Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka is a beautiful country and it has such diverse scenery and has something for everyone. In this blog post, I will provide you with everything you need to know before visiting Sri Lanka.
Read my two week itinerary for Sri Lanka🌄🌏
Weather in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has two monsoon seasons: northeast (Oct-March) and southwest (May-Aug). The dry season on the south coast is usually January to April. Due to climate change, some locals have noted that the seasons are shifting slightly
Sri Lanka is a year-round destination. There isn’t a perfect period as the weather in Sri Lanka changes as it is a tropical country.
👉Read my blog on top 5 things to do in Sri Lanka in the rain.
When is the best time to visit Sri Lanka?
We went in December to January, we went for just under three weeks. We maximised our annual leave by going over the Christmas period.
Read my blog on how I maximise my annual leave for this trip.
Going away at this time of year was perfect for us who live in England, to escape the winter cold! Even though we got more rain than expected, I would not worry as there is still so much to do and see if it rains!
From my research I thought December & March was the best time to go to the West Coast and for the east coast it was April to September. Months September to October and April are the best times for exploring the entire country. As Sri Lanka is a tropical country, you may experience abit of rain downfall.
Flights to Sri Lanka
To get to Sri Lanka we used our companion voucher and our Avios points via our American Express British airways credit card. Our flights to the Maldives were £150 each which is soo cheap. Then we got flights to Sri lanka, which were £180 return as we ended our trip doing the local islands in the Maldives.
👉Book flights here on Trip.
👉Read my blog on using Amex/British Airways for travelling.
Do I need a Visa for Sri Lanka?
You will need a visa to enter Sri Lanka. It’s advisable to get a visa before you travel. You can also get one on arrival, but if you prefer to be prepared. You can apply online via the link below. The visa cost is $50 US dollars for 30days.
Apply for visa here – Online Visa Application
Local Transport
We found getting around Sri Lanka very easy. On the south coast, you can get the local buses, tuk tuks and you can even rent a scooter around 3-5 dollars a day, between two for you its even cheaper, it converts to 2000 rupees.
Local Transport – Tuk Tuks & Buses
We booked a lot of Tuk Tuks on the app Pick me, which was so cheap. Be prepared that sometimes you might not be able to get a ride on there. Before we went, I heard people using Uber. I tried multiple times to book a taxi on the app but we could never find a driver.
The local buses are wild – they are so cheap. You will pay around 370 rupees for the cost which is equivalent to around £1. Lots of budget backpackers will use the buses. As it’s a cheap way to get around the coast and even to Yala or the other national parks nearby.
Trains
When you start your trip, you can get the train to Galle Fort or Ahangama from Colombo Fort station. We did this on the way back and it was 550 rupees for a second-class ticket. The train does get very busy!
You can’t forget the famous Ella to Kandy train this is a must do in Sri Lanka. Everyone says to get tickets in advance, but we actually got ours on the day as we changed our plans multiple times. The tickets we got on the day were second class which were 550 rupees.
Book tickets online here or here.
Hire a Driver
I would highly recommend hiring a driver for the inland part of Sri Lanka. Our driver Ramesh was amazing. He provided us with lots of knowledge of Sri Lanka. Having a driver around Ella and when visiting Adam’s Peak was great because it allowed us to explore more of the area.
It was around 60 dollars a day for a driver, so 30 dollars each for us, but if there’s around 4 of you makes it even cheaper.
Contact our driver Rameesh! Number on WhatsApp is +94 77 527 6616.
Travel Adapters
There are two plug types used in Sri Lanka: types D and G. Type D is a plug with three round pins in a triangular pattern, and Type G has three rectangular pins in the same way.
Type G is a UK plug.
Type D is used in Sri Lanka, but we found more places used the standard UK plug.
Click here for the adapter we used
Currency
The currency in Sri Lanka is rupees. At the time of our visit in January 2025, it was around 364 rupees to a £1. However, a lot of places in Sri Lanka will also accept US dollars. In particular, when booking hotels and tours, prices are most likely listed in dollars.
That said, you can still pay in rupees; in these cases, they will simply convert the currency.
Sim Card
If you are wanting to get a SIM CARD, I got mine at the airport and it was 13 dollars for 60GB of data, which in my opinion is not expensive. You have access to the internet straight away, in case you need it for getting a taxi or travelling to your accommodation when you arrive.
Travel Vaccinations
Always make sure to check with your doctor a couple of months before you travel if you need to have any travel vaccinations before visiting a country.