Best Time to Visit Sri Lanka

• High Season: December - April
• High Tourist Season: December - April
• Low Season: May-August
• All Seasons: December - April (summer), May-August (monsoon), September - November (spring)
• The best time to visit Sri Lanka depends on which part of the country you’re visiting. In general, December - April and is September - November are considered the best times to visit.
• There are two monsoon seasons in Sri Lanka - the Maha monsoon season between October to January, and the Yala monsoon season between May to August. However, the Maha monsoon affects the north and eastern parts of Sri Lanka, and the Yala monsoon affects the south and the west.

Sri Lanka is an island of immense beauty, one that has not drawn too many tourists in the past few years. It is an underrated tourist destination, but this means that you get to enjoy the island in relative peace, without having to worry about throngs of tourists and over-commercialization. From stunning cultural heritage sites to unexplored beaches, there is so much for the taking. All you need to know is the best time to visit Sri Lanka.

December - April is when to visit Sri Lanka if you want to tour the entire country. Between December and January, there will be rainfall in the north and the east. This is also the peak tourist season. You can also travel to Sri Lanka between September and November when there is little to no rain in the south and west parts of the country, and the crowds are lesser. This is the best time for backpackers visiting the country.

December to April — Summer / High Season

This is when to visit Sri Lanka if you want to visit during the high season, during the holidays. The weather in Sri Lanka is rather pleasant during this period. The Maha monsoon season will cause some rainfall in December and January, but not to a great extent. The southern and western parts of the country experience the driest period during these months. This is a high season, so book your tickets and accommodation in advance, especially if you’re going to be traveling in the urban areas.

• Avg. Temperature: 94 – 97° F / 34 – 36° C (in Colombo)
• Rainfall: 61 – 228 mm
• Season: Summer
• Highlights: This is the best time to visit the southern and western parts of the country such as Colombo, Bentota, Kalpitiya, and Galle. This is also a great time to explore the beautiful Yala National Park, without having to worry about getting stuck in the rains. January to April is perfect for the cultural triangle tour (Anuradhapura, Sigiriya, Dambulla, etc). You can also experience Duruthu, a Sri Lankan full-moon festival that happens in January, or Avurudu, the Sinhalese New Year, on April 14.

May to August — Monsoon / Low Season

This is the period of the Yala monsoon or the southwest monsoons. The weather in Sri Lanka is rather wet, especially in the south-western parts of the country such as Galle and Colombo. This is a low season, as the main tourist regions are caught in the rain till July. By July, the rains start to taper off, leaving behind the occasional shower. However, the temperatures will be hot and humid in most parts of the country.

• Avg. Temperature: 87 – 91° F / 31 – 33° C (in Colombo)
• Rainfall: 538 – 1249 mm
• Season: Monsoon
• Highlights: This is the best time to explore the beautiful beaches on the east coast, as they experience little to no rainfall during this season. Arugam Bay, Passekudah, and Trincomalee are great vacation spots, even though they might not be as metropolitan as Colombo! There are a couple of big festivals during this season as well, including Vesak Day, one of the biggest Buddhist festivals, held in May; and Poson Festival, a historical festival that celebrates the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka (celebrated in June).

September to November — Spring / Good Season

This is a great time to visit Sri Lanka, especially since the weather is amazing all over the country. These months are considered to be the ‘inter monsoon period, as they fall between the two monsoon seasons in Sri Lanka. The weather in Sri Lanka is comparatively drier in the south and west, as the Maha monsoon begins in October, and drenches the north-eastern parts of the country.

• Avg. Temperature: 87 – 93° F / 31 – 34° C (in Colombo)
• Rainfall: 166 – 382 mm
• Season: Fall
• Highlights: This is a good time to visit the Tea Country, which will be lush and green following the southwest monsoon. The Cultural Triangle also experiences a dry spell during this season, so you can go explore the historical offerings of Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Sigiriya, and more. This is not the best season for a beach holiday, as the monsoon season makes the water rather choppy, and swimming becomes restricted, especially in October and November.