Sri Lanka
South Asia · Asia
- Capital
- Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (Colombo metro)
- Currency
- Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
- Language
- Sinhala, Tamil, English
- Timezone
- UTC+5:30
- Safety rating
- 7.5/10
- Best time to visit
- December to March for the south and west coasts (beach season). May to October for the east coast. Hill country is pleasant year-round. April is New Year and very busy.
Overview
Sri Lanka packs extraordinary diversity into a small island — ancient cities of Sigiriya and Anuradhapura, lush tea highlands of Nuwara Eliya, colonial Galle Fort, elephants in the wild, and some of Asia's best surf breaks at Arugam Bay. Its cuisine — rice and curry, hoppers, kottu roti — is world-class and underrated.
Visa requirements
ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) required for most nationalities before arrival. Apply at eta.gov.lk (USD $50 for most). Citizens of select countries get free ETAs. Valid for 30 days, extendable.
Safety information
Generally safe for tourists. The country has rebuilt remarkably since the 2019 Easter bombings. Normal precautions apply in Colombo. The 2022 economic crisis has stabilised — carry USD or Euros for easy exchange. Beach swimming: always heed flags and local advice about rip currents.
Travel tips
The train through the tea highlands (Kandy to Ella) is one of the world's most scenic railway journeys — book observation car seats in advance on 12go.asia. Tuk-tuks are the fun way to get around short distances. Always bargain in markets but not at fixed-price restaurants.