Home Search by budget Destinations Beaches Interactive map Services Booking Collections Ratings VIP Club
Find flights Book transfer
Home / Beaches / Wellawatte Beach

Wellawatte Beach

Пляж Веллавватте
Sri Lanka · Beach · Colombo
murky
Best month: January

Best for

Suitable for walks and picnics, but not recommended for swimming due to water pollution. Ideal for those who want to enjoy ocean views and sunsets.

Best month

January

Water
+29.0°C
Length
900 m
Wellawatte Beach, located in the southern part of Colombo. It features a lively atmosphere and accessibility, popular with locals for picnics and walks.
Surface
sand
Waves
moderate
Entry
gentle
Description Pros & Cons Best For Features Beach & Entry Water & Waves Swim Season Safety Infrastructure Vibe Nature Activities Tips Nearby
Description
General information about the beach
Wellawatte Beach, located in the southern part of Colombo. It features a lively atmosphere and accessibility, popular with locals for picnics and walks.
Pros and cons
Main advantages and disadvantages

Pros

  • Close to Colombo centre
  • Accessible by train
  • Sandy shore
  • Sunbeds and umbrellas
  • Cafes and restaurants nearby
  • Beautiful sunsets

Cons

  • Polluted water
  • Litter on the beach
  • Noisy due to the railway
  • Crowded
  • Swimming dangerous
  • Limited parking
Best for
Who this beach is ideal for
Suitable for walks and picnics, but not recommended for swimming due to water pollution. Ideal for those who want to enjoy ocean views and sunsets.
Features
What makes this beach unique
Wellawatte is one of the few urban beaches in Colombo that has been improved as part of the "Life to Our Beaches" project. It is home to one of the city-s two deep-sea sewage outfalls.
Beach & Entry
Surface, sand, water entry and bottom
Surface Type
Main surface type
sand
Sand Color
Main sand colour
golden
Sand Texture
Grain size
fine
Water Entry
How steep the drop-off is
gentle
Shallow Distance
Metres to waist-deep water
20 m
Bottom Type
Main bottom type
sand
Water Shoes
Whether special footwear is needed
not needed
Beach Length
Beach length in metres
900 m
Water & Waves
Colour, clarity, temperature and waves
Water Colour
grey
Water Clarity
murky
Underwater Visibility
1.0 m
Average Water Temp
+29.0 °C
Max Water Temp
+31.0 °C
Wave Type
moderate
Wave Height
1.2 m
Swim Season
When the swimming season starts and ends
Season start
December January
Season end
March April
Best month
January
Safety
Currents, water quality, dangerous creatures, hospital
Rip Currents
Likelihood of rip currents
high
Water Quality
Water purity rating
poor
Jellyfish Risk
Likelihood of jellyfish
low
Shark Risk
Likelihood of sharks
none
Crime Level
Overall safety level
caution
Hospital Distance
Kilometres to hospital
2.0 km
What exactly is dangerous
Caution: theft of personal belongings on the beach is possible, especially in the evening. Do not leave valuables unattended.
Dangerous creatures
Crocodiles (in coastal waters)
Mosquitoes
Sandflies
Insurance & Connectivity
Get travel insurance and mobile internet before your trip
Travel insurance
EKTA — international coverage
Get insured
Visitor insurance
VisitorsCoverage — for travelers
Get insured
Flight compensation
AirHelp — claim for delayed flights
Claim
Flight compensation
Compensair — EU flight claims
Claim
eSIM for travel
Airalo — mobile internet worldwide
Connect
eSIM without roaming
Yesim — 190+ countries
Connect
eSIM for travelers
Saily — affordable data abroad
Connect
Infrastructure
Amenities on and near the beach
Sunbeds
Yes
Umbrellas
Yes
Showers
Yes
Toilets
Yes
Changing Rooms
Yes
Lifeguards
Yes
First Aid
No
Parking
Yes
Wi-Fi
Yes
Kids Playground
No
Sports Ground
No
Restaurants Nearby
10 pcs
Best restaurants

Hotel De Pilawoos

Sri Lankan

Popular restaurant with Sri Lankan cuisine, known for fried chicken and shawarma.

Abid-s Restaurant

Sri Lankan

Family restaurant with traditional cuisine and seafood.

Nearby cuisines

Sri Lankan

Traditional cuisine with curry, rice and seafood

Must try: Rice and curry, kottu, hoppers

Seafood

Fresh fish and Indian Ocean seafood

Must try: Grilled fish, prawns, crabs
Vibe
Energy, crowd, silence and sunsets
Energy
active
Crowd Level
crowded
Silence Level
noisy
Sunset Quality
beautiful
Nature
Trees and natural shade
Trees on Beach
No
Natural Shade
little
Activities
Snorkelling, diving, surfing, kayaking
Snorkeling
No
Diving
No
Surfing
No
Kayaking / SUP
No
Tips
What to bring, best time, local rules
What to Bring
SPF50+ cream Water Towel Cash First aid kit
Best Time to Swim
In the morning or evening when it is not so hot and there are fewer people. Swimming is not recommended.
Local Rules
Littering on the beach is prohibited. Swimming is not recommended due to water pollution.
Getting there & Car rental
Flights, transfers and car rental to reach the beach
Flights
Find the best flight deals
Find flights
Airport transfer
Meet & greet, fixed price, 24/7
Book transfer
International transfer
GetTransfer — worldwide transfers
Book
Transfers worldwide
intui.travel — group & private
Book
Car rental
DiscoverCars — rent worldwide
Rent a car
Car rental
QEEQ — compare rental prices
Rent a car
Car rental
GetRentacar — 100+ countries
Rent a car
Car rental
Economybookings — low-cost rental
Rent a car
Car rental in Europe
AutoEurope — EU & UK
Rent a car
Bikes & scooters
BikesBooking — rent motorbikes
Rent
Local car rental
Localrent — direct from local providers
Rent a car
Nearby
Attractions and places near the beach

Marine Drive

Scenic promenade with restaurants and cafes, popular for walks.

Gangaramaya Temple

Famous Buddhist temple in Colombo with unique architecture.

Colombo National Museum

One of Sri Lanka-s largest museums with a collection of historical artefacts.

Where to stay
Hotels and apartments near the beach
Frequently asked questions
Wellawatte Beach: what is the water like at this beach?
At this beach, water colour — grey, clarity murky, average temperature +29.0°C, warms up to +31.0°C in the warmest season. Check the exact temperature by month in the chart section.
Wellawatte Beach: what are the waves like and is it safe to swim?
Waves at this beach are — moderate. Average wave height — 1.2 m.
Wellawatte Beach: what is the water entry and bottom like?
Water entry is — gentle. The shallow area extends for 20 metres from the shore. Bottom — sand. Special shoes are not required — the water entry is comfortable. The gentle slope is safe for children and inexperienced swimmers.
Wellawatte Beach: what kind of sand and surface does the beach have?
Beach surface — sand. Sand colour — golden. Texture — fine. Beach length — 900 metres.
Wellawatte Beach: when is the swimming season?
The swimming season starts in December, January. It ends in March, April. The best month for a holiday is January. This is when the water is warmest and the weather is most comfortable.
Wellawatte Beach: is it safe to swim?
Water quality is rated as poor. Rip currents are likely — swim only in designated areas. Jellyfish risk — low. Always watch for warning signs and follow lifeguards instructions.
Wellawatte Beach: which dangerous creatures live in the water?
The water contains: Crocodiles (in coastal waters), Mosquitoes, Sandflies. We recommend wearing protective footwear, not touching marine life and taking care when entering the water.
Wellawatte Beach: what infrastructure is available on the beach?
The beach offers: sunbeds, umbrellas, showers, toilets, changing rooms, parking, Wi-Fi. All amenities are listed in the "Infrastructure" section above.
Wellawatte Beach: are there lifeguards and a first aid station?
Lifeguards are on duty on the beach — an important safety factor.
Wellawatte Beach: where can I eat near the beach?
Popular places nearby: Hotel De Pilawoos, Abid-s Restaurant. Cuisines available: Sri Lankan, Seafood. See the "Infrastructure" section for details.
Wellawatte Beach: what should I bring to the beach?
We recommend bringing: SPF50+ cream, Water, Towel, Cash, First aid kit.
Wellawatte Beach: when is the best time to swim?
In the morning or evening when it is not so hot and there are fewer people. Swimming is not recommended.
Wellawatte Beach: what are the rules and restrictions on the beach?
Littering on the beach is prohibited. Swimming is not recommended due to water pollution.
Wellawatte Beach: who is this beach best for?
Suitable for walks and picnics, but not recommended for swimming due to water pollution. Ideal for those who want to enjoy ocean views and sunsets.
Wellawatte Beach: what makes this beach unique?
Wellawatte is one of the few urban beaches in Colombo that has been improved as part of the "Life to Our Beaches" project. It is home to one of the city-s two deep-sea sewage outfalls.
Wellawatte Beach: what are the pros and cons of the beach?
Pros: Close to Colombo centre, Accessible by train, Sandy shore, Sunbeds and umbrellas, Cafes and restaurants nearby, Beautiful sunsets. Cons: Polluted water, Litter on the beach, Noisy due to the railway, Crowded, Swimming dangerous, Limited parking.
Wellawatte Beach: what is near the beach?
Nearby you can visit: Marine Drive, Gangaramaya Temple, Colombo National Museum. Detailed descriptions in the "Nearby" section above.
Wellawatte Beach: how do I get to the city of Colombo?
The beach is located near the city of Colombo. Full information about the city — hotels, restaurants, attractions, transport — is available on the city page for Colombo.

City

Colombo

Full information about the city: prices, hotels, attractions.