South Coast
The south coast runs from Galle to Tangalle: beach towns, surf breaks, whale-watching from Mirissa and the old streets of Galle Fort. It is at its best in the dry season from December to April, when the sea is calm, with Yala National Park within reach at its eastern end.
Every place on this map has been visited and verified by a local editor. Tap a pin or browse below.
- Yapahuwa Rock Fortress
- Yudaganawa Stupa
- World’s End
- Yala National Park
- Weligama
- Whiskey Point
- Wilpattu National Park
- Wavulpane Cave
- Weherahena Temple
- Wadduwa Beach
- Wasgamuwa National Park
- Viharamahadevi Park
- Vavuniya Archaeological Museum
- Velgam Vehera
- Victoria Park
- Uppuveli Beach
- Ussangoda National Park
- Vankalai Bird Sanctuary
- Udawattakele Forest Reserve
- Unawatuna
- Trincomalee
- Udawalawe National Park
- Tissamaharama
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
- Thanthirimale
- Talaimannar Pier and Lighthouse
- Tangalle
- St. Anne’s Shrine Talawila
- St Clair’s Falls
- Sithulpawwa Rock Temple
- Somawathiya National Park
- Sigiriya
- Sinharaja Forest Reserve
- Seruwila Mangala Raja Maha Vihara
- Sacred City of Anuradhapura
- Seetha Amman Temple
- Sembuwatta Lake
- Royal Botanic Gardens Peradeniya
- Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya
- Ruwanwelisaya
- Ritigala Monastery
- Riverston
- Richmond Castle
- Ridi Viharaya
- Rekawa Beach
- Ravana Cave
- Ravana Falls
- Rambadagalla Buddha Statue
- Ramboda Falls
- Ratnapura
- Puttalam Lagoon
- Rajagala Monastery
- Pottuvil Point
- Polhena Beach
- Polonnaruwa
- Polonnaruwa Vatadage
- Pitawala Pathana and Mini World’s End
- Point Pedro
- Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
- Pinnawala Open Zoo
- Pigeon Island National Park
- Pilikuttuwa Cave Temple
- Pedro Tea Estate and Lover’s Leap
- Pidurangala Rock
- Pasikuda Beach
- Peanut Farm Beach
- Panduwasnuwara Ancient City
- Parakrama Samudra
- Panama Lagoon
- Panavitiya Ambalama
- Nuwara Eliya
- Pahiyangala Cave
- Nilaveli Beach
- Nine Arches Bridge
- Negombo Beach
- Negombo Lagoon and Dutch Canal
- Negombo
- Nallur Kandaswamy Temple
- Narangala Mountain
- National Museum of Colombo
- Naguleswaram Temple
- Nalanda Gedige
- Nagadeepa Vihara
- Nagapooshani Amman Temple
- Munneswaram Temple
- Muthiyangana Raja Maha Vihara
- Muthurajawela Wetland
- Mulkirigala Rock Temple
- Mullaitivu Beach
- Mount Lavinia Beach
- Muhudu Maha Viharaya
- Moon Plains
- Mirissa
- Mihintale
- Minneriya National Park
- Meemure
- Matale
- Matara
- Medirigiriya Vatadage
- Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museum
- Mannar Baobab Tree
- Mannar Fort
- Marble Beach
- Maligawila Buddha Statue
- Mannar
- Mahiyanganaya
- Makandawa Forest Reserve
- Maduwanwela Walawwa
- Madulsima Mini World’s End
- Maduru Oya National Park
- Madukanda Vihara
- Madiha Beach
- Lunugamvehera National Park
- Lunuganga Estate
- Madhu Shrine
- Lankatilaka Temple
- Lipton’s Seat
- Little Adam’s Peak
- Kurunegala
- Kushtarajagala Statue
- koneswaram temple trincomalee
- Kudumbigala Monastery
- Kumana National Park
- Kokkilai Lagoon and Bird Sanctuary
- Knuckles Mountain Range
- Koggala Lake
- Kirinda Temple and Beach
- Kitulgala
- Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara
- Kiri Vehera
- Keerimalai Springs
- Kataragama
- Kaudulla National Park
- Kandy Lake
- Kanneliya Rainforest
- Kanniya Hot Springs
- Kande Vihara
- Kandy
- Kalutara Bodhiya
- Kandarodai Vihara
- Kalpitiya Lagoon
- Kalutara
- Kalpitiya
- Kalpitiya Dutch Fort
- Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary
- Kalkudah Beach
- Kallady Bridge
- Kala Wewa
- Jetavanaramaya
- Jungle Beach and Rumassala
- Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
- Japanese Peace Pagoda Unawatuna
- Jathika Namal Uyana
- Jaffna Public Library
- Jaffna
- Jaffna Fort
- Isurumuniya
- Ibbankatuwa Megalithic Tombs
- Idalgashinna
- Independence Square
- Hiriketiya Beach
- Horton Plains National Park
- Hikkaduwa National Park
- Henarathgoda Botanic Garden
- Hikkaduwa
- Hanthana Mountain Range
- Haputale
- Gregory Lake
- Haggala Garden – Nuwara Eliya Sri lanka
- Handapanagala Lake
- Govinda Hela
- Gem Museum and Gem Market Ratnapura
- Gangaramaya Temple and Seema Malaka
- Galle Fort
- Galway’s Land National Park
- Galle
- Galle Face Green
- Gal Oya National Park
- Gal Vihara
- Fort Frederick
- Gadaladeniya Temple
- Ethagala
- Ella Rock
- Embekka Devalaya
- Elephant Transit Home
- Ella
- Elephant Rock
- Elephant Pass
- Dutch Bar Beach
- Dondra Head Lighthouse
- Dunhinda Falls
- Dolphin Watching Kalpitiya
- Dolukanda Mountain
- Diyaluma Falls
- Devon Falls
- Dimbulagala Monastery
- Demodara Loop
- Devinuwara Temple
- Delft Island
- Delft Fort
- Dambulla
- Dambulla Cave Temple
- Dambana Vedda Village
- Dambegoda Bodhisattva Statue
- Dambakola Patuna
- Dalawella Beach
- Dambadeniya Ancient Kingdom
- Colombo Fort and Pettah
- Colombo Lotus Tower
- Colombo
- Coconut Tree Hill
- Ceylon Tea Museum
- Bundala National Park
- Casuarina Beach
- Brief Garden
- Buduruwagala
- Bopath Ella
- Bible Rock
- Bogoda Wooden Bridge
- Beruwala
- Bentota
- Belilena Cave
- Bellanwila Raja Maha Vihara
- Batticaloa Fort
- Batticaloa Lagoon
- Baththalangunduwa Island
- Batticaloa
- Batatota Lena
- Bambarakanda Falls
- Batadombalena Cave
- Baker’s Falls
- Bahirawakanda Buddha
- Badulla
- Attanagalla Raja Maha Vihara
- Aukana Buddha Statue
- Asupini Ella
- Arugam Bay
- Anuradhapura
- Arankele Forest Monastery
- Ancient City of Polonnaruwa
- Ambuluwawa Tower
- Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary
- Aluvihare Rock Temple
- Ambalangoda Mask Museum
- Alankuda Beach
- Alagalla Mountain
- Adam’s Peak
- Adisham Bungalow
- Ahangama
- Adam’s Bridge Viewpoint
- Abhayagiri Monastery
The short answer
A southern coastal city with a compact fort, river estuary, markets, temples and nearby beaches. Most visitors need 1–3 days. Best time: december to April.
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1–3 days · Free entry · Culture & History
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1–3 days · No general admission fee · Culture & History
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1–3 hours · Free entry · Culture & History
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1–4 hours · Free entry · Beaches
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1–4 hours · Free entry · Beaches
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1–3 hours · Free entry · Culture & History
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1–3 days · Free entry · Culture & History
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1–3 days · Free entry · Culture & History
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1–3 days · Free entry · Culture & History
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1–3 hours · Free entry · Beaches
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1–3 hours · Free entry · Culture & History
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1–3 days · Free entry · Culture & History
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Half day to full day · Paid permit plus jeep and service charges; check the current tariff · Wildlife
South Coast: questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Sri Lanka's south coast?
December to April, in the dry season, when the sea is calm from Galle to Tangalle. Beaches reopen through November, and the monsoon brings rough sea from May to September.
Can I swim on the south coast during the monsoon?
Sometimes, in sheltered bays, but from May to September the sea is often rough with strong currents. Swim only where the flag is green and local people say it is safe.
How many days do I need on the south coast?
A week lets you move slowly from Galle to Tangalle, with a day for Yala. Srilor's 'South coast, slowly' route takes seven days, starting in Colombo.