A First-Timer’s Guide to rent a scooter in Nusa Penida (2026 Updates)

Before heading to the island for a few days, we felt that to fully enjoy Nusa Penida you need to have a scooter. We were right! Where we were actually wrong is that we could make the steep hills with a small 125cc.

This is our guide to rent a scooter in Nusa Penida, tips on how actually plan it and reserve the best moped in advance.

Within this guide, you will find useful information that comes from experience, which involves where to rent a scooter in Nusa Penida, places to go, gasoline stations, roads in Nusa Penida and more. Let’s start by saying that Nusa Penida has been the best and worst driving journey in Bali.

We put together this guide to cover updated 2026 prices, the exact bike models you need to survive the inclines, and our honest safety tips. Read this before you book to avoid the worst pothole roads and of course the unmissable rental scams.

How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Scooter? (2026 Prices)

Expect to pay slightly more for a Nusa Penida scooter rental than you would back in mainland Bali, specifically Canggu.

The investment in a better, more powerful bike is absolutely worth it. The hills here are no joke, especially if you have two people on one scooter.

Scooter Model	Engine (CC)	Best For	Avg. Price per Day (IDR)
Honda Scoopy	110cc	Solo riders, short flat trips and staying by the harbour area.	80,000 – 100,000
Honda Vario	125cc	Solo riders, budget travellers staying for 2/3 days.	100,000
Yamaha NMax (Our pick)	155cc	Couples, steep hills or staying longer.	150,000 – 200,000
Honda ADV/PCX	150cc+	Maximum comfort & power	200,000

Which Scooter Model is Best for Nusa Penida Roads?

Engine size matters massively on this island. The roads leading down to spots like Kelingking Beach or Diamond Beach have massive, sustained inclines.​

We strongly advise against a standard 110cc Scoopy if you are riding with a passenger. You need a 150cc minimum. We upgraded to an NMax for our trip, and it was a complete game changer for safety and power.

How To Rent A Scooter In Nusa Penida

Renting a motorcycle in Southeast Asia is easy and quick; we have done it everywhere, following the easy steps below. Be aware that ordinary scams exist. To avoid a bad experience, follow these steps:

• Where to rent your motorbike
• Check reviews on Facebook or Google
• Message the shop or go directly
• Pay and leave a deposit instead of the documents
• Inspect the scooter
• Get a helmet
• Carry your IDP and Driving Licence
• Where to rent a scooter in Nusa Penida

Where to rent your motorbike

You have two main options when you step off the ferry. We always recommend sorting this out early so you are not left stranded at the port.

Booking Online for Harbour Pickup

Pre-booking guarantees your bike, especially if you want the high-demand NMax. They will have it waiting for you right at Toya Pakeh or Sampalan harbour when you step off the fast boat.

We use and recommend BikesBooking across Southeast Asia. You can easily rent scooter Nusa Penida before you even arrive. It integrates seamlessly and saves you the hassle of haggling at the port.

Check Reviews On Facebook Or Google

Before getting to any place, we just head to Google Maps and type in “Scooter Rental.” It will come up with a list of places, which you can sort and filter for ratings, reviews, and photos as you please.

We often also check the 1 and 2-star reviews, just to be aware of common factors that might jeopardise our experience and are the bell to avoid that shop or another.

Message the shop or go directly

As you will likely be travelling from Bali, you will not have time to get directly to the shop, so message directly. Recently, Google has withdrawn the chat option, so just go around and search them on Facebook or Instagram and message them. We had this approach in Chiang Mai renting a scooter and it went pretty well.

Always search for the location of the rental place, as some could be far away from the port, and there are no other means of transport on the island.

Try to leave a cash deposit instead of your document

We always try to bargain for leaving cash instead of our document. We have previously had troubles with our passport and have always worried about it getting stolen or ripped (I know, I’m too paranoid, but better safe than sorry). They will probably ask for a deposit of about 500K to 1M IDR (£25/50 | $32/64 | $29/59).

Always inspect the scooter

Returning a rented bike can be tricky as some rental shops may try to scam you by claiming you damaged the bike. To avoid such situations, it is always recommended to take photos or, even better, videos of the bike before leaving the shop.

Suppose the rental shop accuses you of damaging the bike. In that case, you can show the video or photos as evidence that you didn’t cause the damage. However, renting from a reputable shop with good reviews makes you less likely to encounter such issues while returning the bike. (Unless you crashed the scooter, of course!)

Get a helmet and drive safely

Every shop will have a great choice of helmets, so get the one that fits you the best. Remember that police are less tolerant of foreigners driving without helmets or licences. Also, consider checking the mirrors; if they are too loose, ask to strengthen them.

Where to rent a scooter in Nusa Penida

Before arriving in Nusa Penida, we had a list of places to check out and rent a scooter. However, we ended up renting through our accommodation, as they were very nice people offering sturdy scooters. Actually, we had to change the first one, as driving uphill to our bungalow was very hard and not powerful enough.

By the way, these are the places we selected for renting a scooter in Nusa Penida safely.

How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Scooter in Nusa Penida?

Renting a scooter in Nusa Penida is extremely affordable, as prices are slightly higher than in Canggu but still in the low-budget range. On average, you can expect to pay anywhere from 80K to 100K IDR (4 to 5 USD) per day for a standard 125 cc (Usually scoopy or Honda Vario).

The price changes if you are staying longer, making it more convenient. Renting an N-Max might cost you a little more, but it is powerful. We had our 120K IDR per day, and it was a game changer.

Is it worth renting a scooter in Nusa Penida?

Yes. There are no other ways of transportation on the island, excluding your own or hiring a driver. To be honest we have seen people also renting cars on the island. Still, in our opinion it might be only more stressful, in terms of roads (very tiny), parking spots and even queuing at major attractions.

When we left Kelingking Beach at about 11 AM, there was a huge queue of cars waiting for available spots in the parking lot. If you are experienced enough, renting a scooter helps you roam the island at your own pace and jump from one place to another in no time before the crowds.

Can foreigners rent a scooter in Bali?

Yes. Everyone with a regular driving licence and an International Driving Permit (IDR) can rent a bike in Bali and drive in Nusa Penida.

My Personal Experience: Is Driving in Nusa Penida Safe?

It is safe to drive here, but only if you are an experienced rider. Driving in Nusa Penida still scares us sometimes.​

The main roads are mostly paved now, but the side routes are a different story. When we visited the Tembeling Pool and Forest, the path was treacherous with sharp stones sticking out of the dirt.

I actually had to pull over, walk through the jungle, and eventually ask a local to drive the bike down for me.​

If you are a beginner, do not drive yourself. Hire a local driver instead. The drivers here can be chaotic, often taking up the entire narrow lane.

Driving at night in Nusa Penida

We rented a bungalow on top of Nusa Penida Hills, a secluded spot that is beautiful in the morning but completely pitch black at night. To reach the accommodation, we had to go through the dark of Nusa Penida, which has lights only on the main roads and certain parts. We more than often had to use the headlights to see in front.

Also, be aware that there are many stray dogs on the island, which might chase you at night.

Where to get fuel in Nusa Penida

On the island, there is only one official petrol station (Gasolin Pertamina), which is located between the Ferry port and one of our favourite bars, “Penida Colada.” Here is the exact location.

You’ll mostly rely on bottle gasoline stations (they store it in glass vodka bottles, which is funny); it costs double the regular price. Most scooters run on regular (91), which costs 10,000 per litre, and high-octane (95) fuel, 20% more expensive. If travelling a lot, ensure you always have a full tank.

Where to go with your motorbike in Nusa Penida

Renting a scooter in Nusa Penida gives you endless discovery opportunities, going far and beyond the usual tourist trails and even further than some guided tours. Here are some top destinations to consider:

Kelingking Beach Nusa Penida: The most popular attraction of Nusa Penida is the T-Rex beach, the rugged coastline that attracts most of the tourists to the island. You can reach it by motorbike in about 1 hour from the harbour, and there is a large parking spot. Be aware that construction is going on, and the scenery isn’t as old as it used to be.

Tembeling Beach and Forest: One of our favourite spots on Nusa Island is the secluded beach, natural pool and forest trail of Tembeling. It is hidden through the vegetation and pretty hard to get there, but we did it; you can do it too! Read our guide!

Diamond Beach: Another iconic spot in Nusa Penida is Diamond Beach, with rocks that emerge from the blue turquoise water as stone gems. You can combine Diamond Beach Nusa Penida with the next stop, all in one motorbike ride.

Atuh Beach: Spend one day lounging on the tropical beaches of Nusa Penida, sipping a fresh coconut on Atuh Beach. Often overseen by Diamond Beach, you can combine the trip together and enjoy a full day out. We found Athu Beach the easiest and calm bay to swim in Nusa Penida.

Don’t drive when it is raining

The limestone dust on the roads turns into an ice rink when wet. We drove through the muddy countryside during the shoulder season, and it was rough.

Be careful out there. We experienced driving in Bali to reach the north during the rainy season, and it wasn’t a joke. I had to pull over frequently as I could barely see the road in front of me.