Dec → Feb
28 to 29°
nights 21 to 22°
- 16 rainy days · 132 mm
- 9.4 h of sun
- sea 28°
When is the best time to visit Sri Lanka?
In short: December to March for the beaches of the south-west (Bentota, Unawatuna, Mirissa), and May to September for the east coast (Trincomalee, Arugam Bay): one coast is always dry. From January to March, the south, the Cultural Triangle and the whales of Mirissa combine best; at Sigiriya, however, June to August remain the driest months (25 to 45 mm).
- Beaches of the south-west: From November to March, the north-east winds leave the south-west coast sunny and the sea calm, from Bentota to Mirissa and Tangalla.
- The east coast: From May to September, during the south-west monsoon, Trincomalee, Nilaveli, Pasikudah and Arugam Bay turn dry with a calm sea.
- Blue whales: From November to April off Mirissa; from May to October, the whales are more often found off Trincomalee, on the east coast.
- The Cultural Triangle: From January to March or from June to August: Sigiriya gets 62 to 101 mm a month early in the year, 25 to 45 mm in summer and 325 mm in November.
- Kandy Esala Perahera: In summer, according to the lunar calendar (in August in 2025 and in 2026): the great procession of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha passes through Kandy.
Best avoided: October and November: Sigiriya gets 228 then 325 mm of rain over 23 and 25 days, the wettest months of the year in the Cultural Triangle.
Sources: srilanka.travel, lovesrilanka.org, srilanka.travel
- Jan28°recommended
- Feb29°recommended
- Mar31°recommended
- Apr33°fair
- May32°fair
- Jun32°fair
- Jul32°fair
- Aug32°fair
- Sep32°fair
- Oct31°not recommended
- Nov29°not recommended
- Dec28°recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Sri Lanka, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28° | 21° | 9.6 h | 101 mm | 14 d | 28° | ✓ |
| February | 29° | 22° | 10.5 h | 75 mm | 12 d | 28° | ✓ |
| March | 31° | 22° | 10.8 h | 62 mm | 12 d | 30° | ✓ |
| April | 33° | 24° | 10.8 h | 101 mm | 17 d | 31° | |
| May | 32° | 25° | 9.8 h | 152 mm | 16 d | 30° | |
| June | 32° | 25° | 10.7 h | 25 mm | 9 d | 29° | |
| July | 32° | 25° | 10.4 h | 38 mm | 9 d | 28° | |
| August | 32° | 24° | 10.3 h | 45 mm | 11 d | 28° | |
| September | 32° | 24° | 9.9 h | 81 mm | 15 d | 29° | |
| October | 31° | 23° | 8.7 h | 228 mm | 23 d | 29° | |
| November | 29° | 22° | 7.5 h | 325 mm | 25 d | 30° | |
| December | 28° | 22° | 8.2 h | 219 mm | 22 d | 29° | ✓ |
The four seasons in Sri Lanka, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Sigiriya) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Mar → May
31 to 33°
nights 22 to 25°
- 15 rainy days · 105 mm
- 10.5 h of sun
- sea 30°
Jun → Aug
32°
nights 24 to 25°
- 10 rainy days · 36 mm
- 10.5 h of sun
- sea 28°
Sep → Nov
29 to 32°
nights 22 to 24°
- 21 rainy days · 211 mm
- 8.7 h of sun
- sea 29°
Book early for December to March
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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What to do in Sri Lanka, month by month
EventsSinhala and Tamil New YearAprilVesakMayKandy Esala PeraheraJuly to AugustBlue whale watchingNovember to AprilDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Beach & swimming: good conditions all twelve months.
Diving & snorkelling: good conditions all twelve months.
- Towns & culture: February, March
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Sri Lanka, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- AprilSinhala and Tamil New Year big crowds
In mid-April, the country stops for several days: rituals at set times, village games and packed public transport.
- MayVesak
Paper lanterns, illuminated arches and free food stalls set up along the roads for the Buddha's birthday, in May.
- July to AugustKandy Esala Perahera big crowds
Caparisoned elephants, dancers and drummers parade for ten nights around the Temple of the Tooth, between July and August.
- November to AprilBlue whale watching
Off Mirissa, on the south coast, blue whales and sperm whales pass within an hour by boat from November to April.
Travelling off-peak
When to visit Sri Lanka, region by region
A country's best time is an average, and it hides big differences. Here is what the records say for each area, month by month: ✓ for a recommended month, ~ for a fair one, a dot for a month to avoid. Hover over a cell for the temperature.
| Area | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇱🇰 Ella | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | ~ |
| 🇱🇰 Galle | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ |
| 🇱🇰 Kandy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | ~ | ✓ |
| 🇱🇰 Sigiriya | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · |
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended28°21° at night
- 101 mm · 14 d
- 9.6 h
- sea 28°
High season, book early
February
Recommended29°22° at night
- 75 mm · 12 d
- 10.5 h
- sea 28°
High season, book early
March
Recommended31°22° at night
- 62 mm · 12 d
- 10.8 h
- sea 30°
Busy, without the crush
April
Fair33°24° at night
- 101 mm · 17 d
- 10.8 h
- sea 31°
Busy, without the crush
May
Fair32°25° at night
- 152 mm · 16 d
- 9.8 h
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
June
Fair32°25° at night
- 25 mm · 9 d
- 10.7 h
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
July
Fair32°25° at night
- 38 mm · 9 d
- 10.4 h
- sea 28°
High season, book early
August
Fair32°24° at night
- 45 mm · 11 d
- 10.3 h
- sea 28°
High season, book early
September
Fair32°24° at night
- 81 mm · 15 d
- 9.9 h
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
October
Not recommended31°23° at night
- 228 mm · 23 d
- 8.7 h
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
November
Not recommended29°22° at night
- 325 mm · 25 d
- 7.5 h
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
December
Recommended28°22° at night
- 219 mm · 22 d
- 8.2 h
- sea 29°
High season, book early
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 28 °C in the afternoon and 21 °C at night. Frequent rain: 101 mm over 14 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.6 h a day on average. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
February. 29 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (75 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.5 h a day on average. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
March. 31 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (62 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.8 h a day on average. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
April. Real heat: 33 °C at the warmest of the day, 24 °C at night. Frequent rain: 101 mm over 17 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.8 h a day on average. The sea is at 31 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
May. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 25 °C at night. Frequent rain: 152 mm over 16 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.8 h a day on average. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 25 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (25 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.7 h a day on average. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 25 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (38 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.4 h a day on average. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
August. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 24 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (45 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.3 h a day on average. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
September. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 24 °C at night. Frequent rain: 81 mm over 15 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.9 h a day on average. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
October. 31 °C in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. A very wet month, 228 mm of rain over 23 days. Expect 8.7 h of sunshine a day. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. 29 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. A very wet month, 325 mm of rain over 25 days. Expect 7.5 h of sunshine a day. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. 28 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Frequent rain: 219 mm over 22 days. Expect 8.2 h of sunshine a day. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Sri Lanka?
December to March for the beaches of the south-west (Bentota, Unawatuna, Mirissa), and May to September for the east coast (Trincomalee, Arugam Bay): one coast is always dry. From January to March, the south, the Cultural Triangle and the whales of Mirissa combine best; at Sigiriya, however, June to August remain the driest months (25 to 45 mm).
Which month should you avoid in Sri Lanka?
October and November: Sigiriya gets 228 then 325 mm of rain over 23 and 25 days, the wettest months of the year in the Cultural Triangle.
What is the hottest month in Sri Lanka?
April, with 33 °C on average in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Sigiriya).
What is the coldest month in Sri Lanka?
January, with 28 °C at best during the day and 21 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Sigiriya).
What is the driest month in Sri Lanka?
June: 25 mm over 9 days of rain, against 325 mm in November, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Sri Lanka?
March, with 10.8 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in Sri Lanka?
The water never drops below 22 °C: from 28 to 31 °C depending on the month (warmest in April), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Yala National Park).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Sri Lanka guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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