26 Sri Lanka Travel Tips: Everything You Need to Know

Sri Lanka has emerged as one of the latest “it” countries to visit in Asia. Whether for a beach holiday, surf trip or a solo backpacking adventure, the small tear shaped island offers such a variety of incredible places, attractions, and landscapes. This blog post breaks down all of my top Sri Lanka travel tips for those planning a trip.

After originally planning on spending a month in Sri Lanka, I soon extended and ended up staying three months and have since returned for a second trip. So, you could say I really liked Sri Lanka (a massive understatement). I did little research before landing in Colombo, and there’s plenty of things I wish I’d known before booking my flight.

This guide is filled with my top Sri Lanka travel tips, including everything you need to know about visiting the island nation, from transportation to food and budget.

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Quick Facts About Sri Lanka

• Population: 22 million
• Capital: Colombo
• Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
• Dialling code: +94
• Official languages: Sinhala and Tamil
• Religion demography: 70% Buddhist, 12.5% Hindu, 10% Muslim, 7.5% Christian

Practical Sri Lanka Travel Tips

These are the essential travel tips for Sri Lanka, including the things you need to know before landing. From visas, to climate and internet connectivity, here’s what you need to know.

Organise Your Visa Prior to Arrival

You must arrange an e-visa prior to arrival in Sri Lanka. Head to the official e-visa website to get your visa about a week or two before flying. You will need a valid passport and a digital passport size photograph.

A standard, multiple entry visa is for 30 days, costing US$50 for non-SAARC countries and $20 for SAARC citizens.

If you want to extend beyond 30 days, once you have entered the country you can apply for an extension online. It’s possible to extend for another 60 days.

Allow Enough Time on Your Itinerary (It’s Small But Packed with Attractions)

While Sri Lanka is a very small country in comparison to many in Asia, it packs a lot of punch with a wide variety of attractions, activities and places to visit. It’s easy to make the mistake of not allowing enough time to really do the country justice; I met plenty of people just visiting for a week or two.

You can easily visit for a week if you’re just looking to relax on the beach somewhere, but if you’re planning on doing much sightseeing, you’ll need more time. I’d recommend at least a month to really tick off all the best attractions in both north AND south Sri Lanka. However, if you don’t have the luxury of that much time, then you can stick to focusing on either the north or the south with these itineraries:

• Ultimate 2 Week South Sri Lanka Itinerary
• Essential 10 Day North Sri Lanka Itinerary

You Can Visit All Year Round (But Be Aware of the Monsoon Seasons)

Sri Lanka is incredibly unique in that it can be visited all year round, with no particularly bad time to visit. The island nation has two monsoon seasons, one in the southwest that moves to the northeast, meaning that you can plan your trip to avoid the wet weather.

Southwest Monsoon (May – October): This is the main monsoon season affecting the south and west coasts of Sri Lanka and is characterised by rainy, humid and cloudy weather. These months are low season in the south, but high season in the north and east of Sri Lanka, including places like Trincomalee, Arugam Bay, and Jaffna, where the weather remains dry for the most part.

Northeast Monsoon (November – April): The monsoon moves to the north and east coasts from the end of October onwards. The weather dries out along the entire south coast, meaning it’s high season for tourists in places like Galle, Mirissa, and Ella.

It’s Always Hot, Prepare to Sweat

Despite the monsoon seasons, Sri Lanka is hot all the time. Average temperatures range between 26-32 Celsius most months across the country, with humidity almost always high (although higher at the beginning of the monsoon seasons, when the weather is changing).

The heat of the sun is strong, and you’ll find walking around in the middle of the day can be tiring and sweaty work. I recommend planning to do most sightseeing early in the morning (before 10am) or late in the afternoon (after 4pm), with sunrise and sunset being popular times for hikes to avoid the heat.

It can be pretty uncomfortable if you’re doing any long day trips, but you’ll find relief in some places like Ella, Nuwara Eliya, and Kandy, where the air is a little cooler in the hills.

Colombo or Negombo When Arriving? Stay in Colombo

The main entry point into Sri Lanka is Bandaranaike International Airport, which is quite inconveniently about 32km north of Colombo. The airport is in fact located closer to the beach suburb of Negombo, so many travellers opt to avoid Colombo all together and stay in Negombo before/after their flight.

However, I didn’t find Negombo overly nice and unless you’re flying in the middle of the night, I’d recommend heading into Colombo to at least explore some of the city’s sights, if you have time. Read my Colombo guide here.

A taxi from the airport into Colombo Fort should cost around 4500 LKR (US$15), but be prepared to bargain hard. Otherwise, the cheapest way to Colombo city centre is No. 187 bus which departs from Avariwatta Bus Stand (750m away from the airport) in Katunayake. Tickets cost around 200 LKR (AU$2) per person and the journey takes about an hour. The buses only run from 6am until 8pm, so if you’re arriving in the night, you’ll have to take a taxi.

My accommodation recommendations for both Colombo and Negombo:

• Hostel Republic at Galle Face // A budget-friendly hostel with dorm rooms not far from Galle Face Green
• Srilax // A beautiful boutique guesthouse on Independence Avenue and surprisingly affordable at less than $100 per night
• Island Life // A new, clean guesthouse about 20 minutes from the airport and not far from the beach, perfect for a one night stay at budget prices
• Terrace Green Hotel & Spa // A boutique hotel ideal for couples with private spas and a classy restaurant, only 20 minutes from the airport

Sri Lanka is Pretty Safe (And There’s Plenty of Solo Female Travellers)

Sri Lanka is one of the friendliest countries you can visit. Local people are incredibly hospitable and welcoming, with petty crime rates quite low. Still, it pays to be careful of your valuables, especially in crowds and in markets. Use your common sense, but you don’t have to be overly on guard.

It’s also worth noting that solo travellers, and in particular solo female travellers, are incredibly common in Sri Lanka. In fact, I met far more solo female travellers in Sri Lanka than almost any other country. It does standout as a particularly great place for first time travellers or solo travellers to gain some confidence and explore alone without too much hassle.

However, it can be worth noting that the occasional sexist slur can be heard. This tends to happen in less visited parts of the country like Jaffna, but I didn’t find it overly intimidating as a female like other South Asian countries can be.

English is Widely Spoken

While the national languages are Sinhala (mostly spoken in the south) and Tamil (mostly in the north), English is also very widely spoken. I was quite surprised to have hardly any problems getting around or communicating in almost any part of the country, with most people of all ages speaking at least basic English.

You’ll find that even bus conductors or staff at local restaurants will speak even a little English, so you shouldn’t have much trouble trying to communicate what you want or need.

WiFi is Pretty Weak, But SIM Cards Work Well

The Wi-Fi infrastructure across the country is not great. In fact, most internet you find in accommodation isn’t very reliable, with exceptions for places that are set up specifically for digital nomads. If you rely on good Wi-Fi, I recommend finding coworking spaces or digital nomad hubs which are basically the only places that have good internet connection.

I highly recommend that you get a local SIM card on arrival in Sri Lanka, because the 4G network is quite good and you’ll be able to use your own internet when Wi-Fi isn’t reliable.

I went with Dialog, which is the largest network and best performing company across the country. It’s pretty reasonable, with prices for the SIM card + 50GB data package costing 2000LKR (US$7).

Or, if you prefer the convenience of organising an e-sim before you arrive, I highly recommend Holafly. They offer unlimited data for as many days as you need, so it’s perfect for digital nomads or those with high data usage. Read my local SIM vs eSIM for Sri Lanka guide here, which includes how to buy a local SIM once you arrive.

Want an eSIM with unlimited data for your trip? 📲 GET 5% OFF HOLAFLY WITH MY CODE: BEYONDWILD

Plan For Some Day Trips

Sri Lanka does have some incredible day trips that you should allow in your itinerary. You’ll find that places like Ella, Sigiriya and Jaffna are good bases to explore deeper into the beautiful nature and get off the beaten track a bit. I highly recommend getting out of the towns and cities and hiring a tuk tuk for the day or navigating public transport to get to see some unique sights.

My favourite day trips include:

• How to Visit Ambuluwawa Tower From Kandy
• Swimming in Diyaluma Falls (Second Highest in Sri Lanka) Near Ella
• Snorkelling at Pigeon Island National Park Near Trincomalee
• Day Trip to Polonnaruwa Ruins From Sigiriya
• How to Visit Delft Island Off the Coast of Jaffna
• Yala National Park Full Day Safari

Sri Lanka Travel Tips: Budget and Money

If you’re trying to stick to a tight budget or interested in how much a trip to Sri Lanka will cost, I will break down everything you need to know about money.

Sri Lanka is Affordable (But Not as Cheap as Other South Asian Countries)

Sri Lanka is an incredibly affordable country to travel in and you can live quite comfortably on a budget. However, it’s not quite as cheap as other South Asian countries like India and Nepal, so you might need to adjust your budget if you’re coming from either of those places.

In general though, I found that the quality of accommodation was high for the average price and you can find some very cheap local eats as well. You’ll find that prices tend to be inflated during the main high season on the south coast (December-February), when things can double pretty quickly. Otherwise, outside of these months, prices are pretty stable.

You can easily save money by staying in homestays or hostels and seeking out local restaurants. But, there’s also plenty of options to splurge if that’s what you’re looking for. Western style cafes and upscale resorts are plentiful on the south coast especially, and still for a reasonable price considering the standard.

On average, this is what you can expect from a daily budget:

• Accommodation: $10-15 for basic guesthouse or hostel, $40 for boutique hotel, or $60+ for luxury
• Food: $5 per meal at budget/local places or $10 per person at more Western style places
• Alcohol: Beer can cost $2 but wine and cocktails are more expensive at $5+ per glass
• Transport: $2-5 per bus or train ride, while day trips with a private tuk tuk can cost $35+

Make Sure You Have Cash (and Keep Small Change)

Cash is still king in Sri Lanka and it’s best to carry local currency, Sri Lankan rupees. However, some of the major tourist attractions such as Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress and Polonnaruwa will accept USD or card payments. Otherwise, I found it much easier to use ATMs and withdraw cash (ATMs are everywhere and easy to use).

Try to also keep plenty of small change. This will come in handy when dealing with local tuk tuk drivers who often do not have change and get annoyed if you’re trying to pay a 200LKR ride with a 5000LKR note. But in general, bus ticket sellers, shop vendors, and restaurant owners will have change for you.

Entrance Fees For Main Attractions are Steep

One of the biggest changes in the last few years in Sri Lanka has been the sudden and dramatic increase in entrance fees for the major tourist attractions. It’s a common talking point amongst travellers, because the foreigner prices for almost all of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites are very pricey now.

For some examples, Sigiriya Rock Fortress is US$36 for adults, Polonnaruwa is US$30 per adult, and Anuradhapura is US$25 per adult. These quickly add up and for budget backpackers, many are choosing to skip these sights in favour of cheaper options or saving the money all together.

This is a hard topic, because I understand the government’s attempt to make money on these attractions, but there’s always the question of where the money actually goes. Still, I found that the ticket prices were still worth paying for most sights, it’s just a matter of factoring them into your budget.

Tipping Isn’t Really Expected

Tipping isn’t much a part of the culture in Sri Lanka. It’s not an expectation to tip restaurants, accommodation, or tuk tuk/taxi drivers. However, I tended to round up the bill sometimes if it was a small amount, especially at local or family run restaurants in tourist areas. Otherwise, I rarely tipped at all and I wouldn’t encourage changing this culture, as it will only increase expectations of other tourists down the track.

Sri Lanka Travel Tips: Transport and Getting Around

It’s fairly easy to get around Sri Lanka, with ample transport options for such a small country. If you’re trying to plan your itinerary, here’s some tips for using the buses, trains, and tuk tuks.

Use PickMe App or Uber

PickMe is the main app used in Sri Lanka for booking tuk tuks and taxis to get you around. It works very similarly to Uber and will set the price for you for your chosen trip. This does help a lot by avoiding the bargaining that you’d otherwise have to do with local drivers. Some people also used PickMe or Uber to book long haul trips between towns, but this can sometimes be unreliable, with drivers cancelling trips last minute.

If you do end up hailing a tuk tuk on the curb or side of the road, expect to bargain hard with the driver. Always ask the price first and know that it will be inflated to begin with. The official price for tuk tuks is set at 120LKR per km, but you’ll find drivers asking for much more than this. If you stick to this as a guide, you’ll pay close to the local rate.

Buses are Quicker Than Trains (Mostly)

While the trains are definitely iconic in Sri Lanka, the buses are actually quicker and more efficient for the most part. The train network does extend to many corners of the country, but they’re often delayed and slow and the schedule is usually limited to just a few departures per day.

On the other hand, the local buses run to a regular timetable throughout the day for most routes and they tend to leave right on time regardless of how many passengers are on board. I actually found the buses quicker and less stressful to use, especially because you just simply need to rock up at the bus station and hop on the next bus (there’s no need to book in advance).

This is not to say not to use the trains at all (obviously, the Kandy to Ella train ride is famous), but you’ll probably find yourself opting for the buses more often than the trains for the majority of your trip.

Bus Rides Can Be a Little Wild (But Efficient)

I may have just sung the praise of the buses in Sri Lanka, but they can be a little wild. It seems like some bus drivers have a death wish, as they screech around corners and put the foot down to pass every vehicle in front. You’ll also have luggage and passengers all over the aisles, loud music blaring from the TVs and colourful decorations sometimes covering the windscreens. Sometimes it feels more like a party bus.

Some travellers find the buses can be a little too hairy, but in general, I still tended to go for them over the trains. If you do opt for the bus, there are some important tips to know about how they work:

• You simply just have to rock up at the bus station and hop on the bus (no pre-booking is required)
• Pay for the ticket on the bus (not at the bus station)
• In between bus stations, buses do stop at designated bus stops on the side of the road (not just anywhere like they do in India)
• Each bus route has a number which is displayed on the windscreen to distinguish between them, for example bus #49 is Colombo to Trincomalee, bus #15 is Colombo to Anuradhapura, bus #87 is Colombo to Jaffna etc.
• Luggage compartments are not used in general, so you’ll have to throw your luggage next to the driver (pictured below right)

Get Third Class Unreserved Tickets for the Trains

If you want to experience the trains in Sri Lanka, my top tip would be to simply go for the third class unreserved tickets. It might not be the most comfortable ride, but it is the easiest and least stressful way to get on a train (for the most part).

First class and second class tickets tend to sell out quicker, and in general, you’ll have to book them in advance, especially for popular routes. For the famous Kandy to Ella train ride, for example, first and second class tickets can sell out weeks in advance. On the other hand, third class tickets are plentiful, and in fact unreserved tickets are unlimited and can be bought right up until the train departs.

The downside is that you won’t be guaranteed a seat. So, while these tickets are cheap and easy to get, you may have to stand for some or all of the journey. However, third class carriages have open windows and doors, which also makes it quite scenic.

For short trips along the coast, for example between Galle and Weligama, third class unreserved tickets will be fine. You’ll likely even get a seat. For longer journeys like the 8 hour trip from Kandy to Ella, be prepared to stand for the entire journey if you opt for third class unreserved tickets. The alternative is booking in advance, which you can certainly do if you can plan ahead.

Sri Lanka Travel Tips: Food and Health

Let yourself be surprised by Sri Lankan cuisine; I definitely was. It’s some of the most delicious food I’ve ever had. If you’re wondering what to expect with food, water and other health things, here are my main tips.

Right Hand for Eating (Sri Lankan’s Eat With Their Hands)

One of the little details of eating in Sri Lanka is that locals tend to eat almost exclusively with their hands: the right hand to be specific. Everything from rice and curry to hoppers and dosa is eaten with your hands, no cutlery.

While I was used to eating dosas and other South Indian snacks with my hand, rice and curry took a bit more of getting used to. Most local restaurants won’t even serve cutlery to you, so I suggest to embrace it.

But an important thing to note is to only use your right hand to eat, as culturally the left hand is used for wiping and is considered dirty.

Filter the Tap Water

I met some travellers who drank some tap water in Sri Lanka and were fine, however I wouldn’t suggest it. It is chlorinated, especially on the coast, but I wouldn’t assume that it’s completely safe to drink without filtering. To avoid purchasing plastic bottles, I recommend taking a LifeStraw filter bottle with you.

You can drink any water straight through the straw and it’ll be safe. I’ve used one for years and it’s saved me contributing to the already out of control plastic pollution problem.

In saying that, I drank fresh juices at local restaurants and ate salads and never got sick. Most Sri Lankans understand that foreigners can’t drink the tap water safely and they always used filtered water.

Vegetarians, Vegans and Gluten Free Travellers Will Find Plenty to Eat

The cuisine in Sri Lanka is dominated by fresh produce, plenty of vegetables, and all flavours tends to come from natural spices. This makes it both incredibly healthy, but also great for vegetarians, vegans, and gluten free travellers.

For vegans, you’ll be glad to know that basically every curry is made from coconut milk and spices, with no animal products. Meat and poultry is also not heavily consumed, so it’s easy to find plenty of vegetarian dishes on the menu. Fish is common on the coast, but most local restaurants will still have basic vegetable curries on offer too.

Sri Lanka is also one of the best countries to visit for gluten free travellers, in my opinion. Rice is the main staple, plus you also have interesting additions like dosa (savoury rice and gram flour pancake), hoppers (rice flour bowls), and string hoppers (rice noodles). Find more gluten free and vegan food options in my guide below.

Read more: A Complete Gluten Free Sri Lanka Travel Guide

Mosquito Repellent is Essential (Bring From Home)

Mosquito repellent is an essential for any Sri Lanka packing list. With such hot and humid weather, mosquitoes are a big problem almost everywhere across the country. They’re incredibly pesky and every traveller usually finds themselves covered in bites within days.

I suggest bringing your own repellent from home because the quality of the ones available in Sri Lanka is questionable. Try a natural mosquito repellent to avoid toxic chemicals like DEET.

Sri Lanka Travel Tips: History and Culture

Sri Lanka has an ancient history dating back centuries, with a complex and diverse culture that differs from south to north. There are some important things to know about the culture in Sri Lanka before travelling, here are my tips:

Take Shoes Off in Temples and Religious Places (Always Pack Socks!)

Almost all religious sites in Sri Lanka require you to take your shoes off as a sign of respect. There’s usually a shoe rack outside temples or stupas where you can keep your shoes while you explore. You’ll likely get tired of taking your shoes on and off all the time, so it’s smart to wear sandals or something easy to put on and off when sightseeing.

But my top tip is actually to always carry some socks with you, especially when exploring outdoor religious sites. In the middle of the day the ground can be boiling hot and there were many times when my feet were being cooked while walking around a stupa. The best way to avoid this is put socks on, as this is allowed and it will protect your feet (thank me later!).

Culture is Conservative (Dress Appropriately)

The culture in Sri Lanka is still quite conservative. The local population are generally quite religious and devoted to cultural practices, and this is something you’ll observe if you find yourself in any religious sites or festivals across the country.

Most people also dress relatively conservatively, with most women covering their legs and avoiding anything too revealing. I suggest trying to dress appropriately to show some respect to the local communities. While you’ll find tourists wearing bikinis on the south coast, it’s thoughtful if you at least opt to cover up while getting to and from the beach.

While Sri Lankans are incredibly friendly and understanding, it’s about respecting the local people and their culture. Small villages like Hiriketiya Beach have transformed dramatically because of tourism, but they are trying to keep their culture in tact and it’s only fair if we try to respect that.

North and South are Different (Both Worth Visiting)

You’ll often hear people saying that north and south Sri Lanka are quite different, and they’re right. The largely Sinhalese south is predominately Buddhist, while the Tamil north is predominately Hindu and shares more similarities with neighbouring South India. This makes it quite fascinating to visit both the north and south, if you have time.

The south of Sri Lanka is by far the most visited and is definitely what draws the crowds, with its stunning beaches, surf spots, pretty forts and lighthouses and access to the hill country around Ella. However, don’t completely disregard the north of the country.

Jaffna and surrounds are completely raw and authentic, and the locals are welcoming and friendly, especially because they don’t see as many tourists. If you have extra time or are considering a trip to Sri Lanka in the middle of the year, then definitely plan a trip to the north and east coasts – you won’t regret it.

Impacts of the Civil War are Still Felt

The Sri Lanka civil war was a long and bloody drawn out conflict that lasted from 1983 until 2009. It was mostly fought between the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minority, with the latter fighting for an independent Tamil state.

Since the end of the war, the country has moved on and people tend to live quite peacefully together. However, the wounds of the civil war are not completely healed, particularly in the north, where you’ll find some people are still bitter with the end result.

I wouldn’t suggest bringing the topic up with locals unless they prompt it. I found people in the north were far more likely to mention the war and share memories of terrifying attacks. But if you’re making a short visit to the south, you may not even hear it being mentioned.

Sri Lanka is Changing Rapidly (Especially the South Coast)

Sri Lanka has burst onto the tourist scene in Asia in the last decade. Since the end of the civil war in 2009, tourists have started to flock back to the beautiful island in the Indian Ocean. However, this of course means that the small country is changing rapidly.

I’ve met those who visited Sri Lanka in 2017 when it was still a little off the beaten track and it’s incredible how much it’s changed just since then. I would say most of the development has happened along the south coast, where small beach towns have exploded into tourist centres with eyesore, large-scale resorts and hotels (looking at you Marriott Resort in Weligama).

Even a small village like Hiriketiya Beach was unheard of until a few years ago when surfers discovered the consistent break in the bay. It’s now become a digital nomad hub buzzing with people. It’s inevitable, but it can be hard to see quiet places transform so quickly.

If you want to be a responsible traveller and support local businesses, I suggest opting for homestays or small-scale boutique hotels over resorts, seeking out local restaurants, finding locally owned surf camps instead of international companies, and hiring local tuk tuk drivers for day trips.

Where to Visit: My Sri Lanka Travel Guides

• 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: An Essential Guide
• 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
• Hiriketiya: Hiriketiya Beach: A Guide to Sri Lanka’s Little Coastal Paradise
• Weligama: Layback Surf Camp Review in Weligama
• Delft Island: How to Visit Delft Island: Sri Lanka’s Remote Island Near Jaffna

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