If you’re interested in finding the best beaches in Sri Lanka you’ll most likely end up at the east coast. The Trincomalee district is home to untouched coastlines and Nilaveli Beach is a good location to go for whale watching or diving.
Trincomalee itself is a small coastal town that never fails to amuse. You’ll find diversity, culture and religion by visiting the Koneswaram Temple and Fort Frederick. Trinco surprisingly has something for everybody.
These are my absolute favourite things to do in Trincomalee and surrounds.
9 THINGS TO DO IN TRINCOMALEE, SRI LANKA
9 THINGS TO DO IN TRINCOMALEE, SRI LANKA
1 | VISIT THE KONESWARAM TEMPLE
Trincomalee has some interesting Hindu temples to offer. One of them is the Koneswaram Kovil located between the walls of Fort Frederick. The colourful Koneswaram Temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and is really appealing to see during your stay in Trinco.
From the viewpoint next to the Koneswaram Temple you overlook one of the biggest natural harbours. Don’t let the big statue have all your attention, walking around the temple is really interesting and the details are attractive. Going inside the temple is not a problem if you respect religious customs.
A fun thing I stumbled on while doing research is the fact that I’ve seen several different pictures of the Shiva statue. It looks like they change the statue every year. If anybody knows the reason for this, I’ll find it really interesting so be free to let me know in the comments.
THE ESSENTIALS
Where | Koneswaram Temple, Trincomalee
Opening hours | Daily 06:00 – 13:00 and 16:00 – 18:45
2 | RELAX AT UPPUVELI BEACH
Most travellers that visit Trincomalee in Sri Lanka take Uppuveli as their base to explore the surrounded area. Uppuveli Beach is a small coastal town with plenty of trendy restaurants and a great overall atmosphere. From Uppuveli you can easily plan a whale watching trip or a visit to nearby Nilaveli Beach and Pigeon Island. While the other side of the town is your entrance to Fort Frederick and the Koneswaram Temple.
THE ESSENTIALS
Where | Uppuveli Beach, Trincomalee
3 | HANGOUT AT FERNANDO’S BAR
A great atmosphere directly at the beach makes Fernando’s the perfect place to hangout in Uppuveli. During the day you can enjoy fresh juices while relaxing on a sunbed. In the late afternoon, you can savour some sunset drinks while chilling in a hammock. Fernando’s Bar has both good local and western food on the menu. To be honest I think there are better dining options in Trincomalee.
THE ESSENTIALS
Where | Fernando’s Bar, Trincomalee
Opening hours | Sunday 07:30 – 21:30, Saturday 07:30 – 00:00
4 | VISIT FORT FREDERICK
Fort Frederick was once built by the Portuguese and is now used as an army base. Inside the Trincomalee Fort prevails a nice atmosphere and there is a lot of greenery to be found. The fort is home to many deers and the world-famous Koneswaram Temple. Just before you reach the temple you’ll find a few market stalls where you can enjoy fresh fruit juices while overlooking Trinco beach. This makes it perfect to visit early in the morning.
THE ESSENTIALS
Where | Fort Frederick, Trincomalee
Opening hours | Daily 06:00 – 22:00
5 | WALK ALONG THE UNTOUCHED COASTLINE OF NILAVELI BEACH
Nilaveli is a coastal town in the Trincomalee district on the east coast of Sri Lanka. Nilaveli Beach is known for being a quiet and secluded beach where the sand is white and the water is clear. The long untouched coastline of Nilaveli makes it one of the best beaches in Sri Lanka. Walking along the palms with your toes in the sand is the perfect way to spend some time relaxing in Trincomalee.
THE ESSENTIALS
Where | Nilaveli Beach, Trincomalee
How to get to Nilaveli Beach | To get to Nilaveli Beach from Trincomalee you have to take a 20-minute drive up north. The route itself is pretty straight forward, just follow the main road with your rental scooter or take a tuk-tuk.
6 | WANDER AROUND THE SRI PATHIRAKALI AMMAN KOVIL
The Pathirakali Amman Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakhali. The colourful kovil is one of the most interesting Hindu temples you’ll see while travelling in Sri Lanka. The temple is located opposite of the Trinco bus station and is definitely worth a visit. To fully experience the temple and all its little details take a calm walk around the various buildings.
THE ESSENTIALS
Where | Sri Pathirakali Amman Kovil, Trincomalee
Opening hours | Daily 06:30 – 13:00 and 16:00 – 18:30
7 | HAVE LUNCH AT CAFE ON THE 18TH
This trendy café is definitely one of the hotspots in Trincomalee. They serve good coffee, fresh juices and are well known for their delicious smoothie bowls and paninis.
With a cosy atmosphere, this is the café where you want to be for your breakfast or lunch.
THE ESSENTIALS
Where | Cafe on the 18th, Trincomalee
Opening hours | Daily 09:00 – 21:00
8 | WHALE WATCHING IN TRINCOMALEE
Trincomalee is often mentioned as the best destination when it comes to whale watching in Sri Lanka. When joining a Whale-watching tour you have the opportunity to encounter Blue whales, dolphins and in some cases Sperm whales. Expect a price of 5.500-6.500 LKR ($30-$35) per person for 2-3 hours of whale watching in Trincomalee.
BEST TIME TO GO WHALE WATCHING IN TRINCOMALEE
The whale watching season in Trincomalee runs from late March till early September. Did you know whale watching in Sri Lanka is good year-round? In Mirissa the season starts December and runs until April. This means Sri Lanka offers around 10 months of whale watching every year.
THE ESSENTIALS
Where | Uppuveli Beach, Trincomalee
Cost | 5.500 – 6.500 ($30-$35) per person
9 | GO DIVING OR SNORKELLING AT PIGEON ISLAND
Pigeon Island National park is one of the leading destinations when it comes to diving in Sri Lanka. Pigeon Island is a small island that floats in front of the coastline of Nilaveli Beach. The clear water around the island attracts those who are interested in scuba diving and snorkelling. From Nilaveli it takes only 10 minutes to reach the island by boat.
Entrance | The entrance fee to the Pigeon Island National Park is 1.500 LKR ($8). If you’re snorkelling or diving you don’t set any foot on land which means you don’t have to pay the entrance fee. To reach the island you have to arrange a boat trip which cost around 2.000-4.000 LKR ($11-$21). The boat prices vary depending on how long you plan to stay. Keep in mind that there are some extra costs for renting gear or bring your own.
THE ESSENTIALS
Where | Pigeon Island, Trincomalee
Cost | 2.000 – 4.000 LKR ($11-$21) per person
WHERE TO EAT IN TRINCOMALEE
NERO KITCHEN | If you’re hungry for Wood Fired pizza or pasta while in Trincomalee, Nero Kitchen is the place to go. Probably the best pizza you’ll find in Sri Lanka.
CAFE’ ON THE 18TH | A cosy cafe that serves good coffee, fresh juices and is well known for its delicious smoothie bowls and paninis.
TONIC’S | Go here for a great choice of local and western dishes that are priced fairly. Ooh, and they serve the best burgers in Trincomalee.
FERNANDO’S BAR | The perfect place for a late afternoon snack and some sunset drinks. You should definitely try their papadum with mango chutney.
TRINCOMALEE | TRAVEL ESSENTIALS AND TIPS
WHERE TO STAY IN TRINCOMALEE
The best area to stay in Trincomalee is without a doubt around Uppuveli Beach. The laidback area has a calm vibe and heaps of trendy restaurants to choose from. With a base at Uppuveli, you can easily reach Nilaveli beach or Fort Frederick, therefore I highly recommend it.
Surf Reef Dive Beach Palace | Comfortable, positioned on the beach and close to the main activities in Trincomalee.
OYO 310 Sea Lagoon Beach Hotel | Good rooms, a nice pool and close to Uppuveli beach.
Anantamaa Hotel | Luxurious spacious rooms, a great pool and a good price-quality-ratio.
Trinco Blu by Cinnamon | High-quality rooms, a large swimming pool and an in-house PADI certified diving centre.
Alternatively, search for accommodations in Trincomalee on booking.com.
WEATHER IN TRINCOMALEE | BEST TIME TO VISIT TRINCOMALEE
The average temperature in Trincomalee is 30°C year-round. The best time to visit is between January and September. From October to December you can expect more rainfall.
HOW TO GET AROUND TRINCOMALEE
If you’re looking for the freedom to explore Trincomalee and Nilaveli Beach, renting a scooter is your best option. Renting a scooter is around 1.200 to 1.500 LKR ($6.5-$8) a day and a full tank will cost you 600 LKR ($3.25). Driving a scooter in Trincomalee is safe. It is easier to take a tuk tuk for those who aren’t comfortable with driving a scooter.
HOW TO GET TO TRINCOMALEE
ANURADHAPURA TO TRINCOMALEE
Bus | You can take a direct bus three times a day at the Anuradhapura bus station. The journey to Trincomalee takes around 3 to 3,5 hours.
Cost | 300 LKR ($2)
SIGIRYA TO TRINCOMALEE
Tuk tuk to Inamaluwa | Take a 10-minute tuk tuk to the Inamaluwa bus station.
Cost | 500 LKR ($3.5)
Bus | At the Inamaluwa bus stop take the bus that came from Dambulla to Trincomalee. A 2.5-hour bus ride brings you directly to Trincomalee.
Cost | 130 LKR ($1)
DAMBULLA TO TRINCOMALEE
Bus to Trincomalee | The journey from Dambulla to Trincomalee is straightforward. A 3-hour bus ride brings you directly to Trincomalee.
Cost | 150 LKR ($1)
COLOMBO TO TRINCOMALEE
Bus | A direct, but intense journey. Takes around 7 hours to reach Trincomalee.
Cost | 300 LKR ($2)
STAY SAFE IN SRI LANKA | TRAVEL INSURANCE
Though Sri Lanka is perfectly safe for travellers, I always strive to sort out my travel insurance before arriving in a foreign country, and I highly advise anyone else to do the same.
Where we prefer that everything goes smoothly during our travels, something unfortunate can happen at any moment, whether it’s an injury or an accident on the road. When that happens, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Heymondo | Whether you’re going on a 3-week backpacking trip, or planning a long stay somewhere abroad, Heymondo has excellent insurance options either way – plus full covid-19 coverage and a handy app with 24-hour medical assistance. Readers of WTSW receive 5% off any insurance policy, more information here.
World Nomads | If you’re an adventure seeker, backpacker, or planning your once-in-a-lifetime world trip, make sure you check out World Nomads, they designed the perfect travel insurance to help you travel safer and smarter. Do note that they’re not covering covid-19 related claims.
