The beautiful Mirissa Twin Beach in Sri Lanka

Sunsets to die, crystal water, parties by the ocean ... are the integral part of life in Mirissa, more than in any other city in Sri Lanka, producing the delightful sensation of being on an endless vacation. Welcome to Mirissa Beach.

Mirissa et sa twin beach

Set down your backpacks, put on your bathing suit, and head to the beach ! Rows of coconut trees and beachfront restaurants are picture-perfect. Mirissa, I think I’m in love.

Let’s go to Parrot Rock, where you can see Mirissa’s two lagoons merge into one, the famous Twin Beach. This endless beach attracts many tourists thanks to its restaurants and famed surf break, but remains a true slice of paradise.

Things to do in Mirissa

Fill your days in Mirissa with snorkeling, swimming, surfing and boating. Whale watching is possible between September and March. For a moment of relaxation, take a class at Rukshan Yoga, where you’ll work your thighs, bottocks and abs in a zen-like atmosphere. The Kandavahari Temple is the perfect place to witness a beautiful sunset.

Rukshan Yoga, Hill Top Temple (Rathnagiri Temple, Udupila, Mirissa,Sri Lanka - Tèl. : (+9477)517-3612 - Kandavahari Temple  - Wales tour (all the clubs are on the beach)

Restaurants and bars in Mirissa

On the beach, the Coco Café is a pretty and cosy coffee shop where you can enjoy a variety of healthy breakfast options.

At night, the air changes. Hipster waiters with long hair-don’t care light up bonfires, as others set up fresh fish at restaurants entrances. Dozens of candlelit tables cover the entire beach, reminding me of Bali….

Beachfront restaurants can be very pricey. So I went inland on Matara Road where local dishes cost 400 RP to 500 RP (3 to 4 US$). The setting is noisy, but everything in the plate is delicious! Beyond Parrot Rock, facing the surf break, you can find calmer and cheaper bars. Beware the mosquitoes that attack you as soon as the

How to come to Mirissa ? 

 

• Colombo/Mirissa : 3h30 by train  - 140 to 220RP/pers in 2nd class
• Hikkaduwa/Mirissa : 1h30 by train - 80RP/pers in 2nde class or 1h45 in tuk tuk - 1500RP/pers
• Weligama/Mirissa  : 15RP/pers by bus - or 350RP/pers by tuk tuk

New in :

Sri Lanka, my top travel tips in Hikkaduwa

Three weeks in Sri Lanka without planning anything. But how? Ask around where to go, mingle over coffee, and just go for it! Ready ? Set, go !

 Hikkaduwa : Sun, Sand & Surf

After a short night in a hotel near the airport, I head to the central station of Negombo to hop on a train and head to Hikkaduwa. Apparently, that is where you can find miles of sandy beaches, surf-worthy waves, snorkeling spots, and relaxed bars opened as soon as the sun sets. Hikkaduwa, here I come !

Train Negombo/Hikkaduwa (2h/2h30) - btw 6/8€ in 2nd class.

Things to do in Hikkaduwa

I jump in the water as soon as I arrive : It is 90 degrees and sunny, and I can’t resist ! Bali is not the only surf-spot in Southeast Asia, and you can surf or learn right here in Sri Lanka. Surf schools abound, and prices don’t vary much. Snorkeling is also available.

Turtle watching at Turtle Hatchery Hikkaduwa is much appreciated by the tourists, and free for the locals. So let’s support the effort!

The Community Tsunami Museum commemorates the tragic tsunami of 2004. Nearby, the Honganji Vihara Buddha statue, its gaze facing the sea, serves as a memorial to its victims. The statue, a gift from the Japanese government, towers at 32 feet, the exact height of the wave that engulfed a train filled with passengers, and claimed 1700 lives (that we know of).

Surf school, many clubs at the beach.
Community Tsunami Museum, 95th km of Galle Road, Hikkaduwa.
Turtle Hatchery Hikkaduwa, 500RP, AH43 Galle Road, Hikkaduwa.

Restaurants and bars

Tasty bowls, banana bread, fresh fish…. The Salty Swamis Cafe & Surf Shop offers the best exotic healthy food around. At night, I also tested all the fast food joints along Galle Street, which serve traditional dishes. For a good party, head to Top Secret, a trendy bar where backpackers meet and share their adventures around a pitcher of caïpirinha.

Salty Swamis Cafe & Surf Shop, 542 Galle Road, Wewala, Hikkaduwa 80240 - 8am to 3pm
Top Secret, 698 Galle Road, Narigama beach, Hikkaduwa.

Where to sleep in Hikkaduwa ? 

Voir en taille réelle

I spent my time in Hikkaduwa at the Universal Beach Guest House, which sits on the beach and
offers a close view of the sunset. The value is pretty good and the hosts are friendly.

Universal Beach Guest House,4000 RP/night

How to come to Hikkaduwa ?

 

• Hikkaduwa : by bus, 3h from Colombo (120RP)
• by train : 2h30/3h from Colombo (160RP in 2nd class, 85RP en 3d class)

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