10 Best Beaches in Sri Lanka - East/South/West Coast

Sri Lanka is a year-round holiday destination with two monsoon seasons and is home to some incredible beaches on both sides of the island. If you want to go to the south and west coast of Sri Lanka the best time to visit is from December to April. For the east coast the time between April and August is best.

We start our journey in Beruwala and Bentota, this very long sand beach is without any doubt one of the most beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka and only a 2h drive from the capital. The next stops are the beaches of Hikkaduwa and Unawatuna close to Galle.

Further down south you can find Mirissa, a relaxed little town which is a popular starting point for whale watching, too. Afterwards it’s time to spot some wildlife in the Yala National Park which has also a beach...but swimming is not allowed, so we’ll go for a leopard safari instead.

The east coast of Sri Lanka is still fairly unknown, therefore I decided to show you this part of the island more in-depth starting with Arugam Bay, a popular surf spot. Pasikudah is a longer drive to the north which is totally worth it - the locals even state it is the most beautiful beach in Sri Lanka!

Our last stop is Trincomalee in the north east of the country with its wide beaches of Uppuveli and Nilaveli. A short boat ride off the main land you should visit Pigeon island which has not only a beautiful beach but an incredible maritime life…so make sure to bring some snorkeling gear!