The Best Beaches in Sri Lanka

The Indian Ocean provides a stunning backdrop to the island of Sri Lanka. With its turquoise waters, pristine white sand and lush jungle-clad hills, it’s no wonder Sri Lanka’s beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world. From the wild and windswept beaches of the north to the laid-back shores of the south, Sri Lanka’s island beaches offer something for everyone. We’ve rounded up some of the best beaches Sri Lanka has to offer, so you can plan your perfect beach holiday.

Unawatuna Beach

Unawatuna Beach is a beautiful crescent-shaped beach on the south coast of Sri Lanka. This beach is known for its crystal-clear waters and golden sand, making it one of the most popular beaches on the island. Unawatuna is also home to some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving spots in Sri Lanka. There are plenty of restaurants, cafes and bars scattered along the beach, making it the perfect spot for a beach day.

If you’re looking for a bit of adventure, Unawatuna Beach is the place to be. You can try your hand at surfing, or take a boat tour to see some of the exotic marine life that inhabit these waters. There are also plenty of water sports and activities to keep you entertained, such as kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and beach volleyball.

Unawatuna is also a great place to relax and unwind. The beach is lined with palm trees, providing plenty of shade, and there are plenty of sun loungers and hammocks to laze around in. There’s also a range of spas and massage parlours where you can enjoy a spot of pampering.

Mirissa Beach

Mirissa Beach is a tranquil stretch of golden sand on the south coast of Sri Lanka. It’s one of the best beaches in the area, with stunning views of the Indian Ocean and a relaxed vibe. The beach is lined with palm trees, providing plenty of shade, and there is a wide selection of beach bars and restaurants where you can enjoy a refreshing drink or a delicious meal.

Mirissa is the perfect spot for a spot of relaxation. You can go for a stroll along the beach, take a dip in the crystal-clear waters or just sit back and admire the stunning views. For those looking for a bit of adventure, there are plenty of water sports and activities on offer, such as snorkeling, scuba diving and surfing. There are also plenty of boat tours to explore the nearby islands.

At night, Mirissa Beach comes alive with a vibrant nightlife. There are plenty of bars and restaurants to explore, and you can enjoy live music and entertainment at some of the beachfront venues.

Tangalle Beach

Tangalle Beach is a stunning stretch of coastline on the south coast of Sri Lanka. It’s known for its white sand, crystal-clear waters and lush green palm trees. The beach is usually quiet and peaceful, making it the perfect spot for a spot of relaxation. You can go for a stroll along the beach, take a dip in the warm waters or just sit back and admire the stunning views.

For those looking for a bit of adventure, there are plenty of water sports and activities available, such as snorkeling, scuba diving and surfing. There are also plenty of boat tours to explore the nearby islands. You can also take a stroll through the nearby fishing villages to get a glimpse of local life.

At night, the beach is lined with a selection of bars and restaurants, where you can enjoy a delicious meal or a refreshing drink. There’s also live music and entertainment at some of the beachfront venues.

Arugam Bay Beach

Arugam Bay Beach is a stunning stretch of coastline on the east coast of Sri Lanka. It’s known for its golden sand, crystal-clear waters and lush green palm trees. It’s one of the best surfing spots in Sri Lanka, and you can find plenty of surf schools and instructors along the beach. There are also plenty of other water sports and activities available, such as snorkeling and scuba diving.

Arugam Bay is also the perfect spot for a spot of relaxation. You can go for a stroll along the beach, take a dip in the warm waters or just sit back and admire the stunning views. There are plenty of beach bars and restaurants where you can enjoy a delicious meal or a refreshing drink.

At night, the beach is lined with a selection of bars and restaurants, where you can enjoy live music and entertainment. There’s also a range of beach shacks and guesthouses where you can stay and make the most of your time in Arugam Bay.

Nilaveli Beach

Nilaveli Beach is a stunning stretch of golden sand on the east coast of Sri Lanka. It’s known for its crystal-clear waters and lush green palm trees, making it one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. This beach is usually very quiet and peaceful, making it the perfect spot for a spot of relaxation.

If you’re looking for a bit of adventure, there are plenty of water sports and activities on offer, such as snorkeling, scuba diving and surfing. You can also take a boat tour to explore the nearby islands. There are also plenty of beach bars and restaurants where you can enjoy a delicious meal or a refreshing drink.

At night, the beach is lined with a selection of bars and restaurants, where you can enjoy live music and entertainment. There’s also a range of beach shacks and guesthouses where you can stay and make the most of your time in Nilaveli.

Hikkaduwa Beach

Hikkaduwa Beach is a stunning stretch of coastline on the south coast of Sri Lanka. It’s known for its golden sand, crystal-clear waters and lush green palm trees. This beach is usually quite lively, with plenty of bars and restaurants to explore. It’s also one of the best spots for surfing in Sri Lanka, and you can find plenty of surf schools and instructors along the beach.

If you’re looking for a bit of relaxation, you can go for a stroll along the beach, take a dip in the warm waters or just sit back and admire the stunning views. There are plenty of beach bars and restaurants where you can enjoy a delicious meal or a refreshing drink. At night, the beach is lined with a selection of bars and restaurants, where you can enjoy live music and entertainment.

Hikkaduwa Beach is also the perfect spot for a spot of adventure. There are plenty of water sports and activities available, such as snorkeling, scuba diving and kayaking. You can also take a boat tour to explore the nearby islands.

Bentota Beach

Bentota Beach is a stunning stretch of coastline on the south-west coast of Sri Lanka. This beach is known for its golden sand, crystal-clear waters and lush green palm trees. It’s the perfect spot for a spot of relaxation, with plenty of sun loungers and hammocks to laze around in.

For those looking for a bit of adventure, there are plenty of water sports and activities available, such as snorkeling, scuba diving and surfing. You can also take a boat tour to explore the nearby islands. There are also plenty of beach bars and restaurants where you can enjoy a delicious meal or a refreshing drink.

At night, the beach is lined with a selection of bars and restaurants, where you can enjoy live music and entertainment. There’s also a range of beach shacks and guesthouses where you can stay and make the most of your time in Bentota.

Negombo Beach

Negombo Beach is a stunning stretch of coastline on the west coast of Sri Lanka. It’s known for its white sand, crystal-clear waters and lush green palm trees. This beach is usually quite lively, with plenty of bars and restaurants to explore. It’s the perfect spot for a spot of relaxation, with plenty of sun loungers and hammocks to laze around in.

For those looking for a bit of adventure, there are plenty of water sports and activities available, such as snorkeling, scuba diving and surfing. You can also take a boat tour to explore the nearby islands. There are also plenty of beach bars and restaurants where you can enjoy a delicious meal or a refreshing drink.

At night, the beach is lined with a selection of bars and restaurants, where you can enjoy live music and entertainment. There’s also a range of beach shacks and guesthouses where you can stay and make the most of your time in Negombo.

Passikudah Beach

Passikudah Beach is a stunning stretch of coastline on the east coast of Sri Lanka. It’s known for its white sand, crystal-clear waters and lush green palm trees. This beach is usually very quiet and peaceful, making it the perfect spot for a spot of relaxation.

If you’re looking for a bit of adventure, there are plenty of water sports and activities available, such as snorkeling, scuba diving and surfing. You can also take a boat tour to explore the nearby islands. There are also plenty of beach bars and restaurants where you can enjoy a delicious meal or a refreshing drink.

At night, the beach is lined with a selection of bars and restaurants, where you can enjoy live music and entertainment. There’s also a range of beach shacks and guesthouses where you can stay and make the most of your time in Passikudah.

Trincomalee Beach

Trincomalee Beach is a stunning stretch of coastline on the east coast of Sri Lanka. It’s known for its white sand, crystal-clear waters and lush green palm trees. This beach is usually very quiet and peaceful, making it the perfect spot for a spot of relaxation.

If you’re looking for a bit of adventure, there are plenty of water sports and activities available, such as snorkeling, scuba diving and surfing. You can also take a boat tour to explore the nearby islands. There are also plenty of beach bars and restaurants where you can enjoy a delicious meal or a refreshing drink.

At night, the beach is lined with a selection of bars and restaurants, where you can enjoy live music and entertainment. There’s also a range of beach shacks and guesthouses where you can stay and make the most of your time in Trincomalee.

Kalpitiya Beach

Kalpitiya Beach is a stunning stretch of coastline on the north-west coast of Sri Lanka. It’s known for its white sand, crystal-clear waters and lush green palm trees. This beach is usually quite quiet and peaceful, making it the perfect spot for a spot of relaxation.

If you’re looking for a bit of adventure, there are plenty of water sports and activities available, such as snorkeling, scuba diving and surfing. You can also take a boat tour to explore the nearby islands. There are also plenty of beach bars and restaurants where you can enjoy a delicious meal or a refreshing drink.

At night, the beach is lined with a selection of bars and restaurants, where you can enjoy live music and entertainment. There’s also a range of beach shacks and guesthouses where you can stay and make the most of your time in Kalpitiya.

Summary

Sri Lanka is home to some of the most stunning beaches in the world. From the wild and windswept beaches of the north to the laid-back shores of the south, Sri Lanka’s island beaches offer something for everyone. We’ve rounded up some of the best beaches Sri Lanka has to offer, so you can plan your perfect beach holiday. Unawatuna Beach, Mirissa Beach, Tangalle Beach, Arugam Bay Beach, Nilaveli Beach, Hikkaduwa Beach, Bentota Beach, Negombo Beach, Passikudah Beach, Trincomalee Beach and Kalpitiya Beach are some of the most popular and beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka.