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Major city · Sri Lanka

Chilaw

Visit Chilaw as a day trip from Colombo; no overnight needed, 1–2 h travel each way, explore beach and Munneswaram temple.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Chilaw is a small coastal town 80 km north of Colombo. Its main attractions – a sandy beach, bird‑watching sandpits and the historic Munneswaram Hindu temple – are reachable in a half‑day. Trains and buses take 2–3 h, a private car about 1 h 20 min, so a single day is enough unless you plan extended beach time.

basic guide: no trip line yet
More
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
LKR
Best months
Nov–Apr (dry season, calmer seas)
avoid May–Oct (south‑west monsoon, rough seas)
Airport
CMB
Nights
0

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Chilaw: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
Rules in force · 5
  • South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
  • South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
  • Sri Lanka ↗Apply for the Electronic Travel Authorisation only on the official government ETA site; lookalike sites charge extra, and the rules and fees change.
  • Sri Lanka ↗At temples cover shoulders and knees, take off shoes and hats, and never pose with your back to a Buddha statue; Buddha images on clothes or tattoos cause offence.
  • Sri Lanka ↗Carry Sri Lankan rupees in small notes; tuk-tuks, buses and small shops are cash-only, and ATMs are fewer outside the cities.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Chilaw119 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Chilaw, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Budget bedBudget hotel room, a night, per roomLKR 3,500
  • Mid-range bedBudget hotel room, a night, per roomLKR 5,000
  • High-end bedBudget hotel room, a night, per roomLKR 8,000

A day, not counting the bed: Budget LKR 2,500 · Mid LKR 4,500 · High LKR 6,500

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Sri Munneswaram DevasthanamChilaw Silver beachBirdwatching at sandpitsCoastal scenery
Airports
CMB Bandaranaike International Airport (≈80 km (50 mi) south, 1 h 20 min by car)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Best

    30°C (86°F)

  2. Feb

    Best

    30°C (86°F)

  3. Mar

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

  5. May

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

  6. Jun

    Avoid

    30°C (86°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    30°C (86°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    30°C (86°F)

  9. Sep

    Avoid

    30°C (86°F)

  10. Oct

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

  11. Nov

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

  12. Dec

    Best

    30°C (86°F)

Best: Nov–Apr. Avoid: May–Oct. Month by month →

Warmest Mar (31°C (88°F)), coolest Jan (22°C (72°F) low), wettest Jul (12 rain days), driest Jan (5). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Chilaw: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

30°C (86°F)

22°C (72°F)

5 rd

Feb

30°C (86°F)

22°C (72°F)

5 rd

Mar

31°C (88°F)

23°C (73°F)

6 rd

Apr

31°C (88°F)

24°C (75°F)

7 rd

May

31°C (88°F)

25°C (77°F)

9 rd

Jun

30°C (86°F)

25°C (77°F)

10 rd

Jul

30°C (86°F)

25°C (77°F)

12 rd

Aug

30°C (86°F)

25°C (77°F)

12 rd

Sep

30°C (86°F)

25°C (77°F)

11 rd

Oct

31°C (88°F)

24°C (75°F)

8 rd

Nov

31°C (88°F)

23°C (73°F)

6 rd

Dec

30°C (86°F)

22°C (72°F)

5 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Tuk‑tuk or hired car for longer trips; walk or rent a bike for beach and town centre (all sites within 3 km).

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Sri Munneswaram Devasthanam

go

Door to door: ≈30 min total

Local bus or tuk‑tuk, ~20 min from town centre

Historic Hindu temple, open daily; modest entry fee.

Kalpitiya

go

Door to door: ≈1 h

Hire a car or take a bus north 30 km (19 mi)

Coastal resort area, good for dolphin watching (seasonal).

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Chilaw Far Inn Hotel

Budget rooms, Rs 7,070 for 2 guests

Hotel Pearl Gate

Very low‑budget, Rs 3,500 per night

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
Rs 2,500–4,000 excl. bed
Mid
Rs 4,000–6,000 excl. bed
High
Rs 6,000+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Budget hotel room1 × 1 night × LKR 3,500LKR 3,500
Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × LKR 2,500LKR 2,500
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeLKR 600
Trip total≈ LKR 6,600 per person per day, bed includedLKR 6,600

2026 estimate; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Local bus fare Colombo → ChilawRs 250
Train 2nd class Colombo → ChilawRs 400
Meal at a roadside eateryRs 300–600
Bottle of king coconut (kurumba)Rs 30–50

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Chilaw is generally safe for tourists; keep valuables concealed, avoid isolated beaches after dark, and follow local advice on sea conditions.
  • Train schedules vary; check the latest timetable before travel (check).
  • Beach has no lifeguard service; swim at your own risk.
  • Mosquitoes are common near the sandpits in evenings; use repellent.

Emergency numbers

Police
119
Ambulance
1990
Fire
110

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

ChilawChilaw

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

මෙම ලිපිනයට කරුණාකරTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police119
  • Ambulance1990
  • Fire110

Embassy

US consulate in Colombo; other embassies in Colombo.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Colombo → Chilaw, bus: about Rs 250, 1 h (check)
  • Colombo → Chilaw, train 2nd class: about Rs 400, 2–3 h (check)

Say or show

  • සමාවෙන්න — Excuse me / Sorry (samāvenna)
  • බොහොම ස්තුතියි — Thank you (bohoma sthuthi)
  • එය කොපමණද? — How much is it? (eya kopamanada?)
  • බීච් එක කොහෙද? — Where is the beach? (bīch eka koheda?)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Chilaw. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Apr (dry season, calmer seas) · avoid May–Oct (south‑west monsoon, rough seas) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 2 day-trips, door to door
  6. 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Add a private‑car day‑ticket for flexible travel to Kalpitiya.
  2. Include a guided bird‑watching walk at the sandpits (check local operators).

Meanwhile

Back to Sri Lanka

Sources

Ask about Chilaw

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