the live timetable: Sanur → Nusa Penida, Serangan → Nusa Penida, Serangan → Gili Trawangan.
Why choose Sanur?
Choice. Sanur has the most operators and departure times to the Nusa Islands, from early morning to mid-afternoon, which makes same-day trips and late returns easy. It also has the new terminal, opened in 2022, with indoor counters and an air-conditioned waiting room.
The catch is boarding. Many Penida and Lembongan boats still load from the beach, so you wade ankle- to knee-deep while porters carry your bags. Morning traffic on the Bypass can be slow. Read our Sanur Harbour guide before you go.
Why choose Serangan?
Serangan is calmer and the boats board from a jetty, so feet usually stay dry. It is about 20–30 minutes from Kuta, Seminyak and Sanur outside rush hour, which can make it the quicker drive from the west coast.
Gili Getaway and BlueWater Express use Serangan for the Gilis and for Nusa Penida (Buyuk). Their boats are generally more expensive than the Sanur boats, and several fares include hotel pickup in central south Bali. If you are heading to the Gilis, the shorter crossing time often makes up for the higher fare.
What about Nusa Penida from Serangan?
The Serangan boat lands at Buyuk, on Nusa Penida's north-east coast. That is ideal for Diamond Beach, Atuh and the Thousand Islands viewpoint, but 1 to 1.5 hours by road from Kelingking and the other west-coast sights. It also runs on fewer days. If your plan is the west coast, Sanur to Banjar Nyuh is the better match. Our guide to Banjar Nyuh, Buyuk and Sampalan explains the difference.
Which is better with luggage or children?
Serangan's jetty is easier with big bags, a pushchair or small children, because nobody has to wade. At Sanur, porters carry luggage to the boat, but you still walk through the water. If you board at Sanur with children, carry small ones and keep a towel handy.
Can I get a pickup to either harbour?
Yes. When you book, add hotel pickup to the harbour your boat leaves from. The price is per car for up to 4 people and shown before you pay, and some Serangan fares already include pickup. We send the pickup time on WhatsApp the evening before.
Still not sure?
Tell us where you are staying and where you want to go, and we will suggest the harbour that saves the most time. Message us on WhatsApp, or search both: put "Bali, any harbour" as your starting point and compare the boats side by side.
