Padang Bai is a harbour on Bali’s southeast coast, and many boats to Lombok leave from here. The public ferry to Lembar harbour in west Lombok takes about 4 to 6 hours and costs Rp65,300 for an adult, while fast boats reach Bangsal, the gateway to the Gili Islands, in about 1 hour 30 minutes at the quickest. Padang Bai is about 1.5 hours by car from Bali’s airport, and fast boats do not run at night, so plan back from your arrival time.
For this guide we read the ferry booking site Ferryhopper, airport transfer sites, a Bali travel information site and Indonesian news reports (Jawa Pos, Bisnis.com, detikBali, ANTARA) in October 2026. The layout of departure points inside the port and a timetable for public ferries from Padang Bai could not be confirmed in the sources we opened, so they are not included.
This guide is for anyone crossing from Bali to Lombok or the Gilis by sea who wants to know how to get to Padang Bai, whether to take the ferry or a fast boat, and where to buy tickets.
Information as of October 2026
What this article covers
- ✓Where Padang Bai is, and time and cost from Bali airport
- ✓The public ferry to Lombok (Lembar): time, fares and how to buy tickets
- ✓Fast boats to the Gili Islands, Bangsal and Senggigi
- ✓Cautions for nights, Nyepi and the busy season
- ✓Getting from Lembar to Sekotong and the airport
In short
The public ferry from Padang Bai to Lembar takes about 4 to 6 hours for an adult fare of Rp65,300, and tickets are not sold at the port: buy through Ferizy or an official outlet. For the Gilis, fast boats reach Bangsal in about 1 hour 30 minutes at the quickest. Fast boats do not run at night.
Where is Padang Bai, and how long from the airport?
Padang Bai is a coastal village on the southeastern side of Bali, and the boat terminal is in the village centre (Ferryhopper). Accommodation, places to eat and beaches are within walking distance, so you can stay the night before and catch a morning boat.
From Ngurah Rai International Airport it is about 55 to 60 km. The airport transfer site Daytrip gives 55 km and about 1 hour 30 minutes, and the Bali travel information site Bali Holiday Secrets (updated July 2026) gives about 60 km and 1 hour 15 minutes to 2 hours. The same site says there is no public transport route from the airport to Padang Bai.
As a guide to costs, Bali Holiday Secrets gives about US$45 for a booked transfer, US$35 to 45 for a Bluebird taxi and US$45 to 60 at the airport taxi counter. Ride-hailing (Grab, Gojek) is about US$30 to 42, but the site says drivers willing to go to Padang Bai can be hard to find.
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| Transport | Cost guide (airport to Padang Bai) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Booked transfer | About US$45 | Bali Holiday Secrets (updated July 2026) |
| Transfer booking site | From US$31 per person | Daytrip |
| Bluebird taxi | US$35 to 45 | Bali Holiday Secrets |
| Airport taxi counter | US$45 to 60 | Bali Holiday Secrets |
| Ride-hailing | US$30 to 42 (drivers hard to find) | Bali Holiday Secrets |
Time about 1 hr 15 min to 2 hr (sources differ) and depends on traffic.
The public ferry to Lombok: times and fares
Public ferries, run by the state operator ASDP among others, link Padang Bai with Lembar harbour on Lombok. The crossing takes about 4 to 6 hours; Jawa Pos (July 2026) gives an average of about 4 hours 30 minutes and notes that queues, loading and unloading can lengthen the whole trip. The same article lists seven departures from Lembar between 6.30am and 6pm. Departure times from Padang Bai were not in the sources we opened.
The adult fare (without a vehicle) is Rp65,300 (Bisnis.com, February 2026). According to detikBali (December 2025), a motorbike under 500cc is Rp169,400 and a car up to 5 m long is Rp1,184,100. Over New Year (22 December 2025 to 10 January 2026) and the Lebaran period (12 to 31 March 2026), the adult fare was discounted to Rp59,800.
You spend a long time on board the public ferry, so take water and snacks and look for a seat out of the sun. On a crossing that arrives in the evening, arrange how you will leave Lembar in advance.
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| Category | Fare | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (no vehicle) | Rp65,300 | Bisnis.com (27 February 2026) |
| Adult (discount periods) | Rp59,800 | Bisnis.com, detikBali |
| Motorbike (under 500cc) | Rp169,400 | detikBali (19 December 2025) |
| Car (up to 5 m) | Rp1,184,100 | detikBali (19 December 2025) |
Where to buy tickets: Ferizy and official outlets
Public ferry tickets are no longer bought at the port on the day. According to ANTARA (8 July 2024), 28 ports including Padang Bai and Lembar stopped selling tickets at the port; tickets are sold through official outlets and the Ferizy app and website. You can book from 60 days before departure, and only ticket holders may enter the port.
Buying on Ferizy was also a condition for the discounted fares (detikBali, December 2025). Do not buy from people who approach you near the port; check the date and sailing on Ferizy and buy there.
Figure: From Padang Bai to Sekotong by public ferry
Fast boats to the Gilis and Lombok
Fast boats leave Padang Bai for the Gili Islands (Trawangan, Air, Meno) and for Bangsal and Senggigi on Lombok. According to Ferryhopper, Padang Bai to Bangsal runs daily, takes about 1 hour 30 minutes at the quickest and costs from 14 euros. Padang Bai to Senggigi runs 3 to 7 days a week, takes about 1 hour 15 minutes at the quickest and costs from 17.13 euros. About ten operators are listed, including Bluewater Express, Ekajaya Fast Ferry and Wahana Virendra.
Fast boats cannot carry cars, most operators limit luggage size, and pets are not allowed (Ferryhopper). The same site recommends booking 2 to 3 weeks ahead in the busy May to September season. Fast boats to Gili Gede in the South Gilis leave from Serangan in south Bali, not Padang Bai (about 2 hours on the operator Gili Getaway’s timetable).
Figure: Public ferry or fast boat
Nights, Nyepi and the rainy season
Fast boats do not run from Padang Bai at night (Bali Holiday Secrets). If your flight lands on Bali at night, stay near the airport or in Padang Bai and take a boat the next morning. Taxis wait around the harbour when fast boats arrive, and the same site says prices to and from Padang Bai tend to be pushed up.
On Nyepi, the Balinese new year, the port stops too. On Nyepi in 2022, the 26 ferries between Lembar and Padang Bai stopped from 6am to 6am the next day (ANTARA, 3 March 2022). Nyepi in 2027 falls on Monday 8 March (Indonesian Ministry of State Secretariat).
In the rainy season (November to March) the sea between Bali and Lombok can be rough, and Ferryhopper suggests motion sickness tablets for those prone to it. Sailings can also stop because of weather, so avoid crossing by boat the day before your international flight.
Take care
- Fast boats do not run at night. If you reach Bali at night, take the next morning’s boat
- Public ferry tickets are not sold at the port. Buy through Ferizy or an official outlet in advance
- Ferries stop on Nyepi (8 March in 2027)
- Do not plan a boat crossing for the day before your international flight
Arriving at Lembar: getting to Sekotong and the airport
From Lembar, where the public ferry arrives, Sekotong is about 40 minutes by car. To the airport it is 45 to 60 minutes, with a fixed harbour taxi fare of Rp300,000 and ride-hailing at Rp150,000 to 250,000 (unchartedlens). The same site says there is no direct DAMRI bus from Lembar to the airport, DAMRI does not run at night, and shared bemos are best avoided after dark. On a crossing that arrives in the evening, book a car to meet you.
The route to Sekotong, home of Semelar Beach Village, is on our Getting Here page; how a stay works is on Stay, what you can do in the village on Things to Do, and the beach cafe on SAKURA CAFE.
A note from Sekotong
Coming to Sekotong by boat from Bali, Lembar is about 40 minutes away by car. According to detikBali (March 2024), you can also take a boat from Lembar to Gili Nanggu, about 30 to 45 minutes for Rp350,000 per boat. In case the ferry runs late, keep the arrival day free and start island trips the next day.
Downsides, and who Padang Bai suits
First, the downsides. Padang Bai is over an hour by car from Bali’s airport, and the public ferry is a crossing of more than 4 hours. Boats can run late or stop in bad weather, and fast boats do not run at night. If time matters, flying from Bali to Lombok (about 45 to 47 minutes) is more reliable.
Still, the public ferry costs Rp65,300 for an adult and can take your car or motorbike, and fast boats go straight to the Gilis or Bangsal. If you want to keep costs down, go straight to the Gilis, or are staying in east Bali, Padang Bai is a convenient harbour.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How long is it from Padang Bai to Lombok?
By public ferry to Lembar, about 4 to 6 hours (an average of about 4 hours 30 minutes in a July 2026 report). By fast boat to Bangsal, about 1 hour 30 minutes at the quickest.
Q. Can I buy public ferry tickets at the port?
No. At 28 ports including Padang Bai and Lembar, tickets are no longer sold at the port; they are sold through official outlets and the Ferizy app and website, from 60 days before departure (July 2024 report).
Q. How much is the public ferry?
Rp65,300 for an adult without a vehicle (February 2026 report). A motorbike is Rp169,400 and a car up to 5 m is Rp1,184,100 (December 2025 report).
Q. How do I get from Bali airport to Padang Bai?
By car, about 1 hour 15 minutes to 2 hours. A booked transfer is about US$45 and a Bluebird taxi US$35 to 45. There is no public transport.
Q. Can I take a boat from Padang Bai at night?
Fast boats do not run at night. If you reach Bali at night, stay near the airport or in Padang Bai and take a boat the next morning.
Summary
Padang Bai, on Bali’s southeast coast, is the harbour for boats to Lombok and the Gilis. It is about 1 hour 15 minutes to 2 hours by car from the airport; the public ferry to Lembar takes about 4 to 6 hours (adult Rp65,300) and fast boats reach Bangsal from about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Buy public ferry tickets in advance on Ferizy or at an official outlet, and avoid crossing at night or on Nyepi. Fares and times change, so check with the operators and Ferizy before you travel (as of October 2026).
Related reading
- Lembar Harbour GuideThe ferry from Padang Bai and the gateway to Sekotong
- Bali to Lombok: All RoutesFlight, fast boat and ferry compared
- Bali to the Gili IslandsFast boat harbours, times and fares
SEMELAR BEACH VILLAGE
Come and spend some time in the Sekotong village we call home
About 1 hour 10 minutes by car from Lombok International Airport. We offer a stay programme of 3 nights/4 days or more, with island trips by local boat and sunsets at SAKURA CAFE. The villas are due to be completed in stages from 2027.
Sources used for this article
- Ferryhopper, “Ferries Padang Bai” (port location, routes, operators, luggage and pets, booking ahead, rainy-season seas)https://www.ferryhopper.com/en/ferries/indonesia/padang-bai
- Ferryhopper, “Ferry from Padang Bai (Bali) to Lombok” (Padang Bai to Bangsal and Senggigi times, frequency, fares)https://www.ferryhopper.com/en/ferry-routes/direct/padang-bai-lombok
- Bali Holiday Secrets, “Getting from Bali Airport to Padang Bai” (updated 27 July 2026; distance, time, costs, no night fast boats, waiting taxis)https://www.baliholidaysecrets.com/bali-airport-to-padangbai/
- Daytrip, “Ngurah Rai International Airport to Padangbai” (55 km, about 1 hr 30 min, from US$31)https://daytrip.com/en/transfers/i-gusti-ngurah-rai-international-airport-id/padangbai-id
- Jawa Pos, “Jadwal 7 Kapal Feri Lembar-Padangbai Hari Ini” (July 2026; seven departures from Lembar and crossing time)https://www.jawapos.com/wisata-dan-kuliner/2607130478/jadwal-7-kapal-feri-lembar-padangbai-hari-ini-cek-jam-berangkat-dan-harga-tiket
- Bisnis.com, “Mudik Lebaran 2026: ASDP Tebar Diskon Tarif Penyeberangan hingga 50%” (27 February 2026; adult fare and discount)https://ekonomi.bisnis.com/read/20260227/98/1956262/mudik-lebaran-2026-asdp-tebar-diskon-tarif-penyeberangan-hingga-50
- detikBali, “ASDP Pastikan Armada Siap Layani Penyeberangan Lembar-Padangbai saat Nataru” (19 December 2025; motorbike and car fares, New Year discount)https://www.detik.com/bali/bisnis/d-8268075/asdp-pastikan-armada-siap-layani-penyeberangan-lembar-padangbai-saat-nataru
- ANTARA Jatim, “ASDP cegah calo, 28 pelabuhan di Indonesia terapkan tiket online” (8 July 2024)https://jatim.antaranews.com/berita/799557/asdp-cegah-calo-28-pelabuhan-di-indonesia-terapkan-tiket-online
- detikBali, “Gili Nanggu di Lombok: Daya Tarik, Tarif, hingga Rutenya” (22 March 2024; boats from Lembar)https://www.detik.com/bali/wisata/d-7256702/gili-nanggu-di-lombok-daya-tarik-tarif-hingga-rutenya
- ANTARA Bali, “26 kapal penyeberangan Lembar-Padangbai stop operasi saat Nyepi” (3 March 2022)https://bali.antaranews.com/berita/271357/26-kapal-penyeberangan-lembar-padangbai-stop-operasi-saat-nyepi
- Indonesian Ministry of State Secretariat, “Inilah SKB 3 Menteri Libur Nasional dan Cuti Bersama 2027” (15 September 2026)https://setneg.go.id/baca/index/inilah_skb_3_menteri_libur_nasional_dan_cuti_bersama_2027
- unchartedlens, “Lembar Harbour to Lombok Airport” (time, fares, DAMRI, bemos after dark)https://unchartedlens.com/routes/indonesia/lembar-harbour-to-lombok-airport/
- Gili Bookings, “Gili Getaway” (Serangan to Gili Gede timetable)https://www.gilibookings.com/gili-getaway
