11 Best Beaches in Sri Lanka

If your happy place is a white-sand beach, hugged by the ocean and flanked by coconut palm trees, Sri Lanka's coast is the perfect destination. Visually stunning, the local stretches are among Asia's best for swimming in the Indian Ocean, surfing the ideal swells at sunset, and enjoying exceptional snorkeling. The "new Bali" nickname is often used these days to describe Sri Lanka, but the country is in a league of its own. You'll discover the rich cultural traditions, unparalleled biodiversity, thrilling safaris in the national parks, stunning mountainous interior, and plenty of spectacular beaches. Sri Lanka is the ultimate place for beach-hopping—the most popular stretches are easily accessed by train, and distances are short. I fell for this country's coastal charms, and here's the list of the best beaches to visit for you to do the same.

Best for an all-in-one beach experience

I have traveled to many beach towns around the island, but nothing beats Mirissa when it comes to coziness. It's a place that "hugs" you in a mellow Indian Ocean embrace and doesn't let go. The beach here is a photogenic marvel: the softest white sand, the crescent-shaped bay, the rocky islets and the coconut palms. Mirissa is also home to Coconut Tree Hill, one of Sri Lanka's most stunning coastal viewpoints. The town is great for a tropical retreat. There are plenty of fancy avocado toast-serving coffee shops, Instagrammable beach bars, boutique jungle hotels and souvenir stalls, but it doesn't feel overwhelming. Its strategic position in the middle of the South Coast makes it easy to travel to other beach towns and go on safari day trips. Check out the Secret Beach, an idyllic cove hiding in a lush jungle behind the Van Bobette Rock. 

Best for turtle-watching

Meeting the gorgeous sea turtles is effortless in Hikkaduwa. A marine national park with a protected fringing coral reef, this beach is a must-visit for the wildlife encounters. The turtles swim next to the shore, so you won't have to sail far to see them. Apart from the majestic marine creatures, Hikkaduwa Beach offers stunning tropical beauty and unforgettable sunsets. The town behind might be too touristy and too noisy, but it's worth visiting for the turtles alone. One thing to keep in mind is that it's prohibited to touch or feed the animals. Reef snorkeling is another fantastic activity to try in Hikkaduwa. As on most of the South Coast beaches, you'll find many surfing schools offering lessons and renting equipment. The swells here are smaller than in Ahangama or Arugam Bay, but it's a great spot to try out wave conquering for the first time. 

Best for swimming and family leisure

The Indian Ocean is capricious. That's why Sri Lankan beaches have a flag signaling system in place. You can often see the red flags waving in the wind, meaning that swimming is prohibited. Thanks to the offshore reef, you will get fewer red-flag notices in Unawatuna. This white-sand beach enjoys calm waters year-round. It's also among the top stretches for families. As for Unawatuna, the town, opinions differ. In recent years, it has become one of the most touristy beach towns in Sri Lanka. It's definitely not a tranquil slice of paradise anymore, but it's still peaceful enough for an oceanside family break. Unlike in most beach towns of the South, the main street here is away from the busy road, giving Unawatuna a more relaxed vibe. Also, you're never far from the magnificent UNESCO-protected Galle city center, a colonial-era gem and Sri Lanka's most atmospheric historic destination.    

Best for the laid-back vibes and beach bars

If you're not shying away from words like coworking, coliving, coconut matcha latte, yoga, and brunch, Ahangama may be the ideal Sri Lankan beach town for you. Today, this tiny village is one of the hottest spots for surfers and digital nomads along the South Coast. Beach bars like Cactus, Abode by the Beach, Kai, and The Wave make rounds on TikTok and Instagram. Many surfer-friendly accommodations dot the coconut palm tree-shaded streets. Surfers love the local Kobalana beach, saying that it offers some of the best breaks in the world. At the end of the day, Ahangama is all about the laid-back, decadent lifestyle—surf morning to sunset with relaxing beach bar breaks. Who wouldn't want that?

Best beach overall for surfing

While Ahangama is great for surfing, its beach, quite tiny, isn't the region's star. The wide and glorious Weligama Bay is. This is one of the world's top destinations for the surfing scene. The word "scene" in that case means a well-developed infrastructure that lives and breathes on surfing. There are numerous surfing schools, surfing cafes and restaurants, as well as surfing-themed beach bars and camps. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, Weligama is always a top idea for having a great time on the swells. It's also significantly bigger than Ahangama and Mirissa, so you'll get a feeling of staying in an actual living town. If the main stretch is too busy, you can always escape to the secluded bays of the Weligama Cape, such as Coconut Beach and Abimanagama. 

Best for a jungle escape

Hirekitiya is the most "Westernized" of all the Sri Lankan beach towns, mostly catering to the digital nomad crowd from Europe, the US, and Australia. The protected bay here is absolutely gorgeous: lush green hills and crescent-shaped white sand. It feels remote and tranquil, ideal for a carefree tropical holiday. At the same time, it's among Sri Lanka's top coastal destinations for hip third-wave coffee shops, luxurious tree houses, yoga retreats, and fancy seafood restaurants. Hireketiya Beach is fantastic for learning to surf, snorkeling and simply swimming in the ocean waters. The jungle setting is gorgeous, offering the atmosphere of total escape. Like Unawatuna, Hireketiya Beach is far from the main road, meaning more peace and a deeper immersion in nature.  

Best for open ocean and elephant encounters

A-Bay (as the surfers lovingly call it) is a far cry from the developed beach towns of the South. Located on the east side of Sri Lanka, it's a vast sandy beach, offering some of the best breaks on the island. Not quite a secret anymore, it still retains a wild and unspoilt character. The further south you go from the main stretch, the more deserted it gets. If you dream of having the beach all to yourself, it's a great spot. Head to the Elephant Rock for unforgettable sunsets. If you're lucky, you can even spot actual elephants from there. For guaranteed animal sightings, take a safari trip to nearby Lahugala Kitulana National Park and Kumana National Park. Both are fantastic destinations to admire Sri Lanka's biodiversity and watch wild elephants, leopards, and sloth bears. 

Best for deep-sea diving and shallow waters

On the one hand, Nilaveli Beach, located on the northeast coast, offers calm, shallow waters. On the other hand, it's the gateway to Sri Lanka's best deep-sea diving and reef snorkeling. Tours to the Pigeon Island, a small Marine National Park with a reef, start from Nilaveli. There, you have colorful corals, turtles, and sharks. Also, you can embark on whale and dolphin-watching tours. There's a 52 USD entrance fee (which includes the round boat trip and snorkeling gear) to enter the island. Even if you're not going to snorkel, Nilaveli is a laid-back northeastern stretch for sunbathing, wading in the shallow water, and swimming. 

Best for unspoilt nature

Poetically named Silent Beach is anything but silent. There's music to the sound of the waves, the sway of the hundreds of coconut palms, the shimmering of the sand. This beach, situated between Tangalle and Morakatiyara, is an untouched coast, ideal for getting away from it all. There's no development here, apart from several wooden beach shacks serving traditional food and drinks. The best way to get to the Silent Beach is by tuk-tuk. The neighboring Goyambokka Beach is another paradisiac stretch. The surface is soft, white sand. There are also rocks on the cliffs at the beach ends, so don't forget your snorkeling gear. 

Best family-friendly beach near Colombo

While Colombo enjoys a spectacular oceanside location, its beaches aren't particularly suitable for swimming. Just an hour and a half train ride away from the capital is Bentota, a charming beach town, offering a gorgeous sandy stretch. It's also where you'll find numerous large seaside resorts, such as Cinnamon Bentota Beach, Thaala, and Taj Bentota Resort & Spa. Enjoy the fine sands, shallow waters, and laid-back surfing. Bentota is also great for jet skiing and kite surfing. The five-star resorts feature pools, spa centers, and elegant restaurants. Combine this with stunning ocean window views, and you get a superb beach holiday.  

Best beach for families with kids

Let's be frank, the wavy Indian Ocean waters aren't ideal for small kids. Pasikuda is an exception. A gem of the island's eastern coast, it offers a lagoon-like shallow bay, perfectly suitable for the younger ones. The waters are usually calm, and the seabed is knee-deep for almost a mile. It isn't a typical Sri Lankan beach town, but rather a huge resort area, with numerous luxurious hotels lining the white sands. This makes it the ideal destination for families looking for a hassle-free experience, where all you do is go from resort to the beach and back.