Travel tips
Sri Lanka honeymoon: 6 hotels for newlyweds
Lion Rock in the morning light, tea on the veranda in the hill country and a villa on a cliff above the Indian Ocean. These are the six hotels we would book for a Sri Lanka honeymoon, and the route between them.
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In short
Cape Weligama on the south coast is our first choice for a Sri Lanka honeymoon, with villas on a headland above the sea. Start with a tour of the Cultural Triangle and the hill country, then finish with 5 to 6 nights by the beach. December to April is the best time for the south coast.
Our first choice: See rooms at Cape Weligama
The tea estates in the hills are only a day’s drive from the beaches in the south. On the way you pass royal cities, rock temples and national parks. That is why a honeymoon in Sri Lanka is almost always two trips in one: first a tour with a driver, then a few quiet days by the sea.
How to plan the trip
A good two-week route looks like this:
Sigiriya and Dambulla, 3 nights: Lion Rock early in the morning and the cave temples at Dambulla.
The hill country, 2 to 3 nights: Tea estates, cool evenings and the train through the hills.
The south coast, 5 to 6 nights: Galle, Weligama and Mirissa, with beaches and whale watching in season.
Hiring a car with a driver between stops is common and affordable. The full day-by-day route, with Kandy and Yala, is in our Sri Lanka guide.
Our top picks
Best on the beach: Cape Weligama
Best architecture: Heritance Kandalama
Best in the hill country: Ceylon Tea Trails
Best value: Sri Sharavi Beach Villas & Spa
The Cultural Triangle: rock temples and wetlands
Sigiriya
The thatched villas sit among paddy fields and wetlands.
Jetwing Vil Uyana: a villa in the wetlands
Jetwing Vil Uyana is set among paddy fields and wetlands near Sigiriya, with villas under thatched roofs. In the morning Lion Rock is close by, so you can reach the top before the heat and the coaches arrive. Afterwards it is good to come back somewhere quiet again.
Best for: couples who want a peaceful base in the Cultural Triangle.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Jetwing Vil Uyana
Kandalama
The facade is almost hidden by the jungle.
Heritance Kandalama: Bawa’s hotel in the rock
The architect Geoffrey Bawa built the hotel into a rock face beside Kandalama lake, and today the facade is almost covered in green. From the rooms you look across the water towards Sigiriya. It is one of the best-known hotels on the island and a natural stop for anyone who loves architecture.
Best for: couples as interested in architecture as in the view.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Heritance Kandalama
The hill country: tea on the veranda
Hatton
The veranda looks out over the tea-covered hills.
Ceylon Tea Trails: all-inclusive among the tea estates
Ceylon Tea Trails is a collection of old planters’ bungalows scattered across the tea hills near Hatton, with fireplaces, verandas and gardens. Everything is included, and meals are served wherever you like, including private dinners for two. There are only 27 rooms, so you share the place with very few others. Read more in our Ceylon Tea Trails review.
Best for: couples who want a few days with no plans at all.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Ceylon Tea Trails
The hill country train
The line between Kandy and Ella runs through the tea estates.
The train through the hill country is an experience in itself, with tea estates on both sides. Reserve seats in advance, and try for a carriage with windows that open.
The south coast: beaches, a fort and whales
The south coast is where most people end the trip. The fort town of Galle is well preserved from colonial times, and the ramparts are lovely to walk at sunset. Whale-watching trips leave from Mirissa in season, and with some luck you may see blue whales.
Cape Weligama: a villa on the headland
Cape Weligama is a Relais & Châteaux resort on a headland high above the sea at Weligama, close to Turtle Bay beach. The resort has thirteen outdoor pools, and every villa has a balcony or terrace. After a week on the road, this is the place to stay put.
Best for: couples who want to end the trip with views and service.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Cape Weligama
Galle
The view from Jetwing Lighthouse runs straight out to the Indian Ocean.
Jetwing Lighthouse: Bawa by the sea outside Galle
Jetwing Lighthouse is another Geoffrey Bawa design, set on the rocks just outside Galle. The hotel has two outdoor pools, and every room has a balcony. From here it is a short trip to the ramparts and restaurants of the fort town.
Best for: couples who want to combine the beach with Galle.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Jetwing Lighthouse
Mirissa
The pool at Sri Sharavi in the evening.
Sri Sharavi Beach Villas & Spa: better value near Mirissa
Sri Sharavi is on the beach a few minutes’ drive from Mirissa, where the whale-watching boats leave in season. The hotel has a spa and yoga, and bikes are included. It is a more affordable choice and also features in our guide to cheap honeymoon destinations.
Best for: couples who want to spend more of the budget on the tour.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Sri Sharavi Beach Villas & Spa
When should you go to Sri Lanka?
The island has two monsoons, so it is always dry somewhere. The route above works best from December to April, when the south and west coasts, the hill country and the Cultural Triangle are in their dry season. The east coast around Trincomalee and Arugam Bay is best from May to September. October and November are often wet across much of the island.
Sri Lanka and the Maldives on one trip
The flight from Colombo to Malé is short, and many couples end their tour with a few nights in the Maldives instead of on the south coast. Six resorts we would choose are in our Maldives honeymoon guide.
Frequently asked questions about a Sri Lanka honeymoon
Is Sri Lanka good for a honeymoon?
Yes, especially for couples who want to see a lot on one trip. In two weeks you can fit in rock temples, tea estates, a safari and the beach, and the hotels offer good value. Several of the best known were designed by the architect Geoffrey Bawa. The usual plan is a tour with a driver and a few quiet days by the sea at the end.
Where should you stay in Sri Lanka for a honeymoon?
Stay near Sigiriya for the Cultural Triangle, among the tea estates around Hatton or in Ella in the hill country, and near Galle, Weligama or Mirissa on the south coast. Our first choice is Cape Weligama, with villas on a headland above the sea. Ceylon Tea Trails in the hills is the most memorable stop on the route.
When is the best time for a Sri Lanka honeymoon?
December to April is best for the classic route through the Cultural Triangle, the hill country and the south coast. From May to September the east coast is best, around Trincomalee and Arugam Bay. October and November are often wet across much of the island. Book early if you are travelling over Christmas and New Year.
How long should a Sri Lanka honeymoon be?
Two weeks gives you time for a tour and five or six nights by the beach. With ten days, choose either the Cultural Triangle or the hill country as well as the coast. Drives take time on winding roads, so avoid moving every day and allow at least two nights in each place.
Can you combine Sri Lanka and the Maldives on a honeymoon?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. The flight from Colombo to Malé is short, so you can tour Sri Lanka first and finish with four or five nights at a resort in the Maldives. That way you get both adventure and a pure beach holiday on the same trip.