🇱🇰 Sri Lanka travel guide

Whales, rolling tea hills, the most beautiful train ride in the world and sunsets over the ocean.

Cities and regions

• 🌊 South Coast — 11 places
• 🍃 Hill Country & Centre — 10 places
• 🌅 The North — 1 place

What to see

🏰 Galle Fort

A 17th-century colonial fort by the ocean: a lighthouse, ramparts, boutiques and cafés. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Insider tip: Walk the ramparts at sunset: that's when locals come out too, playing cricket and flying kites.

🏖 Unawatuna Beach

A sheltered bay with calm water, one of the few beaches in the south where even beginners can swim comfortably.

Insider tip: Right next door is Jungle Beach: a tiny cove you reach on a path through the jungle.

🐋 Whale Watching in Mirissa

Head out to sea at dawn to spot blue whales and dolphins.

Time: Season: roughly November to April

Insider tip: Take a seasickness pill beforehand, and choose an operator with good reviews for treating the whales responsibly.

🌴 Coconut Tree Hill

That palm-covered hill above the ocean you've seen in every Sri Lanka Instagram post.

Insider tip: Come at sunrise or an hour before sunset: midday is hot and crowded.

🎣 Stilt Fishermen

Fishermen perched on poles out in the surf, the classic image of the island's south.

Insider tip: These days they usually ask for money for photos, so agree on the amount first.

🏄 Ahangama

The south coast's trendiest spot: beginner-friendly surf breaks, design-led cafés and villas, and a laid-back vibe.

Insider tip: Want to learn to surf? Book your lesson in the morning, when the waves are gentle.

What to eat

• 🍛 Rice and curry — A plate of rice with 5–10 different curries: vegetables, dal, chicken or fish. The island's staple meal. Where to try it: Any local café at lunchtime
• 🥘 Kottu — Chopped flatbread stir-fried with vegetables, egg and meat. You'll hear it before you see it: the clatter of cleavers on the griddle. Where to try it: Street cafés in the evening
• 🥣 Hoppers — Crispy bowl-shaped pancakes made from rice batter, often with an egg inside. Served with fiery sambol. Where to try it: Breakfast or dinner
• 🫓 Roti — Stuffed flatbreads: with vegetables, egg, or sweet with banana and chocolate. Where to try it: Beach stalls
• 🍵 Ceylon tea — Try it right where it's grown. Locals drink it with milk and sugar. Where to try it: Tea plantations in the hills
• 🥥 King coconut — An orange coconut with the sweetest water. Better than any energy drink in the heat. Where to try it: On every corner

When to go

• South & West (Galle, Unawatuna, Mirissa): December to April is beach and whale time. From May, the monsoon brings waves and rain.
• East (Trincomalee, Arugam Bay): In season from April to September, while the south has its monsoon.
• Hill Country (Ella, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy): Cool all year round: you'll want a jumper at night. Mist often rolls in after lunch.
• North (Jaffna): Dry most of the year, with downpours from October to December.

Entry & documents

Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before you fly, at eta.gov.lk. A tourist ETA usually gives you 30 days; it's currently free for many nationalities, while others pay a fee. Check the current rules for your passport before you travel.

Local etiquette

• 👟 Take off your shoes and hat at temples, and cover your shoulders and knees. Go in the morning: by midday the stone courtyards are scorching underfoot.
• 🤝 Use your right hand to eat, shake hands, and pass or receive things: the left is considered unclean.
• 🙏 Greet people with "Ayubowan" and your palms pressed together at your chest: locals love it when visitors do this.
• 📸 Don't pose with your back to a Buddha statue, an altar or a sacred bodhi tree: it's seen as deeply disrespectful.
• 💋 Save the kissing and cuddling for later: Sri Lanka is conservative, especially around children and older people.
• 🪑 Never sit on a seat draped in white cloth: it's reserved for monks. Don't sit higher than a seated monk or walk ahead of one either; step aside and let him pass.

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