Sri Lanka Travel- 200+ Things Under $5

Would you travel more if it wasn’t so expensive? I have a hunch that most people would say yes. But what if I told you that it’s already pretty affordable if you know where to look? Lately I’ve made it my personal mission to show people how inexpensive it can be to travel the world so more people can get out there and make their dreams come true.  Sri Lanka travel in particular is extremely affordable.

How affordable? Check out this list of over 200 things you can buy, see, and do in Sri Lanka for under $5.

Even better: half of them are completely free of charge!

Disclosure: My Adventure Bucket uses affiliate links in some posts. I only share products I trust and believe in. At no additional cost to you, I may earn a commission when you click through these links and make a purchase. I appreciate your support!

FYI- all Sri Lanka travel prices listed here are in US dollars, are approximate, and were accurate at the time of writing. I use XE for currency conversion, which gives you real time exchange rates. Keep in mind that prices of some things will fluctuate with the seasons- traveling in the off season or shoulder season will always give you the best rates.

Sri Lanka Travel: Countrywide

Almost every beach in Sri Lanka is free and open to the public, so I’m not going to list all of them in this guide or we’d be here all day. I’ll make note of some of the highlights.

Almost every church, mosque, and temple in the country is also free and open to the public, so again I’m just going to list some of the highlights.

Most Airbnb rentals in Sri Lanka offer weekly and monthly discounts that can be substantial. When you’re looking for a place to stay, make sure you input your full dates to see the discounted price. 

Sri Lanka has an active Couchsurfing community where you can score free accommodations if you’re the adventurous sort.

There are over 200 opportunities in Sri Lanka available on Workaway for you to receive free room and board in exchange for a little bit of work, if you’re looking to travel long term.

Bus and train travel throughout the country is laughably cheap, and Sri Lanka’s train routes are some of the most scenic in the world. They’re one of the best bargains in the country. In many cases, the train fare I’ve quoted here isn’t even for the least expensive class, so you can tighten your budget even further if necessary.

Food and drink prices listed here are representative of what’s available in the area, so don’t feel like the places listed are the only spots you can get a good deal- delicious meals in Sri Lanka are cheap *and* abundant.

I found my Lonely Planet Sri Lanka travel guide indispensable during my three month trip and highly recommend it for more information about many of the Sri Lanka travel ideas listed here.

Sri Lanka Travel: Colombo

Accommodation

• Dorm bed at Colombo City Jumbo Hostel with free wifi and breakfast. $5.00.
• Kanduboda Siyane Meditation Center– free accommodation, meals, and meditation instruction for a three week period. You will be expected to make a donation, but there is no set amount.

Food & Drink

• An order of wok-fried vegetable dumplings (one of the best meals I had in three months of Sri Lanka travel, FYI), $2.46 at Momo’s by Ruvi.
• Lunch packets of rice and vegetarian curry sold by street vendors all over Colombo, .80-$1.00.
• Vegetarian buffet lunch at Green Cabin, Colombo. $1.56.
• Curry or tea and cake at New Palm Leaf Hotel, Colombo. $1-2.
• A banana split at Carnival, $1.12. Everyone in Colombo comes to Carnival eventually, so the people watching can be great at peak times.
• A candlelit prawn dinner on the beach at Bu Ba, $5.
• A smoked salmon appetizer at the rooftop Cloud Cafe bar while listening to live jazz music on a Friday night, $4.76
• A raspberry mojito at Taphouse by RnR in the Old Dutch Hospital shopping district, Colombo. $1.96
• Cheese kotthu at Pilawoos or any of a hundred other no-name roadside dives, $1.40. Sri Lanka is rightly famous for its million splendid variations on curry, but if you ask me, cheese kotthu is the real national treasure. Watching the chef make it with a machete and a sizzling hot griddle is half the fun.
• Curries and pastries at Pagoda Tea Room, Colombo. $1-2.
• Three peeled black tiger prawns at Colombo’s famed Ministry of Crab restaurant, $4.80. One of their famous crab dinners will set you back a bit more, but if you’re traveling with friends who have a bigger budget, you can still find something tasty on the menu for under $5.

Activities & Attractions

• Viharamahadevi Park, Colombo. FREE. See if you can find the tree full of massive flying foxes near the center.
• National Museum, Colombo. $1.40. There will be a small extra charge for a camera fee if you want to take photos. Make sure you have a safety pin on you to keep the camera fee receipt pinned to your clothes (and see my Ultimate Sri Lanka Packing List for more things you don’t know you’re going to need.)
• National Art Gallery, Colombo. FREE
• Watch the sunset from the Old Galle Buck Lighthouse, Colombo. FREE
• Dutch Period Museum, Colombo. $2.80
• Wolvendaal Church, Colombo. FREE  Built in 1749 and apparently the most important Dutch building in Sri Lanka (and there are a lot of them, so that’s saying something). If you’re a lover of old cemeteries like I am, you can’t miss this church or the Dutch Period Church in Galle Fort.
• Gangaramaya Temple, Colombo. .56 donation. If you happen to be visiting during the month of May, this is where you’ll come for the most lavish Vesak celebrations in the country. It’s a huge (free!) birthday party for the Buddha, and the entire country gets involved. Locals love to welcome visitors into their celebrations, so don’t be shy. Smaller celebrations will take place on the full moon poya day other months.
• Seema Malakaya Temple & Meditation Center, Colombo. FREE with entrance ticket to Gangaramaya. One of the most popular photo spots in the city.
• People watch on Sunday afternoons at Galle Face Green, Colombo. FREE
• Sambodhi Chaitiya, the massive white stupa near the Old Galle Buck Lighthouse, Colombo. FREE  
• St. Peter’s Church, Colombo. FREE
• St. Anthony’s Church, Colombo. FREE Home to a supposedly miraculous statue, this church gets throngs of visitors from every religion- miracles are miracles, after all.
• St. Lucia’s Cathedral, Colombo. FREE The largest church in Sri Lanka.
• Traditional Puppet Art Museum, Colombo. $2.80
• Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, Buddhist temple, Colombo. FREE
• One ticket to a Sri Lanka Cricket match, starting at $1.68

Shopping

• Pettah Market, Colombo. FREE  (Obviously it won’t be free if you buy something, but prices in Sri Lanka’s markets are cheap, cheap, cheap. Think bags of apples and oranges for .84, a pair of pants for $1.15, and three avocados for .56.  If you’re staying in an Airbnb with a kitchen, this is the place to come and pick up some dinner staples. Keep in mind that Pettah Market can get very crowded and kind of sketchy at times. Be on your guard.
• Laksala craft & souvenir shops. All of the carved wooden elephants and Buddhas you could ever want, and then some. Lots of really inexpensive options perfect for if you need to bring home a lot of souvenirs for friends.
• Lakpahana arts & crafts shop. Another good choice for inexpensive souvenirs. You’re going to have *so many* wooden elephants.
• Arpico Supercenter, Colombo. One of the only modern supermarkets you’ll find in Sri Lanka, this is where you’ll want to stock up on snacks, toiletries you forgot to pack, feminine hygiene supplies, drinks for your hotel room, and anything else you can think of. Prices are reasonable on almost everything

Transportation

• Tuk-tuks are the most convenient way to get around town and they’re almost always under $5. Most Sri Lankan tuk tuk drivers are honest, but always agree to the cost before you get in. Most tuk-tuks in Colombo now have meters, but this won’t be the case in most of the country.
• The bus is almost always going to be the cheapest way to get anywhere in Sri Lanka; from Fort train station to the center of town won’t cost you more than .25.
• The train is just about as cheap as the bus but way more atmospheric, especially when you hang out of the open doorways and feel the breeze (and the cool ocean spray, if you’re on the Colombo to Galle route, which runs literally right along the water for much of the trip). The entire three and a half hour trip from Fort station to Galle on the southern coast will cost you a whopping .56.

Sri Lanka Travel: The West

Accommodation

• Aurora Knight Hostel, Negombo. Dorm beds from $3.93 including free wi-fi, and it’s a 2 minute walk from the beach.
• Aurora Beach Hostel, Negombo. Dorm beds from $4.49 including free wi-fi.

Food & Drink

• A fantastic rice and curry spread at Home Grown Rice & Curry Restaurant, Hikkaduwa, $1.96.
• Marinara pizza at Spaghetti & Co., Hikkaduwa, $4.93. (This was the best pizza I found in the whole country and I came back here at least four times during the three weeks I was in Hikkaduwa!)
• Sweet and savory roti at No 1 Roti Restaurant, Hikkaduwa, .84.
• Almost anything on the menu, including an ice cold Lion beer, at Tree Top, Hikkaduwa. This was my other favorite spot in Hikka- it feels like you’re in a grown up tree house, and the people watching from the balcony tables is great.

Activities & Attractions

• Negombo Beach Park, FREE
• St. Mary’s Church, Negombo. FREE
• A rented bicycle to ride along the canals in Negombo, FREE from most local hotels.
• Kalpitiya Beach & Alankuda Beach on the Kalpitiya Peninsula, FREE. I love, love, love, love the Kalpitiya Peninsula- it’s one of my favorite spots in all of Sri Lanka.
• Releasing rescued baby sea turtles into the ocean at sunset with Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery, $2.80.
• Galapota Temple, FREE
• Renting snorkeling gear ($2.80) at Hikkaduwa National Park (.16 admission).
• Renting a surfboard for an hour from almost any guesthouse along Hikkaduwa Beach, $2.24.
• Tsunami Photo Museum, Hikkaduwa, FREE. You’re going to want to spring for some Kleenex before you come, though. This unassuming little museum might be the most heartbreaking thing you see in Sri Lanka. It’s full of photos and memorabilia from the devastating 2004 tsunami, and the sweet family that owns it will tell you their own horrifying story of how they survived the destruction.
• Turtle Hatchery, Hikkaduwa, $2.80
• Watch the fishermen unloading their boats at the Main Fish Market, Negombo. FREE

Shopping

• Diana Souvenirs, Negombo. Although she specializes in paintings and larger objets d’art, Diana has quite a few small statues and other really affordable souvenirs.

Transportation

• Bus from Negombo to Colombo, .56
• Bus from Negombo to Kandy, .85
• Bus from Negombo to Kalpitiya, $1.00
• Bus from Colombo to Hikkaduwa, $1.06
• Train from Colombo to Hikkaduwa, .89
• Train from Hikkaduwa to Galle, .22
• Tuk-tuk from Negombo to Bandaranaike International Airport, $2.80

Sri Lanka Travel: The South

Accommodation

• Dorm bed at Ceylon Hostel Galle, Unawatuna, from $4.50, including free WiFi and breakfast.

Food & Drink

• Vegetable curry with rice at Spoon’s Cafe, Galle Fort, $2.52.
• A scoop of the best gelato in the country at Pedlar’s Inn Gelato, Galle Fort, $1.68
• A glass of freshly squeezed orange juice at AVM Cream House, Weligama, .11.
• A fantastic kotthu dinner at No1 Dewmini Roti shop, Mirissa. $1.68

Activities & Attractions

• Walk along the Galle Fort ramparts at sunset, FREE. Not only free, but the loveliest place in the entire country, in my opinion. Don’t be surprised if you read in a future update that I’ve moved here permanently.
• Lighthouse Beach, Galle. FREE.
• Dutch Reformed Church, Galle Fort. FREE and spectacular. The original church on this site was built in 1640 and the whole structure just oozes history. If you’re a cemetery lover like I am, the floor tiled with ornate old Dutch headstones will make you swoon.
• Marine Archaeological Museum, Galle Fort. $3.64
• National Maritime Museum, Galle Fort. $3
• National Museum, Galle Fort. $1.68
• Rumassala Peace Pagoda, Galle. FREE
• Jungle Beach, Galle. FREE
• Kottawa Conservation Forest. FREE
• Yatagala Raja Maha Viharaya rock temple, Unawatuna. .56
• Renting snorkel gear from Sea Horse Diving Centre, Unawatuna. $4.48
• An hour-long plantation tour followed by tea and cake at Handungoda Tea Estate, FREE
• Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Art Museum, $1.12
• Kataluwa Purwarama Temple (built in the 13th century!), FREE
• Mirissa Beach. FREE
• Dutch ramparts, Matara. FREE
• Star Fort, Matara. FREE
• Mulkirigala rock temples, $1.12
• Dondra Head Lighthouse, $3.37
• Talalla Beach, FREE
• Wewurukannala Vihara (the largest seated Buddha figure in Sri Lanka), Dikwella, .56
• Ho-o-maniya Blowhole, Dikwella, $1.40
• Goyambokka Beach, FREE
• Tissa Wewa and the Yatala Wehera temple, Tissamaharama, FREE
• Wirawila Wewa Bird Sanctuary, FREE
• Kirinda Temple, FREE
• Kataragama, FREE This entire town is considered a holy place and there’s a huge pilgrimage here that takes place in July. The spectacle is definitely worth watching if you’re in the area.

Shopping

• Embark, Galle Fort. Lots of accessories and small items that will come in under the $5 mark. And the best part, they donate proceeds to help care for the country’s homeless animals. Win-win.

Transportation

• Train from Galle to Kandy, $1.79
• Train from Matara to Colombo, $1.29
• Tuk-tuk from Galle to Unawatuna, $2.80
• Tuk-tuk from Tangalla to Goyambokka, $2.24

Sri Lanka Travel: The Hill Country

Accommodation

• Kandy City Hostel, dorm beds from $5.00 with free wi-fi.
• Single room at Burmese Rest, Kandy, from $2.24
• Dhamma Kuta Vipassana Meditation Centre, room and board is provided free of charge for a minimum 10 day meditation retreat. Donations are accepted.
• Nilambe Buddhist Meditation Centre, room and board is provided free of charge during scheduled retreats, but it is customary to offer a small donation.
• A dorm bed at Happy Laugh Hostel, Ella, from $3.80 including free wi-fi and free breakfast.
• A dorm bed at Foret de Vill hostel, Ella, from $5.00 including free wi-fi.
• A dorm bed at Greenwood Udawalawa Safari Resort from $5.00 including free wi-fi and free breakfast.

Food & Drink

• The excellent curries and kotthu at Kandy Muslim Hotel, $1.68
• Tuna sashimi at the always-happening Slightly Chilled Lounge Bar, Kandy, $4.21
• Afternoon tea at the Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya, $4.49
• Tandoori chicken salad at the extremely popular Grand Indian, Nuwara Eliya, $1.23
• A slice of decadent passion fruit cheesecake at the ubiquitous backpacker haunt, Cafe Chill, Ella, $2.52.
• An ice cold Lion beer at the Dream Cafe, Ella, $2.24

Activities & Attractions

• Climbing Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada), FREE
• Ceylon Tea Museum, Kandy, $2.80
• National Museum, Kandy, $2.80
• Degal Doruwa Raja Maha Vihara cave temple, Kandy, donation at your discretion
• Embekka Devale Hindu temple, Kandy, $1.68
• Lankatilake Temple, Kandy. Half Buddhist, Half Hindu temple. $1.68
• Gadaladeniya Temple, Kandy. Another half Buddhist, half Hindu temple. $1.12
• St. Paul’s Church, Kandy, donation at your discretion.
• Kandy Garrison Cemetery, FREE
• Kandy War Cemetery, donation at your discretion.
• Film festivals and other community events, free or very nominal cost, Alliance Francaise, Kandy. 
• Traditional dance performances by Kandy Lake Club, Kandyan Art Association & Cultural Centre, or Mahanuwara YMBA, $2.80
• Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya, $1.68
• Guided tour of Pedro Tea Estate, Nuwara Eliya, $1.12
• Paddleboat tour of Gregory Lake, Nuwara Eliya, $2.80 plus $1.12 admission
• Walk to Lovers Leap waterfall, Nuwara Eliya, FREE
• Seetha Amman Temple, Nuwara Eliya, FREE
• An hour of tennis at the Nuwara Eliya Hill Club, $2.80
• A guided tour of Dambatenne, Sri Thomas Lipton’s tea factory, Haputale, $1.40
• The best views in the area from Lipton’s Seat, Haputale, FREE
• Adisham Monastery, Haputale, .56
• Dowa cave temple, Bandarawela, .56
• Newburgh Green Tea Factory, Ella, $1.68
• Hike to Little Adam’s Peak or Ella Rock, FREE
• St. Mark’s Church, Badulla, FREE
• Dunhinda Falls, Badulla, $1.12
• Rakkhiththakananda Len Viharaya Cave Temple, donation
• Diyaluma Falls, Koslanda, FREE
• Buduruwagala Buddhas, Wellawaya, $1.12
• Archaeological Museum, Wellawaya, FREE
• Elephant Transit Home, Uda Walawe, $2.80. This care home for injured and orphaned elephants is a great place to see these gorgeous animals outside of the pricier national park safaris. It’s an ethical operation, which means you won’t be able to get too close to the elephants and you certainly can’t ride them or bathe them.
• Kotapola rock temple, FREE
• Kiruwananaganga Falls, FREE
• Kolawenigama Temple, FREE

Shopping

• Kandy City Center- a pretty compact little shopping mall conveniently located next to Kandy Lake. There’s a grocery store that’s a perfect spot to stock up on snacks for the road and a Baskin-Robbins where you can try a scoop of rose petal ice cream. (Spoiler alert: it makes your breath smell like Valentine’s Day.) Lunch at the food court is also affordable with several choices under $3.00.

Transportation

• Train from Kandy to Hatton, .61 (Not only is this super cheap, but it’s one of the best Sri Lanka travel experiences you can have. Prepare for jaw dropping views throughout the hill country!)
• Train from Kandy to Colombo, $1.06
• Train from Haputale to Ella, .28
• Bus from Wellawaya to Ella, .37

Sri Lanka Travel: The Ancient Cities

In my experience, the Ancient Cities are the most expensive part of Sri Lanka to visit. With the steep ticket prices at most of the major sights and very few ultra cheap accommodation options, this may be the one spot in the country that you have no choice but to splurge a little bit if you want to see all the best stuff.

Accommodation

• Basic private room at Charm Inn Tourist Rest B&B from $5.18 (I know this is technically over budget, but it’s the cheapest option in town at the moment!)

Food & Drink

• Lunch buffet at Surathura Spice Garden, Matale, $2.52
• A deluxe curry dinner at Little Paradise Anuradhapura, $5.00
• A freshly baked loaf of bread at Salgado Hotel & Bakery, Anuradhapura, .33

Activities & Attractions

• Aluvihara monastery & caves, Matale, $1.40
• Matale Heritage Centre, FREE
• Tour of Euphoria Spice and Herbal spice garden, FREE
• Sri Muthumariamman Thevasthanam Hindu temple, $1.12
• Nalanda Gedige Hindu temple, FREE
• Golden Temple, Dambulla, FREE
• Dambulla Museum, $1.40
• Aukana Buddha, $2.80
• Mihintale village and temple complex, $4.00
• Yapahuwa Rock Fortress, $2.80
• Panduwasnuwara ruins, FREE
• Padeniya Raja Mahavihara temple, FREE, donations accepted
• Ridi Vahara temple, $1.12

Shopping

• Weekend Market, new town Anuradhapura. The cheapest place in town to stock up on fresh produce for self catering.

Transportation

• Train from Habarana to Colombo, $3.48
• Train from Anuradhapura to Colombo, $3.37

Sri Lanka Travel: The North

Accommodation

• Single room at Baobab Guest House, Mannar Island, $4.20

Food & Drink

• A scoop of ice cream at local Jaffna institution Rio, .33
• A bottle of wine from the Rosarian Convent, Jaffna, $1.68
• A sweet mango lassi from Juice Land, Jaffna, .89
• Huge & delicious masala dosa from Mangos, Jaffna, $1.12

Activities & Attractions

• Archaeological Museum, Vavuniya, FREE
• Star Fortress, Mannar Island, FREE
• 700 year old Baobab tree, Mannar Island, FREE
• Thirukketeeswaram Kovil temple, Mannar, FREE
• Our Lady of Madhu Church, Mannar, FREE
• Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, Jaffna, FREE If you can manage to visit during one of the daily puja ceremonies, you’re in for a treat. It was one of the highlights of my visit to Jaffna and all of my Sri Lanka travel.
• Jaffna Fort, FREE
• Jaffna Public Library, FREE
• Royal Palace & Minister’s House ruins, Jaffna, FREE
• Jaffna Archaeological Museum, FREE, donations accepted
• St. Mary’s Cathedral, Jaffna, FREE
• Roman Catholic Cemetery, Jaffna, FREE  If you’re into spookily overgrown old cemeteries, this is your spot.
• Some of the loveliest ruins you’ll see in all of Sri Lanka, Old Park, Jaffna, FREE (If you’re a fan of flying foxes, seek out the tree in the back corner of the playground that’s absolutely full of them. You can sit on a park bench and watch them swooping around overhead.)

Shopping

• Jaffna market is a great place to buy fresh produce and see cows randomly wandering into shops. Unlike the rest of the island, Jaffna and the surrounding north is primarily Hindu, so the vibe is a lot more India than Sri Lanka.
• Custom made clothing from seamstress Ruby Sorupan, Jaffna, starting at $1.12

Transportation

• Train from Jaffna to Colombo, $4.49

Sri Lanka Travel: The East

Accommodation

• A rustic beach cabana at Beach Hut in Arugam Bay just steps from the ocean, $3.36

Food & Drink

• Lunch buffet at RN Buffet & Take Away, Batticaloa, $3.36
• Rice and curry at Ajmeer Hotel, Trincomalee, $1.12

Activities & Attractions

• Yudaganawa ruins, .56
• Pathma Vihara temple ruins, FREE
• Mudu Maha Vihara ruins, FREE
• Whiskey Point Beach, FREE
• Lighthouse Point Beach, FREE
• Rent a surfboard or bodyboard for the day from A-Bay Surf Shop, Arugam Bay, $3.36
• Kudimbigala Forest Hermitage, FREE
• Japanese Peace Pagoda, Ampara, FREE
• Sri Manika Pillaiyar Hindu temple, FREE
• Buddhangala Rock Hermitage, FREE, donations accepted
• Deegawapi ruins, FREE
• Deegawapi archaeological museum, FREE
• Batticaloa Dutch Fort, FREE
• St. Mary’s Cathedral, Batticaloa, FREE
• St. Anthony’s Church, Batticaloa, FREE
• Haircut and head massage at the Imperial Saloon, Batticaloa, $2.24
• Boat trip to Batticaloa Lighthouse, from $2.24
• Passekudah Beach, FREE
• Kalkudah Beach, FREE
• Coconut Cultural Park, $1.40
• Fort Frederick, Trincomalee, FREE
• Kandasamy Kovil, Trincomalee, FREE
• Whale watching from Swami Rock, Trincomalee, supposedly the best place in the entire world for watching blue whales. FREE
• Commonwealth War Cemetery, Uppuveli, FREE
• Salli Muthumariamunam Kovil Hindu temple, FREE

Shopping

• Ecowave Outlet, Arugam Bay. Local crafts, spices, honey, and locally made beauty products at really good prices make excellent souvenirs.

Transportation

• Bus from Ampara to Colombo, $2.16
• Train from Batticaloa to Colombo, $2.80
• Sleeper train from Trincomalee to Colombo, $4.20

So there you go- 200+ things you can buy, see and do for under $5 in Sri Lanka. Did I miss anything major? Let me know your favorite Sri Lanka travel deals under $5 in the comments!

Want to save even MORE money on travel? Check out 90+ Tips for Traveling on a Budget and make sure you sign up for the following programs to easily and painlessly earn points that you can turn into gift cards and cash to fund your Sri Lanka travel:

MyPoints

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To make the most of your Sri Lanka travel, check out my Ultimate Sri Lanka Packing List and 60+ Best Things to Eat, See, and Do in Sri Lanka posts as well as the rest of my Sri Lanka content.

Have questions about your Sri Lanka travel and making the most of your trip on a budget? Let me know in the comments!