Best time to go to Sri Lanka for a perfect weather and where to go?
Find the perfect time to go to Sri Lanka from average climate conditions in many locations like Batticaloa or Ella below.
When is the best time to go to Sri Lanka?
The best times to visit Sri Lanka depend on the chosen destinations. Thus, the period from December to March is favorable to discover the capital Colombo and the communities located west and south of the country. During this time of year, one will have the opportunity to go snorkel diving in peace because the beautiful sunshine and an almost ideal water temperature enlighten and liven the days. Furthermore, this ideal period is also favorable for sightseeing in the center of the country.
In order to best discover the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka, choose the period between May and September. Although the vast monsoon season is in full swing on the western side of the country, the rest of the territory is spared by the rain, thanks to the geography of the Ceylon island.
If you wish to explore this beautiful island combined with its many attractions while distanced from the large crowds of tourists, pick a period that does not coincide with the school holidays. This will be the best opportunity to visit Sri Lanka, all while sparing your wallet.
So, when is the best time to go to Sri Lanka? Here's some more information to help you in your decision:
- In February, the weather is beautiful everywhere in Sri Lanka
- The best months to go to Colombo are January, February and March
- On average, the warmest months in Colombo are January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November and December
- The rainiest months in this city are May, June, July and August
- The cities with the best climate are Mirissa, Tangalle, Unakuruwa Beach, Matara and Weligama, with good weather at least 11 months a year
- The sea temperature is suitable for swimming all year round in Colombo
Annual weather in Sri Lanka
For information about the climate and the weather city by city in Sri Lanka for a specific month, click on the corresponding line below:
| Month | Our opinion | View Details | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 68°F to 90°F | good weather* | |||
| February | 70°F to 92°F | good weather* | |||
| March | 72°F to 95°F | good weather* | |||
| April | 74°F to 95°F | tolerable weather* | |||
| May | 74°F to 94°F | good weather* | |||
| June | 74°F to 94°F | good weather* | |||
| July | 74°F to 94°F | good weather* | |||
| August | 74°F to 94°F | good weather* | |||
| September | 72°F to 94°F | good weather* | |||
| October | 72°F to 92°F | tolerable weather* | |||
| November | 70°F to 88°F | tolerable weather* | |||
| December | 70°F to 88°F | tolerable weather* |
Best time to travel to Sri Lanka by cities
Colombo
The best months to go to Colombo are january, february and march.
Jaffna
The best months to go to Jaffna are january, february, march, april, may, june, july, august and september.
Galle
The best months to go to Galle are january, february and march.
Climate and Weather in Sri Lanka
Located at the heart of the Indian Ocean, just off the coast of India and not far from Indonesia, Sri Lanka is a country of equatorial or tropical climate, with a warmth that prevails from morning to night, without any interruption. The latter is still tempered by the presence of ocean winds. Humidity also reigns over most of the territory. However, the weather is heated among the plains or on the coast, as it is in Trincomalee and Jaffna but the mountainous areas on the other hand experience more bearable temperatures.
Tropical, the climate of Sri Lanka therefore faces two major monsoon periods. During the wet season, the country is covered in many rains that are usually followed by very cloudy periods. The main hazard of this monsoon season lies on the coast of the country, as the underwater currents are often very dangerous at this time of year.
The great monsoon season plagues the entire southwest of Sri Lanka, especially towards the capital, Colombo, from the months of May to late August. The country undergoes a humidity level of around 95% and is covered by a very moist heat. Meanwhile, the early monsoon season which does not occur every year, rages from October to late January on the east coast just as it does in Trincomalee.
Outside of these somewhat troubled weather periods for the country, the temperature is quite pleasant. While the rain still remains fairly common, other than between late January and April which is described as the driest period of the country, the climate of Sri Lanka does enjoy beautiful sunny periods.
Temperatures and rainfall in Sri Lanka
On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Sri Lanka and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Colombo, Jaffna, Galle, Mirissa and Tangalle, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in Sri Lanka
Find out when Sri Lanka has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.
Tourist seasons in Sri Lanka
The months with low numbers of tourists are: March, April, May, June, September, October and November. The number of visitors to Sri Lanka is high in: January, February, July, August and December.
- Very low season in Sri Lanka: May, June, October and November.
- Low season in Sri Lanka: March, April and September.
- High season in Sri Lanka: January, February and July.
- Peek season in Sri Lanka: August and December.
Figure: Visitor index for Sri Lanka month by month
Average price for flights to Sri Lanka
A return flight between London and Colombo is generally cheaper if you go in march ($ 811 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 269 more for your airline ticket to Colombo if you go in december.
Where to go in Sri Lanka?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Colombo | 90°F | 92°F | 92°F | 90°F | 88°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F |
| Jaffna | 81°F | 83°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 85°F | 83°F |
| Galle | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F |
| Mirissa | 88°F | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F |
| Tangalle | 88°F | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F |
| Adam’s peak | 88°F | 92°F | 92°F | 90°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F |
| Akkaraipattu | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 90°F | 92°F | 94°F | 92°F | 92°F | 92°F | 88°F | 86°F | 83°F |
| Ambalangoda | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F |
| Anuradhapura | 86°F | 90°F | 95°F | 95°F | 94°F | 92°F | 92°F | 92°F | 92°F | 92°F | 88°F | 86°F |
| Arisimale Beach | 86°F | 90°F | 95°F | 95°F | 94°F | 92°F | 92°F | 92°F | 92°F | 92°F | 88°F | 86°F |
| Arugam Bay | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 90°F | 92°F | 94°F | 92°F | 92°F | 92°F | 88°F | 86°F | 83°F |
| Batticaloa | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 90°F | 92°F | 94°F | 92°F | 92°F | 92°F | 88°F | 86°F | 83°F |
| Bentota | 88°F | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 88°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F |
| Chilaw | 88°F | 92°F | 92°F | 92°F | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F |
| Dambulla | 85°F | 88°F | 94°F | 95°F | 94°F | 94°F | 94°F | 94°F | 94°F | 92°F | 88°F | 85°F |
| Ella | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 83°F | 83°F | 81°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 81°F | 79°F | 77°F |
| Hambantota | 86°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 85°F |
| Haputale | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 83°F | 83°F | 81°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 81°F | 79°F | 77°F |
| Hikkaduwa | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F |
| Horton Plains National Park | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 83°F | 83°F | 81°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 81°F | 79°F | 77°F |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
bad weather
very bad weather
About Sri Lanka
What can I do in Sri Lanka?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for Sri Lanka reliable?
Climate data for Sri Lanka has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Sri Lanka allows us to determine the average for each month in Colombo, Jaffna, Galle, Mirissa, Tangalle, Adam’s peak, Akkaraipattu, Ambalangoda, and 52 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.