Mirissa is a popular beach town on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. From whale watching and swimming with turtles to relaxing on golden beaches, Mirissa is definitely a place you should add to your Sri Lankan itinerary. This post covers how to spend 3 days in Mirissa.
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Table of Contents
Notes on the Itinerary
- Mirissa makes for a great base to explore the southern coast of Sri Lanka. You can move up and down the coast from Mirissa as it’s more or less a central spot.
- This itinerary is more geared towards those who are looking to relax. Most of the activities include beach time and food!
- Book accommodation as soon as you can. Mirissa is popular with both locals and tourists alike. Especially during peak season (see the section below)
- You can hire tuk-tuks to get around or a taxi via Uber or PickMe.
- Some restaurants are cash only while others charge extra for a credit card, so it’s best to carry cash with you.
What is the Best Time to Visit Mirissa?
The best time to visit Mirissa is between October and March. The monsoon hits the south coast the rest of the months. It’s not to say you cannot visit during the months outside of October to March, but note that the sea will be rough and it will rain quite a bit.
Day 1
Spend the first day of your 3 days in Mirissa exploring the beaches in and around the area.
Swim with Turtles
You can actually swim with giant turtles in Mirissa! We had a wonderful hour or two swimming with a family of turtles. Below is the tour that we took and can highly recommended them. Contact Eranda. You can tell him Malisha recommended them to you.
After you are done, you can spend a little more time at Thalaramba Beach. There is a nice clear section of beach with no rocks and corals that is ideal for swimming.
Mirissa Beach Hopping
There are some beautiful beaches in Mirissa with unique rock formations and shallow bays that you can check out. These are Parrot Rock, Secret Beach and Turtle Beach. I really like Parrot Rock. Climb the rock for panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. It’s also super fun to cross the water to get to the rock.
Lunch at Zypher
Zypher is a Mirissa classic! There are two locations along the southern coast and I recommend going to the one in Kamburugamuwa (town over from Mirissa). There is a nice stretch of golden beach right in front of the restaurant. They have a nice menu and the drinks are always good! Grab some lunch and relax on a lounge chair later with a cold beer.
Sunset at Coconut Hills
Around sunset, head over to Coconut Hill. This is a very famous spot to watch the sunset. Go a little early as it gets very crowded closer to sunset. There is a bar right next door which is ideal if you want to 1. avoid the crowds and 2. have a drink while you watch the sunset. Despite the crowds, it’s still one of the best places to watch the sunset in Mirissa, do definitely don’t skip it!
Dinner at Doctor’s House
Doctor’s House is a little south of Mirissa and is located in a beautiful garden setting next to the beach. They have music most nights and also have various parties and festivals. There’s a tapas bar within the premises or you can order from their regular menu which includes burgers, pizza and various bowls. Check out their Instagram account to find out what events maybe happening during your visit.
Day 2
Start your day with some whale watching on this 2nd day of your 3 days in Mirissa and then explore the southern coast of Sri Lanka between Mirissa and Hiriketiya.
Whale Watching
If you draw a straight line from the south coast of Sri Lanka, the next land mass you will hit is actually Antarctica. Because of this Sri Lanka sees a lot of whale sightings, from November to about April but especially in the months of December and January. Not only whales, there is a good chance you may even see dolphins. Dolphins are very friendly animals and they love swimming along side boats.
Lunch at Zouk Mirissa
After whale watching (which will probably at the Mirissa harbor), head back to town and to a beach-side restaurant called Zouk. This restaurant has a beautiful setting and beach themed decor. They have a pretty global menu and a good cocktail and drinks list.
Dondra Light House
After lunch, make your way to Dondra Light House. Dondra or Devi Nuwara or Devundara in Sinhala is the southern-most point in Sri Lanka. Next stop from here is Antarctica! You can visit the light house or just walk around and explore the rocky beach.
Beach Hop
From Dondra, make your way to Talalla beach and then Dickwella beach. It’s probably hot now, so cool off in the warm waters of the Indian ocean. Be careful though as there can be under currents even during peak season.
Then, make your way to Hiriketiya beach.
Dinner at Smoke & Bitters
Smoke & Bitters was probably my favorite place I visited during our 3 days in Mirissa. It’s about an hour away but trust me, it’s fully worth the drive. This bar and restaurant is in the “Asia’s 50 Best Bars” list. The cocktails all have smoke or bitters and the food is Sri Lankan fusion and is absolutely divine. Hands down one of the best meals I had while in Sri Lanka. You do need to reserve ahead of time which you can do via WhatsApp. Number is HERE!
Day 3
You can also reserve this list by starting at Galle Fort and then ending in Waligama. It’s up to you!
Explore the Beach at Waligama
On the final day of your 3 days in Mirissa, explore the beach at Waligama in the morning. If you like to surf or want to learn, Waligama is one of the best places to do this. There are dozens of surf schools along the beach to choose from.
Lunch at Kai Ahangama
For lunch, head over to Kai in Ahangama and enjoy some food and drinks overlooking a beautiful beach and aqua waters of the ocean. I had the jackfruit tacos and they were absolutely delicious! I also really loved the decor and vibe of the place. Cactus which is just down the road is also really good.
Visit Galle
In the afternoon, visit the Fortifications of Galle. Also known as the Galle Fort, this fortified city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Galle Fort was built first during the time of the Portuguese in the 16th century and was further fortified by the Dutch in the 17th century.
Here are some must-do’s at Galle Fort:
- Visit the lighthouse
- Walk the ramparts and checkout the cannons
- Explore the streets within the rampart (and shop if you want to)
- Visit the Dutch Reformation church
- Visit a museum or two – there are several to choose from!
Enjoy some gelato from Isle of Gelato to cool off from the heat!
Dinner at Galle Fort
There are lots of great places to have dinner and cocktails at Galle Fort. We had food at Peddler’s Inn and it was lovely! Some other recommended places include Carlie’s Bistro and Fort Bazar. Coconut Sambol is great for Sri Lankan food and AQUA Forte is well known for their Italian cuisine.
Where I Stayed
We stayed at Villa Atulya in Mirissa and it was one of my favorite places that I stayed in during my 12 day trip around the country. Villa Atulya has two villas with 5 rooms in each and each villas has it’s own pool. You can book the entire villa or a room. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor common places to relax and dine at. The villa is beautifully decorated and showcases old southern Si Lankan furniture. The best part is that it is beachfront so you constantly hear the wonderful sound of the Indian ocean.
The staff were extremely helpful and kind and the food was great too. It’s walking distance to Coconut Hill and the places to swim with turtles and a short tuk-tuk ride to the main strip with all the restaurants and bar. I have recommended this place to so many of my friends and family both in Sri Lanka and abroad and recommended it to you with zero hesitation!
You can book it HERE.
You can also check out other options for Mirissa on booking.com. Booking is my one and only go-to for reserving accommodation. It has so many options to choose from, some even cancelable! You can filter for the facilities and amenities that you are looking for and they have a great loyalty program where you get rewarded the more you book with them.
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