The summary
| Option | Duration seen | Price seen | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast boat Padang Bai to Bangsal/Gili | about 1 h 50 to 2 h 30 (fastest 1 h 50) | from about 10.5 EUR up to about 43 EUR (ticket site, December 2025); about 11 to 16 USD (another site) | Foot passengers, most visitors |
| Fast boat to Senggigi | from about 1 h 15 for the fastest | price to check | Those going to Lombok's west coast |
| Public ferry Padang Bai to Lembar | 4 to 5 hours according to a guide | about 50,000 to 80,000 rupiah on foot | Tight budget, traveller with a vehicle |
The fast boat
It is the choice of most travellers: faster, and several companies. One ticket site gives 1 hour 50 for the fastest to Bangsal, and 2 hours 28 on average. 2026 reviews of a slower boat report delays and extra stops at the Gilis: one traveller mentions almost 3 hours instead of 2. Fast boats do not take vehicles: you board on foot. On Klook, a fast-boat ticket between Padang Bai and the Gilis (Blue Water Express) shows about 4.6 out of 5 from about 76 reviews (October 2026), with passenger insurance. Some packages include hotel pick-up, others do not: read what is included.
The public ferry
Only the conventional ASDP ferry takes cars and scooters, and it arrives at Lembar, on Lombok's south-west coast. It is slow and cheap: 4 to 5 hours according to a guide, about 50,000 to 80,000 rupiah (3 to 5 USD) on foot. Fast boats, for their part, do not take vehicles.
Reaching the port and buying your ticket
Boats leave from Padang Bai, about 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 30 from Ubud (estimate). Arrive early: one traveller review asks to be at the company office by 8:00. Buy the ticket at the official kiosks in the terminal or from a known reseller, not from people in the car park: one guide reports scams. One traveller also reported being asked for 100,000 rupiah to carry bags: politely decline if you do not want it. Think about cancellation terms: one reseller shows a 50% fee between 2 and 7 days before.
Which option to choose
- You want the Gilis or Lombok quickly, on foot: fast boat, with a ticket booked ahead.
- You want the cheapest option or you have a scooter or a car: public ferry to Lembar.
- You want to be picked up at your hotel: choose a package with a transfer, checking the departure time.
Before you leave
To spend a night in Padang Bai before an early boat, see White Sand Beach in Padang Bai. To reach the port from the airport or Ubud, see private driver in Bali and from the airport to Ubud, Canggu or Seminyak. For entry rules and Bali's tourist levy, see before you go to Bali.
