About Sri Lanka

The gentle sea with the purest water and the magnificent sandy beaches of Sri Lanka attract more and more tourists yearly. The crystal turquoise color of the seawater sets the level of your vacation somewhere between stunning and perfect. So if you are looking for the perfect sea, this is your place!

General information

The coastline of Sri Lanka is primarily straight and have their charm, giving a feeling of absolute freedom. Many of them have a natural shade that saves in the midday heat.

Most beaches of Sri Lanka are located within the boundaries of settlements, so natural landscapes are not so frequent here. Lovers of beauty are better off focusing on studying the local traditional architecture and interesting features of life. But wherever you are, if you can get up early and see the morning sea, then a portion of beauty is always guaranteed to you.

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Popular destinations

view the best beach places

Matara

44 beaches
Picturesque • Cliffs • Natural shadow

Galle

33 beaches
Picturesque • Natural shadow • Good for Sup surfing

Walgama

28 beaches
Picturesque • Cliffs • Natural shadow

Ahangama

26 beaches
Picturesque • Cliffs • Natural shadow

Dikwella

26 beaches
Picturesque • Exceptional beauty • Cliffs

Mirissa

26 beaches
Picturesque • Cliffs • Natural shadow

Weligama

25 beaches
Picturesque • Cliffs • Natural shadow

Tangalle

23 beaches
Picturesque • Exceptional beauty • Cliffs

Goviyapana

21 beaches
Picturesque • Cliffs • Natural shadow

Devinuwara

20 beaches
Picturesque • Cliffs • Natural shadow

Kabalana

20 beaches
Picturesque • Cliffs • Natural shadow

Kadurupokuna

20 beaches
Picturesque • Exceptional beauty • Cliffs

Denuwala

19 beaches
Picturesque • Cliffs • Natural shadow

Kathaluwa

19 beaches
Picturesque • Cliffs • Natural shadow

Mawella

19 beaches
Picturesque • Exceptional beauty • Cliffs

Midigama

19 beaches
Picturesque • Cliffs • Natural shadow

Nilwella

19 beaches
Picturesque • Exceptional beauty • Cliffs

Peleana

19 beaches
Picturesque • Cliffs • Natural shadow

Sinimodara

19 beaches
Picturesque • Exceptional beauty • Cliffs

Thalaramba

19 beaches
Picturesque • Cliffs • Natural shadow

Trincomalee

19 beaches
Cliffs • Secluded relax • Natural shadow

Habaraduwa

18 beaches
Picturesque • Natural shadow • Good for Sup surfing

Kamburugamuwa

18 beaches
Picturesque • Cliffs • Natural shadow

Kudawella

18 beaches
Picturesque • Exceptional beauty • Cliffs

Unakuruwa

18 beaches
Picturesque • Exceptional beauty • Cliffs

Heenatigala Junction

17 beaches
Picturesque • Natural shadow • Good for Sup surfing

Kalutara

17 beaches
Natural shadow • Good for Sup surfing • Good for Surfing

Medaketiya

17 beaches
Picturesque • Exceptional beauty • Cliffs

Polhena

17 beaches
Picturesque • Cliffs • Natural shadow

Suduwella

17 beaches
Picturesque • Cliffs • Natural shadow

Talpe

17 beaches
Picturesque • Natural shadow • Good for Sup surfing

Marakolliya

16 beaches
Picturesque • Exceptional beauty • Cliffs

Talalla

16 beaches
Picturesque • Cliffs • Natural shadow

Ahungalla

15 beaches
Natural shadow • Good for Relax • Sand

Gandara

15 beaches
Picturesque • Cliffs • Natural shadow

Kosgoda

15 beaches
Natural shadow • Good for Relax • Sand

Sudugala

15 beaches
Picturesque • Cliffs • Natural shadow

Balapitiya

14 beaches
Natural shadow • Beach volleyball • Good for Relax

Induruwa

14 beaches
Natural shadow • Good for Sup surfing • Good for Surfing

Makuluwa Junction

14 beaches
Picturesque • Natural shadow • Good for diving

Rekawa

14 beaches
Picturesque • Exceptional beauty • Natural shadow

Batticaloa

13 beaches
Natural shadow • Good for Kayaking • Beach volleyball

Beruwala

13 beaches
Natural shadow • Good for Kayaking • Good for Sup surfing

Bentota

12 beaches
Natural shadow • Good for Sup surfing • Good for Surfing

Hungama

12 beaches
Picturesque • Exceptional beauty • Cliffs

Kinniya

12 beaches
Cliffs • Secluded relax • Natural shadow

Rumassala

12 beaches
Picturesque • Natural shadow • Good for diving

Alles Garden

11 beaches
Cliffs • Secluded relax • Natural shadow

Mutur

11 beaches
Cliffs • Secluded relax • Natural shadow

Tamaraivillu

11 beaches
Cliffs • Secluded relax • Natural shadow
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Sri Lanka Best beaches

view the highest rated beaches in area

Senior friendly

Pasikuda Beach

Pasikuda 0.6 km

8.7
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Bright sand • Turquoise pure water • Crowded in season
8.3 Amenities index
Kids friendly

Mirissa Beach

Mirissa 0.6 km

8.7
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Bright fine sand • Turquoise water • Crowded in season
7 Amenities index
Good for Relax

Silent Beach

Unakuruwa 1.1 km

8.7
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Exceptional beauty • Picturesque • Easy access • No parking
2.7 Amenities index
Kids friendly

Weligama Bay Beach

Weligama 0.8 km

8.7
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Bright sand • Turquoise water • Crowded in season
7 Amenities index
Senior friendly

Marble Beach

Kinniya 2.4 km

8.5
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Bright sand • Turquoise pure water • Crowded in season
8.3 Amenities index
Senior friendly

Koggala Beach

Habaraduwa 0.4 km

8.5
Free entrance • Amenities beach • Easy access • Bright fine sand • Turquoise pure water • Crowded in season
6 Amenities index

Popular types of Sri Lanka beaches

Calm, measured rest and the sound of waves are perhaps the most common associations that arise with the word "beach". This is not surprising, as relaxation is exactly what many beach travelers are looking for. If you associate your vacation primarily with such activity, choose one of the 235 beaches in the country.

To make your choice easier, we have prepared a list of the best beaches for relaxation in Sri Lanka.

The beaches of Sri Lanka can be a good choice for senior travelers, as there are 56 beaches equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable stay for this group of travelers.

In most cases, older travelers are looking for a quiet relaxing holiday and have high demands on infrastructure. This type of beach is the opposite of the party ones preferred by the younger generation.

Attraction and Infrastructure

As for the main features of the beaches of Sri Lanka, they are as follows:

  • The country's beaches are mainly wide, long and have a high level of cleanliness. The most common surface is sand of bright color.
  • Usually, entry into the water is moderately gentle, such beaches are 118.
  • The average distance from the road to beach in Sri Lanka is less than 500 meters. 229 beaches are relatively easy to access, 5 beaches are difficult to access, which in most cases means that you have to walk a quite long distance, and 1 beach are only accessible from the water. The latter include both island beaches and beaches with no land routes due to the natural borders.

The vast majority of Sri Lanka beaches have the necessary amenities, such as sun loungers, umbrellas, beach cafes, showers and toilets.

Dozens of beaches in Sri Lanka attract every year not only relaxation lovers but also those travelers who prefer outdoor activities and, first of all surfers, sup boarders, kayakers.

So, let's see what activities you can do on the beaches:

  • SUP is a relatively young sport that attracts more and more followers every year. Whether you are an experienced SUP rider or want to discover this activity, Sri Lanka is the perfect place for you. More than 14 beaches are popular among SUP boarders. Who knows, you will become an enthusiastic fan of SUP after visiting these beaches.
  • Surfing. There is probably no person in the world who has never seen these talented boys and girls riding the wave. Whether you are a professional surfer or just an athlete with a brave heart, the beaches of Sri Lanka will suit both of you, as this country is quite popular among surfers. There are about 34 beaches good suitable for surfing, choose carefully, don't miss the beach of your dream!
  • Sea kayaking is an excellent alternative to long walks along the coast. Instead of being bored on the beach, you can go for a leisurely journey and discover the beauty of the neighboring coves, inlets and wild beaches. Remember, the main gems are always accessible only from the water. Kayaking is an excellent active lifestyle solution for both professionals and beginners. About 9 beaches in Sri Lanka can be interesting for kayakers, the most popular are: Pasikuda Beach, Public Beach Trincomalee.

Do you love an active lifestyle but would prefer something other than water activities? Then on the beaches of Sri Lanka you can actively spend time playing volleyball. Although this country does not have the privileged status of the volleyball capital of World, it may well compete for this title because there are about 29 beaches where you can play volleyball.

For campers, important information is the availability of campsites in the country. There are such places near the 5 beaches of Sri Lanka. 2 of them are a kind of wild camp, formed spontaneously by lovers of this type of recreation and did not have an infrastructure. 3 of them are official campsites, with all the necessary (showers, toilets, shops, cafes).

Latest reviews on Sri Lanka's beaches

Please note that lifeguards supervise 23 beaches in the country, but you should rely on more than just them, remember the elementary rules, as lifeguards are not on duty around the clock, even on equipped beaches!

Finding hotels in relative proximity to the beaches is usually fine. Many beaches have enough nearby accommodation, which gives good opportunities to choose the right place to stay.

Do you know how many beaches there are in Sri Lanka? In total there are 235 beaches and the most popular is Pasikuda Beach.

Most viewed beaches of Sri Lanka

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the main features of best beaches in Sri Lanka?

When it comes to finding the best beaches in Sri Lanka, the following aspects should be taken into account.

There are 235 beaches in total, of which about 42 can be called high-rated.

The best beaches in the majority:

They are also usually:

The best beaches in Sri Lanka:

View all beaches in Sri Lanka and create your selection by features

How to view only nearest to me beaches in Sri Lanka?

To find the beaches closest to your current geolocation, click the Nearby Beaches icon in the search box. You will see the nearest beaches sorted by distance from you.

Note, that if you only want to see the beaches closest to you in Sri Lanka, you must be in that area to get the correct results.

See also: View all beaches in Sri Lanka and create your selection by features.

What are all easy accessible beaches in Sri Lanka?

Most of the beaches located in Sri Lanka are easily accessible, but there are also hard to reach beaches among them. Use the filter to sort the beaches by access details (parking, distance etc.).

Popular categories of beaches in Sri Lanka by access:

See also the categories:

Top 5 popular beaches with easy access in Sri Lanka:

View all beaches in Sri Lanka and select by features

How to view all sandy beaches or beaches with other natural features in Sri Lanka?

Use the "Main features" section of the filter in search results to see all the beaches with the feature you're interested in.

The most popular selections of beaches with natural features are listed below. Don't forget that you can create your own selection with any combination of features

Beach coverage and water

Natural scenery

Other popular categories

View all beaches in Sri Lanka and select by features

How to find uncrowded beaches in Sri Lanka?

The presence of crowds of tourists on the beach these days is becoming a mass character, and sometimes you want silence and solitude. Use the filter in search results to view the beaches in Sri Lanka by occupancy.

Popular categories:

If the presence of a crowd on the beach is critical for you, pay attention to where you should not go in the season.

View all beaches in Sri Lanka and select by features

Which beaches in Sri Lanka are kid-friendly, good for relax, pet-friendly, naturist-friendly, camping-friendly?

How to view all beaches by amenities details in Sri Lanka?

Use filter in search results to select a beach according to your preference for amenities.

Popular beach infrastructure categories:

See also:

View all beaches in Sri Lanka and select by specific amenities

How to view all beaches by activity of interest in Sri Lanka?

Use the "Activity" section of the filter in search results to view the selections of beaches by one or multiple activities. Below are a few popular selections that you can change as you like using our filter.

View all beaches in Sri Lanka and select by activity

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