Situated to the south of the island, Unawatuna Beach is one of the most popular beaches of Sri Lanka and is a magnet for tourists and locals alike.

As you would expect from a popular beach, the area is developed with resorts, restaurants and various small outlets selling various souvenirs and bites to eat. The beach itself is a great place to take a family allowing for relaxation, a dip in the ocean or various water sports, depending on what takes your fancy.

If you travel further along the Sri Lankan coast from Unawatuna you’ll end up at Hikkaduwa Beach – another popular beach for families.

For those who enjoy the ocean, Hikkaduwa is the ideal beach to visit. The various small outlets in the adjoining town sell and rent swim gear and there is no end to the fun activities you can do at the beach, whether its boat rides, surfing, scuba diving or snorkelling.

When you start to get a bit peckish there are plenty of seafood restaurants in Hikkaduwa town located right next to the beach.

Located more to the East of the island, Arugam Bay is somewhat more remote than some other Sri Lankan beaches and is the ideal beach for a lazy day relaxing in the sun.

Arugam Bay is regarded as the best surf spot in the country and is a magnet for surfers who typically come between April and October, drawn by the waves that are especially large (typically 5-10 meters) at Arugam Bay Point.

For the non-surfers the bay is a beautiful place to relax and has a totally different vibe to that of the busier West Coast beach resorts.