Best Beaches in Sri Lanka - The golden beaches of Sri Lanka

Hikkaduwa is definitely one of the most popular beaches on the island mainly because of the fact that it is not too far from the capital city of Colombo or the Bandaranayaka International Airport. An hour or so away from Colombo this beautiful beach is also popular for surfing, snorkelling snd diving during the height of the season which falls from December to March. Even during the rest of the months of the year, Hikkaduwa is a wonderful beach to visit as you can sit by the beach and relax listening to the lull of the ocean and soothing winds.

Mirissa is another beach located towards the South of the island allowing people to have easy access from the capital city and the airport. Most Sri Lanka tours will include a trip to Mirissa as it is famous for whale and dolphin watching in the South of the country and there are so many picturesque sights to see and places to visit. This small beach town with a large beach is also an exciting beach party destination popular among locals and foreigners for its thriving nightlife. During the height of the season, Mirissa beach is known to host parties at every hostel and hotel making it eventful and exciting.

Unawatuna beach is another popular tourist hub and most tour companies such as Walkers Tours will definitely offer the option of adding this beach city to the list of areas to visit while exploring Sri Lanka. Located not too far from the structured city of Galle, Unawatuna is also a popular surfing location. While there are many surfing locations around the island there are few that are ideal for those who are still learning to surf, and Unawatuna is one such location ideal for beginners learning to surf. Most hotels and resorts in Unawatuna tend to get fully booked months in advance during the season as this is one of the most loved beaches on the island. This vast beach is also a popular location for diving and snorkelling to witness the beautiful marine life hidden away in the deep blue!

Located in the East of the island in Trincomalee the Nilaveli beach used to be in a war-torn area so there were not many people who were able to enjoy it. Since the civil war has ended there has been great development and this stunning beach with sparkling blue water meeting the white sandy beach is a sight for sore eyes. Known as one of the most peaceful and stunning beaches on the island, Nilaveli Beach is also popular because there are other islands in the vicinity of the Nilaveli beach.

Arugam Bay is a beautiful beach located in the South East of the pearl-shaped island and is known to be one of the best beaches in the world for surfing. During the seasonal months when the sea is not too rough and surfing is enjoyable many surfers come to Arugam Bay to enjoy the waves and make memories on this golden beach. Due to the increase in popularity, there is a separate Surfing culture that has developed in Arugam Bay which has also contributed to the increasing number of people that visit the beach.