6 Best Beaches in Sri Lanka (2021)

At a distance of 55 km from Galle, 89 km from Mirissa, 104 km from Colombo, 180 km from Kandy, 195 km from Ella, 209 km from Nuwara Eliya, 231 km from Sigiriya and 262 km from Anuradhapura, Bentota is a coastal town in Galle district of Southern Province in Sri Lanka. Known for its sandy shores, it is one of the popular beaches to visit in the island country as part of Sri Lanka Tour.

Located on the southern bank of the Bentota River, Bentota is a quaint town surrounded by sandy shores, pristine waters and lush green landscapes with the dominance of tall palm trees. Interestingly, the name 'Bentota' is derived from Ben, a demon who once ruled the Tota or river bank. It is considered to be the prime beach resort of Sri Lanka as the National Holiday Resort Complex is associated with the Bentota Beach.

The place is known for its sun-kissed beaches, lagoon, dive sites that offer the best views of coral reefs, century-old Buddhist temples, gardens and long stretches of coconut trees. Its glorious sun-kissed beaches make the town a perfect destination for families to spend quality time on the beach. Bentota Beach, Brief Garden, Moragalla Beach, Cinnamon Island, Kande Vihare Temple, Galapata Vihara, and Madu Ganga River Safari are the top places to visit in Bentota. Bentota is home to the majestic marine turtles. The community-run hatcheries in the area are doing their bit to help propagate marine life.

Bentota ...

At a distance of 100 km from Sigiriya, 106 km from Anuradhapura, 108 km from Dambulla, 133 km from Polonnaruwa, 182 km from Kandy, 236 km from Jaffna and 269 km from Colombo, Trincomalee is a charming coastal town on the northeast coast of Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Trincomalee district and among the must include destinations in Sri Lanka trip.

Sitting prettily on a remarkable natural harbour, the charming town of Trincomalee with oodles of history and interesting sites is a great escape from the touristy south. The port town is built on a peninsula of the same name, which divides its inner and outer harbours. The town got its historic Tamil name Thirukonamalai from Koneswaram Temple situated on the Swami Rock. Trincomalee is an anglicized form of the old Tamil word 'Thiru-kona-malai', meaning 'Lord of the Sacred Hill'. Trincomalee has been one of the main centers of Sri Lankan Tamil language speaking culture on the island for over two millennia.

Trincomalee known as Gokanna, Gokarna or Siri Gonamala, has a recorded history of more than 2500 years, beginning with the civilian settlement associated with the Koneswaram temple in the pre-modern era. One of the oldest cities in Asia, it has served as a major maritime seaport in the international trading history of the island with South East Asia. In the ancient world, it was successively the capital of eastern kingdoms of the Vanni ...

At a distance of 30 km from Colombo, Panadura Beach is a public beach at Panadura town situated in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. Along the coast of the Indian Ocean, Panadura is one of the mesmerizing beaches near Colombo and among the best places to visit as part of Sri Lanka Tour Packages.

Panadura Beach is a quiet secluded beach with a long stretch of golden sands and clear waters which are perfect for candid moments with the beach. Just like the town of Panadura, its beach too speaks of elegance, warmth, and simplicity at its best. It is not widely regarded for its water adventures of scuba diving and snorkeling along with the usual hustle of nightlife on the coasts. However, Panadura presents a landscape for some edgy family time and romance by the seas with your loved ones.

Kite flying is a favorite activity on the beach, and one can buy a kite from the shops outside the beach. The breeze and a slight technique with your hands will do the trick for a beautiful kite flying experience. Yoga in the mornings is highly sought after by the tourists. With the sound of the waves crashing against the sandy shores, there is no stopping the inner goodness. The sea is too rough for swimming. Make sure to take a dip in the designated places marked safe by guards.

The beach is crowded on weekends or on a Poya Day as it is a national holiday given on the account of the full moon every month in Sri Lanka.

Timings: 6 AM - 7 PM

At a distance of 18 km from Galle and 37 km from Bentota, Hikkaduwa Beach is a serene beach situated in the coastal town of Hikkaduwa. It is one of the popular beaches on the island as part of the Sri Lanka Tour.

The beach of Hikkaduwa was the first (the 1960s) beach discovered by tourists in Sri Lanka. The beach stretches over 4 kilometers and hosts many fun activities to keep the tourists engaged. These water sports include snorkeling, scuba diving, whale watching, swimming in the ocean and glass boats for the adventure seekers. The clear waters beckon the nature lovers who wish to take a dip inside the waters to witness the vibrant, colorful aquatic life. The coral sanctuary found along the coast of Hikkaduwa hosts gorgeous coral formations. Off the beach, there is a collection of small islets surrounded by beautiful coral formations. Many species of fish and large turtles are found here.

Hikkaduwa offers some of the best scuba diving experiences in Sri Lanka as it has unique dive sites such as wreck dives and spectacular reef dives. There are more than four different shipwrecks for diving enthusiasts to explore along with dive shops offering PADI courses and equipment. Also, Hikkaduwa is an international destination for board-surfing and even featured in Anthony Bourdain's television show 'No Reservations'.

The beach has resto-bars, pubs and a vibrant nightlife. One can also visit Narigama Beach, Sea turtle hatching and rescue center, Tsunami Photo Museum, ...

At a distance of 30 km from Unawatuna and 35 km from Galle, Mirissa Beach is a beautiful sandy shore located along the mighty Indian Ocean in the coastal town of Mirissa, Sri Lanka. It is one of the popular beaches on the Southern coast of the island and among the best places to visit near Galle.

Mirissa Beach is relatively large with plenty of space to lay down and just relax and watch the beach life. The beach has clean sand and clear waters that are lined with palm trees. At one end of the Mirissa Beach is a rock formation, known as Parrot Rock that is surrounded by the ocean on three sides. Tourists can climb on top of the rock and witness a gorgeous panoramic view of the Mirissa Beach.

The stunning Mirissa Beach is a popular site for water sports, such as surfing and snorkeling, which are always on demand. Besides, Mirissa is hugely famous for its whale watching and dolphin watching activities. Whale watching in Mirissa allows visitors to enjoy watching them swim and play in their natural habitat. There are many tour companies that offer whale and dolphin watching tours. The price for whale watching in Mirissa ranges from LKR 5000 to LKR 10000, depending on the tour operator and the package they offer. The boat rides last for an average of three to five hours.

Along the beach are plenty of small restaurants and cafes, serving delicious and fresh seafood. After dark, the restaurants put out tables on the beach, light lanterns, and candles, and serve seafood ...

At a distance of 20 km from Trincomalee, Nilaveli Beach is a pristine palm-fringed beach situated at Nilaveli. Along the coast of the Indian Ocean, it is one of the popular beaches in Sri Lanka and among the prime Trincomalee Tourist Places.

Stretches over 1 km, Nilaveli Beach is a calm, serene white sandy beach surrounded by lush, green vegetation on both sides. The beach itself was really clean with no rubbish and the water is clean and calm ideal for swimming. Water sports such as windsurfing and diving are very famous among tourists and even locals. Totally unspoiled by the onslaught of tourism, this palm-fringed beach is perfect for a lazy, rejuvenating day by the sea.

Across the beach, about 1 km into the ocean one will see the famous Pigeon Island, named due to rock pigeons roosting on it. It is a famous spot for snorkeling and diving. The reef there provides a perfect place to explore the ocean.

Timings: 6 AM - 6 PM

Entry: Free