PLANNING SRI LANKA YOURSELF?
Sri Lanka, without the guesswork.
The practical details independent travellers actually need: ETA rules, rupees and cash, airport transport, scenic train tickets, tuk-tuks, ride apps, private drivers, monsoons, water and English.
Clear answers. Checked sources. Built for people planning the trip themselves.
START HERE
Four questions that shape a Sri Lanka trip.
These decide how you enter, pay and move around the island.
BEFORE YOU GO
Entry
Visa rules have changed recently, so use current government information rather than an old travel blog.
MONEY
Rupees, cards and cash
Cards work in many tourist businesses, but independent travel still needs cash.
What Currency Does Sri Lanka Use?
Sri Lanka uses the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR). Learn what notes you will see, why local currency matters and where to check official exchange rates.
Read guide →CardsCan You Pay by Card in Sri Lanka?
Cards are accepted at many hotels, restaurants and shopping centres in Sri Lanka, but cash remains useful for small businesses, transport and rural travel.
Read guide →CashDo You Need Cash in Sri Lanka?
Yes. Even though cards and ATMs are common, cash in Sri Lankan rupees is useful for tuk-tuks, buses, markets, small cafés and rural travel.
Read guide →GETTING AROUND
Airport, trains, tuk-tuks and ride apps
Sri Lanka is compact on the map but travel can be slow. Mixing transport modes is often the smartest approach.
Colombo Airport to the City: Taxi, Uber, PickMe or Bus?
Bandaranaike International Airport is outside central Colombo. Official options include Uber, PickMe, airport taxis and the 187 luxury bus to Colombo Fort.
Read guide →TrainsHow to Buy Train Tickets in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Railways has an official online seat-reservation system. Learn when reservations matter and when ordinary tickets can be bought locally.
Read guide →Scenic trainKandy to Ella Train Tickets: What Independent Travellers Should Know
The Kandy–Ella hill-country train is one of Sri Lanka’s most popular journeys. Use official railway reservations for reserved seats and keep backup plans.
Read guide →Tuk-tuksHow Do Tuk-Tuks Work in Sri Lanka?
Tuk-tuks are everywhere in Sri Lanka. Learn when to use an app, when to agree a fare and why small rupee notes are useful.
Read guide →Ride appsUber or PickMe in Sri Lanka?
Uber and PickMe are both useful ride-hailing options in Sri Lanka. The official airport lists both services for Bandaranaike International Airport.
Read guide →PLAN THE ROUTE
Drivers and monsoons
A private driver can save time, while the two monsoons determine which coast works best.
Do I Need a Private Driver in Sri Lanka?
No, but a driver can make a multi-stop Sri Lanka trip easier. Trains and buses work for independent travel, while licensed chauffeur guides are a formal tourism category.
Read guide →WeatherBest Time to Visit Sri Lanka: Which Coast in Which Season?
Sri Lanka has two monsoon systems, so there is no single best month for the whole island. Southwest beaches are generally best in the northern winter; east-coast conditions improve during the southwest monsoon.
Read guide →EVERYDAY
Water, language and Poya days
Small practical questions that can change how you plan a day in Sri Lanka.
Can You Drink Tap Water in Sri Lanka?
For short-term travellers, sealed bottled or properly filtered/treated water is the cautious choice in Sri Lanka. Food and water hygiene matters, especially outside controlled settings.
Read guide →LanguageDo Sri Lankans Speak English?
Sinhala and Tamil are Sri Lanka’s official languages, while English is a link language and is widely useful for tourists, especially in tourism and transport.
Read guide →Poya DayWhat Is Closed on Poya Day in Sri Lanka?
No alcohol sales, some businesses closed, and special holiday hours. Know what changes before the full moon.
Read guide →OFFLINE
Going offline?
Save the Sri Lanka Offline Essentials pack before your train ride or road trip.
OFFLINE & MOBILE
Save Sri Lanka for offline use
Keep the practical pages you may need on trains, at the airport or on the road — even when mobile data is weak or unavailable.
Sri Lanka Offline Essentials
Save practical Sri Lanka travel instructions for trains, Kandy–Ella, airport transport, ride apps, cash, SIM cards and emergencies before you lose internet.
Open →SIM / eSIMTourist SIM & Mobile Data in Sri Lanka: Dialog, Mobitel and eSIM
Current tourist SIM and eSIM options in Sri Lanka, including Dialog and SLT-Mobitel plans, airport availability and what to save offline.
Read →