Sri Lanka has been one of our favorite destinations when traveling. It’s a country where you find almost everything. It’s a destination for you if you love culture, breathtaking nature, amazing wildlife, or just need a nice beach to relax. But as white every other country there are some things which are good to know before traveling to Sri Lanka. Therefore, we have made this list of 11 good things to know before traveling to Sri Lanka.
#1 Visa
To enter Sri Lanka, you are required to have a visa. This is required for most citizens in the World but those from The Republic of Singapore, The Republic of Maldives, and The Republic of Seychelles are exempt. To get a visa you need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the expected date of departure from Sri Lanka and an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) or a visa.
What to know: Getting a Visa for Sri Lanka
#2 Don’t drink tap water
This point is quite obvious. But you should not drink the water from the tap when traveling in Sri Lanka. This is a rule of thumb we follow when traveling whether we are in Sri Lanka, Morocco, or someplace else. The bacteria you find in the tap water in Sri Lanka are most likely not some you will find in your tap water at home. That means that if you drink the tap water you may be sick. Therefore, we always recommend you don’t drink from the tap when in Sri Lanka – or any other country. Because it would be a shame to spend your days in the bathroom rather than exploring all the must-do things in Sri Lanka.
#3 Language
When we traveled around Sri Lanka we didn’t have any trouble communicating with the locals. Almost everyone speaks at least a basic level of English. Especially in and around the tourist destinations like Galle Fort, Kandy, and Colombo communicating in English won’t be a problem.
#4 Trains and tickets
The best way to travel around Sri Lanka is by train. The train rides in Sri Lanka are known as some of the most beautiful and scenic ones in the whole World. So, traveling by train is something you must-do in Sri Lanka. The route from Kandy to Ella is especially a must-do.
#5 Forget your prejudices
Before we arrived in Sri Lanka we had the perception that the Sri Lankan people tended to be intrusive, look weird at tourists (especially women), and may even make you feel uncomfortable. Despite this, we traveled the long way to Sri Lanka. And it has been one of our best decisions. We fell in love with Sri Lanka the moment we arrived. Especially because of the beautiful nature and culture but also because of the people. After our 3-week trip to Sri Lanka, we both agree that the Sri Lankan people are the friendliest we have met on our travels around the World.
Of course, there were some situations where you might feel uncomfortable – but that is hard not to experience when traveling around the World. Overall the Sri Lankan people are very open-minded and curious towards tourists.
#6 Watch out for pocket thieves
Even though Sri Lanka is a safe country to travel to, you should watch out for pocket thieves. Especially in crowded places – like the train stations and temples. We didn’t experience anything ourselves but saw some people who looked a bit sketchy. Therefore, we would always recommend (no matter which country you are in) to watch out for pocket thieves and keep your personal belongings close.
We often use a padlock with a code for our smaller bag. It may seem like a bit overkill – But that way we feel safer when traveling.
#7 Respect the culture
Sri Lanka is a very religious country. Therefore, you must show respect towards the locals and their religious beliefs. The statue of Buddha has huge importance for the Sri Lankan people. And you should, when possible, never turn your back to Buddha. Also, the monks are a very respected people and your behavior around them should therefore be at its best.
When traveling in Sri Lanka you can’t miss visiting a few temples. And when doing that you must remember to cover your knees and shoulders. After that, you are free to roam the historical temples.
#8 Watch out for stray dogs
Sri Lanka is filled with stray dogs – and that has been a problem in the country for a long time. Even though the dogs are very cute you should be aware that they aren’t all nice. They can bite or attack if they feel threatened. And they may have some diseases. So, for your own sake, you shouldn’t pet or get too close to the stray dogs in Sri Lanka.
#9 Don’t go out alone at night
The title of this point says it all. But Sri Lanka is very dark at night. We would therefore always recommend you never go out alone at night. The more the merrier – and that way you are safer, as well as there, will always be an extra set of hands if something should happen.
#10 Be aware of your public displays of affection
Public display of affection (kissing and hand-holding) is frowned upon in Sri Lanka. Especially in the smaller towns. Therefore, you should keep the kissing and hand-holding on low in public. If you feel the need you should keep very discreet and even hide behind an umbrella – just like the locals.
#11 Right hand is for eating
Sri Lankan people don’t use cutlery. Instead, they use their right hand to scoop up their rice and curry. If you decide to do the same you should be aware only to use your right hand and leave your left hand as far as possible from the food. This is because in Sri Lanka the right hand is for eating, whilst the left hand is for wiping. Meaning that the left hand is considered dirty and therefore shouldn’t be near your food.
