1. Visit Dalawella Beach

Just south of Unawatuna’s bustling main beach lies Dalawella Beach, one of my favourite beaches and probably the most famous and picturesque stretch of beach you’ll find in Sri Lanka.

With an incredible scenic rock formation, a thrilling beach swing, and an abundance of low-bending palm trees, Dalawella Beach has become a picture-perfect hotspot in Sri Lanka.

If you’re into serious photography, it’s best to visit the palm swing early morning or during sunset. It is quite busy here all day, especially after it went viral on Instagram.

The palm tree swing is located at the Dream Cabana guesthouse and costs 500 LKR ($2.75) for 3-5 rope swings.

While it isn’t just the trendy palm tree swing that makes Dalawella Beach so popular, it is quite entertaining and surely one of the best things to do in Unawatuna.

Besides these trendy points of interest, Dalawella Beach is fairly quiet compared to Unawatuna Beach making it perfect for an early morning stroll, a refreshing dive and an afternoon of sunbathing.

2. Learn to surf in Unawatuna

Although Unawatuna isn’t my favourite place to surf on Sri Lanka’s vibrant south coast, there is a beach that offers excellent waves for beginners who wish to learn the basics.

Bona Vista Bay is a small beginner-friendly beach that is located between Unawatuna and Galle. On both the beach and in the town, you’ll find surf schools that provide great instructors and board rentals.

Anyhow, if you’re eager to catch the best possible waves while in Sri Lanka, I deeply recommend heading towards Hikkaduwa, Mirissa (Weligama), or Arugam Bay. These coastal towns are considered some of the best surfing destinations on the island, and that’s for a good reason.

4. Have brunch at Skinny Tom’s Deli

Let me get straight to it, Skinny Tom’s serves the best brunch in town.

The European-style café has a great reputation on Sri Lanka’s southern coast, which makes perfect sense given the excellent variety of Sri Lankan and international brunch options.

Dishes that are definitely worth trying include their life-changing bacon, dhal & egg hoppers, fresh eggs benedict toast, and if you have a sweet tooth, don’t forget to give their artisanal cake and dessert options a try.

They also serve exceptional coffee, fresh-pressed juices and handcrafted sodas, which are all too yummy to miss out on.

Skinny Tom’s Deli has a high reputation in Unawatuna, and I think you should visit at least once. If that’s the case, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll visit again.

5. Chill and relax at Jungle Beach

Slightly off the beaten path lies Jungle Beach, a secluded stretch of beach that is considerably quiet compared to Unawatuna’s lively main beach.

When I heard of Jungle Beach from a fellow traveller, the beach immediately piqued my interest, and once I arrived in Unawatuna I decided to give it a visit.

After a 30-minute hike through the jungle, I set foot on Jungle Beach’s first beach, which was surprisingly crowded. And so I quickly realised that the ‘hidden’ beach had become extremely popular with both tourists and locals alike.

There is however a second more tucked-away beach, which is still pretty quiet and characterized by a charming tropical ambience. This one is also home to a small beach bar and is perfect for an afternoon of swimming and relaxing.

While Jungle Beach is pretty similar to Secret Beach in Mirissa, it’s definitely worth a visit when you’re in Unawatuna.

6. Do a day trip to Galle Fort

Perched on the cliffs of Sri Lanka’s spirited south coast, is the historic Galle Fort.

Galle Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site constructed by the Dutch in 1663, and taking a stroll along the narrow, authentic streets evokes the feeling of being in the VOC era.

The charm that defines the Galle Fort area today is realized by crumbling Dutch colonial buildings, trendy contemporary cafés, and an inviting, tropical atmosphere.

The historical fort area houses a bunch of breathtaking points of interest; the famous Galle Lighthouse, the Dutch Reformed Church, the subliminal interior, and the fort’s firm outer ramparts, just to mention a few.

The Galle Fort has an incredibly rich history, and if you ask me, it’s one of the things that shouldn’t be missed in your Sri Lanka itinerary. Galle makes a perfect day trip for those who are keen to explore the Fort.

7. Visit the sea turtle hatchery in Habaraduwa

Sri Lanka is known as the habitat of five distinct species of sea turtles, including Loggerhead, Olive Ridley, Green, Hawksbill, and Leatherhead turtles.

Although turtle hatcheries often have a bad reputation, the sea turtle hatchery in Habaraduwa looked as if they genuinely cared about the conservation of turtles.

The Habaraduwa Turtle Hatchery is a non-profit organisation that focuses on the conservation and protection of turtles that are endangered by extinction.

The caring people at the hatchery do their utmost to rescue and care for injured turtles, while also buying eggs from poachers to hatch and protect them from any danger.

After hatching, the baby turtles are supposed to be released in the ocean within four days, which creates the possibility for travellers to release one, which is an amazing experience.

Although we never know for sure, it seems that the sea turtle hatchery in Habaraduwa is a responsible and ethical organisation.

In the end, it’s up to you if you choose to visit a turtle hatchery in Sri Lanka.

8. Swim and unwind at Unawatuna Beach

Unawatuna Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Sri Lanka, and therefore favourite among locals and travellers alike.

Despite the fact that it is quite popular, the wide-stretched beach is still perfect for an afternoon of swimming, relaxing and sunset drinks.

The beach at Unawatuna offers a handful of spots that are great for swimming and a large stretch of the beach houses vibrant beach bars that provide sunbeds that are up for rent.

Since the beach connects perfectly with the vibrant main street of Unawatuna, it houses many trendy restaurants and bars, which ensures a laidback backpacker vibe throughout the entire town.

If being idle isn’t for you, take a relaxing walk to the Pagoda up north, which provides a stunning view over Unawatuna’s golden sanded coastline.

9. Have dinner at Bedspace Kitchen

Tucked away in an elegant garden of calm at only a stone’s throw away from Unawatuna’s lively main road lies Bedspace Kitchen, a trendy fusion restaurant that serves the most excellent local and western dishes.

Their menu consists of a wide variety of top-notch dishes, including black pork curry, coconut lemon-grass soup, the Bedspace burger (which was extremely yummy), and pumpkin gnocchi, to mention a few.

But what appealed to me even more, was the fact that most of the used ingredients at Bedspace are organic and local produce, which is directly related to the help and support of the local community.

Although the food is slightly higher priced than elsewhere in Sri Lanka, Bedspace won’t disappoint and it’s definitely worth the splurge.

That said, it is wise to book ahead, as it is a wildly popular eatery.

10. Admire the iconic stilt fishermen in Koggala

Stilt fishing is an iconic phenomenon, occurring just about everywhere along Sri Lanka’s entire southern coastline.

These groups of traditional fishermen sit far from the shore atop a creatively composed seat made of a pole, branches and twine, waiting to reel in their catch of the day.

Even though the stilt fishermen make it look effortless, it requires a great amount of skill, balance and most importantly, patience.

Unfortunately, the tradition slowly fades away, with the sad knowledge that it may well entirely disappear in the near future.

After the tsunami that hit Sri Lanka in 2004, much of the coastline has been irreparably harmed, which largely reduced the possibility of executing this authentic fishing technique.

As a result, many authentic stilt fishermen rent their stilts to men who pose as fishermen, with the goal of earning a living as a tourist attraction, which makes perfect sense if you ask me.

This traditional, yet extraordinary fishing technique is a tremendous element in Sri Lanka’s rich culture, and for that reason, not to be missed.