Sri Lanka month by month
Sri Lanka in December: Weather, Crowds, Costs and Where to Go.
Peak season opens. Excellent weather on the west and south, and the busiest fortnight of the year.
December brings the return of peak conditions to the west coast, south coast and hill country, and the start of the busiest travel period of the Sri Lankan year. Weather is reliably dry and sunny from mid-month, whale watching is strong, and Yala is excellent. Christmas and New Year weeks see the highest rates and tightest availability of the entire year - book months ahead.
Is December a good time to visit Sri Lanka?
Peak season opens. Excellent weather on the west and south, and the busiest fortnight of the year. Sri Lanka has two monsoons that hit opposite coasts, so the question is never whether to come - it is which side of the island to be on. In December, here is how that breaks down.
Best for
- West and south coast beaches
- Whale watching
- Hill country
- Cultural Triangle
- Christmas and New Year on the beach
Better to avoid
- Last-minute booking over Christmas and New Year
- East coast
Sri Lanka weather in December by region
Averages below are long-run climate norms, not a forecast. Sri Lanka is compact enough that a private driver can move your route toward the drier coast if a system sets in.
| Region | Daytime temp | Rainfall | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colombo / west coast | 29-31 C | Low-moderate | Dry from mid-month |
| Galle / south coast | 29-31 C | Low | Excellent beach conditions |
| Kandy | 27-29 C | Low-moderate | Clear, pleasant |
| Nuwara Eliya | 19-21 C day / 7-11 C night | Low | Coldest nights of the year |
| Sigiriya / Cultural Triangle | 29-31 C | Low | Cooler than mid-year - good for climbing |
| Trincomalee / east | 26-28 C | High | Northeast monsoon - avoid |
Festivals and events in December
Sri Lanka’s biggest festivals follow the lunar calendar, so exact dates shift year to year. Every full moon (Poya) is a public holiday, and alcohol is not sold on those days.
- Unduvap Poya, marking the arrival of the sacred Bodhi sapling at Anuradhapura
- Christmas, widely celebrated in Colombo, Negombo and the Christian west coast
- New Year celebrations on the south coast beaches
Practical tips for travelling in December
- Christmas and New Year weeks require booking 4-6 months ahead - drivers, hotels and internal flights all sell out.
- Nuwara Eliya nights fall close to 7 C in December; hotels there often have no heating, so pack properly.
- Negombo has a large Catholic community and Christmas there is genuinely festive.
- Sigiriya is more comfortable to climb in December than in March or April - cooler air, same dry conditions.
- Rates outside the Christmas fortnight (say 1-18 December) are markedly lower for near-identical weather.
Suggested December route
Every route we plan is built around your dates, not a fixed template. Tell us your month and we will bias the itinerary toward whichever coast is in season. See our Sri Lanka tour packages for durations from 5 to 14 days, or tell us your dates for something custom.
Getting around Sri Lanka in December
Distances in Sri Lanka are short but slow - average road speed is around 40 km/h. In wetter months that drops further, and afternoon storms can close hill-country roads briefly. A private driver matters most in the changeable months because the itinerary can be reordered the same morning. Fuel, expressway tolls, parking and the driver’s own meals and accommodation are all included in the daily rate - see what a private driver actually costs.
Planning entrance fees into your budget? Our Sri Lanka attraction price list has current fees for Sigiriya, Yala, Dambulla, Horton Plains and 40 other sites.
Good to know
Sri Lanka in December - common questions
Is December a good month to visit Sri Lanka?
Peak season opens. Excellent weather on the west and south, and the busiest fortnight of the year. December brings the return of peak conditions to the west coast, south coast and hill country, and the start of the busiest travel period of the Sri Lankan year. Weather is reliably dry and sunny from mid-month, whale wa
What is the weather like in Sri Lanka in December?
In December, colombo / west coast averages 29-31 C with low-moderate rainfall, while trincomalee / east averages 26-28 C with high rainfall. Sri Lanka's two monsoons hit opposite coasts, so one side of the island is almost always dry.
Where should I go in Sri Lanka in December?
Peak-season 14 day route: Negombo, Sigiriya, Dambulla, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Udawalawe, Yala, Mirissa, Galle, Bentota, Colombo.
Is December expensive in Sri Lanka?
Yes - December falls in a high-demand window, so hotel and driver rates run above average and popular properties book out months ahead. Booking early is the only reliable way to control cost.
Do I need a private driver in Sri Lanka in December?
A private driver is recommended year-round because attractions sit in different regions and roads are slow. It matters most in changeable months, when the ability to reorder your itinerary by the morning's weather turns a washed-out day into a good one.