Sri Lanka at a glance
Your pre-arrival checklist
Tick things off as you go - the bar tracks your progress. Items link to the full guides where you'll want the detail.
✅ Ready-for-Sri-Lanka tracker
Organised by when to do each thing. Aim to have everything above "at the airport" done before you leave home.
4–6 weeks before
1–2 weeks before
48 hours before
At the airport (CMB)
Visa & entry in three sentences
Almost everyone needs an ETA
Apply online at eta.gov.lk before flying - it's electronic travel authorisation, checked against your passport on arrival. Since 25 May 2026 it's free for 40 nationalities (UK, US, EU, India, China, Australia and more); others pay from $20–50.
What you show at the border
Passport with 6+ months validity, your ETA approval, a return or onward ticket, and proof of funds if asked. Answers at immigration should match your application.
The full detail lives here
Fees by nationality, the application walkthrough, extensions up to 6 months and border-control rules are all in the complete visa & entry guide - including visa on arrival (possible, but riskier and $60).
Money: how paying for things actually works
The currency
The Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) - roughly 318 to the US dollar in mid-2026. It's a closed currency: you'll get much better rates exchanging inside Sri Lanka than buying rupees at home.
Cash still rules
Cards work in hotels, supermarkets and bigger restaurants, but tuk-tuks, local eateries, market stalls, entrance-fee counters and rural guesthouses run on cash. Carry a day or two of rupees at all times.
ATMs & exchange
ATMs are everywhere in towns (Commercial Bank, Sampath, HNB accept foreign cards reliably). Airport arrivals has both ATMs and exchange counters - get an initial float there. Declare cash over US$15,000 on arrival.
Tipping
Not compulsory, always appreciated: 10% where no service charge is added, LKR 100–500 for porters and housekeeping, and rounding up for tuk-tuk drivers is plenty.
SIM cards & eSIMs: sorted in five minutes
Dialog and SLT-Mobitel counters sit right in the arrivals hall at Bandaranaike Airport - buying a tourist SIM there takes minutes and costs a few dollars. If your phone supports eSIM, you can land already connected.
| Option | Typical 2026 price | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dialog tourist SIM | LKR 1,399 (~$4.50) | 20GB + call credit · 30 days | Best overall network island-wide |
| Dialog bigger plans | LKR 1,799 / 2,450 | 30GB / 50GB + unlimited WhatsApp · 30 days | Heavy users, hotspot for two |
| SLT-Mobitel tourist SIM | ~LKR 1,540 · 7-day plan ~LKR 821 | 30GB · 30 days (or short-stay 7-day pack) | Close second network; short trips |
| Hutch prepaid | Cheapest data rates | Basic data packs | Budget backup SIM only |
| eSIM (Airalo, Holafly etc.) | ~$7–15 | Data-only, activates on landing | eSIM phones · zero queueing |
Airport counters charge at or near official prices (occasionally ~LKR 2,000 for the base pack) - still worth it for the convenience. You'll need your passport to register any SIM. Coverage: 4G nearly everywhere tourists go; 5G in Colombo and major hubs.
Health & safety essentials
Vaccinations
No vaccines are mandatory for entry unless you're arriving from a yellow-fever-endemic country (then proof is required). Doctors commonly recommend routine boosters plus Hepatitis A and Typhoid - see a travel clinic 4–6 weeks out.
Mosquitoes & dengue
Dengue exists year-round, especially in the wet months. There's no traveller vaccine in general use - repellent at dawn and dusk, and cover up, is the real protection. Malaria risk is negligible; Sri Lanka is certified malaria-free.
Water & food
Don't drink tap water - bottled and filtered water are everywhere and cheap. Busy local restaurants with high turnover are generally the safest (and tastiest) food choice.
If something goes wrong
Dial 1990 for the free island-wide Suwa Seriya ambulance, 119 for police. Private hospitals in Colombo, Kandy and Galle offer good care - this is exactly what your travel insurance is for; don't fly without it.
Packing for two climates at once
The coast is hot, the hills are cold
Coastal Sri Lanka sits around 28–32°C all year; Nuwara Eliya and the tea country drop to single digits at night. Pack light cottons plus a real jumper and a light rain jacket if the hill country is on your route.
Temple dress
Every temple visit needs shoulders and knees covered, shoes and hats off. A sarong or light scarf in your daypack solves this everywhere, for any gender.
The adapter question
Sri Lanka standardised on the UK-style Type G socket (230V). Older buildings may still have Type D/M rounds - one universal adapter covers everything.
Worth their weight
High-SPF sunscreen (expensive locally), repellent, a dry bag for boat trips and monsoon bursts, motion-sickness tablets for the winding hill roads, and a power bank for long travel days.
Cultural rules that actually matter
Buddha imagery is serious
Never pose with your back to a Buddha statue, and visible Buddha tattoos have caused travellers real legal trouble, including refused entry and deportation - cover them. Buddha-print clothing is likewise a genuine offence here, not a fashion statement.
At temples & with monks
Dress modestly, remove shoes and hats, keep your voice down, and never touch or sit higher than a monk. Photography of people - monks included - is a courtesy question: ask first.
Everyday manners
Eat and pass things with your right hand; the famous head-wobble means anything from "yes" to "I hear you". Public displays of affection are frowned on outside tourist beaches. Losing your temper loses the argument - patience wins everything here.
Drones & photography
Drone use requires CAA Sri Lanka authorisation - flying at archaeological sites without it can mean confiscation and fines. Military sites and some bridges are no-photo zones; heed the signs.
Download these before you fly
Now plan the fun part
🗺️ Where to go
The island's essential places, from Sigiriya to Jaffna, with best times and how long to stay. Destinations & cities →
🎯 What to do
Sigiriya at 7am, the restored hill train, Yala's leopards and the rest of the essential dozen. Things to do →
🚐 How to get around
Compare every option from the airport, book a transfer, or check the 2026 train timetables. Transport guides →