Sanur has been one of Bali’s most important departure points for trips to the nearby islands for many years. Long before the current harbour building was opened, travellers heading to Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and other island destinations often started their journey directly from the beach area in Sanur.
For many visitors, the old experience was part of the adventure. Boats waited close to the shore, passengers carried their bags across the sand, and boarding could depend on the tide and sea conditions. It was simple, busy and very typical of island travel in Bali. But as tourism to Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, the Gili Islands and Lombok continued to grow, Sanur needed better infrastructure.
A major change came in 2022, when the new Sanur Port was officially inaugurated by Indonesian President Joko Widodo. The inauguration took place on 9 November 2022, together with several other infrastructure projects in Bali, including Sampalan Port and Bias Munjul Port.
The new harbour was built to make sea travel from Bali more organized, safer and more comfortable. Instead of the older beach-style boarding process, passengers could now use a proper terminal and pier system. This changed the experience completely: check-in became more structured, luggage handling became easier, and boarding no longer had to feel like a beach crossing.
Sanur Harbour is located near Matahari Terbit Beach, an area that has long been connected with boat departures from Sanur. Today, the harbour serves as one of Bali’s main gateways for fast boat routes to the Nusa Islands, Lombok and the Gili Islands.
The opening of the new port also reflected the rapid growth of tourism around Bali’s neighbouring islands. Nusa Penida in particular became one of the most popular day-trip and overnight destinations from Bali. With more travellers moving between Bali and the islands every day, Sanur Harbour became a key part of Bali’s tourism infrastructure.
According to Indonesia’s Presidential Staff Office, Sanur Port was built on around 10 hectares of land and had served 2.7 million passengers after its inauguration, with daily passenger numbers reported at around 8,000 to 10,000 people.
Today, Sanur Harbour is more than just a place to catch a boat. It is a connecting point between Bali and some of Indonesia’s most visited island destinations. For travellers, it means easier access to Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, Lombok and the Gili Islands. For Bali, it represents a shift from informal beach departures to a more modern and organized transport hub.
Sanur’s role has changed, but its purpose remains the same: it is still the place where many island journeys from Bali begin.