10 best beaches in Sri Lanka (2023)

FAQs

10 best beaches in Sri Lanka? ›

Mirissa Beach in Sri Lanka

Of all the Sri Lanka beaches, Mirissa beach is the most well-known; it's famous for excellent surfing, restaurants, bars, and snorkeling. The beach itself stretches for 2km, and in the middle, you'll find the great Parrot Rock.

Mirissa Beach in Sri Lanka

Of all the Sri Lanka beaches, Mirissa beach is the most well-known; it's famous for excellent surfing, restaurants, bars, and snorkeling. The beach itself stretches for 2km, and in the middle, you'll find the great Parrot Rock.

Arugam Bay Beach

Arugam Bay is easily the most popular beach on the east coast of Sri Lanka. This stunning bay is famous for surfing and the laid-back lifestyle that comes along with it. In fact, it is the most popular surf beach in the country! Arugam Bay Beach is a white-sandy beach with tons of areas to relax.

Casuarina Beach – An Unexplored Beach. Kahandamodara Beach – A Coconut Fringed Beach. Beruwala Beach – The Golden Beach. Batticaloa Beach – One Of The Cleanest Sri Lankan Beaches.

Passikuda Bay

Passikuda on the east coast offers some of the safest sea swimming on the island. The east coast is in season from May to September with calm seas and low rainfall.

Sri Lanka's private and quietest beaches

Kabalana, Goyambokka and Tallala. Pigeon Island. Arugam Bay.

Whilst the best time to go to Sri Lanka is between December and mid-April, which is considered to be the countrywide peak season, the traditional summer holiday months are also favourable on the east coast which is at its peak from May to September.

Ultimately, the advantage of an All Inclusive stay in Sri Lanka is that it secures all of your essentials and lets you know that you're going to have a full tummy and a cosy bed every night, all without any further fretting about the travel budget.

Beaches at Tangalle, Beruwala, Mirissa, Bentota, Unawatuna Arugam Bay, Pasikudah, Hikkaduwa, Uppuveli and Negombo are considered as famous tourist beaches in the country. Coconut Tree Hill is a popular tourist attraction in Mirissa beach and one of the most Instagrammed locations in Sri Lanka.

How many days do you need in Sri Lanka? ›

Three weeks is an ideal length for a Sri Lanka route, as you cross through the jungle, mountains, tea plantations, and paradise coastline. Start in big metropolitan cities and end your time relaxing on beautiful beaches with a coconut in hand.

Kamilo Beach, which translates from Hawaiian to “twisting or swirling currents” is more often known as “Plastic Beach.” It's one of the dirtiest places in the world.

We've always known that the gem of an island that is Sri Lanka is a spectacular place to visit. There's a never-ending list of things to see and do. And now it has earned recognition by one of the world's leading travel authorities for being one the most diverse, beautiful and captivating countries.

George Island State Park—on a barrier island near the Florida Panhandle—was named the number 1 beach in the United States in Dr. Beach's annual Best Beaches awards, which is published just in time for Memorial Day Weekend.

If you are interested in exploring ancient ruins and diverse wildlife, Sri Lanka may be the better choice for you. If you are more interested in beautiful beaches, vibrant nightlife, and delicious street food, Thailand may be the better choice.

Explore the pearl of the Indian Ocean. Swathed in lush rainforest, rice paddies and tea plantations, Sri Lanka is a tropical island gem that captivates visitors with its idyllic beaches, abundant wildlife, verdant hill countries and wealth of ancient Buddhist and Hindu architecture.

Same for access to e.g. temples, in India due to all hindu rituals and castes this often is not easy for tourists. And Lanka is more 'advanced' in terms of average road and telecom quality and cleanliness; India has higher positive extremes but also higher negative ones. But as a general undertone, they're similar yes.

Located in the south west of the island, Unawatuna is very popular with locals and tourists alike. It's absolutely stunning, for starters, but the beach itself is in a bay, making it much safer to swim in. You may have to keep an eye out though, as the waves in certain spots along the beach may be a little rough.

Water and food

Avoid drinking tap water in Sri Lanka. Although it's generally chlorinated and safe to drink, the unfamiliar micro-organisms it contains (compared with what you're used to at home) can easily precipitate a stomach upset.

Muggings are very rare, though single travellers (especially women) should avoid dark beaches late at night – Negombo and Hikkaduwa have particularly bad reputations. If you do experience crime in Sri Lanka, report it to the police.

Are Sri Lankans friendly? ›

Whatever their situation in society, the people of Sri Lanka possess a warm and friendly nature reflected in persistent smiling faces and eagerness to help those unfamiliar with aspects of local life.

According to De Silva, there are 60 sharks species and 30 rays and skates found around the coast of Sri Lanka. Sharks are a group of fish characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton, five to seven gill slits on the sides of the head, and pectoral fins that are not fused to the head.

The main southwest (“Yala”) monsoon brings rain to the west and southwest coasts and the hill country from April or May to September and is wettest from April to June. The less severe northeast (“Maha”) monsoon hits the east coast from November to March and is wettest from November to December.

Do I Need a Visa for Sri Lanka? Yes, everyone needs some form of visa before they are allowed to travel or enter Sri Lanka. However, for a large number of people, getting a Sri Lanka visa is fairly easy, as it is possible to apply online (Electronic Travel Authorization) or on arrival at the airport.

May is generally the hottest month of the year all over Sri Lanka and the east coast sees temperatures consistently over 30°C and remaining high all the way through the summer. Levels of rainfall on the east coast are low throughout the majority of this period.

Bali is known for its iconic beaches such as Kuta, Sanur, and Nusa Dua, which are ideal for swimming and surfing. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has a more rugged coastline with fewer developed tourist areas, but offers some of the most scenic beaches in the world, like Unawatuna and Mirissa.

You should plan to spend around LKR8,804 ($29) per day on your vacation in Sri Lanka, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, LKR1,871 ($6.11) on meals for one day and LKR1,096 ($3.58) on local transportation.

Generally speaking, you can travel around Sri Lanka on a budget of $25-$50 per day (per person). With a budget of $25 a day, you'll stay in budget hotels, travel with public transport, make the most of the (many) free activities Sri Lanka has to offer, and eat (delicious) local food.

If you're on a budget, Sri Lanka can still be fairly inexpensive, so long as you stick to using local transport and staying in cheap guesthouses – you can still travel by bus from one end of the island to the other for around $25, get a filling meal at local cafés for a couple of dollars, and find a decent double room ...

The New York City Metropolitan Area, including New York City, Long Island, and Central New Jersey, contains one of the largest Sri Lankan communities in the entire country.

What is Sri Lanka famous food? ›

Sri Lanka is famous for its exotic beach resorts, flavorful cuisine, tea production, and incredible biodiversity amongst diverse landscapes. Sri Lanka is a South Asian country formerly known as Ceylon. It is an island that lies in the Indian Ocean, therefore has no bordering countries.

A visitor wishing to stay more than 30 days in Sri Lanka, may apply for an extension. The short term visit visa may be extended maximum up to 270 days from the the date of arrival in three consecutive instances as grant 30 days on entry , 60 days at first extension and 90 days for second and third instances.

The most popular options for travel around Sri Lanka is to hire a car and driver, take a taxi/ tuk-tuk, or use public transportation like trains and buses.

Etiquette and costs

You can get a filling rice and curry meal for a few dollars at a local café, while main courses at most guesthouse restaurants usually cost around $10, and even at the island's poshest restaurants it's usually possible to find main courses from $15.

Hanakapiai Beach, Hawaii - Powerful Rip Currents

Nestled in the Napali Coast of Kauai and only accessible by the Kalalau Trail, Hanakapiai Beach is one of the most dangerous places in the world to go swimming due to powerful rip currents and waves that are known to sweep people out to sea.

Carpinteria. , The moniker "World's Safest Beach” was initially used in the 1920's to attract visitors to Carpinteria's pristine beaches, made "safe” by the sheltering Channel Islands.

Located at the end of Linden Ave, known as the “World's Safest Beach,” Carpinteria City Beach is very special and has been rated the #1 swimming beach in California, due mostly to its Southern exposure and its protection by the Channel Islands.

According to the golden ratio of facial beauty, she is the most beautiful girl in the world. According to a study conducted by Dr.Julian DeSilva, supermodel Bella Hadid has the most perfect face with beauty test score of 94.35%, followed by singer Beyonce and actress Amber Heard.

Sri Lanka is known for the beauty of its natural landscape and high biodiversity, rich resources, important history, cultural wealth and friendly people. There are close to 19 million people who call Sri Lanka their home. Sri Lanka has played an important role in history as an important part of the Silk Road.

What is Sri Lanka ranked best island in the world? ›

Sri Lanka received the highest score of 92.12 out of 100, with Palawan in the Philippines and Bali in Indonesia being ranked 2nd and 3rd in the list respectively. Travel + Leisure noted that Sri Lanka is recovering from the impact of the Easter attacks and that the island had not lost any of its beauty.

i know both destinations very well. i'd be interested where you stay in Goa and where you like. sri lanka as a country beats Goa as an alround destination but for beach only i prefer south Goa. the problem with Sri lanka is that the good beaches are quite a distance from the airport.

Same for access to e.g. temples, in India due to all hindu rituals and castes this often is not easy for tourists. And Lanka is more 'advanced' in terms of average road and telecom quality and cleanliness; India has higher positive extremes but also higher negative ones. But as a general undertone, they're similar yes.

Explore the pearl of the Indian Ocean. Swathed in lush rainforest, rice paddies and tea plantations, Sri Lanka is a tropical island gem that captivates visitors with its idyllic beaches, abundant wildlife, verdant hill countries and wealth of ancient Buddhist and Hindu architecture.

If you are looking for a typical holiday with theme parks, nightlife, street food, and mass tourism then Thailand may be for you. But if you are looking for something beyond the standard or a raw touristic experience then Sri Lanka is your go-to place.

The average cost of living in Sri Lanka ($344) is 61% less expensive than in Thailand ($876). Sri Lanka ranked 195th vs 90th for Thailand in the list of the most expensive countries in the world.

Malaysia is more developed country, travelling around it is easier and more comfortable. The culture is more diversified. Sri Lanka has better looking natural countryside, and more easily approachable wildlife parks. If Borneo is a must then February indeed is not the best time to go there.

There's a lot to see in Sri Lanka—two weeks will allow you enough time to explore all the island's top sights or even travel to other countries in the surrounding area. However, you can still enjoy Sri Lanka in a shorter time frame.

What is Sri Lankan traditional food? ›

The central feature of Sri Lankan cuisine is boiled or steamed rice, served with a curry of fish or meat, along with other curries made with vegetables, lentils, or fruits. Dishes are accompanied by pickled fruits or vegetables, chutneys, and sambols.

In 2019 the population was estimated as being almost 22 million people. According to the data present on IQAir, Sri Lanka presented with a “Moderate” figure for aircleanliness in 2019, with a US AQI figure of 78.

Sri Lanka is well known for its rich Buddhist culture as well as other religions. Being a religious country, Sri Lanka has many places with religious and historic significance, which attract tourists from all over the world.

Sri Lanka has a long history as a trading hub as a result of being located at the centre of east–west trade and irrigated agriculture in the hinterland, which is known from historical texts surviving within the island and from accounts of foreign travellers.

Without hesitation, we respond… “absolutely, yes it is.” There is really no doubt in our minds that Sri Lanka is generally one of the safest places to visit in Asia, if not the world. While the economic and political issues are by no means solved, they will no longer impinge in any way on travellers.

India, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, Germany and France were Sri Lanka's top five international tourist-generating markets from January to December this year.