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Sri Lanka

Why we loved traveling in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a compact island that packs a whole slice of Asia into a single trip: varied landscapes, ancient history and spiritual sites, safaris, spectacular hikes and beaches. There’s something for everyone!

Some of our favorite moments were climbing Pidurangala Rock, surfing in Tangalle, watching a family of elephants in Udawalawe and riding the blue train through the tea plantations between Kandy and Ella.

The food and the warmth of Sri Lankans also made this trip a real favorite of ours, and one we keep recommending to everyone around us.

Our Sri Lanka itinerary and travel tips

We spent 14 days in Sri Lanka and followed this itinerary:

  • Sigiriya (3 days): Lion Rock, Pidurangala, Polonnaruwa
  • Kandy (1 day): Temple of the Tooth, spice market, the blue train
  • Ella (2 days): Little Adam’s Peak, Ella Rock, Nine Arch Bridge
  • Tangalle (4 days): Udawalawe safari, beaches, kayaking and surfing
  • Mirissa (1 day): Coconut Tree Hill and Turtle Beach
  • Galle (1 day): Galle Fort
  • Colombo (2 days): Galle Face Green, Pettah and Hindu temples

Find our full itinerary, with all our tips and favorite places, in our complete guide:

👉 Two weeks in Sri Lanka: our itinerary, real budget and travel tips

Carte itinéraire de voyage au Sri Lanka

All our articles to plan your trip to Sri Lanka

Traveling to Sri Lanka: everything you need to know

☀️ When is the best time to visit Sri Lanka?

  • December to March: dry season on the west and south coasts and in the hill country, ideal for beaches, safaris and hikes.
  • May to September: dry season on the east coast, ideal for beaches, diving and surfing around Trincomalee and Arugam Bay.

🪪 Entry requirements for Sri Lanka

  • Passport: required, and valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date
  • Visa / ETA: an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is required to enter the country. Apply on the official website a few days before you leave (or on arrival at the airport), and check the current fee for your nationality there.

🏥 Do you need vaccines to travel to Sri Lanka?

  • Required: no vaccines are required for most travelers (a yellow fever certificate is only needed if you’re arriving from a country at risk)
  • Recommended (see the CDC’s Sri Lanka page):
    • routine vaccines up to date (tetanus-diphtheria-polio, measles, etc.),
    • hepatitis A,
    • hepatitis B (depending on risk),
    • typhoid (depending on travel conditions),
    • rabies (for long stays or if you’ll be around animals).
  • Water: tap water is not safe to drink
  • Malaria: Sri Lanka has been certified malaria-free by the WHO since 2016, so no antimalarials are needed. Do bring mosquito repellent, though, as dengue is present.

Your best bet is to see a doctor or travel clinic before you leave to make sure you’re fully protected!

💊 Do you need travel insurance?

We strongly recommend getting travel insurance that includes medical coverage for any health costs abroad, and ideally coverage for your luggage and bookings too.

Private hospitals in Colombo are good but expensive, and care can be limited in rural areas, so don’t travel without it!

💰 How much does a trip to Sri Lanka cost?

  • Backpacker: $22–45 a day (hostels, local transportation, street food).
  • Mid-range: $45–70 a day (2–3★ hotels, restaurants, a few tours).
  • Luxury: $110–170 a day (upscale hotels, restaurants, private services).

Our example: about $710 per person for 2 weeks, or about $50 a day (excluding flights), while treating ourselves to a few nice hotels and restaurants.

💸 Money and payments

  • Cash is essential (Sri Lankan rupee, LKR)
  • Credit cards: Visa and Mastercard are accepted mainly in hotels and some restaurants
  • ATMs are widespread; the most reliable are People’s Bank, Bank of Ceylon (BOC) and Commercial Bank
  • Tipping: not mandatory but appreciated: 5–10% at restaurants, and around LKR 500–2,000 (about $1.70–6.60) a day for drivers and guides.

📱 How to get internet in Sri Lanka

  • Buy a SIM card from a local carrier or at the airport. There are several providers; we recommend Dialog, which has the best coverage. For about $9 per person, we got 20 GB.
  • Get an eSIM before you go: with Saily. Easy setup, clear pricing and a network that works really well. You can pre-order your eSIM directly on their website and get 15% off with the code PROCHAINARRET15.

🍛 Local dishes to try

  • Rice and curry: the national dish, with rice served with several spicy curries (vegetables, fish or meat), often made with coconut milk.
  • Hoppers: bowl-shaped pancakes made from fermented rice flour and coconut milk, often served with an egg cooked in the middle.
  • Kottu roti: chopped roti stir-fried on a griddle with vegetables, egg and meat.
  • Pol sambol (coconut sambol): freshly grated coconut mixed with chili, red onion and lime juice.

💬 Useful Sinhala phrases

  • Hello: ආයුබෝවන් (Ayubowan), used for both hello and goodbye
  • How are you?: කොහොමද? (Kohomada?)
  • Thank you: ස්තූතියි (Sthoothiyi)
  • Please: කරුණාකර (Karunakara)

📊 Key facts

  • Capitals: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (official capital) and Colombo (commercial capital)
  • Language(s): Sinhala and Tamil, with English widely spoken
  • Time zone: UTC+5:30 (Sri Lanka Standard Time)
  • Currency: Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)
  • Area: 65,610 km² (25,332 sq mi)
  • Population: 21.7 million