25 Travel Tips for Sri Lanka for Backpackers

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Sri Lanka is quickly becoming a popular tourist destination, and it’s no surprise why! With an interesting ancient history, a diverse and beautiful landscape, absolutely delicious food, and the friendly welcoming people, the world is beginning to see what a gem Sri Lanka truly is. During my 2 weeks in Sri Lanka, I was able to gather some of the best Sri Lanka travel tips to share with you all.

Because honestly, there’s little information about what solo travel in Sri Lanka is like, especially for a solo female traveler. So to help my fellow adventurers who also have Sri Lanka on their travel bucket lists, I’ve put together my top 25 Sri Lanka travel tips, in hopes it helps you on your journey!

Curious what some of the best Instagram spots in Sri Lanka are? Look no further!

25 of the Best Sri Lanka Travel Tips.

1. Use public transportation.

It can be slow, but it’s incredibly cheap and easy. It’s also a great way to chat with locals and experience daily life in Sri Lanka. Reserved seats on the trains can sell out weeks in advance, but unreserved seats are always available and go on sale an hour before the trip. To try to get a reserved seat, you can book your ticket online with reputable private agencies like this, or if you’re there in person you can buy in advance at any train station. Check out The Man in Seat 61 blog for everything you need to know about public transportation. 

2. Bus information is not online, but train information is.

Ask a local for bus routes, times and stop locations – they’re super knowledgeable and will tell you the best way to get to your next destination! For the train schedule and other information, you can check out the government website here. ​

3. You need a tourist visa.

Getting one couldn’t be any easier for travel in Sri Lanka. You can apply for an electronic visa online before arriving. It’s 35 USD and usually only takes about 24 hours to process. Just print off a copy of your ETA (electronic travel authorization) approval email and bring it to the airport with you for immigration! You can also get a visa at the airport when you land, but save yourself the hassle and get it beforehand.

4. The currency in Sri Lanka is closed – you can’t get rupees until in the country.

Although you can’t pick up Sri Lankan rupees before your trip, There are plenty of ATMs and bank stands right outside of the baggage claim area of the airport. So getting rupees right when you arrive couldn’t be easier.

5. Bring plenty of bug spray and sunscreen.

The Sri Lankan sun is hot so be sure to pack and apply sunscreen often! Mosquitoes are also an issue and can spread malaria and dengue fever in the region – you don’t want to be caught without some strong insect repellent. I recommend putting bug spray on when going out in the evening and even before going to sleep if you don’t have a mosquito net to protect you.

6. Most local places/tuk tuks/buses/hostels accept only cash, and in small denominations.

Especially for tuk tuks and buses, save your small notes for smaller vendors. If you try to pay for a bus ride with anything bigger than a 500 rupee note, you’re going to have a hard time. I had a lot of difficulty using the 5,000 rupee notes I got from the ATM, so try to save them for larger purchases.

7. Haggling is alive and well.

Especially with the tuk tuk and taxi drivers. They charge higher rates to tourists than the locals so it’s safe to haggle for a lower fare. Negotiate the price before leaving for your destination to avoid being scammed.

8. Learn some of the local manners and etiquette.

With any new place, it helps to learn a few of the local customs to avoid being rude or offensive! Sri Lanka is predominantly a Buddhist society (Muslim in some parts of the country) and can be a bit conservative. Some things to know…

• Temple etiquette in Sri Lanka is really important. You can’t turn your back to any depiction of Buddha in photos. Keep this in mind when posing for photographs in temples and shrines.
• You also need to have your legs and shoulders covered when entering a temple. Carry a scarf or sarong with you if you have plans to visit a temple.
• Be sure to take your shoes and hat off when entering a temple or sacred area.
• People may respond to you with a head waggle or bob, and it can mean yes, no, maybe, ok etc. It can be confusing at first but eventually you’ll get the hang of it!
• Tipping. Most restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill, but if there’s no service charge, it’s recommended to tip about 10% or round up the nearest hundredth rupee. For taxi drivers and other services like massages, I don’t think there is much of a steadfast rule, so use your best judgement for how well you thought the service was – 10% is probably best.
• Dress modestly. In touristy areas it’s not such a big deal, especially at the beach, but when in big cities and villages you may want to dress modestly to avoid drawing attention to yourself. I never had an issue with shorts or dresses.
• People will often ask you where you’re from, where you’re going and how your time in Sri Lanka is. It’s a friendly way for them to communicate with you, and Sri Lankans are proud of their beautiful island!

9. Plug sockets are English or three round pins, and there seems to be no consistency.

Everywhere I went there seemed to be a different socket than the previous place. In hostels that were built recently however, the sockets were internationally friendly and accepted most plugs – genius idea really!

10. Drink bottled water.

The water in Sri Lanka is not recommended to drink for foreign tourists. Be sure to buy plenty of bottled water and consider bringing a reusable water bottle and filter to cut back on the plastic!  

11. The locals are very friendly and many speak English well.

Sri Lanka is famous for the friendly and hospitable folks who inhabit it. Don’t be shy to reach out and ask for help or directions if needed, and engage with the locals in conversation. It’s a great way to learn more about the culture.

12. Get a SIM card at the airport – they’re free and the data plans are cheap.

​I got the Mobitel SIM card with 8gb of data (4gb during the day and 4gb at night) for about 1300 rupees ($8.50). I never had an issue with Mobitel, but I was told that Dialog may be more reliable with better coverage in the more rural areas.

13. Have a go with the flow attitude – things can be slow or unavailable.

Public transportation can be slow or delayed, service at restaurants is very laid back, meal prep may take some time, and sometimes the power may be out at the place you’re staying or wanted to dine at. Sri Lankan life is very laid back and no one is bothered by this – it’s just a part of daily life.

14. Prepare your bowels.

Sri Lankan cuisine is often spicy and if you’re like me, it’ll include endless amounts of fruits and fruit juices. Traveler’s diarrhea is not an uncommon thing to encounter here so be careful with what you eat, and maybe bring some good medicine if you’re especially susceptible to getting sick!

15. Get your vaccinations before arriving.

Other than your routine vaccinations, the CDC recommends most travelers also get a hepatitis A and typhoid shot, as both can be contracted through contaminated water and food. For more information, check out more of what the CDC recommends here. 

16. Sri Lanka is safe for solo travelers – including women.  

I ventured around the middle and south coast of Sri Lanka for two weeks alone and never once felt unsafe or uncomfortable. Just always be sure to trust your gut about certain situations. And although SL is safe for solo travelers, it doesn’t have the same solo vibe as other SE Asian countries – many travelers here were couples. With tourism on the rise however, I think this will change in the near future.

For my solo traveling tips for females in Asia, check out my helpful post 🙂

17. Not all ATMs accept all foreign cards.

There are also some with fairly low limits that may only let you take out $100 – $200 at a time. Some ATMs may also require a pin number to complete your transactions.

18. Sri Lanka isn’t really a big party destination unless you’re at the beach.

If you’re looking for a party filled holiday, Sri Lanka may not be the best place for you. With that being said, it’s not impossible to find a beer or cocktail at some restaurants and you can definitely find parties on the beaches in the south coast. Where there are plenty of tourists, there’s a party.

19. Know how to get from the airport to your next destination.

Avoid hiring a private driver and hop on a cheap train from the get go. The nearest train station to the airport is probably Katunayake in Negombo and is a short 5-10 minute tuk tuk ride away from the arrival gate. From Katunayake station, you can take a cheap 1 hour train to Colombo Fort and from there getting to rest of the country is fairly easy!

20. The most expensive part of travel in SL is private taxis/drivers and entrance fees to main tourist destinations.

Entrance fees to the national parks and temples add up quickly when visiting and are no joke. Sigiriya alone is about $35. Private drivers are also insanely expensive – ranging from $20 – $60 – when compared to bus fares that can range from as low as $0.20 – $1.

21. Get to the main tourist sites early to avoid long lines and crowds.

This is an important tip essentially anywhere you go! Especially when visiting the lion rock in Sigiriya, the line begins to form around 8 am, which means a single file march up the stairway to the top. If you arrive just an hour earlier right when they open, you get some relief from the crowds.

22. Eat the local food.

It’s mega delicious and it’ll be the cheapest thing on the menu. Seriously, the curry here is phenomenal along with the roti, kottu and lassi. Eat it up while you can!

23. Know the monsoon seasons.

There are two distinct rainy season in Sri Lanka that are important to note when travel planning. From May to September, the west and south-west coasts experience rainy season, while between October and February the east coast and northern parts of the country are hit with rain. For the rest of the year, the country remains fairly dry and at a constant temperature of about 75-85° F (25-30°C).

24. Learn survival phrases.

Most people you’ll meet as a tourist in Sri Lanka speak English, but it’s always fun to attempt to learn a little of the locals’ language when traveling! The majority of people in Sri Lanka speak either Sinhala or Tamil, with majority speaking Sinhala. Some Sinhala phrases to try:

Hello/goodbye – ආයුඛෝවන් – ayubowan

Thank you – ඉස්තුති – istuti

How are you? – කොහොමද? – kohomada?

What’s your name? – ඔයාගේ නම මොකක්ද – oyāgē nama mokakda?

My name is … – මගේ නම … – magē nama …

How much (is this)? – කියද මෙක? – kiyeda meka?

I’m sorry – මට සමාවෙන්න – mata samāvenna

Do you speak English? – ඔබ ඉංග්රිසි කථා කරනවාද – oba ingrisi katha karana vada?

Where is the bathroom? – වැසිකිළිය කොහෙද ථියෙන්නෙ – wasikiliya koheda thiyenne?

25. Brush up on your Sri Lankan history.

A lot has happened in Sri Lanka’s near distant past. A devastating tsunami in 2004 and the end of a civil war only 9 years ago in 2009 has had a major impact on culture and life in Sri Lanka today. Knowing a bit of the country’s historical background can help you to connect with the locals and gain insight into what life in Sri Lanka is like.

Sri Lanka is such a beautiful country to visit, and as a relatively new travel destination, it can be hard to find good travel tips. I hope this helps on your Sri Lankan adventure!

Are there any important Sri Lanka travel tips I missed? Please share below!