Sri Lanka in December & January: Christmas, New Year and Where the Weather Is Best
Sri Lanka over Christmas and New Year: which coast is sunny, our holiday route, Poya days, the hill-country train in 2026-27 and booking tips.
We spent Christmas and New Year in Sri Lanka with our kids, then aged five and nine, from 23 December 2018 into early January 2019: Christmas morning at the foot of Sigiriya, an elephant river crossing at Udawalawe on 30 December, and New Year on the sand at Mirissa. December and January are peak season on the south and west coasts. Here is what that means for your trip this winter.
Which Side of the Island Is Sunny in December and January?
Sri Lanka has two monsoons that hit different coasts at different times. In December and January:
- West and south coasts (Negombo, Galle, Mirissa): dry season, sunny and around 30°C. This is where to spend your beach days.
- Cultural Triangle (Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla): mostly dry by late December, with the odd shower.
- Hill country (Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella): pleasant days but cool nights and misty mornings. At 2,071 m, Nuwara Eliya felt genuinely cold after the coast.
- East coast (Trincomalee, Arugam Bay): north-east monsoon, with rain and rough seas until around March. Save it for a summer trip.
Our Christmas and New Year Route
- 23–24 December: Negombo, to sleep off the flight.
- 25 December: Sigiriya rock at 08:38, then the ruins of Polonnaruwa.
- 26–27 December: Nuwara Eliya and the tea country.
- 28–29 December: Ella, its waterfalls and the Nine Arch Bridge.
- 30 December: dawn safari at Udawalawe.
- 31 December–1 January: New Year at Mirissa, then Galle Fort on the afternoon of 1 January.
The full day-by-day plan is in our 10-day Sri Lanka family itinerary.
Christmas and New Year in Sri Lanka: What to Know
- Christmas is a public holiday. Negombo has a large Catholic community, so churches are decorated and midnight masses are well attended.
- New Year's Eve means beach parties in Mirissa and Unawatuna. Hotels on the south coast book up weeks ahead.
- Poya days: every full moon is a public holiday when alcohol sales are banned and many bars close. Check the calendar if one falls during your stay.
- Prices are at their highest from mid-December to mid-January: book trains, safari jeeps and coast hotels early.
Practical Tips for Winter 2026-27
- Hill-country train: Cyclone Ditwah closed the Kandy–Ella line for months after November 2025, but trains have been running again since June 2026. Reserved seats in December and January go fast, so book as soon as you can.
- Whale watching: the season off Mirissa runs from November to April, with boats leaving around 06:30.
- Adam's Peak: the pilgrimage season runs from December to May, the only time the night climb is organised.
- Pack light clothes for the coast, a fleece for the highlands and a light rain jacket.
