Elisha
If you’re planning to head to Weligama on your trip through south Sri Lanka, then you’re spoilt for choice with accommodation. As the surfing hub of the south coast, Weligama Bay is the best place to learn how to surf in the country. It attracts everyone from families to backpackers and people of all ages trying to stand up on a surf board for the first time.
While it can be a bit of a chaotic town, it offers a great base for exploring the south coast. It features some of the best value for money and variety in accommodation compared to nearby towns like Ahangama and Mirissa. You can pick from a homestay or a locally run guesthouse or a social hostel or a more luxurious beachside resort. Plus, you’ll also find plenty of surf camps and surf houses ready to keep you focused on surfing while you stay.
I’ve spent over five months in Sri Lanka, with many weeks in Weligama staying at hostels, guesthouses, and surf camps. If you’re trying to find the best accommodation in Weligama to suit your budget and needs, then I’m going to round up my favourites below for everyone from digital nomads to surfers.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means I get a commission if you buy a product through my link at no extra cost to you. By doing so, I can keep this blog going and continue to create helpful guides for you. Read more: Privacy Policy
Best Areas to Stay in Weligama
If you want to be walking distance to the surf and close to all the action in town, then staying anywhere in the centre of town and close to Weligama Beach is ideal. There are plenty of choices of accommodation here, although mostly hostels, guesthouses, and homestays. Most of the more luxury hotels are outside of the centre.
If you prefer a bit more quiet, there are some great accommodation options over the river. While it’s further from the beach, it’s much more serene and a bunch of beautiful guesthouses and co-living places aimed at longer term stays have popped up here.
You can also find some places outside of the town centre, along the road to Ahangama or towards Mirissa. This offers a little more seclusion, but you’ll probably need to get around by tuk tuk or scooter to reach town or the main surf spots.
Read more: 22 Best Things to Do in Weligama
Best Places to Stay in Weligama for Digital Nomads
If you’re a digital nomad in Sri Lanka looking for comfortable long-term accommodation that provides the working space and quietness that you need, Weligama has a few great co-living spots.
Sapiens Home
Located across the river in a tranquil setting, this hotel offers spacious single and double rooms with ensuite bathrooms and some with a balcony. The outdoor swimming pool is perfect to cool off and relax amongst the lush garden, and the onsite restaurant means you don’t have to leave to get a meal.
Rooms come with a personal desk or there’s a communal coworking area with AC and high-speed internet.
Price range: $$
Vagabond Collective Coliving
Nestled wmongst lush greenery over the river, this relatively new coliving and coworking place is still a 5-minute drive from the beach but away from the bustle of town. They offer large dormitories for the budget conscious or private rooms for those wanting more privacy.
Surrounded by trees, you can get work done at the communal work areas while looking out at nature, plus they also have an onsite café for meals. They also offer yoga and meditation classes every week and community events to get to know your fellow guests.
Price range: $-$$
Outpost Weligama
Located right on the beach, you can surf in the morning and work all afternoon at Outpost. This coliving hotel has a range of double rooms some with sea views from their balconies. It has everything you need with an outdoor pool, onsite café, large communal coworking space, and a sunset terrace on the roof for chilling out.
It’s located a bit out of the town centre on the way to Mirissa, but it’s still right in front of the beach and main point in Weligama Bay for those wanting to surf.
Price: $$$
Best Places to Stay in Weligama for Budget Travellers
For backpackers and those on a budget, Weligama offers a range of cheap accommodation from hostels to family guesthouses and homestays. Whether you want to meet other travellers or have a private room, Weligama is ideal.
Hangtime Hostel
The best hostel in town, this longstanding favourite has everything you could want. Located right on the main beach road in the middle of town, you’re close to absolutely everything here.
With dorm rooms, private rooms, yoga classes, a rooftop café (pictured above), co-working space, and gift shop all under one roof, you never have to leave. Popular with guests and surfers coming off the beach, it’s become an iconic spot in Weligama.
Price: $
Happy Hammocks Hostel
Just steps back from the beach down a quieter side street in the middle of town, this is one of the best hostels in Weligama. The communal spaces are always filled with backpackers hanging out post-surf and playing games or having a beer. It’s a super social hostel!
It has dorm rooms, a shared kitchen, and large lounge area. It’s ideally located if you want to surf in the morning and go out at night.
Price: $
Sun Set Sea Family House
For less than you’ll pay in a dorm room, this family homestay offers a budget double room with private bathroom. No AC here, but it has a fan for the warm nights.
It’s located just outside the centre, so you can still walk to the beach if you like (they offer free bike rental too). The home has a shared kitchen, dining area, and huge garden to relax in. You’ll feel right at home here with a lovely local family.
Price: $
Rusara Guesthouse
This popular local guesthouse is located just back from the beach, within minutes’ walk from the town centre and the main surf spot. They offer several AC double rooms with private bathroom, and access to kitchen and living room.
The family is wonderful and ready to help at any moment from laundry to transport. It’s a great quiet base but close enough to everything you need in town.
Price: $$
Best Guesthouses in Weligama at Midrange Prices
Weligama has an endless supply of midrange guesthouses. If you’re willing to pay a slightly higher price for a bit more comfort, then you have several places to choose from.
Madla Rooms
This place is such great value for money. It has spacious, neatly decorated double rooms with private bathrooms. It’s located just over the train tracks in town, so you can still walk everywhere without the noise of the main road.
They only offer two rooms, so it’ll be a very peaceful stay. The owners are also extremely lovely and happy to help with anything.
Price: $-$$
Rise Bed and Breakfast
On the main road just out of town and close to the famous Weligama Bay Marriott Resort, this place feels like an oasis from the chaos. It has several spacious and beautifully decorated private rooms, some with balconies.
You can also find a popular Italian restaurant downstairs and communal lounge areas to relax in. This place is definitely good value for money.
Price: $$
MrMango Weligama
Right in the middle of town, this multi-storey guesthouse offers various double rooms, as well as, a couple of family rooms for those travelling with kids. The rooms are spacious with a private bathroom and desk to work from as well.
The owner is incredibly kind and happy to help. But you’re so close to everything, you have the beach and plenty of restaurants within minutes of walking.
Price: $$
We Escape
This place offers rooms for all different budgets, all with the same clean, beautiful touch. The dorm rooms are a little pricier than hostels, but you’ll be staying somewhere a bit more luxurious. Plus, they have standard private rooms and then fancy villas with private rooms for a higher price.
Whichever you choose, you can use the outdoor pool area, onsite restaurant, and join the yoga classes. If you’re willing to spend a bit more but stay right in the town centre, this is the best choice. It’s just opposite from Kurumba Bay Beach Club.
Price: $$-$$$
Best Places to Stay in Weligama for Surfers
If your main focus in Weligama is to surf every day, then you’ll want accommodation that caters for that. You’ll find an array of surf camps, surf houses, and lodges all aiming to provide a surf and stay experience.
Kickin’ Surf Lodge
This luxury surf hostel has both dorm rooms and private rooms in a beautiful beach themed accommodation. Not far from the beach or the centre of town by foot, you can easily surf and stay at this place.
It offers a beautiful garden. Shared kitchen, lounge and hangout areas, laundry, and outdoor showers. It’s one of the nicest hostels you can possibly stay in Sri Lanka. Plus, the staff can help you book surf lesson or get to the surrounding surf spots.
Price: $$
Oasia Boutique Surf House
This boutique surf house is tucked away from the chaos of Weligama. Located across the river, it feels much quieter than anything close to town. It’s a beautiful hotel, with an outdoor pool and garden to relax and large modern rooms with a desk and some with a balcony.
Surfers will appreciate the rooftop yoga space, and they can organise surf lessons or help you get to more advanced surf spots too. It’s an ideal place to surf and recover.
Price: $$$
Lucky’s Surf Camp
Founded by the former Sri Lankan National Champion of Surfing, Lucky’s Surf Camp is an ideal place to base yourself for surfing in Weligama. Located right on the bay, you’ll find beautiful double rooms with a balcony, some with sea views, as well as more simple dorm rooms for those on a budget.
The rooftop café offers breakfast to guests, plus, daily yoga classes are available. For surfers, you have board rental and surf lessons all in house. You can either choose to pay for a bed, or join their surf and stay packages, which includes accommodation, breakfast, daily surf lessons and yoga classes, video analysis, and theory classes. Perfect if you want to progress.
Price: $$-$$$
Layback Surf Camp
If you want to join a dedicated surf camp, then I highly recommend Layback Surf Camp in Weligama. You can come and go from this camp, guests must book their week-long surf camp program, so this is for those who seriously want to learn to surf or intermediate surfers looking to level up with expert coaching.
I’ve done this camp twice now and can say it’s definitely worth it (read my review of it). It’s owned by a local guy, along with fantastic instructors who are passionate about improving your skills. There are different package levels depending on how many surf lessons you want and whether you want to add yoga as well.
They offer dorm rooms for the budget conscious and private rooms for those wanting more privacy. With a private outdoor pool and rooftop café, it’s the perfect balance between surfing and relaxing.
Price: $$-$$$
Komorebi
This small-scale bohemian hotel has stunning sea views from the rooftop. It’s located outside of Weligama near Fishermans Village, so it’s perfect for those wanting to escape the chaos of town. For surfers, it’s located walking distance to Fishermans surf spot (an underrated intermediate reef break), or within a few minutes’ drive of other spots too.
There’s an onsite restaurant or you can find local places just around the village area. Some of the rooms have balconies and sea views, if you want to be able to check wave conditions from bed.
Price: $$-$$$
Best Luxury Places to Stay in Weligama
While Weligama does midrange and budget accommodation well, you’ll still find a handful of more luxurious places outside the town centre.
Sitara Weligama
On the way to Mirissa, this resort is just a two-minute walk from the beach, but a 10-minute drive from Weligama centre. However, you can easily explore both Mirissa and Weligama from here as it’s nicely in between.
With a stunning outdoor pool overlooking the river, and classy rooms with huge glass windows allowing plenty of natural lighting, it’s a stunning place to stay. It also has an onsite restaurant so you don’t have to go far for delicious food.
Price: $$$
Cascara Resort Weligama
This 5-star resort offers a tropical retreat amongst lush gardens and nature. You’ll forget you’re close to the bustling Weligama streets, as it’s tucked about a 5-minute drive away inland.
It has a huge pool and plenty of outdoor seating plus an onsite restaurant. The studio rooms are generously spacious, plus you can splurge on a suite with your own private pool.
Price: $$$$
Eraeliya Villas & Garden
One of the more elegant stays on the south coast of Sri Lanka, this is for those who don’t mind spending a lot on accommodation. And if you do, you might not want to leave with beautiful sea views and expansive gardens with an outdoor pool.
They have huge suites and private villas, all offering exclusive privacy so you don’t feel like you’re staying at a hotel. It’s located out towards Ahangama on the edge of Weligama Bay, so you’re a short driving distance from wonderful places on the south coast.
Price: $$$$
How to Get to Weligama
You can reach it easily by train, bus, tuk tuk or private car.
One of the most scenic ways to reach Weligama is by train. There is a station for Weligama on the southern train line that runs along the coast from Colombo to Matara. There are several departures every day; you can purchase tickets at the station. The journey should take about 3 hours.
You can also take any of the local buses that travel along the south coast. You’ll find frequent departures all day from Colombo and Galle to Matara, where you can get off in Weligama. You don’t have to pre-book, just turn up at the station, and get on the next departure. The journey is long though, taking about 4 hours. Otherwise, if you take a highway bus to Matara it will be quicker but you’ll have to change for Weligama.
For something more convenient and comfortable, it’s very easy to take a tuk tuk or private driver from anywhere in Sri Lanka directly to your accommodation. Prices are usually very reasonable but agree with your driver before setting off. By car, you can reach Weligama from Colombo in less than 2.5 hours.
Read next: 26 Travel Tips for Sri Lanka: Everything You Need to Know
When to Visit Weligama
The best time to visit Weligama is during the dry season from November until April. This is when the weather is usually better for travelling and it also coincides with the best surfing season.
If you’re planning to travel during peak season from January to March, I recommend booking in advance as it can get very busy.
The wet season on the south coast generally runs from May until October. However, the seasons in Sri Lanka are less predictable these days, and you can still find some good weather in the monsoon. Although, generally the surf won’t be very good at this time. But you will find accommodation is much cheaper during this season, and you can get some real bargain stays.
Want an eSIM with unlimited data for your trip? 📲 GET 5% OFF HOLAFLY WITH MY CODE: BEYONDWILD
Where to Eat in Weligama
Weligama has as much variety in restaurants and cafes as it does with accommodation. You can find beautiful trendy cafes serving smoothie bowls and banana pancakes, to local spots cooking rice and curry all day. Here are my favourites:
Hangten Rooftop Café: The rooftop restaurant above Hangtime Hostel has one of the best views in town to watch the surf while you eat. Open all day they have a great menu filled with Western and local favourites, with vegan and gluten free options too. They have live music some nights.
Dulnetha Restaurant: One of the most popular local restaurants in Weligama, Dulnetha is the best place to get rice and curry at any time of day. The serving sizes are huge and it’s the perfect place to go with a group of friends and share several plates.
Moochies Café: The best café in town, Moochies has become a brunch institution in Weligama with a beautiful courtyard where you can try smoothie bowls, avocado toast and burgers. They offer vegan and gluten free options.
Sam’s Place: This is a great local restaurant just across from the beach with large serving sizes and fair prices, I visited here several times with friends for dinner.
AEY Restaurant: This tiny unassuming spot is my got-to for a cheap and plentiful local meal. Serving sizes are huge for the price and the family running the place are lovely. They only have a few tables, so get in quick.
Real Fish Point: This seafood restaurant right on Weligama Beach offers the freshest seafood in town. You can select from anything they have pulled in for the day and sit back on the sand and wait for it to be cooked up for you.
More Sri Lanka Guides
- South Sri Lanka: Ultimate 2 Week South Sri Lanka Itinerary
- Sigiriya: Ultimate Guide to Sigiriya: Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle
- Ella: 10 Best Things to Do in Ella: An Essential Guide
- Kandy: 10 Best Things to Do in Kandy
- Surf Camp: Layback Surf Camp Review in Weligama
- Weligama: 22 Best Things to Do in Weligama
- Ahangama: 14 Best Things to Do in Ahangama & Midigama
- Hiriketiya: Hiriketiya Beach: A Guide to Sri Lanka’s Little Coastal Paradise
- Tangalle: 11 Best Things to Do in Tangalle
- Jaffna: 10 Best Things to Do in Jaffna
- Trincomalee: Trincomalee Travel Guide: Underrated Beach Destination in Sri Lanka
- Colombo: Best Things to Do in Colombo in 24 Hours
- Galle: 2 Days in Galle Fort: Best Things to Do in Galle
- North Sri Lanka: 10 Day North Sri Lanka Itinerary
- Arugam Bay: 10 Best Things to Do in Arugam Bay
- Delft Island: How to Visit Delft Island: Sri Lanka’s Remote Island Near Jaffna
- SIM Card: Buying a SIM Card for Sri Lanka, Which is Better?
Pin this post
