When to go · Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, month by month
The best months for Sri Lanka: Feb, Mar. Months to avoid: Oct.
Month by month
- JanuaryGoodDry south-west coast and hills; peak season; the east is wet.West and south coast: best weather · Hill country: best weather · Cultural Triangle: fineCrowds: High · 4 festivals or holidays
- FebruaryGreatThe best month for most of the island; Cultural Triangle comfortable.West and south coast: best weather · Hill country: best weather · Cultural Triangle: best weatherCrowds: High · 2 festivals or holidays
- MarchGreatStill dry in the south-west, warming up; east coast starts to dry.West and south coast: best weather · Hill country: best weather · Cultural Triangle: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
- AprilMixedHot; New Year (13–14 Apr) closes shops and fills transport; inter-monsoon storms late in the month.West and south coast: hot · Hill country: fine · Cultural Triangle: hotCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
- MayMixedSouth-west monsoon arrives: west and south beaches rough; head east. Vesak lanterns.West and south coast: rainy · Hill country: rainy · Cultural Triangle: hotCrowds: Low · 3 festivals or holidays
- JuneMixedEast coast and Cultural Triangle are the pick; hill country showery.West and south coast: rainy · Hill country: rainy · Cultural Triangle: fineCrowds: Low · 2 festivals or holidays
- JulyGoodEast coast peak; Arugam Bay surf; Kandy Perahera late July or August.West and south coast: fine · Hill country: fine · Cultural Triangle: fineCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
- AugustGoodEast and north dry; Kandy Perahera and Jaffna's Nallur festival.West and south coast: fine · Hill country: fine · Cultural Triangle: fineCrowds: High · 3 festivals or holidays
- SeptemberMixedEast still good; Yala often closes for part of September–October.West and south coast: rainy · Hill country: fine · Cultural Triangle: fineCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
- OctoberAvoidInter-monsoon rains across the island; flooding and landslides possible.West and south coast: rainy · Hill country: rainy · Cultural Triangle: rainyCrowds: Low · 2 festivals or holidays
- NovemberMixedNorth-east monsoon arrives in the east and north; south-west starts drying late in the month.West and south coast: rainy · Hill country: rainy · Cultural Triangle: rainyCrowds: Low · 2 festivals or holidays
- DecemberGoodSouth-west coast dry again; Adam's Peak season opens; book Christmas early.West and south coast: best weather · Hill country: cool · Cultural Triangle: rainyCrowds: High · 4 festivals or holidays
Weather by region
How each climate zone rates each month.
| Region | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West and south coastColombo, Negombo, Bentota, Galle, Mirissa | Best | Best | Best | Hot | Wet | Wet | OK | OK | Wet | Wet | Wet | Best |
| Hill countryKandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Adam's Peak | Best | Best | Best | OK | Wet | Wet | OK | OK | OK | Wet | Wet | Cool |
| Cultural TriangleSigiriya, Dambulla, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa | OK | Best | Best | Hot | Hot | OK | OK | OK | OK | Wet | Wet | Wet |
| East coastTrincomalee, Pasikudah, Arugam Bay | Wet | OK | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | OK | Storm | Wet |
| NorthJaffna, Mannar | OK | Best | Best | Hot | Hot | Hot | Hot | Hot | Hot | Wet | Storm | Wet |