Practical tips for your Sri Lanka trip

Money and cards

• The currency is the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR).
• Cards (Visa and Mastercard) are accepted in most hotels, larger restaurants and shops. You need cash for tuk-tuks, small shops, entrance fees at some temples and tips.
• ATMs are easy to find in towns. Use machines inside or next to a bank branch.
• Euros and US dollars can be exchanged at banks and at the airport.

Tipping

Tips are not included in our prices and are your choice, but they are a usual part of life in Sri Lanka. A common guideline:

• Your driver: about LKR 3,500 to 4,500 per day for your group, given at the end of the trip.
• Site guides: about LKR 1,000 to 1,500 per hour.
• Jeep drivers, boat crews, hotel staff: a few hundred rupees.

Power and plugs

230 volts. The standard plug is the British three-pin type G, but you will also find older round-pin sockets. Bring a universal travel adapter.

Phone and internet

Buy a local SIM card or eSIM at the airport (for example from Dialog or SLT-Mobitel). Data is cheap, and coverage is good in most places you will visit. Most hotels have Wi-Fi.

Temples and dress code

• Cover your shoulders and knees at temples and religious sites.
• Take off your shoes and hats before you enter. Bring socks for hot stone floors.
• Never turn your back to a Buddha statue for a photo, and do not pose with statues.
• Tattoos showing the Buddha can cause serious problems; cover them.
• Ask before you take photos of people, especially monks.

Health

• Talk to your doctor or a travel clinic about vaccinations a few weeks before you travel.
• Dengue fever is spread by mosquitoes, also during the day. Use a good repellent and wear long, light clothes in the evening.
• Drink bottled or filtered water. We provide water in the car.
• The sun is strong. Use sun cream, a hat and drink plenty.

Safety

Sri Lanka is generally a safe and friendly country to travel in. Use normal care with valuables, especially in busy places and on trains. Swim only where it is safe and the sea is calm; some beaches have strong currents. For current official advice, see the German Foreign Office or UK travel advice.

Time and language

• Time zone: UTC+5:30.
• Languages: Sinhala and Tamil. English is widely spoken in hotels, by drivers and in tourist areas.
• A few words go a long way: Ayubowan (hello, in Sinhala) and Vanakkam (hello, in Tamil). Sthuthi means thank you in Sinhala.

Read more: Is Sri Lanka safe to travel in 2026?