Year-round chart

Best time to visit Nusa Penida, month by month

One-sentence reply

The best time to visit Nusa Penida is April to October, the dry season, and Denpasar's rain normal falls to 27.6 mm in July against 350.7 mm in January.

Worth knowing too

  • Highs stay between 29.2 and 31.7 degrees5
  • Low season usually starts in October to November9
  • The rain figures are Denpasar's, not the island's3

Twelve months, one island

Penida through the year

Choose a month to see daylight, the usual warmth at the Denpasar station and the rain the Japan Meteorological Agency records.

Sunset

Jan

  • Sundown comes around 18:44
  • The sun is up for about 12.6 h5
  • What each month offers: Rain-heavy months1
  • Roughly this many day hours: 31°C, hours of night, about 25°C5

Denpasar's rain normal is 350.7 mm.3

Sunset is worked out for the 15th of each month on Bali time. Day length and temperatures: NCEI averages for Denpasar Ngurah Rai airport, 41 km from Nusa Penida, 1991 to 2020; rain is the Japan Meteorological Agency's Denpasar normal.

Nusa Penida has a dry and a wet season, a sea that decides whether boats run smoothly, and a crowd calendar of its own. Here are the temperatures, rainfall and visitor numbers behind the choice, each from a named source.

Editorial team, nusapenidadaytrip.quest · Updated November 3, 2026 · About 6 minutes to read

Facts on one screen

  • Dry-weather monthsBali's drier months are April to October, and the rains return from November to March.1
  • The ministry's pickThe tourism ministry suggests April to October for Nusa Penida.2
  • Least rain fallsDenpasar's July rainfall normal is 27.6 mm, the lowest of the year.3
  • Wettest monthIts January normal is 350.7 mm.4
  • HeatHighs at Denpasar airport sit between 29.2 and 31.7 degrees all year.5,5

Two seasons and a drier island

Indonesia's tourism ministry says that in most of the country, Java and Bali included, the dry months run April to October and the wet ones November to March.1 It also notes that, through global warming, the seasons are less predictable.6 Treat the dates as a pattern, not a promise, and look at the forecast in the week you travel.

Nusa Penida has its own weather within that pattern. An encyclopedia entry describes the island's interior as hilly, with a maximum altitude of 524 meters, and says its climate is drier than Bali's.7 The ministry says that coastal plains across Indonesia average 28 degrees and that temperatures change little from season to season.8 So the year is shaped by rain and sea conditions, not by heat.

There is no weather station on Nusa Penida in our records, and we have not borrowed one that is further away. The nearest long record is the Ngurah Rai airport station at Denpasar, 41 kilometers away across the Badung Strait,5 so every number below is a reading from the Bali coast. It is a good guide to the season and a poor guide to the exact day.

Temperatures that barely move

At the Denpasar airport station, the average daily high runs from 29.2 degrees in July and August to 31.7 degrees in November.5,5,5 The average daily low stays between 23.5 degrees in September and 25.0 degrees in November and December.5,5,5 A swimmer or a snorkeler will find the air warm in every month.

The coolest part of the year is the middle of the dry season. June has a high of 29.7 degrees and a low of 24.3, and July a high of 29.2 and a low of 24.0.5,5 April and November are the warmest highs on the list, at 31.4 and 31.7 degrees.5,5 A difference of about two degrees is real on a boat deck in the sun, and a hat matters more than the month.

One caution about reading these numbers. The airport is on the coast of mainland Bali, and Nusa Penida's cliffs and open sea have their own wind.5 Expect the sea breeze to take the edge off a sunny afternoon on the water, and expect shade to be scarce on the cliff-top viewpoints. Nothing in a station table replaces sun cream.

Twelve months

Daylight and temperatures through the year

  • Jan11.4 h
  • Feb11.6 h
  • Mar11.8 h
  • Apr12.1 h
  • May12.3 h
  • Jun12.4 h
  • Jul12.3 h
  • Aug12.2 h
  • Sep12.0 h
  • Oct11.7 h
  • Nov11.5 h
  • Dec11.4 h

Bars show mid-month daylight; temperatures are from Ngurah Rai airport, Denpasar, 1991 to 2020.5

Rain, month by month

Rainfall is where the seasons separate. The Japan Meteorological Agency's normals for Denpasar list March at 231.1 mm, February at 289.8 mm and January at 350.7 mm of rain.4 December brings 327.4 mm and November 131.2 mm, which makes the wet season run from the end of the year into the first quarter.11 These are monthly totals on the Bali coast, and the island across the strait is described as drier.7

The dry season steps down gradually. April has 107.4 mm and May 94.7 mm, June 67.9 mm, and then July falls to 27.6 mm and August to 36.4 mm.3 September and October rise again to 59.4 mm and 64.4 mm.3 The driest pair of months is July and August, and the transition months of April, May and October are drier than the first quarter by a wide margin.

Rain affects the day in small ways more than large ones. A tour listing says the tour operates rain or shine, with an exception when conditions are unsafe. Another says the same. The photograph you came for is affected by haze and cloud before it is by a shower. If the wet season is the only time you can travel, plan for early starts and a flexible afternoon.

Pick by priority

Pick the month for your trip

Say what you want to avoid and the months follow

  • If Least rain, please

    July or August

    Denpasar's normals are 27.6 and 36.4 mm.3

  • If Thin crowds, please

    October or November

    The hotel association says low season starts then.9

  • If I can only go in January

    Book early starts

    The Denpasar January normal is 350.7 mm.4

  • If I get seasick

    Early boats, dry months

    The strait can be rough on windy afternoons.

  • If I want the ministry's advice

    April to October

    It suggests those months for better weather.2

The sea decides the boat day

The crossing takes 30 to 45 minutes by fast boat, with the arrival point depending on weather.13,14 A transfer listing says the Badung Strait can become rough, especially on windy afternoons, and recommends motion sickness medication on those days. The earlier boats are the ones to book if you are anxious about the water.

Sea conditions also reshape the day. The yacht tour on this site's list may be rescheduled or refunded in case of government restrictions, unsafe sea conditions or severe weather. A snorkel tour says that if its main spot is inaccessible because of weather or sea conditions, it will visit a safe alternative. A private boat tour says the itinerary may be adjusted at the last minute to keep guests safe from strong swells.

The main boat day carries free cancellation until 24 hours before sailing, and that is the practical protection against a bad forecast. You cannot cancel after you are on the boat, so watch the wind forecast the evening before and ask the operator whether the sailing is on.

The year as the sources tell it

Seasons, rain and crowds in order

  1. Nov to Mar

    Rain-heavy months

    The ministry's wet-season months for Bali, with January's rain normal of 350.7 mm.1,4

  2. April

    Rain easing

    Denpasar's April normal is 107.4 mm, and the dry season has begun.3,1

  3. Jul and Aug

    Driest months

    July is 27.6 mm and August 36.4 mm.3

  4. Oct to Nov

    Low season starts

    The hotel association says low season usually begins then.9

  5. December

    Crowd peak

    37,089 tourists crossed in the week of 18 to 24 December 2025.10

  6. All year

    Warm air

    Highs stay between 29.2 and 31.7 degrees at the Denpasar record.5,5

Crowds through the year

The visitor calendar matters as much as the weather. In October 2024 the Klungkung hotel association gave an average of 5,000 to 6,000 visitors arriving in Nusa Penida per day in high season, and said low season usually starts in October to November.12,9 Most visitors to the Nusa islands are from abroad, the same source says, with Germans and Britons among the top groups.9

A single week shows the size of the peak. The Benoa port authority counted 37,089 tourists traveling to the Nusa Penida islands from 18 to 24 December 2025, against 35,709 in the same week of 2024.10 December is also the middle of the wet season on the rain table above, so the busiest weeks and the wettest months overlap.11 That is the combination to avoid if you can choose your dates.

The ministry advises booking fast boat tickets well in advance, especially in the holiday season.15 Kelingking is described as always crowded, particularly in the holiday season.16 If your week falls in a holiday, take the earliest crossing, go to the viewpoints first, and keep lunch for the middle of the day.

Video

The best time to visit Bali, month by month

When To Travel on YouTube · The clip stays on YouTube's server until you hit play.

For a budget-friendly and comfortable vacation to Nusa Penida, you can visit Nusa Penida during the dry season, between April and October, for more favorable weather.
Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia)2

Whatever the month

Weather packing list

For sun and sea3

  • Sun cream and a hat for the boat and the viewpoints
  • Swimwear and a dry layer for the ride home
  • A light layer for the breeze on the water

For rain3

  • A thin waterproof layer if you come in the rainy months
  • A waterproof bag for phone and papers
  • Grippy soles for wet wooden steps

For the boat3

  • The earliest crossing you can book
  • A date with free cancellation
  • A second plan for the afternoon

Choosing your month

On the evidence above, the best time for a Nusa Penida tour is the ministry's pick of April to October, and July and August are the driest on the Denpasar record.2,3 The case for the shoulders is that the low season usually begins in October to November, which is when the crowds ease and the rain is still modest in October.9,3 The case against the first quarter is rain of 231.1 to 350.7 mm a month.4

The yacht boat day pairs well with the dry season, because the snorkeling and the crossing both depend on calm water, and the listing says it operates rain or shine except in unsafe conditions. The land tour to Kelingking depends on road and light more than on rain.

If you only have the wet months, do not cancel the island. Choose a tour with free cancellation, start early, and keep a second plan for the afternoon. A day in a drier month still has a risk of a rough crossing, and a day in a wet month can be perfect. Both facts sit on the same page of the forecast.

FAQ

Questions asked most often, answered briefly.

What is the best time to visit Nusa Penida?
April to October.

The tourism ministry suggests those dry-season months for more favorable weather, and July and August are the driest on the Denpasar record.2,3

When is the wet season on Nusa Penida?
November to March.

That is the ministry's wet season for Bali, with the heaviest Denpasar rainfall of 350.7 mm in January.1,4

Is Nusa Penida drier than Bali?
It is described as drier.

An encyclopedia entry says the island's climate is drier than Bali's, with the interior reaching 524 meters.7

How hot is Nusa Penida?
Highs run from 29.2 to 31.7 degrees across the year.

At the airport record the lowest highs, 29.2 degrees, come in July and the hottest, 31.7 degrees, in November.5,5

Which months are the most crowded?
The holiday season and December.

The Benoa port authority counted 37,089 tourists in one December week, and the hotel association gave 5,000 to 6,000 arrivals a day in high season.10,12

Are boats cancelled for weather?
Sometimes, for unsafe seas.

The yacht listing says the tour may be rescheduled or refunded for unsafe sea conditions or severe weather.

Is the sea rough in the afternoon?
It can be, on windy afternoons.

A transfer listing says the strait can become rough, especially on windy afternoons.

Sources

  1. Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia) · Nusa Penida weather, climate and seasons ↩
  2. Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia) · Nusa Penida: The Most Beautiful Beaches, Harbor Access & Vacation Tips ↩
  3. Japan Meteorological Agency · WMO climate normals for Denpasar, Indonesia (monthly mean temperature and rainfall) ↩
  4. Japan Meteorological Agency · WMO climate normals for Denpasar, Indonesia (monthly mean temperature and rainfall) ↩
  5. NOAA GHCN-Daily archive hosted by NCEI GHCN-Daily archive hosted by NCEI · GHCN-Daily station record, daily maximum and minimum temperature, Station Ngurah Rai airport, Denpasar (GHCN-Daily IDM00097230), 1991 to 2020 ↩
  6. Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia) · Nusa Penida weather, climate and seasons ↩
  7. Wikipedia · Nusa Penida ↩
  8. Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia) · Nusa Penida weather, climate and seasons ↩
  9. ANTARA News · PHRI Klungkung Bali catat okupansi di Nusa Penida capai 80 persen ↩
  10. ANTARA News · Tercatat ada 37.089 turis berwisata ke Nusa Penida Bali libur Natal ↩
  11. Japan Meteorological Agency · WMO climate normals for Denpasar, Indonesia (monthly mean temperature and rainfall) ↩
  12. ANTARA News · PHRI Klungkung Bali catat okupansi di Nusa Penida capai 80 persen ↩
  13. Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia) · Nusa Penida: The Most Beautiful Beaches, Harbor Access & Vacation Tips ↩
  14. Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia) · Nusa Penida: The Most Beautiful Beaches, Harbor Access & Vacation Tips ↩
  15. Indonesia Travel (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia) · Nusa Penida: The Most Beautiful Beaches, Harbor Access & Vacation Tips ↩
  16. Love Bali (Bali Provincial Government) · "Golden Egg of Bali" Nusa Penida Island at Klungkung Regency ↩

Keep reading

More reading before you sail

GuideKelingking BeachGuideNusa PenidaGuideDiamond Beach and Atuh BeachGuideBroken Beach and Angel's Billabong

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