Due to the multi-religious society in Sri Lanka, there are many public holidays in Sri Lanka. On public holidays most shops are closed, hotels, restaurants and bars do not serve alcohol and there is no production in tea factories (although you can visit them). Beaches and public transport get a little more crowded as many locals visit families or go to the sea for a holiday. You should avoid Adam ‘s Peak around public holidays, weekends and during the Sri Lankan holidays. Crowds of pilgrims then make the climb virtually impossible.

An overview of the most important festivals and holidays in Sri Lanka can be found below. You can find the exact dates here Public Holidays in Sri Lanka 2024.

Full moon days

All full moon days of the year (Poya Days) are public holidays in Sri Lanka. Many temples hold ceremonial celebrations and pageants on these days, called Perahera (see below).

The Vesak full moon day (expected on May 23rd in 2024) is particularly celebrated in Sri Lanka. In the week surrounding the world’s most important Buddhist holiday, the entire country is decorated with Pandals, lanterns and light installations and locals organize Alms-Givings (food distributions) and processions. Progress on the roads is very slow around the Vesak full moon. Many locals use the holidays to visit the light decorations and Alms Givings across the country.

Perahera festivals

So-called Perahera are colorful festival parades that are organized by temples on full moon days and are held regularly in all parts of Sri Lanka. There are dancers, acrobats, musicians and often decorated elephants. Perahera parades are not only beautiful to look at, they also give a good insight into the cultural customs of the locals.

The largest and most spectacular Perahera festival is the Kandy Esala Perehera. The festival takes place annually in Kandy for 10 days in July or August (2024 from August 10th to 20th). The huge, magnificent and very colorful festival procession that parades through the streets of Kandy every evening lasts several hours. The festival, organized by the Temple of the Tooth relic in Kandy, is unique and is attended by spectators from all over the world.

The Navam Perahera of the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo is also one of the largest and most pageant Perahera in Sri Lanka. It always takes place on the Navam full moon, which usually falls in the month of February (expected to be February 24th in 2024).

Nallur Anval Festival in Jaffna

The most important Hindu festival in Sri Lanka is the Nallur Anval Festival in Jaffna. This takes place annually for 25 days (usually in July, August or September) in Jaffna, the northernmost province of Sri Lanka. A trip to the north during the festival days should be planned well in advance – also due to the lack of hotels in this area.

New Year in Sri Lanka

The New Year is celebrated in Sri Lanka not on December 31st/January 1st, but on April 13th /14th. The Sinhala & Tamil New Year (Aluth Avurudda) is ushered in with much noise and fanfare. Many shops, restaurants and other establishments are closed and the streets are crowded with the Avurudda celebrants. There are many customary acts (which are strictly observed), family visits, traditional sweets and gifts. Since the Sri Lankan school holidays are organized around the Sri Lankan New Year, a lot of locals travel to Sri Lanka in April. Popular sights and attractions are very busy at this time.

Photography in Sri Lanka

Most locals in Sri Lanka love to have their photos taken. However, you should always ask permission beforehand. If you photograph poor people or people at work (e.g. beggars, tea pickers, or fishermen), consider giving a small tip.

Posing inappropriately next to Buddha statues and other shrines is considered disrespectful. Travelers have been sentenced to prison in Sri Lanka because of such photography.  

Public buildings and military facilities may not be photographed.

If you want to take photos or video footage with a drone in Sri Lanka, you must register it online in advance with the Sri Lankan authorities and obtain appropriate permission here: Drone Registration Sri Lanka (https://www.caa.lk/en/drones). Registering a drone cost $50 and the registration can take up to 10 days to process.

Hospitality in Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankans are a very hospitable and helpful people and are very interested in the stories and lifestyles of their visitors. So don’t be surprised if strangers approach you and “question you” on public transport or while walking. Please remain friendly and polite. Women traveling alone should follow our tips for women traveling alone.

Very often it can happen that you are invited into their homes by (sometimes strangers) Sri Lankans. No matter how modest these houses are, the locals are very proud when they welcome a foreign visitor as their guest. Before entering a private house in Sri Lanka, please remove your shoes. If you are invited to dinner, be prepared to eat alone – under observation. In Sri Lanka it is not customary for hosts to eat with guests. Small gifts such as chocolate, cakes, cookies or other treats are very happy. “Foreign” products of all kinds such as soaps, shampoos, clothing or other everyday items are also very popular with Sri Lankans. Children can bring along clothes, toys or school supplies.

Tip: Do not give out “gifts” such as pens or sweets to children in Sri Lanka during your trip. This gives the children the wrong impression of tourists and encourages them to beg. If you would like to do something good for children in Sri Lanka, visit a school and bring notebooks, pens and other school supplies. We would be happy to make such visits possible for you as part of your Sri Lanka trip .

Money & Payments in Sri Lanka

The currency of Sri Lanka is called Rupee (abbreviation: LKR). Sri Lankan rupees can now be imported and exported in very small quantities in Sri Lanka. European banks therefore do not have any Sri Lankan rupees in stock. However, changing money in advance is not necessary anyway.

Cash withdrawals with a debit or credit card are possible at most automated teller machines (ATMs) in almost all major towns in Sri Lanka. However, before you leave, make sure that your ATM card is activated for withdrawals abroad. Credit cards are only accepted in some mid-range hotels and most luxury hotels, but usually not in small guesthouses or at tourist attractions.

Currency exchange is possible at the airport, in banks, in hotels and at money exchange offices. It is not necessary to bring US dollars. Euros and Swiss francs are equally accepted. If you want to change money at banks in Sri Lanka, you must present your passport.

Tip: The exchange rate at money exchange offices is much better than at banks and at the airport (ask your guide about the relevant facilities). To get the best rate, you should exchange 50 and 100 denomination banknotes in good condition. Damaged banknotes are not accepted by the exchange offices.

Medial Care

Basic medical care is generally available across the board in Sri Lanka. However, visiting local medical facilities is only recommended for minor health problems. In Colombo and some other larger cities there are good private clinics that are a lot more expensive, but also offer a correspondingly better standard. It is highly advisable to only visit such clinics for serious medical problems.

Pharmacies can be found in every small town in Sri Lanka. Most medications do not require a prescription (pay attention to the expiration date!).

Since there can always be shortages of medical products and medications in Sri Lanka, it is advisable to pack a typical first-aid kit for your trip (ask your family doctor for advice on this) and to take out good travel insurance in case of an emergency (see travel insurance ). You should always take urgently needed medication with you from home when you travel.

Allergy sufferers (especially wasp and bee allergy sufferers) should take appropriate medication with them when traveling to Sri Lanka.

Dengue fever in sri lanka

The mosquito-borne disease dengue fever is widespread almost everywhere in Sri Lanka during rainy seasons. Nevertheless, the disease is relatively rare. According to the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health, around 80,000 people in Sri Lanka suffered from dengue fever in 2023. That’s around 0.3% of the population. It is VERY rare for tourists to become ill, as hotel complexes and tourist areas are usually kept very clean and appropriate precautions are taken there to combat dengue. The best protection against mosquito bites is a good mosquito spray and long clothing (especially at dawn and dusk). Rooms without air conditioning should always be equipped with a mosquito net. A vaccination against dengue fever was recently approved and is now available in all European countries. Here you can find the current dengue statistics for Sri Lanka. 

Malaria in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka was declared malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) in September 2016. You therefore do not need malaria prophylaxis for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is considered malaria-free! 

Zika in Sri Lanka

A research team has proven that the Zika virus was also circulating in Sri Lanka from 2017-2019. The corresponding study was published in 2023. It can therefore be assumed that the Zika virus also exists in Sri Lanka. We recommend that pregnant women and men/women planning a family seek advice from a specialist in this regard.

Corona in Sri Lanka

We have set up our own information page on the topic of “Corona virus in Sri Lanka”

Rabies in Sri Lanka

Although there is many rabies control programs in Sri Lanka, unfortunately rabies is still prevalent in some areas of Sri Lanka. The disease is mainly transmitted by dogs and cats. However, any other mammal can also be a carrier (e.g. squirrels, bats, monkeys, etc.). The outbreak of the disease can be 100% prevented if vaccination is carried out in a timely manner after contact with a possibly infected animal. Not only any contact with the saliva of a mammal (e.g. licking or biting) is risky, but also scratches. A “possibly infected animal” is generally any mammal in Sri Lanka for which there is no corresponding vaccination certificate. Please note that a (booster) vaccination must also be given if you have already had a prophylactic vaccination against rabies (even if the vaccination was only a few weeks ago). Since the rabies vaccine is not always in stock in Sri Lanka, we recommend that you take out travel insurance with a return service or medication transport.

Since changes/new findings can quickly arise with regard to diseases, all of our information is without guarantee. If you have any questions regarding dengue fever, malaria, Zika, rabies or other tropical diseases, please contact your family doctor or an appropriate institute. You can find the general vaccination recommendations for Sri Lanka in the travel information section of our website .

Clothing and wardrobe recommendations

In addition to beach clothing for beach holidays, it is advisable to take appropriate clothing for cultural and religious sites with you to Sri Lanka. Appropriate clothing is clothing that covers the knees and possibly the shoulders of both women and men and is not transparent or very form-fitting. Deep necklines and very tight-fitting clothing should be avoided for women.

When traveling to the Sri Lankan highlands, it is advisable to take warm outerwear with you, as it can get relatively cold there. Sturdy shoes are a must for hiking, and advisable for climbing Lion Rock, Pidurangala Rock and the Dambulla cave temples. We also recommend taking leech socks/gauntlets with you for hikes. If you want to do sunrise or sunset activities, you should take a headlamp. Rain protection and a headgear (sun protection) should not be missing from your luggage.

Here you can find a packing list for your Sri Lanka vacation.

Tip: Temples or other shrines in Sri Lanka may only be entered barefoot (or with socks). Since the floor of the temples can often be very hot due to the sunlight, it is advisable to bring socks with you.

Kitchen and Food

The Sri Lankan cuisine is generally very wholesome and tolerable. Food poisoning or digestive problems among tourists are therefore extremely rare. In order to get your stomach used to the “new” food, you should still be a little careful – especially at the beginning of the trip. In this context, a healthy amount of mindfulness is never a bad thing: if it looks unhygienic somewhere, just eat somewhere else. There are always enough alternatives.

During a trip to Sri Lanka, you should definitely try the local cuisine. Rice & Curry – the national dish of Sri Lanka – is a healthy, balanced meal consumed by locals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The dish comes in many different versions. There is always rice (Bath) and lentil curry (Dhal). There are also various vegetable curries (depending on the season) and, if desired, a meat, fish or seafood curry. Travelers who want to eat vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free have it easy in Sri Lanka – a Rice & Curry and most local dishes usually meet all of these criteria.

Apart from the national dish Rice & Curry, Sri Lanka offers many other culinary delicacies: Hopper, Roti, Koththu, Kiri Bath, Coconut Sambol and of course the many exotic fruits are just a few of them. Trying is better than studying is the motto. So: bon Appetit!

Tip: Most Sri Lankan dishes are very spicy. If you’re not used to spicy food and don’t want to have a stomach ache, you as a tourist should always specify “not spicy” when ordering

Cultural peculiarities

Religious rituals and ceremonies have a great influence on everyday life in Sri Lanka. Be prepared for the fact that there are temples everywhere in Sri Lanka (including in the tourist areas) that sometimes (and especially on special Buddhist holidays) recite their “prayers” (chant) over loudspeakers early in the morning or at night.

To be respectful of public sensibilities, be respectful of any religious site or religious statue or image and observe local customs. This includes, for example, wearing appropriate clothing (knees and shoulders covered, not transparent), taking off shoes and being sensitive when taking photos (e.g. no “funny” photos with Buddha statues). 

However, special cultural customs do not only affect Sri Lanka’s religious sites. In general, we recommend that you adapt your behavior and clothing to local customs. This is especially true for less touristy places. An example: Women should not undress on non-tourist beaches where mostly local’s swim.

DANGER! Tattoos or clothing with Buddha motifs are considered offensive to Buddhism in Sri Lanka, which can lead to major problems (including prison sentences). It is therefore strongly advised to keep tattoos covered in public in Sri Lanka and not to wear clothing with Buddha motifs.

Mobile telephone/internet/SIM Cards

If you have a mobile phone that is unlocked for all networks, we recommend purchasing a prepaid tourist SIM card in Sri Lanka. You can get this in the arrival’s hall at Colombo airport, for example from Dialog or Mobitel (also available as e-SIM). The tourist SIM cards come with free minutes and data volume and are very cheap (from around 10 euros, depending on the package).

Most hotels as well as many guesthouses and restaurants now also have (free) WiFi/Wlan (wireless internet connection) for their guests. However, internet connection in accommodation and restaurants in Sri Lanka is often extremely unstable and slow. If you want to be as accessible as possible during your stay on the island, you should buy a tourist SIM card (see above).

On all private tours and individual Sri Lanka trips from Expeditions Of Srilanka, free Wi-Fi is available in the car during the tour.

Prices in Sri Lanka

Prices in Sri Lanka are usually given in LKR (Sri Lankan Rupee). Only a few (usually more exclusive) hotels or tourist attractions display prices in USD. A conversion into another currency usually takes place at a very unfavorable rate.

You can get local meals for just 2-3 euros in local restaurants. Prices are usually significantly higher in tourist areas. An average warm meal their costs between 5 and 15 USD$ (depending on the dish), and in higher-class hotels and restaurants it may cost a lot more.

Soft drinks as well as (local) coffee and tea are extremely cheap (< 1 USD$). If you want to enjoy “real” coffee, you have to expect Western European prices (a cup of espresso, cappuccino or similar costs around 3-4 USD$). Freshly squeezed juices or shakes cost 2-3 euros, for beer you have to shell out 3-4 USD$ for the 600 ml bottle. You can get cocktails for 4-10 USD$ and a glass of wine (imported) usually costs around 10 USD$. In hotels and more upscale restaurants the prices are around 30% higher.

The situation with (Ayurveda) massages and other wellness treatments is similar to the prices in restaurants. In very simple, local Ayurveda spas you can get massages for around 30 USD$ (per hour). However, these “spas” are usually quite uncomfortable, the treatments are carried out quite carelessly and you also have to expect compromises when it comes to hygiene (exceptions prove the rule!). Beautiful spas with a cozy atmosphere that offer high-quality, hygienic treatments charge accordingly more (from around 50 USD$ per hour). Your guide will be happy to provide you with the addresses of some of the spas that we can personally recommend during your trip.

For information about fees for the main sights and attractions in Sri Lanka, please visit our website at Entrance Fees in Sri Lanka . At tourist attractions where there are no fixed prices, you often have to negotiate a bit to get a fair price.

Tip: Always pay attention to whether taxes and the so-called “service charge” are already included in the prices quoted. Restaurants in higher-end hotels or spas often quote prices excluding tax and service charge (e.g. in the form of 1,200 LKR++), which can then lead to unpleasant surprises when paying. Taxes and service charges can be up to 30% in Sri Lanka.

Souvenirs: Shopping in Sri Lanka

The best shopping areas for souvenirs in Sri Lanka are Galle Fort, the Old Dutch Hospital in Colombo and Kandy city center. The somewhat busier “beach towns” such as Negombo, Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna, Mirissa and Arugam Bay also offer some very nice (often individual) shopping opportunities. In addition, the larger chains such as Laksala, Spa Ceylon and Odel/LUV Sri Lanka (all of these shops have several branches throughout Sri Lanka) offer beautiful, classic souvenirs at a fair price. Tip: Look out for Rice & Curry products !

For tea we recommend the Labookelle Tea Factory closer to Nuwaraeliya and the Virgin White Tea Plantation near Habaraduwa.

For Ayurvedic tinctures & medicines, it’s best to go to a local Ayurveda pharmacy 

as well as in batik factories, silk factories LANKA SILKS (Sigiriya and Kandy), leather factories, wood carvings RAJANIMA Or LAKRUKA (wood carving) and gem shops ISINI, TIESH (jewelers).

Tip: If you find yourself harassed by salespeople at one of these classic coffee ride shops (which we hope you don’t even visit), contact your driver/guide immediately. Never allow yourself to be pressured into making a purchase. The salespeople are often very clever and unfortunately sometimes put undue and unpleasant pressure on their customers. Stay tough. Other than leaving a few dissatisfied sellers behind, nothing can happen to you.

Tips for women traveling alone

In principle, traveling in Sri Lanka is safe – even for women traveling alone. However, as a woman traveling alone, you usually get a lot of attention (especially from men). However, if you consider just a few things before embarking on this adventure, your solo vacation in Sri Lanka will definitely be a little more enjoyable:

1. Dress appropriately.With shorts, wide necklines or transparent clothing (away from tourist beaches) you attract a lot of unpleasant looks.
2. Do not travel alone on public transport after dark.
3. If you want to be left alone by pushy men, say you’re married. So always carry a “wedding ring” with you.
4. For Sri Lankan men, a friendly smile back from a lady can mean something “more”. In 99% of cases, dates for dinner or a drink are interpreted as an interest in a relationship or sexual contact and should therefore only be accepted if this exists. In this regard, please note that it is usually not so easy to get rid of Sri Lankan admirers “afterwards” (the men are often very persistent).
5. Women traveling alone who drink alcohol are considered easy girls in Sri Lanka. Above all, you should not get drunk, otherwise you will soon have a whole lot of questionable suitors around you.
6. Keep an eye on your drinks and stay away from restaurants/bars where there are a lot of beach boys. Unfortunately, there have been incidents in Sri Lanka involving drugs or knockout dropsgiven to women through drinks.

Probably the most pleasant form of travel for women traveling alone in Sri Lanka is a private tour with a guide . Here you are under the “protection” of your professional travel companion and are therefore not exposed to any harassment.

Tipping in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka it is customary to tip. If you are satisfied with the service, you received and want to make someone happy, you should tip always and everywhere. Waiters or simple hotel employees only earn around 70 USD$ a month. In Sri Lanka, that’s not enough to make ends meet.

Our tipping recommendations for Sri Lanka are:

Tipping your guide/tour leader

If you were satisfied with the care/service of your guide, a tip of at least 10 USD$ per day of travel is considered appropriate (as of 2024, taking into account inflation in Sri Lanka). If there are more than two travel participants, the tip should be increased accordingly (e.g. 15 USD$ per day for 3 travel participants, 20 USD$ per day for 4 travel participants, etc.).

For groups of 7 or more, we recommend around 30 USD$ per travel day for the entire group. For families, two to three children (depending on age) count as one travel participant.

The tip is usually collected at the end of the trip (when you say goodbye to your guide) in USD$ Euros or rupees. A small daily tip is not expected from the guide (and tends to cause confusion). If you occasionally want to invite your guide to eat (or drink) (which is not expected), or if you give them small gifts, this should NOT be deducted from your tip.

If you have a driver in addition to a guide, we recommend about 2/3 to 1/2 of the guide’s tip. Larger travel groups (minibus or bus trips) are also accompanied by a helper. For this we recommend a tip of approximately 1/2 to 1/3 of the guide’s tip.

Other tipping recommendations for Sri Lanka (as of 2024)

Guides at various attractions (e.g. wildlife spotters or jeep drivers on safaris): approx. 3-5 USD$ per travel participant.

In the restaurant: 10% of the bill (even if a “service charge” is stated separately).

In the hotel: approx. 1 USD$ for the porter, 1 USD$ per day for housekeeping, 1 USD$ per day for the service staff (best given in rupees).

In the temple: approx. 2000 Rupees for the shoe attendant (given in rupees).

In the spa: 10% of the treatment price (usually around 2-3 USD$) for the therapist.

Attention: Unfortunately, there are also a few not-so-polite people in Sri Lanka who shamelessly ask for money or tips. In order to curb this vice, you should generally NOT comply with such demands.

Drinking water in Sri Lanka

Water from the tap should not be drunk in Sri Lanka. Plastic bottles with drinking water are therefore available everywhere in Sri Lanka. If you want to travel sustainably, we recommend that you take an ecological drinking bottle with you, for example made of stainless steel or glass. Many hotels and restaurants already offer options to fill them up

On all Sri Lanka trips from Expeditions Of Srilanka, you will be provided with free drinking water in the car throughout the entire tour. Please help us avoid plastic waste by using reusable bottles.

Behavior in public

Sri Lanka is a very conservative country. Kissing or showing other forms of affection in public (except holding hands) is considered offensive and sometimes attracts unwanted attention. It is also frowned upon to appear drunk in public – this especially applies to women. Also make sure your clothing is appropriate and do not walk through the streets in beachwear (bikini and swimming trunks).

Homosexuality is (still) officially prohibited in Sri Lanka (however, a draft law to decriminalize homosexuality is already before the Sri Lankan parliament and is awaiting implementation). But gay couples don’t have to be afraid of vacationing in Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka it is completely normal for both women and men to share a room (and a bed). Holding hands between people of the same sex is also quite common in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s LGBTQ+ community is even publicly demonstrating against discrimination and for equality (see Global Voices report ). Please note, however, that homosexual people in Sri Lanka unfortunately still occasionally have to deal with tolerance problems and should therefore keep a low profile about their sexual preference during their stay in Sri Lanka.

Transport in Sri Lanka

There is left-hand traffic in Sri Lanka. For this reason alone, driving yourself in Sri Lanka is a big challenge for many tourists. In addition, there are somewhat unclear traffic rules and sometimes a lot of chaos on the streets (especially in metropolitan areas). Cars, trucks, buses, tuk-tuks, motorcycles, cyclists, pedestrians, dogs, cows and sometimes even elephants characterize the streetscape in Sri Lanka. If you want to rent a car here to explore the country on your own, you need strong nerves (and unrestricted concentration!).

Traffic in Sri Lanka works primarily because the locals communicate with each other through eye contact and honking. Anyone who doesn’t know the “road codes” usually gets the short end of the stick. Unfortunately, tourist accidents are not uncommon in Sri Lanka. Our tip: Save yourself the adrenaline rush and hire a driver who knows the traffic customs and who can maneuver you safely through the country. After all, it should be a relaxing vacation.

Drugs in Sri Lanka

Finally, a word of advice: stay away from drugs in Sri Lanka

The use of drugs is illegal in Sri Lanka. Drug trafficking carries the death penalty (although this has not been carried out since 1976). The Sri Lankan police repeatedly carry out checks in the beach regions that are popular with tourists. Anyone caught using drugs faces a short prison sentence and fines.

Please note: Drugs in Sri Lanka are often contaminated and can therefore cause significant health damage. For example, “Kerala Ganja” in Sri Lanka has a reputation for being laced with toxic chemicals and causing irreparable mental disorders.

So: Stay “clean” and enjoy your vacation in Sri Lanka without any worries!