Dream Beach is a white-sand cove on the south-west coast of Nusa Lembongan, set below the low limestone cliffs that line the island. Nusa Lembongan covers about 8 square kilometres and is ringed by coral reefs and white sand beaches. Dream Beach is the best known of them, and it is photographed far more than it is swum from.
The cove
The sand is soft and white and the water is clear, which makes the cove look ideal. A Finns Beach Club guide notes an oddity: the beach is very popular, yet most tour groups never go down to it. They line up on the cliff top, take photographs and move on to the next stop. If you want the sand without the crowd, walk down to the sand rather than stopping at the cliff top.
Along the shore there are caves that you are free to enter, but guides advise keeping an eye on the tides if you do. There is a cliff jump of about 5 metres, which we do not recommend. The exit is dangerous, and the rocks are sharp enough to cut bare feet.
Getting here and what it costs
The usual way is a fast boat from Sanur, about 30 minutes to Lembongan. Take the ferry from Padang Bai if you want to bring a motorbike. On the island you can rent a scooter, hire a car with a driver, or hop on a pick-up truck at the harbour.
The beach has no entrance fee according to one guide, and you can walk on to the sand at any point. The Rp 25,000 tourism-area fee for foreign adults, set by Klungkung Regulation No. 4/2026, covers Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. The list of attractions that carry a separate Rp 25,000 charge names only Nusa Penida sites, so check at the port which charges apply to you.
When to go
There is no best time of year for the beach itself, since there are roughly 8 hours of sunshine a day even in the wet season. The boat crossing is a different matter. In stormy seas it can be rough, so many people prefer the dry season. Boats are fewer in the rainy season, so reach the port early in the morning.
Other beaches nearby
Look at the sea before you decide to swim, not at the sand. Dream Beach belongs to Lembongan village, whose coast also has Tanjung Sanghyang, Selagimpak, Selambung, Sunset Beach, Pemalikan and Lebaoh, the seaweed beach. Of the nearby sand, Sandy Bay Beach is pleasant to look at but has some of the roughest seas around the island, and a guide calls swimming or snorkelling there a bad idea. Tamarind Beach is quiet, with a seaweed farm offshore, but the sand tends to disappear at high tide, so go at low tide. Secret Beach is very popular and surrounded by warungs.
What to combine
Devil’s Tear is a short walk from Dream Beach. Its blowholes make a good sunset stop, and the Devil’s Tear guide explains the risks at the edge. For a swim, go on to Mushroom Bay. For more ideas, see things to do in Nusa Lembongan, guided tours and where to stay.
