Best time to travel, rainy season & climate in Sri Lanka
The good news right at the beginning: It’s almost always in season somewhere in Sri Lanka . Sri Lanka is therefore a good travel destination all year round.
Best time to travel to Sri Lanka by month
The best time to travel to Sri Lanka can be roughly divided as follows:
From mid-December to the end of April (in the European winter and spring) you are in exactly the right place when it comes to weather on the south and west coasts as well as in the highlands of Sri Lanka.
In late spring and summer (from March to the end of September) there is the best holiday and travel weather in the north, east and in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka.
From October to mid-December (autumn and early winter) the weather everywhere in Sri Lanka behaves quite unpredictably (i.e. just like a classic summer in Central Europe). Traveling in these months requires a bit of luck with the weather.
Best time to travel to Sri Lanka by region
The following graphic gives you an overview of the best travel areas in Sri Lanka for the respective travel time. However, please never forget: the weather is generally unpredictable and not everything always turns out as predicted.
Climate in Sri Lanka
In most regions of Sri Lanka, you can expect a tropical climate all year round. It is very warm (or hot) and often quite humid (average humidity of 70%). In general, the following applies in this context: the more it rains, the more humid it is. During the rainy season in Sri Lanka, the humidity in the monsoon areas can be up to 85%.
While it is always very warm or hot in the coastal area and in the lowlands with temperatures between 25 and 40°C (even during the rainy season), the temperatures in the mountains of Sri Lanka are much cooler. In Nuwara Eliya – the coldest city in Sri Lanka – it even cools down to 5°C in winter. On average, you can expect temperatures between 10 and 25 degrees in the mountains. When traveling to these areas, you should definitely bring warm clothing with you.
Rainy season in Sri Lanka – monsoon
Monsoon in Sri Lanka generally does not mean that it rains for days at any time and everywhere. During the rainy season in Sri Lanka, it rains very heavily in the rainy areas usually once a day for a short period of time. Thunderstorms can also occur more frequently during this time. Despite the rainy season, you can expect a lot of sun in Sri Lanka even in the rainy areas. Often the weather is so good that it would not be classified as typical monsoon weather.
The peak monsoon months for the south and west coasts as well as the highlands of Sri Lanka are May and June. On the east coast and in the north, however, the monsoon wreaks havoc in December, January and February. Only in these months do you have to expect a lot of rain (and possibly natural disasters such as floods and landslides) in the respective monsoon areas.
Although the weather in the so-called rainy areas is usually very good even during the rainy season, swimming in the sea during the monsoon season is not possible or is only possible to a very limited extent on the respective monsoon coast. For a classic beach holiday, we recommend only the rain-free east coast of Sri Lanka between May and October and only the south or west coast between October and May. If you take the right travel areas into account when planning your trip, nothing will stand in the way of a holiday in Sri Lanka all year round – at least as far as the weather is concerned.
Please note: We will of course plan your Sri Lanka trip very carefully according to your travel time and always as far as possible away from the monsoon areas. So don’t be tempted by various bargain offers. Beach holidays and tours in Sri Lanka that go to the wrong places at the wrong time can – literally – be a complete disaster.
Cyclones in Sri Lanka
Very rarely, violent hurricanes (cyclones) occur in Sri Lanka between September and December and in May and June. Since 1992, 13 such storms have been recorded. The north and northeast of the country in particular have been affected more frequently by this weather phenomenon in the recent past. So, if you find yourself in Sri Lanka during these months, take sudden storms seriously. Find a place where you are safe from falling trees and falling branches (e.g. your hotel room). Do not go swimming or surfing – the waves can get very high in a short time.
Information about the current weather in Sri Lanka and current weather warnings can be found on the Sri Lanka Meteorological Authority website .
You can find even more tips for planning your perfect Sri Lanka trip in our FAQs about holidays in Sri Lanka and on our information page for Sri Lanka.