The South
A stylish, upmarket guesthouse with six rooms (some open-sided, so expect some noise, others enclosed and air-conditioned) and there's a spacious chill…
Must-see hotels in The South
Ahangama & Midigama
Long-time owners Jai and his wife Sumana offer 19 very different rooms, from hot concrete cubes with shared bathrooms to pleasing individual cabanas and…
Unawatuna
A charming – and yes, a bird-loving – family run this guesthouse. It's simple, clean and close to the beach, with both old rooms and better modern rooms…
Tangalla & Around
Everything you need to know about Cinnabar is that one of its rooms is a treehouse. If you're bored it wouldn't be much effort to find driftwood on the…
Weligama
Located in Weligama's most attractive and peaceful location, this villa complex enjoys a delightful ocean-front situation and its air-conditioned villas …
Unawatuna
Offering character and charm, this attractive buttercup-yellow villa was built in 1900 and has a lush garden to enjoy (where you may spot monkeys, monitor…
Tangalla & Around
This smart three-storey hotel has nine very attractive rooms featuring stylish modern furniture; book one on the upper floor for full-frontal sea views…
Unawatuna
A sociable hostel run by helpful crew with four mixed dorms, all with shared bathrooms, and a double room with an en suite. There's a nice roof terrace, a…
Mirissa
Formerly a dated concrete hotel, this place has been reinvented as a contemporary abode thanks to a successful renovation. The bright rooms are very…
Ahangama & Midigama
This attractive family-run surf inn has a pretty garden and five fan-cooled rooms, two with en suite bathrooms and one which can sleep up to four people…
Tissamaharama
In a quiet and remote location about 3km west of central Tissa, this small hotel has a grand lakeside setting on Wirawila Wewa. There's nothing other than…
The South
Five small artistically decorated rooms in a guesthouse known for its good vibes and chilled atmosphere; you'll pay extra for air-con. The rooms are a tad…
Yala National Park
Only 4km from the park entrance, this posh resort is set amid the dunes near the beach. Its modish rooms boast stunning views from their balconies, or…
Mirissa
This colonial-style, colonnaded L-shaped two-storey hotel is right on its own patch of beach and has a good in-house restaurant. The nine rooms are…
Mirissa
A fine little guesthouse with just three very clean and spacious rooms located in a separate block to the side of a garden compound. All have a front…
Tissamaharama
Scoring high marks for value, cleanliness and comfort, this place has two attractive white villas; you can either rent a room (all have en suite bathrooms…
Tissamaharama
Around 5km east of Tissa Lake in a rural location, surrounded by fields and flocks of peacocks, these spacious bungalows have a rustic touch, big verandas…
Tangalla & Around
A German-run beachside place set in luxuriant gardens with bungalows decorated with vintage furniture, including lovely carved wardrobes. The compound has…
Unawatuna
This little English-run gem of a guesthouse has five spacious rooms, all with air-con and ceiling fans, that are very comfortable and have nice private…
Galle
A bright, inviting guesthouse that features very good hostel rooms. Each has three or four beds, is fan-cooled and boasts reading lights and lockers. Two…
The South
There's a row of simple beach-chic rooms here at the back of the restaurant, all thoughtfully designed in creams and whites; the beds have deep,…
Mirissa
This welcoming two-storey homestay features simple, attractive rooms painted in cheery colours, and big smiles from the owners. It's a five-minute walk…
The South
This is a small boutique hotel, where wood and stone combine to create a Zen-like sense of happiness (the ocean-side setting, coconut-tree-studded lawn…
Galle
Built as a 19th-century P&O captain’s residence in the heyday of British mercantile supremacy, this rambling hotel sits on a promontory with views over…
The South
Right next to a wild, oceanic, boulder-strewn beach, this quirky compound is perfect for long days exploring the coast and for those that enjoy nature…
Mirissa
Each of the eight lovely rooms in this colonial-style manor is uniquely decorated in a bright and modern fashion and represents good value. The more…
Galle
Frangipani is a comfortable family-run guesthouse with rooms in two buildings that straddle Pedlar St. Choose from five different price tariffs; the most…
Bundala National Park
A friendly homestay 2km east of Bundala National Park's northern entrance gate. Rooms are functional; some suffer a little from traffic noise, but those…
The South
This feels more like a private estate than a small hotel, with its expansive grounds and rooms in a colonial house (or cottages). Personal service is…
Mirissa
Adrift in a web of rural lanes a five-minute walk inland from the highway, this family-owned place has a selection of agreeable rooms and cottages…
Galle
Parts of this large resort hotel, located 3km up the coast from the Fort, were designed by legendary Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa, though other…
Unawatuna
At the heart of this compound is an atmospheric 1735 Dutch colonial mansion, which is slightly tumbledown but perfectly enchanting. Rooms are divided…
Kataragama
The smartest address in the area is the Rosen, which is surrounded by woodlands 2km south of the centre. The rooms are good, but the hotel’s most unusual…
Galle
High in the hills above Galle this elegant country villa (built in 1712) has been expertly converted into a heritage hotel, with just four suites. After a…
Tissamaharama
Set in mature gardens around a heat-busting pool, these spacious rooms are perhaps a little old-fashioned, but they are comfortable and the location is…
Mirissa
You get no points for guessing the nationalities of the owners of this immaculate six-room hotel on its own little beach west of Mirissa. Rooms feature…
The South
From the outside this vast place, with its high walls, looks exactly like a prison and a formidable one at that. But inside you'll find it's all wide open…
Tangalla & Around
Located close to town, this guesthouse is a designers' nightmare – the garish, clashing decor, dodgy murals and dated furnishings could not be more…
Unawatuna
This Italian-owned house has four intimate rooms that have been decorated in a Rome-meets-the-tropics fusion. It's got a large terrace that's great for…
Tangalla & Around
On a breathtaking stretch of near-deserted beach, this long-running place has rustic chic cabanas, some of which feature lots of twisted driftwood. All…
