Best Things to Do in Unawatuna - practical advice with names and honest picks.
Unawatuna combines the best of Sri Lankan beach life with easy access to cultural sites - you can surf, snorkel with turtles, and explore a UNESCO World Heritage fort all in one day.
What makes Unawatuna worth a visit
Unawatuna combines the best of Sri Lankan beach life with easy access to cultural sites - you can surf, snorkel with turtles, and explore a UNESCO World Heritage fort all in one day.
How we picked these
This ranking is compiled from published information about Unawatuna: official sites, opening hours and ticket prices. It does not yet include first-hand visit notes, so there are no queue times or personal verdicts here.
Ranking criteria: how distinctive the place is (does this exist anywhere else?), what it costs, and how much of your day it takes.
Best Things to Do in Unawatuna
Ranked and reviewed — 6 of the best in Unawatuna
1Jungle Beach
Follow the path past the first small clearing - the actual Jungle Beach is deeper into the jungle
2Japanese Peace Pagoda
Continue past the pagoda to the edge of the hill for even better unobstructed ocean views
3Unawatuna Beach
Fish auctions happen at 6:30 AM at the western end - arrive early to see the traditional fishing culture
4Wijaya Beach
The small restaurant called 'Beach Haven' serves excellent crab curry for half the price of Unawatuna establishments
5Thalpe Beach
Stilt fishermen usually work early morning and late afternoon - offer to buy their catch and they'll often pose for photos
6Koggala Lake
Ask for the smaller, quieter boats rather than the large tourist ones moored near the main road - they get closer to the mangroves and cost less.
Where to Eat
Dishes worth seeking out in Unawatuna
Fish Curry with Rice
Mama's Coral Beach
Kottu Roti
Lucky Tuna
Fresh Lobster
The Surf Restaurant
Hoppers with Egg
Kingfisher Restaurant
Mango Lassi
Skinny Tom's Deli
Unawatuna in one day vs two days
More on Unawatuna
The Unawatuna overview has costs, areas and transport in one place. The Unawatuna travel guide is the longer read.
We plan trips to Unawatuna and the rest of Sri Lanka. Tell us your dates and we will put a route together. Our routes are on the tours page.