Explore by Destination
Highlights of Sri Lanka
South & West Coasts
jan
31°C
24°C
31°C
24°C
feb
31°C
24°C
31°C
24°C
mar
32°C
25°C
32°C
25°C
apr
32°C
25°C
32°C
25°C
may
31°C
25°C
31°C
25°C
jun
30°C
25°C
30°C
25°C
jul
30°C
25°C
30°C
25°C
aug
30°C
25°C
30°C
25°C
sep
30°C
25°C
30°C
25°C
oct
30°C
24°C
30°C
24°C
nov
30°C
24°C
30°C
24°C
dec
31°C
24°C
31°C
24°C
East & North Coasts
jan
31°C
23°C
31°C
23°C
feb
32°C
23°C
32°C
23°C
mar
32°C
24°C
32°C
24°C
apr
32°C
25°C
32°C
25°C
may
32°C
26°C
32°C
26°C
jun
31°C
26°C
31°C
26°C
jul
32°C
26°C
32°C
26°C
aug
32°C
26°C
32°C
26°C
sep
32°C
26°C
32°C
26°C
oct
32°C
26°C
32°C
26°C
nov
32°C
26°C
32°C
26°C
dec
31°C
24°C
31°C
24°C
Cultural Triangle
jan
31°C
21°C
31°C
21°C
feb
33°C
22°C
33°C
22°C
mar
34°C
24°C
34°C
24°C
apr
34°C
25°C
34°C
25°C
may
33°C
24°C
33°C
24°C
jun
32°C
24°C
32°C
24°C
jul
32°C
24°C
32°C
24°C
aug
32°C
24°C
32°C
24°C
sep
32°C
24°C
32°C
24°C
oct
31°C
23°C
31°C
23°C
nov
30°C
22°C
30°C
22°C
dec
30°C
21°C
30°C
21°C
Hill Country (Low-Mid)
jan
25°C
17°C
25°C
17°C
feb
26°C
17°C
26°C
17°C
mar
27°C
18°C
27°C
18°C
apr
27°C
19°C
27°C
19°C
may
26°C
20°C
26°C
20°C
jun
25°C
20°C
25°C
20°C
jul
25°C
20°C
25°C
20°C
aug
25°C
19°C
25°C
19°C
sep
25°C
19°C
25°C
19°C
oct
25°C
19°C
25°C
19°C
nov
25°C
18°C
25°C
18°C
dec
25°C
18°C
25°C
18°C
Hill Country (High)
jan
20°C
10°C
20°C
10°C
feb
21°C
11°C
21°C
11°C
mar
22°C
13°C
22°C
13°C
apr
21°C
14°C
21°C
14°C
may
20°C
14°C
20°C
14°C
jun
19°C
13°C
19°C
13°C
jul
19°C
12°C
19°C
12°C
aug
20°C
12°C
20°C
12°C
sep
20°C
12°C
20°C
12°C
oct
20°C
13°C
20°C
13°C
nov
19°C
12°C
19°C
12°C
dec
19°C
11°C
19°C
11°C
What to Know Before Visiting
There’s a few thing to know before visiting Sri Lanka in order to get a smooth visit.
Time Zone
:
GMT+5:30
Currency
:
Sri Lankan Rupees (100 LKR = 0.3 USD)
Plug Types
:
Type G (UK) & Type D, 230V / 50Hz
Tap Water
:
Not drinkable
Payment Habits
:
Cash + Card
Language
:
Sinhala and Tamil
English Level
:
Basic
Emergency Number
:
112
Tipping
:
5-10%
Safety Level
:
Low risk
Common questions
Most travelers need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter Sri Lanka. You should apply online before your trip, as it’s cheaper and much faster than doing it at the airport. Both the ETA and the visa on arrival allow you to stay in Sri Lanka for 30 days.
Non‑SAARC* nationalities
- USD 50 if you apply online with the ETA
- USD 60 if you get the visa on arrival
SAARC* nationalities
- USD 20 if you apply online with the ETA
- USD 25 if you get the visa on arrival
Children under 12 are free.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months from your arrival date.
You can check the latest rules and apply through the official government website: https://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa
*SAARC refers to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Several apps make getting around Sri Lanka much easier:
- PickMe – The most reliable app for booking tuk‑tuks, taxis, and even food delivery.
- Uber – Available in Colombo for cars and tuk‑tuks, but gererally a bit more expensive than PickMe.
- Google Maps – Essential for navigation and checking public transport routes.
- WhatsApp – Widely used for communication with drivers, guesthouses, and tour operators.
Most travelers use a mix of trains, tuk‑tuks, and private drivers to get around Sri Lanka. Each option has its own advantages:
- Trains – The most scenic way to travel, especially between Kandy and Ella. Slow but unforgettable.
- Tuk‑tuks – Ideal for short distances. They’re cheap and everywhere. Use PickMe to avoid haggling. You can also rent your own tuk-tuk.
- Private drivers – A popular choice for multi‑day trips. Expect to pay around USD 50–70 per day, including the driver, fuel, and their accommodation.
- Buses – Very cheap and frequent, but often crowded and fast-paced.
- Scooters – Possible to rent, but traffic can be chaotic, so best for confident riders.
Most visitors combine these options to balance comfort, cost, and experience.
Tipping is not mandatory, but it’s appreciated and has become common in touristy areas. A typical tip is around 5-10%, or you can simply round up the bill if that feels easier.
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