Sanur vs Padang Bai —
Which Ferry Departure Port Should You Choose?

Both Sanur Harbour and Padang Bai Harbour are Bali's primary departure points for island ferries heading to the Gili Islands, Lombok, Nusa Penida, and Nusa Lembongan. Although they serve many of the same destinations, the two ports sit on opposite sides of Bali and offer very different advantages depending on where you're staying and what you're looking for.

Sanur Harbour sits on Bali's southeast coast, just 25 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport and close to the main tourist belt of Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu, and Nusa Dua. It's a modern passenger-only harbour with comfortable waiting areas, cafés, and frequent departures. The fast boat ride from Sanur to Nusa Penida takes just 30–45 minutes, making it the most popular choice for day trips.

Padang Bai Harbour is located on Bali's east coast, about 1 hour from Ubud and just 10 minutes from Candidasa. It's the main hub for budget ferries to the Gili Islands and Lombok, with the fastest crossing times (1.5 hours to Gili vs 2.5 hours from Sanur). It also offers Ro-Ro (vehicle ferry) service, meaning you can take your car or scooter across to Lombok or Nusa Penida.

In short: choose the port that's nearest to where you're staying, and consider whether speed, budget, or vehicle transport matters most.

Padang Bai is the better choice if any of the following apply to your trip:

• You're on a budget — ferry tickets from Padang Bai are cheaper, starting at Rp 425 K for Gili/Lombok vs Rp 525 K from Sanur.
• You're staying in Ubud, Candidasa, Amed, or anywhere in East Bali — Padang Bai is much closer, saving you 30–60 minutes of driving each way.
• You want to reach the Gili Islands as fast as possible — the crossing from Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan is just 1.5 hours vs 2.5 hours from Sanur. Combined with a shorter drive from Ubud, you can go from Ubud to Gili in about 2.5 hours total.
• You're taking a car, scooter, or vehicle across — Padang Bai operates Ro-Ro (roll-on/roll-off) vehicle ferries to Lombok and Nusa Penida. Sanur is passenger-only.
• You're heading to Lombok — Padang Bai is the main departure point for Lombok ferries, with both fast boats and vehicle ferries available.

Sanur is the smarter pick if you fit any of these profiles:

• You're staying in South Bali — Kuta (20min), Seminyak (30min), Canggu (45min), Nusa Dua (25min), or Sanur itself (5min). The drive to Padang Bai from these areas can take 1–1.5 hours.
• You're heading to Nusa Lembongan — Sanur is the only major departure point for fast boats to Lembongan. Padang Bai does not offer direct Lembongan service.
• You're visiting Nusa Penida from South Bali — the crossing from Sanur is only 30–45 minutes and there are many more daily departures than from Padang Bai.
• You prefer a catamaran or a more scenic ride — Sanur departures often feature more modern catamarans, and the route passes close to the southern coastline of Nusa Penida with stunning views.
• You just landed at Ngurah Rai Airport — Sanur is only 25 minutes from the airport, making it the most convenient option for airport-to-ferry transfers.

When it comes to cost, Padang Bai is the clear winner for Gili Islands and Lombok routes, while prices to Nusa Penida are comparable from both ports.

💰 The bottom line: For Gili Islands and Lombok, Padang Bai saves you Rp 100 K+ per person and gets you there faster. For Nusa Penida, both ports charge roughly the same — your choice should be based on convenience and departure frequency rather than price.