Great — here’s a compact guide to where to stay in Sri Lanka, organized by region and travel style, plus quick practical tips and two sample itineraries you can copy.

Top practical notes

• You usually need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arrival — apply through Sri Lanka’s official ETA portal. (eta.gov.lk)
• Weather/monsoon timing matters: the island has two main monsoons, so the best coast to visit depends on the month (west/south & Hill Country are driest roughly Dec–Mar; the east coast is best around Apr–Sep). Plan locations around those windows. (cntraveller.com)

Where to stay (by region / why you’d pick it)

• Colombo (arrival, city life, short stop)
  • Stay in Colombo 1 / 3 / 7 or near Galle Face for easy restaurants, nightlife and museums. Good for a first/last night or if you want a city base.
• Negombo / Katunayake (near the airport)
  • Good if you want minimal transfer time on arrival/departure; closest beach/airport hotels.
• Cultural Triangle (Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa)
  • Stay in Sigiriya/Dambulla if you want to visit the rock fortress and cave temples early (short drives to sites). Great for heritage/temple-focused stays.
• Kandy / Hill Country (tea country, cooler nights)
  • Stay in Kandy town or the surrounding hills (Hanthana, Peradeniya). Good base for the Temple of the Tooth and train rides into the hill country.
• Nuwara Eliya / Ella (tea estates, hiking)
  • Nuwara Eliya for colonial, cool-climate hotels and tea-plantation stays; Ella for a laid-back budget/boutique guesthouse vibe with hikes (Little Adam’s Peak, Nine Arch Bridge).
• South coast & Galle (beaches + colonial Galle Fort)
  • Stay inside Galle Fort for charm and easy dining, or along the nearby beaches (Unawatuna, Mirissa, Weligama) for surf, snorkeling and whale watching. The coastal train between Colombo and Galle is scenic. (thecommonwanderer.com)
• Yala / Udawalawe (safari / wildlife)
  • Stay at lodges/camps just outside park gates (Yala is known for a high chance of leopard sightings); choose between luxe safari lodges, mid-range resorts and tented camps depending on budget. (theguardian.com)
• East coast (Arugam Bay, Trincomalee, Pasikudah)
  • Best for surf and quieter beaches during Apr–Sep; Arugam Bay for surf culture, Trincomalee for snorkeling and Nilaveli beaches. (cntraveller.com)
• North (Jaffna) — for cultural/less-touristy exploration
  • Stay in Jaffna town if you want a very different, Tamil-influenced culture and historical sites.

Where to stay by travel style

• Luxury / honeymoon: choose beachfront resorts in Galle/Mirissa or high‑end eco-lodges near Yala (private pools, spa, full-board safari packages).
• Mid-range: boutique guesthouses in Galle Fort, tea-bungalows around Nuwara Eliya, family-run lodges near Yala.
• Budget / backpacker: guesthouses and backpacker hostels in Kandy, Ella, Mirissa and Arugam Bay; homestays are common and inexpensive.

Sample trip plans (quick suggestions)

• 7 days (highlights loop — good if short on time)

  • Day 1: Arrive Colombo → drive to Sigiriya/Dambulla (overnight).
  • Day 2–3: Kandy (Temple of the Tooth, Royal Botanic Gardens).
  • Day 4: Train to Nuwara Eliya / Ella (scenic hills).
  • Day 5–6: South coast (Galle / Mirissa or Bentota) — beaches, Galle Fort.
  • Day 7: Return to Colombo / depart.
    Many popular 7-day plans include a mix of Cultural Triangle, Hill Country and one beach/safari stop—see standard itineraries for variants. (lonelyplanet.com)

• 10–14 days (more relaxed / adds safari and east coast)

  • Add 1–2 nights for Yala or Udawalawe safari (wildlife), and/or extend on the east coast (Arugam Bay / Trincomalee) if your travel dates match the east‑coast dry season. Yala lodges are typically booked as part of 2-night stays for good game-drive chances. (thehotelguru.com)

Booking & logistics tips

• Internal transport: trains (especially Kandy → Ella) are scenic and worth booking early for reserved seats; private drivers are convenient for multi-stop trips; domestic flights can save time for long distances. (thecommonwanderer.com)
• Safaris: book lodges that include guided jeep safaris or pre-book park safaris; morning safaris give best wildlife chances. (theguardian.com)
• Weather planning: check which coast is in dry season for your travel dates (south/west/Hill Country vs east). (cntraveller.com)

If you want, I can:

• Draft a day-by-day itinerary for a specific trip length (7 / 10 / 14 days) and travel style (beach, wildlife, culture, or mixed).
• Suggest 6–8 hotel options at three price levels for particular towns (Colombo, Kandy, Ella, Galle, Yala, Arugam Bay).

Which would you like me to do next?