Trincomalee, Sri Lanka: travel guide
A historic natural-harbour city on the northeast coast, famed for the clifftop Koneswaram Temple, whale watching, and the palm-fringed beaches of Uppuveli and Nilaveli.
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Currency
- LKR
- Time zone
- Asia/Colombo
Top places to visit in Trincomalee
Koneswaram Temple
Temple · 4.6 rating · about 1 h
Hindu temple over 2,500 years old perched on Swami Rock inside Fort Frederick, one of the Pancha Ishwaram shrines.
Kanniya Hot Springs
Nature · 4.1 rating · about 0.8 h
Seven ancient square wells of naturally warm water, considered sacred, a short drive from Trincomalee town.
Nilaveli Beach
Beach · 4.6 rating · about 2 h
A quieter, wider stretch of white sand north of Uppuveli, the launch point for Pigeon Island boat trips.
Fort Frederick
Fort · 4.4 rating · about 1 h
Portuguese-built 1623 fort, later rebuilt by the Dutch, still used by the Sri Lankan military but open to visitors; grounds have resident deer.
Uppuveli Beach
Beach · 4.1 rating · about 2 h
Long, calm sandy beach close to town, good swimming and a relaxed strip of guesthouses and beach restaurants.
Pigeon Island National Park
Wildlife · 3.8 rating · about 2.5 h
Marine national park 1km off Nilaveli beach with shallow coral reefs, popular for snorkelling with reef fish and blacktip reef sharks.
Things to do
- Trincomalee Whale & Dolphin Watching Boat Tour Wildlife · 3 h · from LKR 7,500 per person
- Pigeon Island Snorkeling Trip Activity · 3 h · from LKR 4,500 per person
Day trips and tours
- Trincomalee Whale Watching & Pigeon Island Day Tour 8 h · from LKR 15,000
Where to stay in Trincomalee
- Uppuveli
Closest beach strip to town, mix of budget guesthouses and mid-range hotels.
- Nilaveli
Quieter, more upscale beach further north, best base for Pigeon Island trips.
Hotels
- Trinco Blu by Cinnamon
- Blu Marine Nilaveli
- Nilaveli Beach Hotel
Where to eat
- Waves Sea Food Restaurant sri_lankan, seafood · about LKR 1,875 per person
- Trinco Lanka Restaurant sri_lankan, seafood · about LKR 600 per person
- Be Cool Juice Bar & Sea Food Restaurant sri_lankan, seafood · about LKR 600 per person
Getting around
- Car With Driver main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Tuktuk main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Best time to visit Trincomalee
- Jan rough · Trincomalee: NE monsoon, Maha. The east coast's closed season is the mirror of the south-west's — Dec-Feb, not May-Sep.
- Feb rough · Trincomalee: NE monsoon, Maha. The east coast's closed season is the mirror of the south-west's — Dec-Feb, not May-Sep.
- Dec rough · Trincomalee: NE monsoon, Maha. The east coast's closed season is the mirror of the south-west's — Dec-Feb, not May-Sep.