Know Before You Go: Sri Lanka

~Visas~

• Get your visa online ahead of time! This will save you a little bit of money and hassle at the airport.

• For Americans, you get a 30 day visa. For other countries, check your local embassy website!

~Currency~

• Sri Lanka uses the Sri Lanka Rupee.

• 1 USD=299LKR

• Cash is King! 90% of establishments use cash only so make sure to always have cash on you.

• The ATM will always charge a small fee so take out large chunks at a time. You can use the ATM at the airport so you can pay your tuk tuk or taxi in cash.

• In general, Sri Lanka is very cheap to travel. But if you go to more western restaurants it can get a bit pricier.

~SIM card~

• I highly recommend getting a local SIM card at the airport. Usually I would say the airport is the most expensive place to get the SIM but in Sri Lanka there really is nowhere else for tourists to get one.

• You can also get an eSIM but the local SIMs are cheaper and better connectivity.

~Transportation~

• Transportation in Sri Lanka is dirt cheap!! I'm talking 30 cents for a train ride cheap. So use local buses and trains when possible!

• Some areas you will have to take a tuk tuk or taxi. These are also really cheap and you can bargain. If you pay face value for the tuk tuk ride, you are getting ripped off.

• I rented a tuk tuk with my friend for the month and we drove ourselves all around the country. Highly recommend this if you like a little adventure!

• You could also hire a tuk tuk driver. It's very cheap if you split the cost.

~Safety~

• In general, Sri Lanka felt very safe. The locals are very kind and respectful.

• As always, lock up your valuables in the hostel. Don't walk around with your phone in your back pocket. Don't take all your cash with you on a night out.

• Don't drink the tap water!!! Bottled only. 3rd world country, don't forget.

~Weather~

• Sri Lanka does have two different monsoon seasons.

• If you want to see the beaches in the West and South the best months are December-March.

• For the North and East the best months are April-September.

• I traveled during December and did the south and middle of the country and had no rain in the south and a little rain in Ella but not bad at all.

~Food to Try~

• Rice and curry-A staple meal that comes with several different vegetable curries and a meat option

• Kottu Roti-A mix of chopped roti, vegetables, and your choice of meat. I ate this everyday. Cheap and delicious.

• Hoppers- A bowl-shaped pancake made from fermented rice flour with an egg inside. Great local breakfast option.