9 Great Beaches You Should Visit in Sri Lanka

Last Updated On October 24, 2021

Because of having a fantastic coastal environmental system, the beauty of Sri Lanka has increased even more. So Sri Lanka has become a favorite destination among worldwide travelers. The scenic view of gorgeous sandy shores & the sound of gushing waves will give you a marvelous feeling that you never feel. Here are the best Sri Lanka beaches you should add to your bucket list.

1. Unawatuna Beach

Unawatuna Beach is one of the best beaches you should visit without forgetting. Unawatuna beach is famous for tranquil blue water. The best time to visit Unawatuna is anytime between October to April.

Unawatuna Beach in Sri Lanka

How to reach Unawatuna beach

It is 150km from Colombo to Unawatuna. There are four options to get from Colombo to Unawatuna, choose as you wish

1. Train-it takes around 2 hours

Price of tickets -Rs.483-Rs.874(depend on class)

2. Bus-it takes 3hours and 20 minutes (depending on traffic )

Price of tikets-Rs.3818-Rs.4552

3. Taxi-it takes 1hour and 30 minutes

Price -Rs.10000-Rs.13000

4. Drive-it takes 1hour and 30 minutes

Price-Rs.1800-Rs.2600

Things to do in Unawatuna beach

You can do some water sports, scuba diving, and snorkeling
You can lie down at the beautiful gorgeous sand beach.
Flying at Dalawella Beach
Visit the Dog Care Clinic at Unawatuna
Snorkeling at the Jungle Beach Unawatuna

2. Mirissa Beach

Mirissa Beach is another beautiful beach with pretty decent waves. The beach is clean and well maintained, and Mirissa is famous among whale & dolphin watching locations.

The best time to visit Mirissa beach is between November to March.

How to reach Mirissa

There is a distance of 171km from Colombo to Mirissa. You have several options to get there, choose as you wish

1. Train - it takes 2hours and 20minutes

Price of tickets -Rs.540-Rs.971(depend on class)

2. Bus - it takes 3hours (depending on traffic )

Price of tickets-Rs.881-Rs.1134

3. Taxi-it takes around 2 hours

Price -Rs.12000-Rs.16000

4. Drive - It takes about 2hours

Price-Rs.2100-Rs.3200

Things to do in Mirissa

It is one of the famous beaches which is standard for swimming.
You can go surfing, scuba diving on the west side of the beach.
Whale & dolphin watching.
Treat yourself to an Ayurveda massage from Mirissa Ayurveda centers.
By hiring a boat, you can go fishing with locals near the corals.

3. Hikkaduwa Beach

Hikkaduwa beach is another beach that is most famous among local and foreign visitors. On this beach, the sands are significantly softened. This beach is reputed as the second-best surfing spot, and most travelers visit to observe coral sanctuary.

The best time to visit Hikkaduwa is from December to February.

Hikkaduwa Beach in Sri Lanka

How to reach Hikkaduwa

There is a distance of 195km from Colombo to Hikkaduwa. You have several options to get from Colombo to Hikkaduwa, choose as you wish

1. Train-it takes around 1hour and 30minutes

Price of tickets -Rs.260-Rs.400(depend on class)

2. Bus-it takes about 3hours (depending on traffic )

Price of tickets-Rs.1718-Rs.2152

3. Taxi-it takes 1hour and 30 minutes

Price -Rs.10000-Rs.12000

4. Drive-it takes around 2hours

Price-Rs.1600-Rs.2500

Things to do in Hikkaduwa Beach

You can enjoy watersports such as surfing & snorkeling.
You can go on a boat ride with a glass bottom to observe coral reefs.
You can enjoy swimming.
You can enjoy a river safari.
You can take blessings at the Pushparama temple.
Eat kinds of seafood from the beachside hotels.
Visit Galle fort.

4. Mount Lavinia Beach

Mount Lavinia beach is another beach that has tourist attractions highly. Mount Lavinia Beach is a prominent sea-bathing spot in Sri Lanka which locates just out of Colombo city.

The best time to visit Mount Lavinia Beach is November to February.

Mount Lavinia Beach in Sri Lanka

How to reach Mount Lavinia Beach

It is 13.4Km from Colombo to Mount Lavinia beach. You can select one from the following options to get from Colombo to Mount Lavinia, choose as you wish

1. Train-it takes around 20 minutes

Price of tickets -Rs.170-Rs.260(depend on class)

2. Taxi-it takes 15m

Price -Rs.1400-Rs.1800

3. Drive-it takes 15m

Price-Rs.180-Rs.270

4. Walk-it takes 2hours and 30 minutes

Things to do in Mount Lavinia beach

Visit in airforce museum & explore the history.
Enjoy wildlife at Dehiwala zoological garden.
Feel the natural beauty at Bolgoda lake.
Get a blessing at Bellanwila temple.

5. Kalpitiya Beach

Kalpitiya Beach is a beautiful beach located in Puttalam district, the northwestern province of Sri Lanka. This beach may also give you the ultimate relaxation.

The best time to visit Kalpitiya beach is between May to September.

Kalpitiya Beach in Sri Lanka

How to reach Kalpitiya Beach

Kalpitiya Beach is located 168.1Km from Colombo to Kalpitiya. Several options are available to get from Colombo to Kalpitiya, choose as you wish

1. Train-it takes 5hours and 20 minutes

Price of tickets -Rs.3660-Rs.4862(depend on class)

2. Taxi-it takes 3hours

Price -Rs.14000-Rs.18000

3. Bus-it takes 4hours and 40 minutes

Price of tickets-Rs.3859-Rs.4605

Things to do in Kalpitiya Beach

You can enjoy kite surfing.
Go dolphin & whale watching.
Visit the Kalpitiya Dutch Fort.
Go on a wildlife safari in Wilpattu national park.

6. Arugambay Beach

Arugambay beach is another beautiful beach with bright white sand & deep blue water. Several times this beach was claimed as one of the top 10 surf points in the world.

The best time to visit Arugambay beach is April to September.

How to reach Arugambay beach

It is 408.6Km from Colombo to Arugam bay. There are several options to get from Colombo to Arugam bay, choose as you wish

1. Train-it takes around 10hours 30minutes

Price of tickets -Rs.6932-Rs.9182(depend on class)

2. Bus-it takes 7hours and 50 minutes

Price of tickets-Rs.7350-Rs.8850

3. Taxi-it takes around 5hours

Price -Rs.26000-Rs.32000

4. Drive-it takes about 5hours

Price of tickets-Rs.4500-Rs.7000

5. Fly-it takes around 4hours and 30minutes

Price of tickets-Rs.26594-Rs.124884

Things to do in Arugam bay beach

Climbed up elephant rock.
Take a blessed at muhudu maha viharaya.
You can enjoy surfing.
Go on a lagoon safari.

7. Nilaweli Beach

Nilaweli beach is one of the most pristine beaches in Sri Lanka. This beach is spread up to 8km.

The best time to visit Nilaweli beach is November to May.

How to reach Nilaweli beach

It is 280.4Km from Colombo to Nilaweli. There are several options to get from Colombo to Nilaweli, choose as you wish

1. Train-it takes 4hours

Price of tickets -Rs.1456-Rs.1922(depend on class)

2. Bus-it takes 7hours

Price of tickets-Rs.1270-Rs.1648

3. Taxi-it takes 4hours and 20 minutes

Price -Rs.22000-Rs.27000

4. Drive-it takes 4hours

Price of tickets-Rs.3800-Rs.600

8. Tangalle Beach

Tangalle beach is also another beautiful sandy beach that consists of pristine blue water.

The most suitable time to visit Tangalle beach is between April to July.

How to reach Tangalle beach

The easiest way to get from Colombo to Tangalle is by bus, which costs Rs. 210 - Rs. 280 and takes 2hours and 30 minutes.

Things to do in Tangalle

Take blessings at Mulgirigala Raja Maha Viharaya.
Enjoy wildlife safari at Ridiyagama safari park.
Swim at Goyamboka beach
Watch turtles at Rekawa beach.

9. Polhena Beach

Polhena beach is located not far from Matara city. This beach is not crowded and offers a large sea pool with a uniform depth for a long distance from the beach. Tides are not decisive because the coral reefs block them.

The best time to visit Polhena beach is from December to April.

Polhena Beach in Sri Lanka