This place in Sri Lanka is still a real insider tip 2026

March 8, 2025, 7:24 a.m. | Reading time: 7 minutes

The old fishing town of Hikkaduwa is located on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka and is a fantastic travel destination because the beautiful coast and the crystal clear sea literally scream for long days on the beach. And the best thing: Hikkaduwa is still considered an insider tip among the places in Sri Lanka and so you can have beach days here without the annoying mass tourism! Sunnytrips shows what there is to discover in Hikkaduwa and reveals the best tips.

The Asian island state of Sri Lanka is located in the middle of the Indian Ocean and is about the size of Bavaria. For a long time the country was considered an absolute insider tip, but in recent years Sri Lanka has enjoyed increasing popularity. Quite rightly so, because the place where the pepper grows is ideal for adventure trips and beach holidays. Despite the increasing attention, there is one place on Sri Lanka's southwest coast that is still considered a real insider tip. Hikkaduwa is an old fishing village and attracted some people from Europe, especially in the 1970s during the hippie movement. Some of them stayed and still run hotels, bars and restaurants here today. Sunnytrips introduces the insider tip Hikkaduwa in Sri Lanka and gives valuable tips.

Hikkaduwa – an insider tip without mass tourism

The most beautiful beaches in Hikkaduwa

This is what there is to discover in Hikkaduwa

The best restaurants, cafes and bars

The journey to Hikkaduwa

Best time to visit Hikkaduwa

Also interesting: 7 of the most beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka

Hikkaduwa – an insider tip without mass tourism

The fishing town of Hikkaduwa was particularly popular in the 60s and 70s during the hippie movement. Many of the travelers stayed forever and became self-employed locally in the catering and hotel industries. To this day, Hikkaduwa benefits from a relaxed and cozy atmosphere, which is mainly due to the absence of mass tourism. And that despite the fact that one of the best surfing spots in the country is hidden here. There is also a coral reef off the coast of Hikkaduwa where turtles and small sharks can regularly be seen. And the beaches of the fishing town are not to be despised either, Hikkaduwa has probably the longest golden beach on the island. On the one hand, the place also offers dense nature that almost resembles a jungle. There is hardly any other place where the fact that the small island state of Sri Lanka is one of the most diverse countries in the world is as clear as in Hikkaduwa. Our tip: Because of the beautiful surroundings, we recommend booking accommodation near Hikkaduwa Beach.

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The most beautiful beaches in Hikkaduwa

Hikkaduwa Beach exudes a very special atmosphere with its coral reef, turtles and coconut palms. The fact that many people from Europe settled here during the hippie movement can still be clearly felt today. During the day you can enjoy turtle watching, snorkeling and surfing and in the evening there are really good parties in the beach bars.

If you can't get enough of this flair, Narigama Beach is also in good hands. This is located south of Hikkaduwa Beach and, in addition to the typically casual atmosphere, offers optimal surfing conditions. In general, the waves of the southwest coast off Hikkaduwa are ideal for water sports.

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A particularly quiet and clean beach is the Bluefin Safe Beach. It's not uncommon to even find him completely lonely. Just like the other two beaches, this one is very wide, endlessly long, is lined with palm trees and has light, soft sand - a dream!

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This is what there is to discover in Hikkaduwa

In addition to the great beaches, Hikkaduwa, despite its manageable size, offers a lot more than just relaxation in the sun.

Seenigama Muhudu Viharaya: The Buddhist temple, which is over 300 years old, is located on an island that is only 200 meters long. This means that it is almost entirely taken up by the Sea Temple - a bizarre picture! The building is a nice destination and can only be reached by boat.

Turtle Point: You can snorkel with turtles on this beach! Because of the popularity of the animals, it is probably one of the relatively crowded beaches here.

Hikkaduwa Lake and Ratgama Lake: The two lakes make excellent excursion destinations. We recommend a bicycle, a tuk-tuk or a moped as a means of transport. At Hikkaduwa Lake there are even some cafes and restaurants right on the water and overlooking the lake.

Community Tsunami Education Center & Museum: A visit to this museum is less fun but more important. In addition to a huge Buddha statue, the small museum presents a photo exhibition that tells of the tsunami disaster in 2004. Many people in Hikkaduwa suffered severely from the consequences at that time. The museum is financed through donations and offers guided tours where you can learn more about the people and their stories.

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The best restaurants, cafes and bars

One restaurant after another is lined up along the main street. From Sri Lankan cuisine to European dishes, there is something for every taste. There are really good Sri Lankan dishes in the rather inconspicuous restaurant “The Roti Stop”. Above all, you should try the local flatbread Roti, which is available here with various fillings. For delicious curry, however, we recommend the “Two Brothers Palace”. In the “Steffi’s Mandala” café, vegetarian and vegan dishes are served with strong coffee and a view of the sea. Anyone looking for a suitable beach bar in the evening will be spoiled for choice in Hikkaduwa. If you like, you can take a short walk on the beach and see where you like it best. One of the best dance halls in town is definitely “Mambos”, which is also located directly on the beach. Parties take place here regularly on the weekends.

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The journey to Hikkaduwa

Hikkaduwa is about 140 kilometers and a two-hour drive from Colombo airport. In addition to the option of renting a car, taking a taxi or taking the bus, there is another option. Traveling by train is not only the fastest but also the cheapest option to reach Hikkaduwa. Every four hours the Sri Lanka Railway sets off from Colombo Fort Station to Hikkaduwa. As an alternative to Hikkaduwa train station, you can also go to Thiranagama train station. The journey takes a little under two hours and feels somewhat adventurous. In addition, there is already a lot of the country to see on the trip immediately after arriving in Sri Lanka.

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Best time to visit Hikkaduwa

There are really few countries where the locations are as influenced by the rainy season as Sri Lanka. Depending on the season, cafes, restaurants and bars migrate from coast to coast. It is important to note that almost everything in Hikkaduwa is closed during this period from May to November. A holiday in Hikkaduwa is particularly recommended during the dry season and therefore in the months from December to April.

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