Weligama was not the first place I went in Sri Lanka, but it was the place I spent the most amount of time in and which I grew to love the most. As much as I loved the hippy chic atmosphere of Hikkaduwa, the gorgeous beaches of Mirissa or the inspiring temples of Colombo, Weligama was top of my list of places to stay in Sri Lanka.
This was for a number of reasons, but two of the main ones were:
Price: it was by far the cheapest place to stay, given that it’s less developed than many of the other places you’ll find on Sri Lanka travel guides.
Location: if you’re planning on travelling up and down the southern coast of Sri Lanka, Weligama is excellently positioned to be your base of operations, as it is centrally located between all the main attractions in this area.
It’s worth noting that our style of travel may differ from yours, so your mileage may vary. We are long term travellers and tend to bed down in a single location for several weeks or months at a time. If you’re flying in and out of Sri Lanka in a week to 10 days, then you might be better off spending a few nights in each town along the coast. If you’re trying to decide between Weligama or Mirissa, my advice is that Weligama is better for a longer stay, whereas Mirissa would be better if you’re on a short holiday. Check out our list of the best beaches in Sri Lanka for other ideas on where to stay in Sri Lanka if you’re only planning on spending a few days in the country.
Contents
- Weligama Basics: Practical Tips
- Getting Around In Weligama
- Things To Do In Weligama (With Kids)
- Kustaraja Gala
- Take a Surfing Lesson on Weligama Beach
- Yoga
- Visit Taprobane Island
- Take a Tour of a Tea Plantation
- Where to Eat in Weligama
- Weligama Fish Market
- Zam Zam Hotel
- Hangten Rooftop at the Hangtime Hostel
- Nomad Café
- Endless Summer Bistro
- Weligama Bay Marriott Hotel
- Top Tips
Weligama Basics: Practical Tips
- There are four ATM locations in Weligama, but only two accept Visa cards–DFCC Bank and People’s Bank–so be sure to use the correct ones. They can be found here and here.
- The internet throughout Weligama is not great. If you’re struggling to get a connection and desperate for free, fast and reliable internet for work, the Weligama Bay Marriott Resort is a life-saver.
- Cargills is the most convenient place to pick up groceries, but if you want to feel like a real local, head to Global Shopping, where you can buy everything from cumin seeds to washing machines. It’s Sri Lanka’s answer to the department store and has almost everything you could possible need, and was cheaper that Cargills (especially on items like nappies).
Getting Around in Weligama
Like most of the gorgeous towns along the paradise southern coast of Sri Lanka, Weligama is relatively small and you should have no issues getting around, even on foot.
Tuk-tuk
By far my most tried and tested method of transportation in Weligama (and Sri Lanka in general) was the mighty tuk-tuk.
Journeys within Weligama rarely cost more than 200 LKR / £0.85 / $1.10, depending on the distance.
As always, it’s crucial to negotiate the rate with your tuk-tuk driver prior to getting in and taking the journey. It was rate, but a few tuk-tuk drivers took liberties when it came to fares when I’d forgotten to do this, charging as much as 400 LKR / £1.70 / $2.30 for a comparable journey.
It’s worth bearing in mind that, at the end of the day, you’re negotiating over a few dollars, so it’s not like you’re getting too ripped off, but if you’re travelling on a budget, it’s the little savings that add up in the long term.
Almost all tuk-tuk drivers will try and give you their mobile number to persuade you to call them for future journeys. If you find a driver you really get on who charges competitive rates, this might be worth it. However, I found that there were so many tuk-tuks around town that it was often quicker and easier to just jump into the nearest one.
Taxi
Almost all tuk-tuk drivers will also double as a taxi driver for long distance journeys, either with their own vehicle or one that they’ve rented or borrowed from friends or family. Weligama is so small that it doesn’t make sense to organise taxis for travelling within the town, but if you’re looking to move on to your next destination and have too much luggage for buses, tuk-tuks or trains (as I did), it makes sense to pre-book these.
Train
Weligama has a comparatively well serviced train station in the centre of town. From this station, you can get very affordable journeys from Colombo, up and down the southern coast of Sri Lanka, or inland to tourist destinations like Ella or Kandy.
Trains run infrequently in Sri Lanka and especially in Weligama, so be sure to check train times in advance and, if possible, book your tickets in advance too.
Bus
The rule of the road in Sri Lanka is that the bigger the vehicle, the more right of way it has on the road. With this in mind, the buses in Sri Lanka are the kings of the road. They brake for no one and it behoves any tuk-tuk driver, scooter rider or pedestrian to be aware of this and get out of their way as quickly as possible.
Things To Do In Weligama (With Kids)
Kustaraja Gala
Weligama, unlike its neighbours Unawatuna and Galle, is relatively light on cultural and historical landmarks. The good news is that one of the only ancient the Kustaraja Gala is near the centre of town, walking distance from the beach.
Our tuk-tuk driver told us the statue was 800 years old, although Google tells me it’s closer to 1,200 years old, so I’m not sure who to believe.
The statue itself is worth the visit, but bear in mind that it’s located in a very small park with nothing else to see or do, so don’t expect to make a day of this excursion. This is very much something to do while on the way to somewhere else, as you’re likely to spend 10-15 minutes here.
Take a Surfing Lesson on Weligama Beach
The bottom line is that you simply can’t come to Weligama and not do a surfing lesson. From one end to the other, the entire beach is lined with ramshackle surf schools, all offering surfboard rental, surfing lessons and fresh fruit and drinks, with some decending into evening parties on special occasions.
It doesn’t pay to shop around, as they’re all identically priced. You’ll pay 250 LKR / £1 / $1.40 to rent a board for an hour or 800 LKR / £3.40 / $4.50 if you’re renting a board for the entire day.
Throw in a surf lesson and you’ll pay 2,500 LKR / £11 / $14 for an hour and a half with a surf instructor (including surf board rental), all in.
The beauty of Weligama Bay’s waves is that they were seemingly designed for beginners. All walks of life, some our 4-year-old, to gap year students, to middle-aged office workers all seemed to be able to stand up on the board and enjoy themselves after a single surf lesson.
If you are already an advanced surfer and find Weligama too easy, you can head into Midigama and Ahangama (Fishermans, Lazy Left, Rams are the surf spots) for a tougher wave. Midigama is a tiny surf village and has the sweetest little skate park
Yoga
Yoga is as much a part of southern Sri Lanka as surfing and fruit juice, so you’ll find no shortage of places to get in hour session.
Hangtime Hostel offers drop in sessions, or you can purchase a set of 5.
Visit Taprobane Island
Taprobane Island just off Weligama Beach, is Sri Lanka’s only privately owned island. It also served as inspiration for one of Kylie Minogue’s worst songs–Taprobane (Extraordinary Day).
The island, which is an Instagram favourite, is in shallow waters but is only accessible by wading through the sea.
If you’re feeling flush, you can rent the villa on Taprobane Island from between $1,000 and $2,200 a night, depending on the season. However, the rest of us have to make do with a walk along Weligama Beach for a photo opportunity in front of the iconic island.
Read more: Taprobane Island
Take a Tour of a Tea Plantation
If you’re spending the majority of your time on the south coast of Sri Lanka, hugging your way around the idyllic Sri Lankan coastline and have resigned yourself to the fact that you aren’t going to be able to see any of the famous tea plantations around Ella and Kandy, fear not.
We were delighted to discover that Weligama is a mere half an hour tuk-tuk ride away from the only tea plantation on the southern coast of Sri Lanka–Handunugoda Tea Estate, which offered a full tour of the plantation and tea tasting absolutely free.
Read more: Handunugoda Tea Estate: A Tea-Lover’s Paradise on the Sri Lankan Coast
Where to Eat in Weligama
Sri Lanka is a food island. Virtually everything that grows in Sri Lanka is edible, so if you’re in the mood for fresh fish, exotic fruit and delicious vegetables, then you’re in luck. Here are some of the restaurants and cafes that I tried in Weligama and can recommend to you.
Read more: Sri Lankan Food Guide | What Do People Eat in Sri Lanka?
Weligama Fish Market
My biggest regret is that I only discovered this gem a few days before we left Weligama. The fishing boats that are dotted along the bay at night bring their haul of fish on shore on the morning and sell them directly on the beach at the Weligama Fish Market.
I had noticed the fish market before during our stay and made a note to check it out, but kept putting it off because I wasn’t sure how I would prepare anything that we bought at the market.
However, it turns out the fisherman will prepare and BBQ the food for you right on the beach.
Where else can you get a crayfish, a red snapper and 1kg of prawns, prepared for you on the beach and washed down with some cold beers for under 4500 LKR / £20 / $26?
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also buy the fish to take home and cook yourselves, but you’re not going to beat the Weligama beach setting, with fresh crayfish and a cold Lion beer.
Zam Zam Hotel
Zam Zam Hotel is something of an institution in Weligama. It was recommended to us by a friend who had stayed there and I’m really glad it was, as we probably would have missed it had we not been told to try it out.
The food is some of the more affordable you’ll find in Weligama, as well as some of the best. Authentic Sri Lankan kottu, biryani or pastries abound. Expect to pay around 300 LKR / £1.30 / $1.70 for a meal here. It’s always busy, with a great local vibe.
Hangten Rooftop at the Hangtime Hostel
Boasting the best views in Weligama, the Hangten Rooftop was the setting I decided to do most of my remote working from.
Nomad Café
A “flexitarian” café specialising in vegetarian and vegan food, Nomad Café is a great find if you’re looking for a western breakfast or brunch prepared with fresh ingredients.
The café is owned by a Brit and is priced accordingly. Expect to prices comparable to those you’re used to paying back in London or New York.
Endless Summer Bistro
Tucked away next to a drainage canal at the end of a t-junction, it’s easy to miss this café. The day we went, the food somehow took over an hour to prepare, despite us being the only 4 people in the restaurant, but it was worth it when it arrived.
Fresh ingredients and flavours, with a perfect fusion between western and Sri Lankan dishes.
Endless Summer Bistro is dog-friendly.
Weligama Bay Marriott Hotel
It pains me to add something like a Marriott chain hotel to a list like this, but there is something to be said about the buffet breakfasts and lunches that they offer daily.
At first glance, it is much pricier than everything else in town–you will pay 2,500 LKR / £10 / $14 per person for breakfast–but when you consider that kids under 6 eat for free, it becomes a lot more affordable. When you eat so much that you don’t need lunch (like I always did), it just makes financial sense to treat yourself.
Breakfast is available until 10:30 every weekday and 11:00 on weekends. The food they have on offer runs the gambit from local Sri Lankan cuisine, Chinese and Indian to western favourites like omelettes, pastries, cakes and cereals.
Top Tips
- All the surf schools on the beach cost the same, so don’t bother shopping around.
- If you’re struggling to find reliable internet, the Weligama Bay Marriott Resort WiFi is fast and reliable and free to use if you sit in the bar and have a drink.
- Stick to Sri Lankan food if you want to keep things affordable. International food can be 3x – 4x the price of local dishes.
- Don’t bother taking a buggy or stroller if you have a toddler. You’ll struggle to find any stretch of pavement that you can use it on and are better off carrying your kids or using a baby carrier.
- Spend a night or two on safari with the elephants in Udawalawe National Park.
- There’s a small but working kids play park in the Weligama town centre if you’re looking for things to do with the kids.
