We wanted a beach town that felt lively, but not full-on party mode, and Mirissa was just that. It had chill surf-town vibes, with great beach bars and viewpoints all within walking distance. We made a mistake and stayed only 1 night, which wasn’t enough. Stay for 3-4 days if you want enough time to relax and spot whales offshore (it’s the best spot for it in Sri Lanka!).
Our Favorite Things to do in Mirissa
1. Secret Beach, Mirissa
Secret Beach might not be a secret anymore, but we still felt like we’d stumbled across a remote paradise. We arrived early in the morning, and were lucky enough to have the place to ourselves!
- Location: Tucked around the corner from the main beach in Mirissa. It’s a little harder to find (See the location here); our tuk-tuk driver dropped us off by the road, and we walked 10 minutes from there.
- Features: We thought we’d find just one beach, but there are actually 3 to choose from! Rockpools, coconut palm trees, and crystal blue water.
- Facilities: A few restaurants close to the beach. We also rented a sunbed and some snorkels to take advantage of the incredible marine life you can see here.
2. Parrot Rock
Parrot Rock sits directly in front of Mirissa Beach, and it’s known for its great views across the palm tree-lined beaches below.
- We visited at Sunset, which was beautiful! However, it’s the most popular time, so there were big crowds on the rock. If you can, climb at sunrise, when it’s quieter.
- It’s important to check the tides beforehand, as low tide is the safest time to cross. It’s dangerous during high tide, especially in the monsoon season when the waves are high.
- Once we got to the rock, we climbed the rickety stairs to the top for the iconic Parrot Rock views.
3. Coconut Tree Hill
Coconut Tree Hill was one of the most beautiful coastal spots on our Sri Lanka itinerary. We walked 15 minutes from Mirissa beach to this private coconut farm, where we discovered some of the best views in the area! (Here is the exact location)
- Best at sunrise. We had the headland to ourselves!
- On the morning we visited, the weather was clear, and the tide was low, so we walked along the beach to Coconut Hill. Look at the tide times here
- If the water is too high, there’s the option to walk along the coastal road.
- Be aware of falling coconuts. Don’t stand directly under the trees.
- Note: On our last visit, a small bar had opened on Coconut Tree Hill. It’s a nice place to sit and have a drink at sunset, but for us, the loud music did take away from the natural beauty of this spot.
4. Weligama
We drove 15 minutes by motorbike to the small beach town of Weligama, widely known as the surfing capital. We spent a couple of hours relaxing on the white sand beaches and watching all the pros catch the biggest waves of the day.
There are also loads of delicious and nutritious food spots in Weligama. We didn’t have time to do a cooking class, but this one at Karu’s Kitchen looks great!
Visit this Animal Shelter in Weligama
We visited Animal SOS Sri Lanka while we were in Weligama, a sanctuary for stray animals that offers rehabilitation, medical care, and refuge. It took us 20 minutes by tuk-tuk from the center, and it was the most heartwarming experience of our trip!
- Open every day of the year
- Welcomes visitors between 10 AM and 2 PM.
- Don’t forget to donate! You can also donate easily online here.
Tip: To get to Weligama, we rented a motorbike from MUTHUMALA Bike for 2000 LKR per day (6 USD per day, 45 USD per week). It’s best to contact them via WhatsApp to confirm the price.
5. Whale Watching, Mirissa
Mirissa has become famous as one of the best spots to see whales in Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, we got our timing totally wrong and visited in September, which is when they’re on the northeastern side of the island instead. On our next trip, we’re planning on booking this whale watching tour in Mirissa.
- The best time to spot whales is during migration season (from the end of November until March). In the opposite months, you can see them in Trincomalee.
- It’s best to book your whale-watching tour online in advance.
- There’s a good chance of seeing smaller whale species, dolphins, and turtles. We heard that on some days, it’s possible to spot the big blue whale.
- Research tours carefully beforehand. Choose an ethical company that doesn’t allow the boat to get too close to wildlife.
6. Unawatuna & Galle Fort Day Trip
Unawatuna is renowned for the Dalewella Beach Swing, surf spots, and lively nightlife. It only took us 50-minutes to drive from Mirissa by motorbike, so itโs a great day trip destination.
- Swim at the beaches
- Dalawella beach swing. Hereโs the exact location
- Ocean views from the Japanese Peace Pagoda
- Hire a board and learn to surf (great beginner waves). Book your surf lesson here!
Galle Fort
After relaxing in Unawatuna, we drove 15 minutes more to Galle Fort (parking our motorbike was free). Here we:
- Walked on the ancient Dutch fort walls (great views at sunset!)
- Went shopping in the boutiques (Barefoot was our favorite)
- Learnt about the town’s colonial history. Book a guided walking tour to find out more.
Read more: Galle Fort, a trip back in history
7. Surfing
Sri Lanka is known as a surfing hotspot, and Mirissa Beach is no exception! It is known for its waves, which attract beginners (like us!) and intermediates.
- Beginners: Mellow waves off the main beach
- Intermediates: Reef breaks off the headland
- Best time: October to March
8. Mirissa Beach
Although Mirissa Beach is the most popular, we still managed to find peaceful spots, especially earlier on in the day. It’s not super busy with surf schools, unlike some other locations on the south coast, so itโs easy to enjoy a refreshing dip.
- Sandy Bay backed by coconut palms
- Rocky headland
- A handful of beach restaurants
- Our favorite place to eat on the beach is Bunga Bunga (delicious freshly-caught seafood!)
9. Matara
Matara was easily one of the most authentic places we visited on this trip. It’s a busy commercial town, and not a vacation destination, so we didn’t really see any other tourists.
- Watch locals playing sports inside Matara Fort
- Visit Paravi Duwa Temple (a stunning Buddhist temple on an island). We crossed a bridge to get there! (Here is the exact location)
- Chill on the peaceful, sandy beach
- Visit by motorbike or tuk-tuk (it took us around 30 minutes from Mirissa)
Doctor’s House (Matara)
We weren’t looking for party vibes in Mirissa, but we loved the afternoon party at the Doctor’s House. It’s a 200-year-old Dutch Ayurvedic hospital turned into a bar/hotel, with an amazing garden! It only took us 15 minutes to get there by motorbike.
- Live music
- Delicious food
- Great cocktails
- Laidback vibe
- Book your table here
You can also stay overnight at the Doctor’s House. Book your room here.
How to Visit Mirissa
We hired our friend Indi, who’s a private driver, to take us around Sri Lanka. This gave us the flexibility to visit more remote places and change our itinerary when needed.
However, if youโre leaving from Colombo, you can also take a train to the nearby stations of Weligama or Matara. From there, itโs just a short tuk-tuk ride away to Mirissa.
Tip: We rented a motorbike in Mirissa from MUTHUMALA Bike for 2000 LKR per day (6 USD per day, 45 USD per week). It’s best to contact them via WhatsApp to confirm the price.
Where to Stay in Mirissa
We visited Mirissa twice: once staying just outside town (the accommodation is now closed), and the second time at Nava B&B, close to both beach and restaurants. We recommend staying in town; when we stayed outside, we had to hop on the motorbike constantly to go out for dinner or get to the main sights.
Note: We only stayed one night in Mirissa, and this was definitely not enough! Two or three would be ideal. But if you stay in Ahangama, you can also do a daytrip to Mirissa (30 min drive).
Best Cafes and Restaurants in Mirissa
We tried a new restaurant every day in Mirissa; there were so many great options to choose from! Some of our top spots:
- Little Tuna – Sushi
- Shady Lane – Healthy
- Ceylon Curry House – Sri Lankan (Book your table)
- DelTanoโs – Pizza & Pasta
- Bunga Bunga Beach – Best seafront location!
- Dewmini Roti Shop – Sri Lankan (we also saw people doing cooking classes here!)
- RISE – Italian at Weligama (Book your table)
- Nomad Cafe – Weligama
Best Time to Visit Mirissa
The dry season in the south runs from November to March. However, we visited in the rainy season (September) and had great weather. It rained for just a few hours each day, and then the sun came out. We also found the hotel prices much cheaper, too! Note: Storms can make the beaches dirtier during the monsoon season.
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Very informative and great descriptions done. Keep it up.
Thanks
Raku