Review of the best resorts and beaches in Sri Lanka: map, description, season, pros and cons. Find out where the best beach holiday on the island is!
Sri Lanka has many wonderful resorts with good beaches and well-developed infrastructure. In this review, you will learn about the most popular resorts and beaches in Sri Lanka. We will tell you about a beach vacation in Sri Lanka: what is good about each resort, how to spend time on vacation and when is it better to go on vacation.
Map of resorts and beaches of Sri Lanka
List of the best resorts in Sri Lanka
Negombo
Negombo is closer than other resorts to Colombo airport - the distance to it is about 30 km. This is very convenient for tourists who have had a long flight. The place is more famous for its conditions for fishing than for a beach holiday: the coastal waters abound with a large number of fish, their migration period falls on the high tourist season. The large seafood market is one of the most famous attractions in Negombo. There are reefs in Negombo, which makes the place popular with divers.
Beach holidays in Negombo are mediocre: the water is muddy, some parts of the coast are occupied by fishermen, where they lay out tackle and dry fish. There are few umbrellas and sun beds, as well as water activities, the only exceptions are expensive hotels.
Nevertheless, Negombo is considered one of the best resorts in Sri Lanka due to the convenient swimming beaches that stretch along Lewis Place. In addition, there is an optimal choice of accommodation and many photogenic fishermen and beautiful landscapes.
Negombo can be visited all year round, but it is very damp in May and October - November.
Hikkaduwa
Hikkaduwa is located 100 km from Colombo and is the leader in attendance. Divers, surfers, snorkelers, youth and family people come here. Water activities and humble nightlife have made Hikkaduwa the liveliest and finest resort in Sri Lanka.
Here are the longest beaches of Sri Lanka and many hotels of different categories. The beaches are ideal for surfing - there is almost always a strong wave. Early in the morning, huge turtles appear near the coast, which are so accustomed to people that they take food straight from their hands.
In the center of Hikkaduwa there is a coral park where you can ride a boat with a transparent bottom or go snorkeling, order a boat trip. There are several Buddhist temples in Hikkaduwa, the most famous and popular among them is located on a small island. The entrance to the temples is free, not including the fare. Excursions to the mines where precious stones are mined, which can be bought, are popular with vacationers.
A great time to relax in Hikkaduwa is from November to April.
Wadduwa
Wadduwa is 35 km from Colombo. In this Sri Lanka resort you will find golden sandy beaches, coconut trees, diving centers, sailboats, surfing and other entertainment. During the dives, you can see the remains of sunken ships. Tennis courts and golf courses are specially equipped for holidaymakers. All hotels are comfortable.
Fans of excursions will not be bored - they can visit the neighboring Kalutara with the Buddhist temple Gangatilaka Vihara and the city of fishermen Hambantota, take a boat trip along the canals and capture the local beauty.
The best time for an active and beach holiday in this resort is from October to March.
Bentota
The village of Bentota is located south of Colombo - 65 km (2 hours drive), between the mouth of the river of the same name and the ocean. It is considered the elite and best resort in Sri Lanka, a favorite beach destination for romantics and those seeking solitude.
Here, the largest number of comfortable hotels, uncrowded clean beaches and lush jungle nature, the famous mangrove forests grow in this area. For its guests, the resort offers a lot of entertainment - sea and river fishing, exciting safari on the river with crocodiles, excursions to the turtle farm, yacht trips and much more. There is a center for diving enthusiasts.
The best time for a beach holiday in Bentota is from October to April.
Unawatuna
The small resort village of Unawatuna is located 120 km from Colombo. Once it was a fishing village, now the rapidly developing resort is only slightly inferior in popularity to Hikkaduwa and Bentota.
This place is especially loved by tourists vacationing on their own - there are many guesthouses at an affordable price in the resort. The main advantage of Unawatuna is the calm water in the ocean. The central beach is located in a bay, and coral reefs protect from strong waves, so they are happy to relax here with children.
The entire tourist infrastructure has been created. Vacationers can go diving or snorkeling, fans of excursions can visit the neighboring resort - Galle. But this place is not for seclusion: the beaches of Unawatuna can be quite crowded.
The optimal time for rest is from December to April. Too rainy in May and October – November.
Trincomalee
Due to their remoteness from the airport, the resorts of the northeastern coast of Sri Lanka are less popular than the southwestern ones. Nevertheless, Trincomalee is considered one of the best resorts in Sri Lanka and the most beautiful place on the island: there is a deep-water bay, discovered at one time by Admiral Nelson. Trincomalee itself is unique in terms of architecture - there are Muslim buildings, Buddhist and Hindu temples. You can get there by night train from Colombo (9 hours on the way) or by bus (7 hours).
According to some vacationers, Trincomalee beaches are the best in all of Sri Lanka. Rest is calm, there is little entertainment here, infrastructure is still under development, most hotels are inexpensive, bars and restaurants are of the same level.
The natural beauty of this place is surprising - tall palms and lemurs walking freely. Not far from the coast there is a coral island, which was chosen by divers and snorkelers, there are hot springs a few kilometers away.
It is best to plan your trip between March and August, as it is too rainy in November-December.
List of the best beaches in Sri Lanka
All the beaches of the island are sandy, many of them are surrounded by coconut trees and other tropical plants. The best beaches in Sri Lanka are located on the southwest coast and are not too far from each other.
Take a look: $ 25 Paradise in Sri Lanka.
Bentota Beach
The most famous beach on the island, and according to numerous reviews of enthusiastic tourists, it is also one of the best for a beach holiday. It is here that newlyweds prefer to spend their honeymoon. A wide coastal strip, palm trees, complete seclusion are the main advantages of this place.
Mirissa
Great location and almost complete lack of infrastructure. Since the beach is quite far from Colombo (5 hours by bus), it is visited by single tourists or those who took an independent trip around the island.
Unawatuna
Unawatuna Beach is located in the village of the same name. The coastal strip is not as wide as in Bentota, but the calm waters off the coast make it extremely attractive. The sand is very fine and clean, part of the territory is occupied by cafes and hotels, the rest is available for swimming and water activities. There are shallow waters for swimming with babies.
Hikkaduwa Beach
The longest beach line in Sri Lanka. Orange sand and turquoise water, along the line there are numerous cafes and guesthouses. Strong waves have made this a favorite spot for surfers, but there are relatively calm areas near the Chaaya Tranz hotel. There are no sun beds there, there is enough shade from the palm trees, many come there to swim with children. Thanks to all this, Hikkaduwa Beach is ranked among the best places for a beach holiday in Sri Lanka.
Tangalle
The Tangalle beach complex has long and stubbornly been included in the lists of the best beaches in Sri Lanka. This is the perfect place for a secluded getaway: you can walk a mile and not meet a single person. Any accommodation can be found. You can get to the place by bus from Colombo (6 hours).
It is difficult to predict where and who will like it better. Sri Lanka is still an amazing island, where every place deserves special attention and admiration, so it is quite difficult to compile a list of the best resorts and beaches in Sri Lanka, claiming to be objective. However, we hope that our review will help you decide on the choice of a place to stay and you will have a great time.
