Mirissa is a small town on the south coast of Sri Lanka, between Galle and Tangalle, right next to Weligama. It’s best known for its beaches, whale watching and Coconut Tree Hill.
What is there to do in Mirissa? Where should you stay and eat? Here’s our guide to the town and its must-do activities!
Where to stay in Mirissa
After exploring the Tangalle area a lot, we wanted to rest in Mirissa. So we treated ourselves to the most upscale place of our road trip: a suite with a private pool at The Spice House. A true haven of peace, perfect for resting and relaxing, at a very reasonable price.
From the pool, we even spotted a small family of langur monkeys strolling by!
The next morning, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast included in the price. If you’d like to stay here for less, you can book a regular room with access to the shared pool, which is also really nice.
🏝️ Book The Spice House in Mirissa ➜
Things to do in Mirissa
1. Walk up Coconut Tree Hill
Probably one of the most famous spots in Sri Lanka, Coconut Tree Hill is worth a look. This red-earth headland covered in coconut palms offers a beautiful view over the ocean and Turtle Beach. It’s an unusual, even romantic place, where lots of couples come to enjoy the view.
It’s also a great sunset spot. The downside of its popularity is that Coconut Tree Hill gets very busy, so it’s almost impossible to have it to yourself. For a quieter visit, go at sunrise.
2. Spot sea turtles at Turtle Beach
Turtle Beach gets its name from the sea turtles that live on this beach and in its waters. It’s an ideal spot if you want to watch turtles, or even swim with them (keep your distance and never touch or feed them).
You can see them year-round (we saw some in July), but nesting peaks between January and April, when turtles come ashore to lay their eggs in the sand.
3. See Parrot Rock
Parrot Rock is a small island in Mirissa Bay, facing the town. You’ll easily spot it thanks to its reddish-orange color.
It’s an especially nice spot to admire the bay at sunrise or sunset.
Since Parrot Rock is out in the sea, check the tides so you can cross at the safest time. Crossing at high tide can be dangerous, especially during the monsoon, when waves and currents are strong.
If you’re not feeling adventurous, Parrot Rock still makes a lovely view from Mirissa Beach.
4. Surf in Mirissa Bay
Mirissa Beach is a well-known surf spot. It can suit beginners, as the curved shape of the bay breaks the big waves. Small shacks on the beach rent boards and offer lessons.
If you’re an experienced surfer, Weligama, right next to Mirissa, is an even more famous surf spot.
5. Go whale watching
Mirissa is also famous for whale watching, especially blue whales, with the best season running from about November to April. We didn’t do it, as several travelers told us they’d been disappointed (crowded boats, rough seas and no guaranteed sightings). Still, if you’re interested, several companies offer boat tours to see the whales.
Make sure you choose a responsible tour that respects the whales, though. Many boats simply race straight at the poor whales, who just want to be left alone.
How long to stay in Mirissa
We’d already explored a lot of Sri Lanka’s south coast, so this wasn’t the most memorable stop of our trip. Depending on your itinerary, we recommend staying one or two days at most. In our opinion, Tangalle is a better choice for a longer stay.
Where to eat in Mirissa
We only stayed one night, so we only had the chance to eat out once. We picked No. 1 Dewmini Roti Shop, known for its excellent kottu roti. We loved both the atmosphere and the food.
How to get to Mirissa
We came from Tangalle on a direct bus that took 1.5 hours. It’s quick and easy. From (or to) Galle, the bus ride takes about an hour.
Once in Mirissa, the easiest way to get around is to rent a scooter or call a tuk-tuk (there are plenty of them, and the drivers won’t fail to let you know).
Our take on Mirissa
We didn’t stay very long in Mirissa, just a day and a night, so we couldn’t discover everything the town has to offer. On our trip along the south coast, we chose to spend more time in Tangalle, which had a reputation for being less touristy with better beaches. And what we saw of Mirissa confirmed our choice.
Mirissa has some pretty beaches and lovely spots, but we preferred Tangalle. That said, Mirissa is still the place to go if you want to see whales.
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