Hikkaduwa
Welcome to our Hikkaduwa travel guide, where we explore this town set on the western coast of Sri Lanka. Hikkaduwa boasts long sandy beaches, a relaxing holiday vibe and a great opportunity to see Sea Turtles and other marine life.
Hikkaduwa is one of the more popular tourist destinations on the coast of Sri Lanka, but is not one of the prettiest. This is mainly due to the large main road that forms the centre of the town, Galle Road, which has been overdeveloped and is a busy, somewhat dangerous obstacle in the towns development. Despite this, there is lots to see in the area and a good selection of sandy beaches, relaxed beach bars, tropical marine life, and Sri Lankan restaurants. If you’re looking to explore what the coastline of Hikkaduwa has to offer and get involved in water based activities such as diving or surfing then Hikkaduwa definitely deserves a few days while exploring the island.
Hikkaduwa Travel Guide Contents
Hikkaduwa Travel Guide
Getting to and from the airport
Bandaranaike International Airport, often referred to as Kutanayake or Colombo International Airport (CMB) is the largest and main airport in Sri Lanka. Despite being 143km from Hikkaduwa, it is the closest airport and really the only option for flying into Sri Lanka. The airport has 2 terminals, with the newer, terminal 1, serving domestic flights and the older, terminal 2, serving international flights. Terminal 2 is a little dated but does have a selection of shops and restaurants to cater to passengers. Most visitors coming to Hikkaduwa will likely come straight from the airport or from Colombo (after a couple of days there) so here are the most popular ways of getting to and from the airport/Colombo:
- By Bus & Train, the Colombo Express airport bus takes you to Colombo Fort train station and from there you can catch a train to Hikkaduwa. The bus costs Rs110 ($0.55) for a one way ticket, runs from 5.30am-8.30pm and takes approx 1 hour to get to Colombo Fort Station. From here, a train to Hikkaduwa will take 1.5 hours and will cost anywhere between Rs200-500 ($1-$2.50), depending on class type. Trains run throughout the day but the express trains are the quickest. This is a good option for those on a budget but can be a gruelling journey if you have just arrived from a long haul flight
- Private Airport Transfer, a convenient option for most travellers to book in advance, available 24 hours, taking approx 2-2.5 hours from the airport to Hikkaduwa or 2 hours from Colombo city. There are no waiting times as drivers will usually meet you in arrivals. Costs for the journey range from Rs8000 - 12,000 ($40-$60). Compare companies online or ask your accommodation for a quote
- Taxi from taxi rank, not a highly recommended option due to drivers often overcharging, you should agree a price with the driver beforehand. As a guide, a trip to Hikkaduwa from the airport should cost around Rs8000 - 12,000 ($40-$60). This price should be reduced if you are travelling from Colombo city rather than the airport
- Uber/PickMe, PickMe is the largest and most popular ride hailing app in Sri Lanka and offers tourists with a more convenient option, rather than having to haggle the price for every trip. A trip to Hikkaduwa from the airport should cost around Rs4000-7000 ($20-$35) depending on the method of transport chosen, this should be slightly reduced if you are travelling from Colombo city to Hikkaduwa
Areas to stay
Hikkaduwa is a reasonably small town and centres itself around one main busy street (Galle Road) with some smaller streets leading off from this. Essentially, this leaves the option of staying on or off this road and at either end or in the middle. The two main options of areas revolve around the two beaches, Narigama Beach or Hikkaduwa Beach. We would advise staying near one of these to ensure that you are close to the beach and close to shops, restaurants and bars. Most of the larger hotels are nearer Narigama Beach, whereas some of the smaller, family run hotels are nearer to Hikkaduwa Beach.
Getting around
Provided you pick some conveniently located accommodation, you shouldn't have to travel around too much in Hikkaduwa for beaches, restaurants and bars. However, if you're looking to head out to somewhere further afield or visit an attraction nearby, then you will need some local transport to get there. Here's a quick guide to the most useful types of transport available:
- Taxi, unfortunately drivers can often overcharge and will not use the meter so when using a taxi, agree the fare in advance
- Uber/PickMe, the PickMe app is the largest and most popular ride hailing app in Sri Lanka. In Hikkaduwa, the wait for a driver can vary, so it is not always the most convenient option. Prices are shown on the app which avoids issues with overcharging. Despite inputting the drop off location in the app, it is quite common to then have to explain this further when with the driver. Even without using PickMe, using the app as a guide to taxi and tuk-tuk prices can be very useful
- Tuk Tuk, the cheapest and easiest way to get around, hail a moving tuk-tuk and agree a fare before
Accommodation
As a town with plenty of beaches, sun and things to see, Hikkaduwa has plenty of accommodation options for tourists. The most common types of accommodation available are hotels, ranging from budget and boutique to larger luxury and chain hotels. There are also guest houses, villas and apartments available. There are a few hostels but it is more common to find a budget hotel which will likely come in at a similar price to a hostel.
Things to see
We don't want to bore you with a list of everything to see and do in Hikkaduwa, so here are our top 5 things to see and do:
- Hikkaduwa Beach, there are a few beaches in Hikkaduwa, the two most popular being Hikkaduwa beach and Narigama. Both are sandy with good water conditions in the dry season. There are plenty of beach bars and activities and even the chance to see turtles!
- Sea Turtle Hatchery, located a few km north of Hikkaduwa, the Sea Turtle Hatchery and rescue centre aims to conserve some of the endangered species of turtles in the world. Entry costs Rs500 ($2.50) per person
- Hikkaduwa Lake, A change of scenery from beaches, the lake is home to several species of reptiles and birds, including monitor lizards. There are a variety of boat tours available as well as options to kayak
- Seenigama Vihara, located 2km north of Hikkaduwa, this temple is located on its own island and is one of only a few temples in the country where victims of theft can seek retribution. Grab a boat ride over from the nearby beach. Entry is free
- Water Activities, known for its beaches, Hikkaduwa also has plenty of water based activities on offer including diving, snorkelling and surfing. Visit one of the many operators on or near the beach for more information
What to eat
Sri Lankan food is a mix of Indian and Indonesian influences, meals are generally served up as a variety of dishes to share and enjoy with others. As well as some of the national favourites, you'll find a selection of dishes with ingredients from the nearby sea in Hikkaduwa. If you want to try some of the local dishes of Hikkaduwa, then here are our top picks of the local cuisine:
- Seafood, being close to the sea, there is an abundance of fresh seafood in Hikkaduwa. Top picks to try are crab and prawns which are usually served in the shells, with part of the experience being to break them open and enjoy the fresh taste!
- Rotti, rotti's are filled with a variety of ingredients including sweet and savoury options and served with curry gravy for savoury
- Chicken curry and rice, a staple dish of the country, Sri Lanka's chicken curry is spicy and delicious and best served with fluffy rice
- Mango Curry, usually served as a side dish for curry's, mango curry is a tasty savoury dish with a hint of sweetness from the mango
- Dhal, usually made with coconut and lentils, amongst other ingredients, dhal is a side dish and perfect for scooping up with roti's and breads
Money
The currency in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee (Rs). Credit & Debit cards are accepted in higher end establishments, larger hotels and shopping malls but many small shops, hotels and restaurants will only accept cash. There are ATM's in Hikkaduwa, spread out across Galle Road, some of these accept foreign cards but there are one or two that don't, try the next ATM if the first doesn't work. A service charge is generally not added to the bill so you can leave a tip, if you are happy with the service. A tip of 5-10% is the norm and generally expected in Sri Lanka. Even in higher end restaurants and hotels, prices are generally quite reasonable and affordable for Western travellers. Here's a guide for what you can expect to pay (per person) for:
- A local draught beer, Rs300-400 ($1.50-$2.00)
- A coffee, Rs350-450 ($1.75-$2.25)
- Kottu Roti, Rs200-600 ($1-$3)
- Budget restaurant meal, Rs200-600 ($1-$3)
- Mid-range restaurant meal, Rs1000-2000 ($5-$10)
- High-end restaurant meal, Rs3000+ ($15+)
When to go and for how long
The best time to visit Hikkaduwa is between January and March, when it is the dry season for the west coast. We would recommend spending 2-3 days in the city at the beginning or end of your Sri Lanka trip.
Local language and phrases
The languages in Sri Lanka are Sinhalese and Tamil, although Sinhalese is the more widely used of the two. English is also widely spoken across the country so you should have no issues in communicating. Some useful Sri Lankan phrases in Sinhalese are:
- Hello or Goodbye - Ayubowan
- Thank you - Istuti
- Please - Karunakara
- Yes - Ow
- No - Naa
Useful info
- Hikkaduwa is a relatively safe area although travellers should exercise caution when it comes to scams, taxis and the main road running through the town centre, which can be very busy to cross with cars and buses driving quickly
- Hikkaduwa, and Sri Lanka in general, is a hot and humid country. Ensure you stay hydrated and be wary of the sun
- The tap water is not safe to drink, always drink bottled water
- The tourism industry in Sri Lanka is relatively new compared to some countries and is still developing so some areas are less developed for tourists
Hikkaduwa travel guide written in August 2021 based on visit in April 2021.
