Is September a Good Month to Visit Sri Lanka

September is absolutely workable — you just need to plan your route around the shifting weather patterns.

Seasonal Highlights in September

• East Coast Still Strong
  Arugam Bay, Trincomalee, and Pasikudah continue to offer the best beach conditions. Seas are calm, days are sunny, and it’s still peak season for surfing in Arugam Bay.
• Cultural Triangle Remains Dry
  Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Polonnaruwa stay hot and mostly dry. Early mornings are ideal for climbing Sigiriya or Pidurangala before the heat builds.
• Hill Country: Misty and Atmospheric
  Ella, Haputale, and Nuwara Eliya are lush and cool. Expect beautiful mornings followed by mist and afternoon showers.
• South and West Coasts: Slowly Improving
  Galle, Mirissa, Weligama, and Hiriketiya are still off‑season, but the worst of the monsoon begins to ease toward the end of the month. Seas remain rough and not suitable for swimming.
• Minneriya has the “Gathering”
  Hundreds of elephants congregate around the Minneriya Tank during the dry season, creating one of Sri Lanka’s most impressive wildlife spectacles.
  

Weather Overview

September is a month of transition in Sri Lanka, with windy, wet, rough seas on the south and west coasts, cool and misty afternoons in the Hill Country, hot and dry conditions in the Cultural Triangle, and sunny, calm‑sea weather on the east coast.

° C ° F

South & West Coasts

jan 31°C 24°C

feb 31°C 24°C

mar 32°C 25°C

apr 32°C 25°C

may 31°C 25°C

jun 30°C 25°C

jul 30°C 25°C

aug 30°C 25°C

sep 30°C 25°C

oct 30°C 24°C

nov 30°C 24°C

dec 31°C 24°C

East & North Coasts

jan 31°C 23°C

feb 32°C 23°C

mar 32°C 24°C

apr 32°C 25°C

may 32°C 26°C

jun 31°C 26°C

jul 32°C 26°C

aug 32°C 26°C

sep 32°C 26°C

oct 32°C 26°C

nov 32°C 26°C

dec 31°C 24°C

Cultural Triangle

jan 31°C 21°C

feb 33°C 22°C

mar 34°C 24°C

apr 34°C 25°C

may 33°C 24°C

jun 32°C 24°C

jul 32°C 24°C

aug 32°C 24°C

sep 32°C 24°C

oct 31°C 23°C

nov 30°C 22°C

dec 30°C 21°C

Hill Country (Low-Mid)

jan 25°C 17°C

feb 26°C 17°C

mar 27°C 18°C

apr 27°C 19°C

may 26°C 20°C

jun 25°C 20°C

jul 25°C 20°C

aug 25°C 19°C

sep 25°C 19°C

oct 25°C 19°C

nov 25°C 18°C

dec 25°C 18°C

Hill Country (High)

jan 20°C 10°C

feb 21°C 11°C

mar 22°C 13°C

apr 21°C 14°C

may 20°C 14°C

jun 19°C 13°C

jul 19°C 12°C

aug 20°C 12°C

sep 20°C 12°C

oct 20°C 13°C

nov 19°C 12°C

dec 19°C 11°C

South & West Coasts East & North Coasts Cultural Triangle Hill Country (Low-Mid) Hill Country (High)

Places to Visit in September

September is especially good for:

• East Coast: Trincomalee, Pasikudah, Arugam Bay
• Cultural Triangle: Sigiriya Town for Lion Rock, Dambulla Cave Temples, Polonnaruwa
• Hill Country: Ella town, Kandy town, Nuwara Eliya

These regions offer the most stable conditions during the month

Need itineraries? Check out my 3-week Sri Lanka itinerary or my Cultural Triangle itinerary for inspiration.

National Parks in September

September is a strong wildlife month, especially in the north and central regions.

Book in Advance

September is excellent for surfing in Arugam Bay, for elephant viewing in the Cultural Triangle, and for leopard spotting in Wilpattu National Park. The east coast and the Cultural Triangle can book up quickly, so reserve accommodation and transport in advance to secure the best options.

Accommodation

book ahead with Booking.com

book with agoda

book with hostelworld

Tours & Transport

Book tours and experiences with klook

book transport with 12go

Consider booking your travels through my links — it supports the site at no extra cost to you. You can secure most accommodation, tours, and transport easily through the major platforms below.

Verdict: Should You Visit Sri Lanka in September?

Yes — but you need to plan around the weather.

September is a great month for the east coast, the Cultural Triangle, and the Hill Country. The south and west coasts are still off‑season, but the rest of the island offers plenty of sunshine, wildlife, and scenic landscapes. If you choose the right regions, September can be a rewarding time to visit Sri Lanka.

Want to compare all the months? Check out my guide to the best time to visit Sri Lanka, or explore another month in depth below.

Is January a Good Month to Visit Sri Lanka

Is February a Good Month to Visit Sri Lanka