Sri Lanka weather makes this island the perfect destination all year round.
Do you like the sun? Are you passionate about ancient ruins? You like wildlife? Great! Then this island is one of the best travel destinations where you can find all these things.
And besides that, because of its location and it’s weather, this beautiful island is an all year-round destination.
Actually, a key factor in planning your trip to Sri Lanka is understanding the weather of this island.
In order to do that, you should know the two monsoon seasons and which parts of the island are affected by rains and when.
Some of the following links are affiliate links. When you buy something using the retail links in our article, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost for you. You can read our full disclosure disclaimer and privacy policy.
Update 2023: You sould also read this article about weather and best time to go to Sri Lanka
The southwestern monsoon brings rains and wind between May and September in the south-west of Sri Lanka, while dry season in this part of the island is from December to March.
On the other part of the island, the northeastern monsoon brings rains between October to January and sunny days between May and September.
The humidity is very high on the island, somewhere between 60% to 90%. Usually, in the mountains and in south-west areas the humidity level is higher.
In Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital, the humidity level is around 70% with periods during the rainy season when it can reach 90%.
The high level of humidity amplifies the heat you feel and make it more difficult to chill. Be prepared for this and take a bottle of water with you everywhere!
Generally, it is considered to be peak season from December to March.
Find out here when is the best time to visit Sri Lanka.
From December to March Sri Lanka weather is sunny with few rainy days, ideal for sightseeing, safari and beach.
I personally prefer to avoid visiting a country in peak season as the number of tourists are very high and so the prices. I choose to visit a place on shoulder season because is more convenient, especially from a financial perspective.
Below I will tell you some hints for each part of Sri Lanka as to maximize your stay and know better which part of the country should be included on your itinerary based on the month you will visit Sri Lanka.
East Coast (Arugam Bay, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Passekudah, Nilaveli, Kuckchaveli)
Best time of the year to visit this part of Sri Lanka is April to September. During these months it is dry season, an ideal time for beach from Sri Lanka weather perspective.
I have to tell you there is a small inconvenience on this part of the country, at least for some of you! I am talking about the quality and the luxury level of the hotels from the area!
As it is not a very developed area, it could be pretty challenging to find luxury hotels.
Get your Sri Lanka Travel Guide
Created by worldwidetravel.tips
The South ( Weligama, Galle, Mirissa, Yala National Park, Tangalle)
Put this area on your travel list if you visit Sri Lanka from November to April.
These beaches are amazingly beautiful all year around but when sunny days are there, everything is perfect for few days of relaxation and rest.
Kandy and Tea Area ( Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Hatton, Haputale, Adam’s Peak)
I would say that best Sri Lanka weather to visit this region is from December to May. Located at high altitude, the area is the coldest place from Sri Lanka.
DIzzy rain and fog is pretty common there! Hmmm! I would say that there is an autumn weather all year around.
West Coast and Colombo
Late November to April is the best time to visit Colombo and west coast.
During these months the temperatures drop above 30 degrees celsius but there might be rainy days during your holiday. Don’t be scared of rains!
They are not lasting more than a few hours! While you drink tea and eat something sweet the sun will shine again on Sri Lanka sky!
You see?! No matter when you choose to visit Sri Lanka there is always a part of the island with sunny and hot days! This is a big plus and help you optimize better your time when you visit Sri Lanka!
Book your accommodation
We always use Booking.com as they have the best price-quality ratio and they offer a wide range of hotels, guesthouses, apartments, and villas to choose from.
You will find here all types of accommodations, from the cheapest ones to the most luxurious.
Don't forget travel insurance
We never leave home without HeyMondo Insurance or Safety Wings Insurance as they offer the best services and a good value for money.
When we go for longer trips around the world we get Globelink Insurance as it offers a good cover for an affordable price.
Travel insurance will always protect you against unexpected costs caused by medical events like illness, injury, theft, or travel cancellation.
We never go on any trip without travel insurance and there were many cases when we had to use it.
Renting a car
We like to explore a country on our own and a car gives us the mobility and freedom to do that.
We always rent our car from Discovercars as they have free cancellation 48 hours prior to starting date and a wide range of car rental companies and options to choose from all over the world.
Tours and attractions
When we are looking for some adventure or we simply want to break up the monotony and discover new places, we always use GetYourGuide.
We love it because we always find the most amazing experiences, with free cancellation and a large variety of activities and tours to choose from.
Airplane tickets and holiday packages
Expedia is our ally when searching for the best price for airplane tickets as it works as an aggregator for a huge number of airlines and we always find the best price for our flights.
Travel tip: use Expedia when you are searching for holiday packages as they have many last-minute offers and great discounts for hotels, flights, and even the whole holiday packages.