The warmest places in Sri Lanka in December are the lowland west and south coasts, where days reach about 30-32°C and the sea sits near 28°C. Colombo and the Negombo to Bentota stretch rank first, because they combine heat with dry weather. The east coast is equally hot but in the northeast monsoon, so it is warm and wet. The hill country is the cool exception. Temperatures are approximate and as of 2026, based on published climate averages; for a full month view see our Sri Lanka in December guide, and for a wider season plan see the winter sun guide.
Ranking by December Temperature
| Rank | Region | Day / night | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colombo, Negombo, Bentota (west) | 31°C / 24°C | Dry, sunny | Warmest and driest |
| 2 | Galle, Unawatuna, Mirissa, Weligama (south) | 30-31°C / 24°C | Dry, about 10 rainy days | Best all-round |
| 3 | Tangalle, Yala, Tissamaharama (south-east) | 30-32°C / 23°C | Mostly dry, some showers | Hot, good for safaris |
| 4 | Trincomalee, Pasikuda (east) | 28-29°C / 24°C | Wet, rough sea | Warm, not beach weather |
| 5 | Kandy, Sigiriya, Dambulla (inland) | 28-31°C / 21-23°C | Mostly dry | Warm days, cooler nights |
| 6 | Ella, Haputale | 22-25°C / 13-15°C | Clear, cool mornings | Mild |
| 7 | Nuwara Eliya | 19°C / 8-10°C | Cool, dry | Coolest |
1. Colombo and the West Coast (Negombo, Bentota)
Colombo has the highest combination of heat and dryness: about 31°C by day and 24°C at night, with the humidity easing from November levels. Negombo and Bentota are slightly breezier on the shore. Sea temperature is near 28°C, and swimming is safe at Bentota and the calmer stretches of Negombo, though check flags during rougher spells.
Hotel: Galle Face Hotel in Colombo (listed on Booking.com: a colonial-style seafront property from 1864 with a saltwater pool) from approximately USD 200-300 outside the festive week; Jetwing Beach in Negombo, from approximately USD 150-250; Cinnamon Bentota Beach, from approximately USD 140-220 (as of 2026, indicative, higher at Christmas). See Colombo, Negombo and Bentota.
2. The South Coast: Galle to Weligama
Galle, Unawatuna, Mirissa and Weligama run at about 30-31°C by day. Weather2Travel averages for Galle show around 10 rainy days and roughly 180 mm in December, with about 7 hours of sunshine and a sea at 27.8°C. Showers are short and often at night. This is the most popular stretch of coast for a reason: warm, dry, with whales offshore at Mirissa.
Hotels: Weligama Bay Marriott Resort & Spa in Weligama (a beachfront resort with six restaurants and bars, a spa and water sports; Booking.com ranges of roughly USD 130-360 across the year, upper end at Christmas) and Jetwing Lighthouse in Galle (hilltop, two pools, spa) from approximately USD 160-260 early in December and USD 300-450 around Christmas. See Galle, Mirissa and Weligama.
3. Tangalle, Yala and the South-East
The south-east is slightly hotter inland, reaching 30-32°C around Yala and Tissamaharama, and the nights are around 23°C. It is drier than the east and warmer than Galle, but the first northeast monsoon showers reach Yala in December, which can close some tracks briefly. Tangalle beaches are wide and quiet, and the surf is stronger than at Mirissa, so check conditions before swimming.
Where to stay: We have not verified a specific Tangalle property on Booking.com for this guide, so choose a beachfront villa or boutique hotel at Goyambokka or Medaketiya and check live rates. Base in Tangalle and take a safari with a guided Yala tour.
4. Trincomalee and the East Coast: Warm but Wet
Trincomalee sits around 28-29°C by day and 24°C at night in December, which is warm, but the northeast monsoon brings rain and rough sea. We do not recommend the east coast for a beach holiday in December. If your itinerary includes it for history (Koneswaram temple, Fort Frederick), accept rain as a possibility. The east coast starts to improve from around February.
Hotel: Uppuveli Beach by DSK, a beachfront five-star in Uppuveli listed on Booking.com, rates vary by date, so check live prices. See Trincomalee and Trincomalee stays.
5. Cultural Triangle: Kandy, Sigiriya, Dambulla
Inland, days reach 28-31°C with a drier feel than the coast, and nights are cooler, around 21-23°C. Sigiriya’s rock climb is best at 7am when gates open, before the heat peaks. Kandy is slightly cooler at about 28-29°C because of its elevation near 500 m.
Where to stay: A riverside or hillside hotel in Kandy or a Sigiriya lodge with a pool suits the heat; we have not verified a specific Booking.com property here, so compare live rates on our Kandy stays page. See Kandy and Sigiriya.
6 and 7. Ella, Haputale and Nuwara Eliya: The Cool Option
The hill country is the only place that is not warm. Ella and Haputale reach about 22-25°C by day and drop to 13-15°C at night. Nuwara Eliya is coolest: about 19°C by day and 8-10°C at night. December is one of the clearest months, so views are excellent. Bring a fleece.
Hotel: The Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya, a century-old heritage hotel beside the golf course (Booking.com lists heated rooms and two restaurants), from approximately USD 150-250 in the festive week. See Nuwara Eliya and Ella.
How to Use This Ranking
For maximum warmth with dry weather and a swimmable sea, choose the west coast in the first half of the month and the south coast for Christmas and New Year. If you want both, spend four nights at Bentota or Galle and two in the hills. Read our Christmas guide for festive week rates, and book through Booking.com for Galle or Colombo. Browse Sri Lanka tours for whale watching and safaris.
Climate data comes from the Sri Lanka Department of Meteorology, and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority publishes visitor information.