The short answer
- Best for a classic tour
- December to March
- East coast beaches
- May to September
- South and west beaches
- December to April
- Wettest month overall
- October
Sri Lanka is small, but it has two monsoons that hit opposite sides of the island at different times. The south west monsoon soaks the west and south coasts and the western hills from about May to September. The north east monsoon brings rain to the east coast and the north from about November to February.
That means there is no bad time to visit, only a wrong coast. Use the map to pick your month and see which regions are dry, then check the details below.
Which regions are dry in your month?
Choose a month: green ticks are the best regions, amber is mixed and red is wet or difficult.
Choose your month
January
Peak season on the south and west coasts; the east is still wet.
- West coast (best)Colombo, Negombo, Bentota
- Hill country (best)Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella
- South coast (best)Galle, Unawatuna, Mirissa
- Yala (best)south east safari parks
- North (Jaffna) (mixed)
- Cultural Triangle (mixed)Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa
- East coast (wet or difficult)Trincomalee, Pasikudah, Arugam Bay
Swipe sideways to see all 12 months →
| Region | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South and west coastsGalle, Mirissa, Bentota | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Wet or difficult | Mixed | Best |
| East coastTrincomalee, Arugam Bay | Wet or difficult | Mixed | Mixed | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult |
| Cultural TriangleSigiriya, Polonnaruwa | Mixed | Best | Best | Mixed | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult |
| Hill countryKandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Mixed |
| NorthJaffna | Mixed | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Mixed | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult |
| Yalamain blocks | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Wet or difficult | Wet or difficult | Mixed | Best |
Average temperatures and rainfall
Temperatures barely change through the year on the coast, around 30°C by day. The hill country is the big difference: Nuwara Eliya, at nearly 1,900 m, can drop below 10°C at night. Rain is what changes, and the two coasts peak at opposite times.
October and November are wet almost everywhere, as one monsoon hands over to the other. Short, heavy afternoon storms are more common than all day rain.
Average daily high / low and monthly rainfall
| Month | Colombowest coast | Gallesouth coast, Mirissa is similar | Kandy500 m | Nuwara Eliya1,890 m, Ella is warmer | SigiriyaCultural Triangle, dry zone | Trincomaleeeast coast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31° / 23°60 mm | 30° / 23°95 mm | 28° / 18°120 mm | 20° / 9°140 mm | 29° / 21°100 mm | 27° / 23°180 mm |
| Feb | 31° / 23°70 mm | 30° / 23°80 mm | 30° / 18°70 mm | 21° / 9°70 mm | 31° / 21°50 mm | 28° / 23°80 mm |
| Mar | 32° / 24°130 mm | 31° / 24°130 mm | 31° / 19°100 mm | 22° / 10°90 mm | 33° / 22°80 mm | 30° / 24°50 mm |
| Apr | 32° / 25°250 mm | 31° / 25°240 mm | 31° / 21°190 mm | 22° / 12°170 mm | 34° / 24°180 mm | 32° / 25°50 mm |
| May | 31° / 26°380 mm | 30° / 26°350 mm | 30° / 22°150 mm | 21° / 13°200 mm | 33° / 25°70 mm | 34° / 26°60 mm |
| Jun | 30° / 26°190 mm | 29° / 25°210 mm | 28° / 22°130 mm | 18° / 14°290 mm | 32° / 25°15 mm | 34° / 26°30 mm |
| Jul | 30° / 25°130 mm | 29° / 25°140 mm | 28° / 21°130 mm | 18° / 14°250 mm | 32° / 25°25 mm | 34° / 26°50 mm |
| Aug | 30° / 25°110 mm | 29° / 25°130 mm | 28° / 21°120 mm | 18° / 13°200 mm | 32° / 24°30 mm | 33° / 25°90 mm |
| Sep | 30° / 25°160 mm | 29° / 25°240 mm | 28° / 21°150 mm | 19° / 12°180 mm | 33° / 24°60 mm | 33° / 25°100 mm |
| Oct | 30° / 24°370 mm | 29° / 24°350 mm | 28° / 20°280 mm | 20° / 12°250 mm | 32° / 23°250 mm | 31° / 24°210 mm |
| Nov | 30° / 24°310 mm | 29° / 24°280 mm | 28° / 20°260 mm | 20° / 11°240 mm | 30° / 22°280 mm | 29° / 23°360 mm |
| Dec | 30° / 23°150 mm | 29° / 23°170 mm | 28° / 19°200 mm | 20° / 10°200 mm | 29° / 21°220 mm | 28° / 23°360 mm |
Rounded long term averages. Blue shading marks the wetter months. Individual years can be hotter, colder or wetter.
Best time for what you want to do
| Experience | Best months | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sigiriya and the Cultural Triangle | January to September | Very hot from April to August; start climbs early |
| Hill country and tea estates | January to April | Misty but possible all year; Horton Plains is clearest early in the year |
| Ella by train | January to April | Check which sections are running: see our train guide |
| South coast beaches | December to April | Rough seas and red flags from May to September |
| East coast beaches | May to September | Calm seas at Trincomalee, Nilaveli and Pasikudah |
| Arugam Bay surfing | May to September | The main surf season, roughly April to October |
| Leopards at Yala | February to July | The main blocks close for part of every dry season |
| Elephant gathering | July to October | Hundreds of elephants at Minneriya and Kaudulla |
| Whale watching | November to April (Mirissa), May to October (Trincomalee) | See our whale watching guide |
| Adam's Peak pilgrimage | December to May | The climbing season runs from the December full moon to Vesak in May |
When to avoid
- October and November: The inter monsoon brings heavy storms to most of the island, and landslides in the hills.
- The south coast from May to August: Sunny spells, but rough seas make swimming dangerous on many beaches.
- The east coast from November to January: Many east coast hotels close and the sea is rough.
- Christmas to mid January, if you dislike crowds: Peak season prices on the south coast; book early.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Sri Lanka?
February is the best all round month: dry on the south and west coasts, in the hill country and in the Cultural Triangle, with the east coast drying out.
Is it worth visiting Sri Lanka in the monsoon?
Yes, if you choose the right side of the island. From May to September the east coast and the Cultural Triangle are dry and sunny while the south west is wet.
When is the rainy season in Sri Lanka?
The south west monsoon runs from about May to September on the west and south coasts; the north east monsoon from about November to February in the east and north. October is wet almost everywhere.
When is the cheapest time to visit Sri Lanka?
May, June and September have lower prices on the south coast, and the east coast is in season then.
Sources we checked
Sri Lanka month by month
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