Galle
The ever-beaming owner of this guesthouse offers decent, basic rooms and a perfect people-watching balcony. Economy rooms are somewhat cramped, but you…
Must-see hotels in Sri Lanka
The South
About 250m from the beach, this guesthouse has rooms split between humble bungalows (best) and a rather looming three-storey main building. Decor is…
Colombo
Great value and style in a central location are the appeal of this clean and well-run hotel. The four- and six-bed dorm rooms have a dash of style, while…
Tangalla & Around
This older property has rooms in cement bungalow-style units. The site is nicely shaded with mature plants, while the open-front cafe has a good water's…
Weligama
The ocean is your pool at this beachside hotel. Facilities are aging a little, but the rooms are comfortable enough, and some have air-con, those upstairs…
Kandy
Terracotta tiles and French doors lead to balconies with, from some rooms, excellent forest views. The rooms are spacious and airy, and you can look…
Kandy
Boutique hotel in a suburban location atop the hills of Kandy. The rooms enjoy wonderful views from their balconies and are some of the largest in town,…
Ella
This long-running place has views of Ella Gap to die for from its terrace, and is surrounded by verdant gardens, giving a sense of privacy. Rooms are…
Anuradhapura
This excellent-value guesthouse has nine spacious rooms in a huge Spanish-style villa. Rooms aren't exactly stylish, but come with air-con and a fridge,…
The Hill Country
Out of town, surrounded by forest, this Tarzan-style den has a very rustic theme, with its bamboo beds and decor. The helpful owners organise good trips…
Arugam Bay
Slightly up a hill and a three-minute walk from the beach, this newish place has four pleasantly large rooms. There are fridges and little porches with…
Unawatuna
This bright three-storey guesthouse is close to the beach and has pleasant communal balconies for chilling. The tidy and spacious rooms are well…
Tissamaharama
This modern, architecturally pleasing hotel has a contemporary feel and there's a choice of accommodation: air-con rooms are inviting and well presented,…
Colombo
A good no-frills option in a central location. Rooms in this multistorey building have bold colour accents and tile floors. Bathrooms have showers; there…
Kataragama
This cheery little guesthouse is right on the main drag of the quiet strip that passes for Kataragama's centre. The 10 rooms are brightly painted and all…
Tissamaharama
Just 100m from the bus station, the functional, decent-value rooms here are divided between the main building and quieter block out back. All have air-con…
The South
Offering clean tiled rooms with fresh linen, mosquito nets and cold-water en suites, this is a good choice located just 200m from the beach. The owners…
Colombo
This place has three tidy, very basic rooms that surround a leafy courtyard in a five-star part of Colombo. It’s a secure refuge for female travellers;…
Bentota, Aluthgama & Induruwa
This solid, midrange option has spacious and well-thought-out rooms with a taste for vaguely erotic art. All rooms have balconies and the araliya-tree…
Tangalla & Around
Run by a bunch of energetic and music-loving young guys, this guesthouse has large, airy, tidy rooms and is popular with backpackers. This is a good place…
Kandy
Located 3km southwest of the centre, this friendly hostel is run by helpful people and offers very cheap beds in mixed dorms. They've a guests' kitchen…
Negombo
An excellent, budget beachfront option with Arabian-style arched portals and neatly tiled rooms that have a balcony/terrace and odd tent-like mosquito…
The East
Run by a welcoming family, this basic aqua-and-white guesthouse occupies a shady plot on a quiet side street, two blocks from the town centre. The nine…
Jaffna
Very basic accommodation at a small house just northwest of the centre. The two rooms are spotless and the family owners couldn't be nicer. There's a…
Colombo
A little lane provides breathing room from the Colombo 4 hubbub for this 14-room inn with a minimalist motif. There is a small bamboo-filled courtyard and…
Tangalla & Around
Right on the beachfront road, east of the centre, this budget-friendly place has basic (a bit dark, but clean) fan-cooled rooms with mosquito nets, and…
Negombo
There's an inviting family vibe to this smart guesthouse a short stroll back from the main strip. Rooms are spacious and immaculate and have little…
Colombo
A real urban retreat, the 15 rooms here have a light colour scheme and are flooded with light. Many have balconies. It's down a quiet lane away from…
Hikkaduwa & Around
This slice of a guesthouse has well-furnished upper-floor air-conditioned rooms overlooking the beach, and cheaper but darker side rooms that have more of…
Arugam Bay
Right on the beach by the fishing boats, but tucked away in a garden. Staff are helpful, and rooms, though small, have little porches. The cheaper rooms…
Colombo
This four-storey hotel features 16 tidy rooms. There’s an internal courtyard and many of the rooms have a small balcony. The engaging staff are helpful.
Trincomalee
Right on Dutch Bay Beach, this simple guesthouse has a narrow front on the sand. The basic rooms, spread across three storeys, are clean.
Colombo
This soaring new top-end hotel is 47 storeys tall and will have 475 rooms when it opens by 2018.
Colombo
Looming behind Galle Face Green, this new luxury resort has 500 rooms and should open by 2018.
The East
In a leafy neighbourhood 1km south of the centre, the likeable Monty is a well-run place. Design-wise, it's slightly quirky: some communal areas resemble…
The Hill Country
Nature conservation – Mahausakande is part of a rainforest regeneration project – healthy and holistic eating, and nature walks are the attractions at…
Sigiriya
This centrally located guesthouse is cheered up by plants and canary-yellow walls. The nine rooms at the rear are a little chintzy, but fair value, and…
Jaffna & the North
The Nelly has an ungainly appearance. You enter through a banquet hall. But its wide choice of large rooms offer decent value and are the best choice in…
The Hill Country
This hotel, with its partially obscured mountain views and a pool fringed by tropical forest, is a reasonable choice. Decor is a bit dated throughout:…
Nuwara Eliya
It’s a century since this property did service as the residence of the colonial governor. Today he would be doubtless be underwhelmed with the poorly…
