Sri Lanka has two monsoons that arrive at different times, so there is almost always a dry coast somewhere. Pick your month below and see where the weather is on your side.
| Coast | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South and west | Dry season | Dry season | Dry season | Hot and still | Monsoon | Monsoon | Monsoon | Monsoon | Easing | Showers | Clearing | Dry season |
| East and north | Monsoon | Clearing | Dry season | Dry season | Dry season | Dry season | Dry season | Dry season | Dry season | Turning | Monsoon | Monsoon |
Dry, the coast to be on Monsoon or showers
When is the best time to visit Sri Lanka?
It depends on which side of the island you want. The south-west monsoon brings rain to the south and west coasts from about May to September, while the east and north stay dry. The north-east monsoon turns it round, with rain on the east and in Jaffna from about November to January.
So every month works somewhere. For a first trip that takes in Galle, Kandy, Ella and Sigiriya, January to March is the easiest window. For the east coast and Jaffna, aim for May to September.
Which coast is dry in which month?
Use this as a rule of thumb, then check your month below. Showers can still fall in the dry season, usually in the afternoon.
- South and west coast: dry from December to April; monsoon from May to August; easing in September, showery in October, clearing through November
- East coast and the north: rain from November to January, heaviest in December; clearing in February; dry from March to September, with the last calm weeks in October
- October and November: between the monsoons, with afternoon showers almost anywhere and mornings that are often clear
When is the hill country at its best?
January to April is the clearest stretch in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ella, with cool mornings and the best chance of views from Horton Plains and Ella Rock. Mist can roll in at any time of year, so go up viewpoints early. The Adam’s Peak pilgrimage season runs from December to May.
From May to September, rain is more likely on the western side of the hills, around Adam’s Peak and Hatton, while Ella and the eastern side tend to be drier. That turns round from about October to January, when the north-east monsoon reaches the eastern slopes.
When should I visit Sigiriya and the cultural triangle?
The cultural triangle, around Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura, is hot and mostly dry all year. January to April is the most comfortable time to climb, and from about November to January the north-east monsoon can bring showers. Whatever the month, start at opening time and carry water.
The dry months also bring the elephants. They gather at Minneriya from about July to October, and at Kaudulla from about August to December.
When can I see whales, elephants and leopards?
Wildlife keeps its own calendar, and it does not always match the beach weather. These are the months to aim for.
- Whale-watching from Mirissa: roughly November to April
- Elephant gathering at Minneriya: about July to October
- Elephants at Kaudulla: about August to December
- Leopards in Yala: February to July; check annual block closures before you go
- Migrant birds at Bundala: October to March
- Surf at Arugam Bay: April to October, at its peak in July
Which festivals and holidays affect my trip?
Most Buddhist festivals follow the full moon, so their dates move each year. Every full moon day, called Poya, is a public holiday: alcohol is not sold, and banks and offices close. Sinhala and Tamil New Year on 13–14 April closes many businesses for a few days, and buses and trains fill up.
The Kandy Esala Perahera in July or August fills Kandy’s rooms early, and Christmas to New Year is the busiest time on the south coast. If your dates are fixed, book beds and reserved train seats as early as you can.
Month by month
January
South and west at their best
The south and west coasts are in their dry season, with calm sea from Galle to Tangalle. The east and north are still in the monsoon, so leave Trincomalee and Jaffna for later. The hill country has clear, cool mornings, and the cultural triangle suits early climbs, with the odd shower.
Good this month: Mirissa · Galle Fort · Sigiriya · Ella
On the calendar: Thai Pongal, the Tamil harvest festival, around 14 January · Duruthu Perahera at Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, on the January full moon
February
Dry south, whales off Mirissa
The south and west stay dry, and whale-watching trips run from Mirissa when the sea allows. On the east and north the rain is clearing, and the dry season opens in March. The hill country is at its clearest, and the cultural triangle is warm and mostly dry.
Good this month: Unawatuna · Yala National Park · Horton Plains National Park · Gangaramaya Temple and Seema Malaka
On the calendar: National Day on 4 February · Navam Perahera at Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo, on the February full moon
March
Both coasts dry
The south and west are hot and calm, in the last quiet weeks before the April holidays. The dry season has opened on the east and north, so Trincomalee and Jaffna are dry and quiet. Hill country mornings are clear, Adam’s Peak is in its pilgrimage season, and the cultural triangle is getting hot, so start early.
Good this month: Adam’s Peak · Tangalle · Jaffna · Wilpattu National Park
On the calendar: Maha Shivaratri, in late February or March (it follows the Hindu calendar)
April
New Year, and the east opens up
The south and west are hot and still, with afternoon showers starting late in the month. On the east the dry season is under way, and the Arugam Bay surf season starts. Nuwara Eliya and the hills fill with local holidaymakers around New Year, and the cultural triangle is very hot by midday, so climb at first light.
Good this month: Nuwara Eliya · Hiriketiya Beach · Sigiriya · Kumana National Park
On the calendar: Sinhala and Tamil New Year on 13–14 April; many shops and offices close for a few days around it
May
Time to switch to the east
The south-west monsoon arrives, so the sea in the south and west turns rough; swim only where the flag is green. The east coast is dry, with calm sea at Nilaveli and Uppuveli. The cultural triangle is hot and dry, and in the hill country rain is more likely on the western slopes than around Ella.
Good this month: Trincomalee · Uppuveli Beach · Arugam Bay · Anuradhapura
On the calendar: Vesak on the May full moon (the date varies): lanterns, lit pandals and free food stalls called dansal
June
Best swimming on the east
Rain falls most afternoons on the south and west coasts. The east has the best swimming on the island, from Nilaveli down to Pasikuda. The cultural triangle is dry and busy with pilgrims at Poson, and the hill country gets more cloud on its western side.
Good this month: Mihintale · Nilaveli Beach · Pasikuda Beach · Gal Oya National Park
On the calendar: Poson on the June full moon, when pilgrims dressed in white fill Mihintale and Anuradhapura
July
Surf, elephants and the Perahera
The south and west coasts stay wet, but the hills above Kandy are often dry. On the east, surf at Arugam Bay is at its peak and the sea further north is calm. In the cultural triangle, elephants start gathering at Minneriya, and the Kandy Esala Perahera begins in July or August.
Good this month: Arugam Bay · Minneriya National Park · Kandy · Kumana National Park
On the calendar: Kandy Esala Perahera, about ten nights in July or August, ending on the Esala full moon · Kataragama festival, in the same Esala season
August
East coast and the Perahera
The south and west coasts stay rough, so keep beach days for the east. There it is hot and dry, and the water around Pigeon Island is good for snorkelling. Kandy is busy for the Perahera, and the cultural triangle is dry, with elephants at Minneriya and Kaudulla.
Good this month: Kandy · Pigeon Island National Park · Nallur Kandaswamy Temple · Kaudulla National Park
On the calendar: Kandy Esala Perahera, in years when it falls in August · Nallur festival at Nallur Kandaswamy Temple in Jaffna, about 25 days, usually through August
September
Last dry month on the east
On the south and west the monsoon is easing, and showers thin out towards the end of the month. It is the last full dry month on the east coast and in Jaffna. The cultural triangle is dry, with elephants still at Minneriya, and the hill country sees the odd shower.
Good this month: Trincomalee · Ancient City of Polonnaruwa · Minneriya National Park · Jaffna
October
Between the monsoons
October sits between the monsoons, so showers can fall anywhere, usually in the afternoon, and mornings are often clear. The south and west are still showery, and on the east these are the last calm weeks at Arugam Bay. The cultural triangle and the hill country both get afternoon rain, so plan climbs and viewpoints for the morning.
Good this month: Arugam Bay · Kaudulla National Park · Wilpattu National Park · Kalpitiya Lagoon
On the calendar: Deepavali, the Hindu festival of lights, in late October or November (it follows the Hindu calendar)
November
The south coast reopens
The south and west clear through the month, and beaches reopen as the sea calms. On the east and north, the north-east monsoon rains settle in. Showers still reach the hill country and the cultural triangle, usually in the afternoon, and the whale-watching season from Mirissa begins.
Good this month: Galle Fort · Bundala National Park · Dolphin Watching Kalpitiya · Kaudulla National Park
December
Peak season in the south
The dry season returns to the south and west and peak season begins, so book beds ahead. The east and Jaffna get their heaviest rain of the year. In the hills the Adam’s Peak pilgrimage season opens, and the cultural triangle can still see showers from the north-east monsoon.
Good this month: Mirissa · Adam’s Peak · Bentota · Negombo
On the calendar: Adam’s Peak pilgrimage season opens on the December full moon · Christmas on 25 December, widely celebrated in Negombo and Colombo
Questions people ask
What is the rainiest month in Sri Lanka?
There is no single wet month for the whole island. The south and west get most rain from May to September, and the east and north from November to January, with December the wettest month there. October and November bring showers to much of the island.
Is it worth visiting Sri Lanka during the monsoon?
Yes, if you go to the dry side. From May to September the east coast and the cultural triangle are dry while the south-west is wet, and from December to April it is the other way round. Rain on the wet side often comes in afternoon bursts.
When is peak season in Sri Lanka?
December to March on the south and west coasts and in the hill country, when beds in Galle, Mirissa and Ella fill up. Book ahead for Christmas, New Year and the Kandy Esala Perahera.
Can I swim in the sea in Sri Lanka all year?
Yes, but not on every coast at once. Swim on the south and west from about December to April, and on the east from about March to September. Out of season the sea can be rough, so swim only where the flag is green.