Sri Lanka in December

Is December a good time to visit Sri Lanka?

Yes, if you spend most of the trip on the south and west coasts. December is the start of the north-east monsoon, which Sri Lanka Tourism says brings the peak tourist season to the south-west coast, with clear skies and calm seas (Sri Lanka Tourism weather page). The same monsoon brings heavy rain to the east coast. For Christmas and New Year, book your south coast hotel early and check its terms for compulsory dinners on 24 and 31 December.

There is one caution for 2026. On 2 October the Department of Meteorology said there is "a higher probability of slightly above-normal rainfall across most parts of the country, while near-normal rainfall is expected in the Northern Province during December 2026" (rainfall forecast, October to December 2026). So plan a beach trip, but keep one spare day and an indoor option. This page has no affiliate links.

Coming from an earlier month? See Sri Lanka in November and Sri Lanka in October. For the whole year, use the best time to visit guide. Staying into the new year? See Sri Lanka in January.

What is the weather like in December, coast by coast?

Warm on every coast, cool in the hills, and much wetter in the east than in the south-west. The table pairs two official sets of numbers. Temperatures are the WMO 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Department of Meteorology stations, published by the US National Centers for Environmental Information (WMO normals, Sri Lanka stations). Rainfall is the Department of Meteorology's own 1991 to 2020 district average for December (Annex 1, October to December 2026 forecast).

"Average high" and "average low" are the mean daily maximum and minimum for December. Fahrenheit is converted from Celsius and rounded. A district average covers a whole district, so a single town can be wetter or drier. The Met Department's site for station climate maps, weather.meteo.gov.lk, did not load on 16 October 2026, so we used the WMO copy of the same station normals.

Two things stand out. First, Hambantota (167 mm) and Colombo (181 mm) are the driest coastal districts in this table, while Batticaloa (409 mm) is the wettest. Second, the hills stay wet: Badulla, the district for Ella, averages 318 mm, and Nuwara Eliya nights average 11.5 C (53 F). Pack a warm layer if you are taking the hill-country trains.

Which coast should you choose for Christmas and New Year?

The south and west, for nearly everyone. Sri Lanka Tourism's own seasonal advice sends beach travellers to the south-west in December and to Trincomalee, Arugam Bay and Jaffna from May to September (Sri Lanka Tourism weather page).

The east coast vs south coast guide compares the two coasts month by month. For the south coast towns, the south coast region guide helps you pick a base: Galle for the fort, Mirissa for whale trips, Hiriketiya for a small surf bay, and Tangalle for quieter beaches.

When are UK, US and Australian school holidays this Christmas?

Most families from these three countries are free in the same week: roughly 19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. That is when beach hotels fill fastest. Each country sets dates locally, so confirm with your own school.

What the dates mean for a Sri Lanka trip:

• UK: GOV.UK says term and holiday dates vary and sends parents to their local council (GOV.UK school term dates). Both councils above give two weeks, so a classic 10 to 14 day route fits only if you fly out on the first weekend.
• US: there is no national school calendar; each district sets its own. NYC schools are closed from 24 December to 1 January. The federal holidays are Thanksgiving on Thursday 26 November and Christmas Day on Friday 25 December 2026 (US Office of Personnel Management).
• Australia: the summer break runs about six weeks, so Australian families can avoid the Christmas peak by travelling in January, when Sri Lanka Tourism still calls it peak season on the south-west coast.

How much more does Christmas cost in Sri Lanka?

We will not give you an average Christmas markup, because no official source publishes one. Here is what hotels themselves list for the festive nights, sampled from their own websites on 16 October 2026:

Both prices were sampled on 16 Oct 2026 from Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle and Amari Colombo, and both pages name the 2026 dates. Some resorts also add a compulsory gala dinner charge for guests staying on 24 or 31 December, so check your hotel's terms for those nights before you book. These are two examples, not an average for the island.

Demand is the other half of the price. December 2025 was the busiest month of that year, with 258,928 visitor arrivals, up 4.2% on December 2024 (SLTDA monthly arrivals report, December 2025). For day-to-day costs outside the festive nights, use the trip cost guide.

Before you pay for a room over the holidays, ask three questions:

1. Is there a compulsory dinner or supplement on 24, 25 or 31 December, and is it per adult or per room?
2. Does the rate change for your meal plan (bed and breakfast or half board)?
3. What is the cancellation deadline for the festive dates?

What public holidays fall in December 2026?

Two, according to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka's 2026 list (CBSL bank holidays 2026):

So Christmas Day falls on a Friday, and the Poya day falls two days earlier. Banks and government offices close on both. Plan cash, visa or office errands around them. On a Poya day, Buddhist temples are places of observance first. See the festival calendar guide for how to check events and the sacred sites guide for how to dress and behave.

Can you go whale watching in December?

December is in season on the south coast. The Sri Lanka Navy says its cruises are scheduled from Galle from November to April and from Trincomalee from May to October (Sri Lanka Navy whale watching). On 16 October 2026 the same page said: "Presently we are not conducting whale watching cruises due to routine underwater maintenance of the ship and cruises will recommence once ship is ready." There was no restart date. Private boats from Mirissa set their own schedules. Sightings are never guaranteed, and rough seas can cancel trips. Our whale watching guide covers how to choose a responsible operator.

What else should you check before you go?

• Yala and other parks. Hambantota district has the lowest December rain average on the south coast (167 mm). Check the Yala National Park guide for the current block and bungalow status, and the Udawalawe vs Yala guide to compare the two parks.
• Hill-country trains. Read the Kandy to Ella train guide for the dated service status and the Nanu Oya to Ella guide for that section of the line.
• Flights. The direct flights guide lists routes from the UK, India and Australia.
• Warnings. Check the Department of Meteorology forecast and the Disaster Management Centre warnings the day before any long drive, especially in the hills.

How should you plan a Christmas and New Year route?

Put the beach at the end, near the dates you most want to relax, and keep the inland part short.

• One week: go straight to the south coast and use two bases, such as Galle then Mirissa or Hiriketiya. Our south coast itinerary has 5, 7 and 10 day versions.
• 10 days: Sigiriya, Kandy or the hills, then the south coast. See the classic 10 day route.
• Two weeks: add Polonnaruwa or a safari day. See the two week route.
• New Year's Eve: stay where you are on 31 December rather than travelling that day, and book that night first.
• Spare day: with slightly above-normal rain forecast for 2026, keep one free day for every four or five days of travel.